We seek the ninth argument from Galatians 3:27, “Whoever among you who has been baptized into Christ, has been clothed with Christ.” The meaning is that the church is necessary for Christ as to be covered with clothes, and under it to take refuge, that it may be absolutely holy and above reproach. Just as Jacob did not merit the right of first born by himself, hidden in the style of his brother, and wearing his clothes, which breathed the best odor, he made his way to his father, so that for his own advantage he might receive the blessing under a foreign person, so it is necessary that we take refuge under the precious purity of our firstborn brother Christ, that we may bring back the testimony of righteousness in the sight of God. In order that we may make ourselves ready in salvation before the face of God, it is necessary that we emit His sweet smell, and that our vices be covered up by and buried in His perfection. Christ is put on by us first and principally, because His satisfaction having been imputed to us, He covers us and adorns us as a garment in the sight of God. Then also Christ is put on by us, because we begin in this life to become conformed to Him. But here Paul speaks especially about imputation of righteousness and reconciliation through Christ, the testimony of which baptism alleges.
Hence, we argue thus: whoever have put on Christ, to them that most perfect obedience of Christ, whereby He fulfilled the whole law, is imputed for righteousness. But we, as many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Therefore, that most perfect obedience, whereby He fulfilled the whole Law, is imputed for righteousness to us, as many as have been baptized into Christ.
Amandus Polanus, The Free Justification of Man the Sinner Before God (1615) in Justification By Faith Alone: Selected Writings From Theodore Beza (1519–1605), Amandus Polanus (1561–1610), Francis Turretin (1623–1687), trans. Casey Carmichael, Volume 6: Classic Reformed Theology Theology (Reformation Heritage Books, 2023), 150.
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