Article XXII
Faith and the Sufficiency of Christ
True faith finds its complete satisfaction in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.
We believe that, to give us true knowledge of this great mystery, the Holy Spirit kindles true faith in our hearts—a faith that embraces Jesus Christ with all his merits, makes him its own, and looks for nothing beyond him. For one of two things must be true: either not everything required for our salvation is found in Jesus Christ, or, if everything is found in him, whoever has Jesus Christ through faith has complete salvation. Therefore, to say that Christ isn't sufficient and that something else must be added to him is an appalling blasphemy against God, for it would follow that Jesus Christ is only half a Savior.
Justified by Faith Alone
We are justified by faith as the instrument that unites us to Christ, who is our true righteousness.
That is why we rightly say with Paul that we are justified by faith alone, or by faith apart from works.✦ However, strictly speaking, we don't mean that faith itself justifies us, for faith is only the instrument by which we embrace Christ, our righteousness. Rather, Jesus Christ is our righteousness: he credits to us all his merits and all the holy works he performed for us and on our behalf. Faith is the instrument that keeps us united with him in the sharing of all his benefits; and once those benefits become ours, they are more than sufficient to acquit us of our sins.12
Read the original Latin
Nous croyons que pour obtenir la vraie connaissance de ce grand mystère, le Saint-Esprit allume en nos cœurs une vraie foi, laquelle embrasse Jésus-Christ avec tous ses mérites, et le fait sien, et ne cherche plus rien hors de lui. Car il faut nécessairement que ce qui est requis pour notre salut ne soit point tout en Jésus-Christ; ou, si tout y est, que celui qui a Jésus-Christ par la foi, ait tout son salut. De dire donc que Christ ne suffit point, mais qu'il y faut quelque autre chose avec, c'est un blasphème trop énorme contre Dieu; car il s'ensuivrait que Jésus-Christ ne serait que demi Sauveur. C'est pourquoi, à juste cause, nous disons avec saint Paul, que nous sommes justifiés par la seule foi, ou par la foi sans les œuvres. Cependant nous n'entendons pas à proprement parler, que ce soit la foi même qui nous justifie; car elle n'est que l'instrument par lequel nous embrassons Christ notre justice: mais Jésus-Christ nous allouant tous ses mérites et tant de saintes œuvres qu'il a faites pour nous et en notre nom, est notre justice, et la foi est l'instrument qui nous tient avec lui en la communion de tous ses biens: lesquels étant fait nôtres, nous sont plus que suffisants pour nous absoudre de nos péchés.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Rom.3.28 — For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Notes
The Belgic Confession companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit