Belgic Confession Articles 22-23 treat faith and justification by faith alone.
Did Paul and James Disagree on Justification?
Do James and Paul contradict one another on the subject of justification? Paul writes, “We conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Rom. 3:28). God justifies the believing sinner on the basis of “the righteousness of God without the law” (Rom. 3:21). In Galatians he is equally emphatic: “A man is not justified by the works of the law … by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Gal. 2:16). Moreover, Paul proves the doctrine of justification by appealing to the example of Abraham: “if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God” (Rom. 4:2). About Abraham Paul writes, “but to him that worketh not but believeth …” (Rom. 4:5) and points out that Abraham was justified by faith before he was circumcised! (Rom. 4:10).
Justified by Faith Alone
If you know anything about the Reformation of the Church in the 16th Century you will have heard of "Justification by faith alone." The Reformers (Martin Luther, John Calvin and others) taught that we are justified before God by faith alone without works.
Justification depicts God as the Judge and sinners as defendants or the accused.
Essentials of Reformed Doctrine: Lesson 22 (“Justification")
Essentials of Reformed Doctrine is a systematic doctrine class aimed at older teenagers, but adapted in Ireland for adults who want to learn all the doctrines of Christianity.
Lesson 22 is "Justification."
The main subjects covered in this Lesson are:
Part 1: The nature of justification as a legal declaration of righteousness; the basis of justification.
Part 2: The imputation of Christ's righteousness; the instrument of faith; the place of works.
The LRF runs an adult reformed doctrine class in which we work through the Essentials of Reformed Doctrine catechism booklet published by the PRCA.
Below you will find the lesson outlines based on Lesson 22.
Each lesson outline comes as a handy PDF formatted to be printed as a single double-sided page with narrow margins. Download the attachments below.
Essentials of Reformed Doctrine: Lesson 22 (“Justification") (2)
Essentials of Reformed Doctrine: Lesson 22 (“Justification") (1)
