Question 36. But how are we justified by faith?
Answer: Not because of the worthiness of our faith, as if God justifies us because of it, as the Remonstrants would have it, and [as if] faith is here reckoned as a virtue and a remarkable good work, and therefore as the meritorious cause of the same [i.e. of justification].
…Question 38. How should faith here then be understood?
Answer: As a hand or instrument, whereby we grab and take hold of the righteousness of the Redeemer, hence the sayings ‘take hold of God’s strength’ Is. 27:5; ‘receiving Jesus’ Jn. 1:12; ‘receiving the gift of righteousness’ Rom 5:17 and Acts 26:18.
Question 39. By which analogy do you clear this up?
Answer: Of the beggar who would receive alms of the generosity of a rich man, to which he must stretch out the hand, in which case it [i.e. the hand] deserves nothing, but is only the means by which he receives the gift; or alternatively, of one who in the navigation of the sea capsizes and sees a plank, grabs hold of it, and hauls himself onto it, thereby to be spared.”
—Henricus Siccama (1692–1746), Kort Begrip der Waare Godtgeleertheit, Chapter XVI (On Justification) (Trans. Jake Griesel)
R. Scott Clark
R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He is professor emeritus of church history and historical theology at Westminster Seminary California, where he taught for 29 years. He also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007 and the Heidelcast since 2009.
More by R. Scott Clark ›