Teaching Outline: 1689 LBCF Chapters 11-13

I. Introduction and Context

How can tell me: What is the difference between a legal status and a changed life? A legal status is a legal declaration of either guilty or not guilty based on a judges review of the evidence. A changed life happens when we turn directions in life. For example, I was walking this path, and now I am walking that path. Now, can one affect the other? Can a legal status change a persons life? I would argue that a legal status will always affect the path a person is on whether good or bad. Last month Ricky taught us about the effectual calling, that is Gods calling us to Himself and this week we will look at the rest of this chain in chapters 11-13. If you look at chapters 10-13 together this chain is made, God’s effectual call which leads to justification (that legal status), which leads to adoption, which produces sanctification (a changed life). This is known as the chain of grace because it is all of God’s own doing apart from any help by us. Let’s start with chapter 11.

II. Chapter 11: Justification (Legal Status)

Those God effectually calls He also freely justifies.1 He does this, not by infusing righteousness into them but by pardoning their sins and accounting and accepting them as righteous. He does this for Christ’s sake alone and not for anything produced in them or done by them. He does not impute faith itself, the act of believing, or any other gospel obedience to them as their righteousness. Instead, He imputes Christ’s active obedience to the whole law and passive obedience in His death as their whole and only righteousness by faith. This faith is not self-generated; it is the gift of God. Faith that receives and rests on Christ and His righteousness is the only instrument of justification.6 Yet it does not occur by itself in the person justified, but it is always accompanied by every other saving grace. It is not a dead faith but works through love. By His obedience and death, Christ fully paid the debt of all those who are justified. He endured in their place the penalty they deserved. By this sacrifice of Himself in His bloodshed on the cross, He legitimately, really and fully satisfied God’s justice on their behalf. Yet their justification is based entirely on free grace, because He was given by the Father for them, and His obedience and satisfaction were accepted in their place. These things were done freely, not because of anything in them, so that both the exact justice and the rich grace of God would be glorified in the justification of sinners. From all eternity God decreed to justify all the elect, and in the fullness of time Christ died for their sins and rose again for their justification. Nevertheless, they are not justified personally until the Holy Spirit actually applies Christ to them at the proper time. God continues to forgive the sins of those who are justified. Even though they can never fall from a state of justification, they may fall under God’s fatherly displeasure because of their sins. In that condition they will not usually have the light of His face restored to them until they humble themselves, confess their sins, plead for pardon, and renew their faith and repentance. In all these ways, the justification of believers under the Old Testament was exactly the same as the justification of believers under the New Testament.

A. Definition: What is Justification?

Let’s define justification first. Justification is a legal act whereby the judge (God) declares us not guilty based on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This new legal status that we have received, does not change our nature, but it does change our standing before God. Justification involves both a pardon (the forgiveness of sins) and acceptance (being counted righteous). So, in essence, the doctrine of justification is where receive a new status in life, we were sinners, now we are saints, and part of the family of God. In this we are seen by God at this moment, as perfectly righteous just as Christ is righteous. To me, this doctrine of justification is the most beautiful of doctrines, and freeing doctrines. Martin Luther says that the church stands or falls on the doctrine of justification.

B. The Basis (Why God does it):

How does justification work? The Roman Catholic Church says that it is by infusion. Essentially, God pours righteousness into us or infuses it, like something that has simply been added to us. The Bible shows justification as being imputed to us. God imputes (credits) the full, perfect righteousness of Christ to our account. Christ’s active (life of obedience) and passive (death on the cross) obedience is the sole ground. Paragraph one confirms this as being for Christ’s sake and not because we have earned it or bought it. This distinction between infusion and imputation is important, because if justification is simply added to us, then we continue to stand guilty before God for any sin in our life. But in imputation, we are totally innocent and declared righteous.

C. The Instrument (How we receive it):

Now, how do we receive it? Faith alone, one of the five solas of the reformation, is the key to receiving justification. It is by faith alone that we receive Christ and find rest in Christ. But the confession states that our faith is no dead faith and is always accompanied by all other saving graces, such as works done in love. In other words, our faith will always show itself, in the way we live. Jesus says that “you will know my people by the fruit they produce in their lives.” Christians will stick out like a sore thumb in this world. Because our faith drives the way we live, which is in opposition to those who do not believe by faith alone.

Discussion Question: Since justification is a one-time declaration, what is the most comforting aspect of knowing this status can never be lost?

III. Chapter 12: Adoption (Relational Status)

God has granted that all those who are justified would receive the grace of adoption, in and for the sake of His only Son Jesus Christ. By this they are counted among the children of God and enjoy the freedom and privileges of that relationship. They inherit His name, receive the spirit of adoption, have access to the throne of grace with boldness, and are enabled to cry “Abba, Father!” They are given compassion, protected, provided for and chastened by Him as a father. Yet they are never cast off but are sealed for the day of redemption and inherit the promises as heirs of everlasting salvation.

A. Definition: What is Adoption?

It is the grace by which the justified person is brought into God’s family, moving from being merely acquitted criminals to becoming legitimate children and heirs.

It changes our relationship with God from Judge-to-sinner to Father-to-child.

B. Privileges of Adoption:

The Spirit: We receive the "Spirit of adoption" (Rom. 8:15), allowing us to cry "Abba, Father."

Access: We gain bold access to the throne of grace.

Care: We are pitied, protected, and provided for by His fatherly care.

Discipline: We are chastened (disciplined) by God as a Father, not for condemnation, but for our spiritual growth (as proof of our sonship).

Discussion Question: How does knowing God is your "Father" (Chapter 12) change the way you view your sin and forgiveness (Chapter 11)?

IV. Chapter 13: Sanctification (Experiential Process)

Those who are united to Christ and effectually called and regenerated have a new heart and a new spirit created in them through the power of Christ’s death and resurrection. They are also further sanctified, really and personally, through the same power, by His Word and Spirit dwelling in them. The dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the various evil desires that arise from it are more and more weakened and put to death. At the same time, those called and regenerated are more and more enlivened and strengthened in all saving graces so that they practice true holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. This sanctification extends throughout the whole person, though it is never completed in this life. Some corruption remains in every part. From this arises a continual and irreconcilable war, with the desires of the flesh against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh. In this war, the remaining corruption may greatly prevail for a time. Yet through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part overcomes. So the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. They pursue a heavenly life, in gospel obedience to all the commands that Christ as Head and King has given them in His Word.

A. Definition: What is Sanctification?

It is the progressive work of God in the believer where the dominion of sin is destroyed and the person is made more holy and Christ-like.

It follows justification and is accomplished by Christ's Word and Spirit dwelling in us.

B. The War Within (Imperfect in this Life):

Sanctification is "throughout the whole man," but it is explicitly stated to be "imperfect in this life."

There remain "some remnants of corruption" in every part.

This creates a "continual and irreconcilable war" (the flesh against the Spirit).

C. The Victory and Progress:

Though corruption may "much prevail" for a time, the regenerate part does overcome through the continual supply of strength from the Spirit.

The outcome is that saints "grow in grace" and "perfect holiness in the fear of God," actively pressing toward a heavenly life.

Discussion Question: If justification is a gift we receive, and sanctification is a process we participate in, what is your role in "growing in grace"? How do you "press after an heavenly life"?

V. Conclusion & Summary

Review: Justification (Legal Status) Adoption (Relational Status) Sanctification (Moral Progress).

Final thought: The Christian life is founded on the finished work of Christ (Justification) and enjoyed through a secure relationship with God (Adoption), leading to a lifelong pursuit of holiness (Sanctification).