The Doctrine of Justification Opened and Applied

Extract

The Doctrine of Justification Opened and Applied
Walter Marshall

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness, that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” Romans 3:23- 26.

The apostle, having confuted and overthrown all justification by works, either of Jew or Gentile, in the foregoing discourse, is now proving what he asserted (verses 21, 22)—viz., “That the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference:” showing that, now in the gospel-times, there is no difference between Jew and Gentile; but, that, in the justification of both, the righteousness of God without the law is manifested. This he proveth, by showing what the gospel teacheth concerning the way of justification; for the gospel only reveals the righteousness of God: Rom. 1:16, 17, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith.”

So the words are a declaration of the gospel way of justification by the righteousness of God; and that so clearly and fully, and the benefit spoken of, so great and glorious, being the first benefit that we receive by union with Christ, and the foundation of all other benefits, that my text is accounted to be evangelium evangelii, a principal part of the written gospel, as briefly, and yet fully, expressing this excellent point more than any other text.

Note in the words particularly the subject declared and explained—viz., justification of persons, or their being justified. And the meaning of it here, is, to be cleared and freed from all ambiguities and misunderstanding. Justification signifieth “making just,” as sanctification is “making holy,” glorification “making glorious;” but not making just by infusion of grace and holiness into …