Lord's Day 23

59.	Q.	But what does it help you now that you believe all this?
	A.	In Christ I am righteous before God and heir to life everlasting. ¹
		1. Hab 2:4; Jn 3:36; Rom 1:17; 5:1, 2.

60.	Q.	How are you righteous before God?
	A.	Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. ¹ Although my conscience accuses me that I have grievously sinned against all God's commandments, have never kept any of them, ² and am still inclined to all evil, ³ yet God, without any merit of my own, ⁴ out of mere grace, ⁵ imputes to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ. ⁶ He grants these to me as if I had never had nor committed any sin, and as if I myself had accomplished all the obedience which Christ has rendered for me, ⁷ if only I accept this gift with a believing heart. ⁸
		1. Rom 3:21-28; Gal 2:16; Eph 2:8, 9; Phil 3:8-11. 2. Rom 3:9, 10. 3. Rom 7:23. 4. Deut 9:6; Ezek 36:22; Tit 3:4, 5. 5. Rom 3:24; Eph 2:8. 6. Rom 4:3-5; 2 Cor 5:17-19; 1 Jn 2:1, 2. 7. Rom 4:24, 25; 2 Cor 5:21. 8. Jn 3:18; Acts 16:30, 31; Rom 3:22.

61.	Q.	Why do you say that you are righteous only by faith?
	A.	Not that I am acceptable to God on account of the worthiness of my faith, for only the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ is my righteousness before God. ¹ I can receive this righteousness and make it my own by faith only. ²
		1. 1 Cor 1:30, 31; 2:2. 2. Rom 10:10; 1 Jn 5:10-12.