Q.70. What is justification?

A. Justification is an act of God’s free grace unto sinners,[x] in which he pardoneth all their sins, accepteth and accounteth their persons righteous in his sight;[y] not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them,[z] but only for the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Christ, by God imputed to them,[a] and received by faith alone.[b]

[x] Rom. 3:22,24,25. Rom. 4:5.

[y] 2 Cor. 5:19,21. Rom. 3:22,24,25,27,28.

[z] Tit. 3:5,7. Eph. 1:7.

[a] Rom. 5:17-19. Rom. 4:6-8.

[b] Acts 10:43. Gal. 2:16. Phil. 3:9.

Q.71. How is justification an act of God’s free grace?

A. Although Christ, by his obedience and death, did make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God’s justice in the behalf of them that are justified;[c] yet in as much as God accepteth the satisfaction from a surety, which he might have demanded of them, and did provide this surety, his own only Son,[d] imputing his righteousness to them,[e] and requiring nothing of them for their justification but faith,[f] which also is his gift,[g] their justification is to them of free grace.[h]

[c] Rom. 5:8-10,19.

[d] 1 Tim. 2:5,6. Heb. 10:10. Matt. 20:28. Dan. 9:24,26. Isa. 53:4-6,10-12. Heb. 7:22. Rom. 8:32. 1 Pet. 1:18,19.

[e] 2 Cor. 5:21.

[f] Rom. 3:24,25.

[g] Eph. 2:8.

[h] Eph. 1:7.