The LORD revealed to Joseph, and now to us, that Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit

and is the one who will save all who believe on Him.

In the New Covenant, the LORD promised a new reality

that is substantially different from that found in the Old Covenant,

ensuring a sure salvation for all in it.

Even as the LORD executed His judgements on His rebellious people, He displayed His mercy by consoling them with a profound promise.

Is the Roman Catholic Doctrine of Justification Orthodox?

This week's Bible Class is a discussion of emailed questions to Pastor Kelly.

No Class Notes this week.

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Those whom God effectually calls, he also freely justifies,1 not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous;2 not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone;3 not by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing Christ's active obedience unto the whole law, and passive obedience in his death for their whole and sole righteousness by faith,4 which faith they have not of themselves; it is the gift of God.5

1 Rom. 3:24, 8:30

2 Rom. 4:5–8, Eph. 1:7

3 1 Cor. 1:30–31, Rom. 5:17–19

4 Phil. 3:8–9; Eph. 2:8–10

5 John 1:12, Rom. 5:17

Knowing who the LORD is and what He is like will move us to worship Him with joy and thanksgiving.

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Those whom God hath predestinated unto life, He is pleased in His appointed, and accepted time, effectually to call,1 by His Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ;2 enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God;3 taking away their heart of stone, and giving to them a heart of flesh;4 renewing their wills, and by His almighty power determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ;5 yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by His grace.6

1 Rom. 8:30, 11:7; Eph. 1:10–11; 2 Thess. 2:13–14

2 Eph. 2:1–6

3 Acts 26:18; Eph. 1:17–18

4 Ezek. 36:26

5 Deut. 30:6; Ezek. 36:27; Eph. 1:19

6 Ps. 110:3; Cant. 1:4

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This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, nor from any power or agency in the creature,7 being wholly passive therein, being dead in sins and trespasses, until being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit;8 he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it, and that by no less power than that which raised up Christ from the dead.9

7 2 Tim. 1:9; Eph. 2:8

8 1 Cor. 2:14; Eph. 2:5; John 5:25

9 Eph. 1:19–20

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Elect infants dying in infancy are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit;10 who works when, and where, and how He pleases;11 so also are all elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word.

10 John 3:3,5–6

11 John 3:8

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Others not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit,12 yet not being effectually drawn by the Father, they neither will nor can truly come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved:13 much less can men that do not receive the Christian religion be saved; be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature and the law of that religion they do profess.14

12 Matt. 22:14, 13:20–21; Heb. 6:4–5

13 John 6:44–45,65; 1 John 2:24–25

14 Acts 4:12; John 4:22, 17:3

The LORD promised unending lovingkindness to all His people, promising to gather them into

His kingdom, redeeming them from their enemies and filling them with everlasting joy.