Jackson on Article XI: Of the Justification of Man

The first words of the Article, ““ We are ac- counted vighteous before God,’’ interpret the meaning of the word ‘‘ Justification.’’ God treats us as righteous in order to make us righteous. He pardons and restores us to favour, in order that by our union with Him, through His Son and in His Spirit we may become like Him.

The difference between Justification and Sane- tification is that Justification is a change of re- lationship (Rom. v., 9 and 10), while Sanctifica- tion is a change of character (1 Thess. iv. 3). Justification therefore is a completed fact; Sane- tification is a gradual process. But, although our Justification is a completed fact, it is also an abiding necessity—as necessary for the mature saint as for the returning penitent. At every stage of our Christian life, ‘‘ we are accounted righteous before God, only for (propter) the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by (per) Faith, and not for (propter) our own works or deservings.’’ Here we have the twofold cause of Justification, viz., (1) the meritorious cause, which is Christ’s work for us, and (2) the receptive cause, which is faith, The words ‘not for (propter) our own works or deservings,’’ are a denial of Medizval Theology, which taught that a man is accepted before God because of his own righteousness, produced in the first instance by _ sacramental grace, and increased by his conse- - quent ‘‘ works and deservings.”’

The last clause of the Article speaks of Justi- fication as “‘ a most wholesome Doctrine, and very full of comfort.’’ There can be no stronger stimulus to moral effort, and no surer guarantee of moral change than a _ whole-hearted self- surrender to One who loved us and give Himself for us.* It is this which makes it “‘a most wholesome Doctrine.’’ Its comfort lies in the fact that it makes acceptance with God possible for all. However sinful a man’s past has been and however imperfect his knowledge, he can surrender himself to the Divine mercy and grace as revealed in Chrst; and this is Faith.

ARTICLE XII. Or Goop Works.