CONSEQUENCES OF JUSTIFICATION   § 149. The consequences of justification are peace with God,1 a good conscience,2 comfort and consolation under the cross,3 and hope of life everlasting.4 1. The consequences of justification are peace with God,…   Isaiah 59:2 But your …

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ACTIVITY OF FAITH   § 150. From the moment when justifying faith has been wrought by the Holy Spirit in the act of regeneration or conversion, the same Spirit of God also actuates such living faith in the divine work of …

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RENOVATION OR SANCTIFICATION § 151. Renovation,1 or sanctification,2 is the restitution of the divine image 3 in the regenerate 4 by the operation of the Holy Spirit,5 through the means of grace,6 and in the exertion of the spiritual energies 7 …

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MODE OF SANCTIFICATION   § 152. The restitution of the image of God is effected in the putting off of the old man 1 with his evil propensities and works, of which a Christian must ever anew be reminded by the …

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PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION   § 153. The development and growth of the new man consists in the progressive enlightenment of the understanding 1 toward a more extensive and intensive knowledge of divine truth,2 a continued renewal of the will toward its original …

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GOOD WORKS   § 154. The restitution of the image of God in the regenerate is necessarily 1 productive of good works 2 in accordance with the will of God 3 expressed in His commandments,4 the rule of Christian life, and …

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IMPUTED AND INHERENT RIGHTEOUSNESS COMPARED   § 155. While Christ’s vicarious obedience constitutes the righteousness imputed to us 1 and accepted by our faith,2 and is a necessary cause of our salvation,3 our own obedience constitutes a righteousness inherent in us,4 and …

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SANCTIFICATION IMPERFECT IN THIS LIFE § 156. While Christ’s obedience imputed to us constitutes a perfect 1 righteousness in the sight of God, our own obedience, or the righteousness inherent in us, must, on account of the residue of sinful flesh …

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INVISIBLE CHURCH   § 157. The community of the regenerate, or of all those who believe in Christ and are justified by faith,1 is the invisible 2 Church of Christ on earth, the one holy catholic Church,3 in the proper sense …

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VISIBLE CHURCHES   § 158. In a tropical sense all those who have and hear the Gospel and profess the Christian religion, true believers and hypocrites together,1 are called the visible church, and in the same synecdochical sense every particular community …

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