Ground of Justification

Pastor Martin opens the negative side of the catechism's statement of the ground of justification: 'not for anything done by them.' He establishes from Romans 3-4, Ephesians 2, Philippians 3, and Titus 3 that no human performance - whether before, at, or after effectual calling - contributes any thread to the ground of justification. He then applies the truth to those holding a damning confidence in their own works and to true Christians battling the conflicting witnesses of conscience and the gospel.

Pastor Martin opens the second negative of the Larger Catechism: the ground of justification is not anything wrought in us by the gracious work of the Spirit. He acknowledges that God always sanctifies whom He justifies, but insists that nothing of that internal work - new heart, new affections, repentance, growing holiness - forms any part of the legal ground of justification. The righteousness justifying us is a God-righteousness in Christ, external to us, received only by faith.

Having excluded both works done by us and grace wrought in us, Pastor Martin now sets forth the positive ground of justification: the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Christ alone. He develops three lines of biblical truth - that the ground is in the person of Christ alone, in His perfect obedience alone, and in His full satisfaction alone - drawing on Romans 5:19, Philippians 3, 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, and Hebrews 10:5-10. He briefly explains the active and passive obedience of Christ as one indivisible obedience.