The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

But it is said, that if the guilt of sin were imputed unto Christ, he is excluded from all possibility of merit, for he suffered but what was his due; And so the whole work of Christs satisfaction is subverted. This must be so, if God in judgment did reckon him guilty and a sinner. But there is an ambiguity in these expressions. If it be meant that God in judgment did reckon him guilty and a sinner inherently in his own person, no such thing is intended. But God laid all our sins on him, and in judgment spared him not, as unto what was due unto them. And so he suffered not what was his due upon his own account, but what was due unto our sin, which is impiety to deny; For if it were not so, he dyed in vain, and we are still in our sins. And as his satisfaction consists herein, nor could be without it, so doth it not in the least derogate from his merit. For supposing the infinite dignity of his person, and his voluntary susception of our sin to answer for it, which altered not his state and condition, his Obedience therein was highly meritorious.

In answer hereunto, and by virtue hereof, we are made the Righteousness of God in him. This was the end of his being made sin for us. And by whom are we so made: It is by ⟨p. 508⟩God himself, for it is God that justifieth, Rom. 8.33. It is God who imputeth Righteousness; Chap. 4.6. Wherefore it is the Act of God in our Justification that is intended. And to be made the Righteousness of God, is to be made Righteous before God, though emphatically expressed by the abstract for the concrete, to answer what was said before of Christ being made sin for us. To be made the Righteousness of God, is to be justified; and to be made it so in him, as he was made sin for us, is to be justified by the imputation of his Righteousness unto us, as our sin was imputed unto him.

In answer hereunto, and by vertue hereof, we are made the Righteousness of God in him. This was the end of his being made sin for us. And by whom are we so made: It is by ⟨p. 508⟩