God Loves… Himself

Samuel Richardson, in his 1647 work on Justification by Christ Alone, sets out some important points about the distinction between whether Christ or faith justifies. It sets out why faith must be the gift of God and not an act of the will which is what the pioneer Reformers strenuously worked to show. Justification by faith alone as the Bible teaches and the Reformers taught demands that man be utterly helpless in salvation and that the grace that saves be a sovereign grace. The teaching of the enslaved will is vital to the Gospel and is not something we can hide.

Read and Consider Justification By Christ Alone

Search the Scriptures whether these things be so or no. If any thing I have written be not according to them, then let that go. My whole scope and aim in these few lines, is to prove that we are justified by Christ alone. He is our justification. And that we are not justified by any thing that is in us.
Faith Is Not The Cause

That faith or any thing in us is not a cause, means, or condition, required to partake of the Covenant of Grace, justification or salvation, but only fruits and effects of the Covenant.
In The Scriptures What Is Proper To Christ Only Is Often Attributed To Faith As Well To Show Our Union With Him In His Faith Which Becomes Our Saving Faith So the Scriptures do oft give that to faith which is proper to Christ, as

 “we live by faith:” Gal. 2:20; “by Christ,” John 6:57.

 “We have remission of sins by faith,” Acts 13:38, 39; “by Christ,” Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14.

“We are justified by faith,” Rom. 3:28, Gal. 3:24; “by Christ,” Isa. 53:11, Rom. 5:9.

“We have peace with God by faith,” Rom. 5:1,2; “by Christ,” Eph. 2:3 and 3:12.

“We are sanctified by faith,” Acts 15:9; “by Christ,” Heb. 10:14, 1 Cor. 1:30.

“We overcome the world by faith,” 1 John 5:4,5; “by Christ,” John 16:33, 1 Cor. 15:57.

 “We are the sons of God by faith,” Gal. 3:26; “by Christ,” Eph. 1:5.

We “have an heavenly inheritance by faith,” Acts 26:18; “by Christ,” Gal. 4:7.

“We have eternal life by faith,” John 3:16 and 5:24 and 6:47; “by Christ,” 1 John 5:11,12. “We are saved by faith,” Eph. 2:8; “by Christ,” Matt. 3:21, John 3:17.
These things are not proper to faith, but only to Jesus Christ alone. Also the Scripture says, it’s “God that justifieth:” Rom. 8:33 with 3:24. “Christ is said to justify:” Isa. 45:25 and 53:11, that we “are justified by his blood,” Rom. 5:9 with Rom. 8:34,35. The Spirit of God is said to justify, 1 Cor. 6:11. “These three are one,” 1 John 5:8. The question then is, by which of these we are justified before God? We conceive that is only by Jesus Christ.
Justification By Christ Alone Our Reasons why we ascribe it to Christ alone are:
1. Because it promised of Christ, that He should justify many, Isa. 45:25 and 53:11.
2. Because when the Scripture expressions seem to contradict one another, those expressions that ascribe most to Christ are the clearest and nearest the center. The rest are to follow that point, and be interpreted by them. For the Scriptures are to be interpreted for Christ, and not against Him.
3. Because the whole voice of the Scripture being laid together, does wholly drive to set up, and exalt Jesus Christ alone, to acknowledge Him to be as He is all in all, Col. 3:11. Therefore, He is called, “The Author of salvation,” Heb. 5:9, and the means of our salvation through His blood, Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14; and Salvation itself, Isa. 49:6. If we should not ascribe our justification to God, to Christ alone, God could not be all in all, 1 Cor. 15:28; Col. 3:11.
4. Because all things else besides God are but means of our knowing and enjoying him that is the substance.
5. Because all that faith can do, is only to receive remission of sins, Acts 26:18. It cannot give remission of sins. Faith cannot satisfy justice nor merit pardon for the least sin, etc.
6. Because the Scripture says, “We are justified by his blood:” Rom. 5:9, etc. These and the like Reasons cause us to conceive that we are justified only by Christ alone.
Therefore, when the Scripture says we are justified by faith, by faith, we are to understand Christ: or else to understand it not properly, But in a large sense, not as if faith did justify us, but only Christ.

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