C ONFESIÓN DE FE DE W ESTMINSTER
CAPITULO XI
De la justificaciónI. A los que Dios llama eficazmente, también los justifica gratuitamente:[1] no infundiéndoles justicia, sino perdonando sus pecados, y teniendo en cuenta y aceptando sus personas como justas; no por nada obrado en ellos, o hecho por ellos, sino solo por causa de Cristo; ni imputando la fe misma, el acto de creer, o cualquier otra obediencia evangélica a ellos, como su justicia; sino atribuyéndoles la obediencia y satisfacción de Cristo,[2] ellos lo reciben y descansan en él y en su justicia, por la fe; la cual fe no la tienen de sí mismos, es don de Dios.[3]
[1] Romanos 8:30. Y a los que predestinó, a ésos también llamó; y a los que llamó, a ésos también justificó; y a los que justificó, a ésos también glorificó. Romanos 3:24. Siendo justificados gratuitamente por su gracia, mediante la redención que es en Cristo Jesús.
[2] Romanos 4:5-8. Mas al que no obra, pero cree en aquel que justifica al impío, su fe le es contada por justicia. Como también David describe la bienaventuranza del hombre a quien Dios atribuye justicia sin obras, diciendo: Bienaventurados aquellos cuyas iniquidades son perdonadas, y cuyos pecados son cubiertos. Bienaventurado el hombre a quien el Señor no imputa pecado. 2 Corintios 5:19, 21. A saber, que Dios estaba en Cristo, reconciliando consigo al mundo, no tomándoles en cuenta a ellos sus pecados; y nos ha encomendado la palabra de la reconciliación... Al que no conoció pecado, por nosotros lo hizo pecado; para que fuésemos hechos justicia de Dios en él. Romanos 3:22, 24-25, 27-28.la justicia de Dios, que es por la fe de Jesucristo, para todos y sobre todos los que creen, porque no hay diferencia... Siendo justificados gratuitamente por su gracia, mediante la redención que es en Cristo Jesús. a quien Dios ha puesto en propiciación por medio de la fe en su sangre, para manifestar su justicia para la remisión de los pecados pasados, mediante la paciencia de Dios... ¿Dónde está entonces la jactancia? Está excluido. ¿Por qué ley? de obras? No: sino por la ley de la fe. Por tanto, concluimos que el hombre es justificado por la fe sin las obras de la ley. Tito 3:5, 7.Él nos salvó no por obras de justicia que nosotros hubiéramos hecho, sino según su misericordia, por el lavamiento de la regeneración y la renovación por el Espíritu Santo... Para que, justificados por su gracia, seamos hechos herederos según el esperanza de la vida eterna. Efesios 1:7. en quien tenemos redención por su sangre, el perdón de pecados según las riquezas de su gracia. Jeremías 23:6. En sus días Judá será salvo, e Israel habitará confiado; y este será su nombre con el cual será llamado: Jehová nuestra justicia. 1 Corintios 1:30-31.Mas de él sois vosotros en Cristo Jesús, quien por Dios nos ha sido hecho sabiduría, justicia, santificación y redención; para que, como está escrito: El que se gloría, gloríese en el Señor. Romanos 5:17-19. Porque si por la transgresión de uno solo reinó la muerte; mucho más reinarán en vida por uno, Jesucristo, los que reciben la abundancia de la gracia y del don de la justicia. Por tanto, como por la transgresión de uno vino la condenación a todos los hombres; así también por la justicia de uno vino a todos los hombres la dádiva para la justificación de vida. Porque así como por la desobediencia de un hombre los muchos fueron constituidos pecadores, así por la obediencia de uno los muchos serán constituidos justos.
[3] Acts 10:44. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. Galatians 2:16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Philippians 3:9. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: Acts 13:38-39. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Ephesians 2:7-8. That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.
II. Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification:[4] yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.[5]
[4] John 1:12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Romans 3:28. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Romans 5:1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
[5] James 2:17, 22, 26. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.... Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?... For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Galatians 5:6. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
III. Christ, by his obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are thus justified, and did make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to his Father’s justice in their behalf.[6] Yet, inasmuch as he was given by the Father for them;[7] and his obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead;[8] and both, freely, not for anything in them; their justification is only of free grace;[9] that both the exact justice and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.[10]
[6] Romans 5:8-10, 19. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.... For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 1 Timothy 2:5-6. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Hebrews 10:10, 14. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.... For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Daniel 9:24, 26. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.... And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. Isaiah 53:4-6, 10-12. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.... Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
[7] Romans 8:32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
[8] 2 Corinthians 5:21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Matthew 3:17. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Ephesians 5:2. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
[9] Romans 3:24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Ephesians 1:7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
[10] Romans 3:26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Ephesians 2:7. That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
IV. God did, from all eternity, decree to justify all the elect,[11] and Christ did, in the fullness of time, die for their sins, and rise again for their justification:[12] nevertheless, they are not justified, until the Holy Spirit doth, in due time, actually apply Christ unto them.[13]
[11] Galatians 3:8. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 1 Peter 1:2, 19-20. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.... But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Romans 8:30. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
[12] Galatians 4:4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. 1 Timothy 2:6. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Romans 4:25. Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
[13] Colossians 1:21-22. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight. Galatians 2:16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Titus 3:4-7. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
V. God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified;[14] and, although they can never fall from the state of justification,[15] yet they may, by their sins, fall under God’s fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of his countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.[16]
[14] Matthew 6:12. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 1 John 1:7, 9. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.... If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 2:1-2. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
[15] Luke 22:32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. John 10:28. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. Hebrews 10:14. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
[16] Psalm 89:31-33. If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. Psalm 51:7-12. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Psalm 32:5. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Matthew 26:75. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. 1 Corinthians 11:30, 32. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.... But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Luke 1:20. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
VI. The justification of believers under the old testament was, in all these respects, one and the same with the justification of believers under the new testament.[17]
[17] Gálatas 3:9, 13-14. Así pues, los que son de la fe son bendecidos con el fiel Abraham... Cristo nos redimió de la maldición de la ley, hecho por nosotros maldición; porque está escrito: Maldito todo el que es colgado en un madero; la bendición de Abraham llegue a los gentiles por medio de Jesucristo; para que podamos recibir la promesa del Espíritu por medio de la fe. Romanos 4:22-24. Y por tanto le fue imputado por justicia. Ahora bien, no fue escrito sólo por causa de él, que le fue imputado; sino también para nosotros, a quienes se imputará, si creemos en aquel que resucitó a Jesús nuestro Señor de los muertos. Hebreos 13:8. Jesucristo el mismo ayer, y hoy, y por los siglos.
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