HenryWSC 33

Matthew Henry’s Westminster Shorter Catechism Commentary on Question 33

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Are all that are justified discharged from the sentence of the law? Yes: for there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus,
Rom. 8:1
. Have they their sins pardoned? Yes: we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,
Eph. 1:7
. Does God forgive them? Yes: I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions,,
Isa. 43:25
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When God forgives sin does he forgive all? Yes: having forgiven all your trespasses,
Col. 2:13
. Does he forgive even great sins? Yes: though your sins have been as scarlet, they shall be white as snow,
Isa. 1:18
. Does he forgive many sins? Yes: he will abundantly pardon,
Isa. 55:7
. Does he forgive freely? Yes: I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. Does he forgive fully? Yes: their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more,
Heb. 8:12
. Is he forward to forgive? Yes: I said I will confess and thou forgavest,
Ps. 32:5
. Does he forgive and forget? Yes: thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea,
Mic. 7:19
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Is forgiveness of sins offered to all upon gospel terms? Yes: for repentance and remission of sins is preached to all nations,
Luke 24:47
. Is it secured to all the chosen remnant? Yes: for Christ is exalted to be a Prince, and a Saviour, to give repentance and remission of sins,
Acts 5:31
. Have all believers their sins pardoned? Yes: through him all that believe are justified,
Acts 13:39
. Are they accepted in God’s sight? Yes: he hath made us accepted in the Beloved,
Eph. 1:6
. Are they accepted as righteous? Yes: for we are made the righteousness of God in him,
2 Cor. 5:21
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Is the righteousness of Christ imputed to us for our justification? Yes: for he is made of God unto us righteousness,
1 Cor. 1:30
. Did Christ die that it might be imputed? Yes: He shall justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities,
Isa. 53:11
. Do we owe our justification then to the death of Christ? Yes: the blood of Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin,
1 John 1:7
. And does that lay the foundation of our salvation? Yes: being justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath,
Rom. 5:9
. Were we justified from eternity? No: for in due time Christ died for the ungodly,
Rom. 5:9
. If Christ had died, and not risen again, could he have justified us? No: for he was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification,
Rom. 4:25
. Is that then our plea for peace and pardon? Yes: for who then is he that shall condemn?
Rom. 8:34
. May we then depend upon Christ for righteousness? Yes: In the Lord I have righteousness and strength,
Isa. 45:24
. Is it become an act of justice in God to pardon sin upon the account of Christ’s righteousness? Yes: for he is just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus,
Rom. 3:26
,
1 John 1:9
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Are we to receive the righteousness of Christ? Yes: We have now received the atonement,
Rom. 5:11
. Do we receive it by faith? Yes: through his name; whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins,
Acts 10:43
. And by faith only? Yes: for being justified by faith we have peace with God,
Rom. 5:1
. Did Christ’s death satisfy the law? Yes: for Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law,
Gal. 3:13
. Is that then our only righteousness in the law court? Yes: for we are reconciled to God by the death of his Son,
Rom. 5:10
. Do we by true faith come up to the terms of the gospel? Yes: Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shall be saved,
Acts 16:31
. Is that then our righteousness in the gospel court? Yes: for to him that believeth, his faith is counted for righteousness,
Rom. 4:5
. Is it therefore our life? Yes: for the just shall live by his faith,
Hab. 2:4
. Is it so as it applies Christ’s righteousness? Yes: This is the name whereby he shall be called, the Lord our righteousness,
Jer. 23:6
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Is justifying faith a working faith Yes: for by works is faith made perfect,
James 2:22
. And will that faith justify us which does not produce good works? No: for by works a man is justified, and not by faith only,
James 2:24
. Is faith then dead without good works? Yes: for as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also,
James 2:26
. And are good works dead without faith? Yes: for without faith it is impossible to please God,
Heb. 11:6
. Must they both act together then? Yes: for that which avails is faith, which works by love,
Gal. 5:6
. Do we then make void the law through faith? No: God forbid, yea, we establish the law,
Rom. 3:31
. Is our faith our own? No: it is not of ourselves, it is the gift of God,
Eph. 2:8
. Are our good works our own? No: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us,
Isa. 26:12
. Is any room left for boasting then? No: it is excluded by the law of faith,
Rom. 3:27
. Must God therefore have all the glory? Yes: for by the grace of God I am what I am,
1 Cor. 15:10
.
HenryWSC 33