Conscience and Gospel

Pastor Martin opens the negative side of the catechism's statement of the ground of justification: 'not for anything done by them.' He establishes from Romans 3-4, Ephesians 2, Philippians 3, and Titus 3 that no human performance - whether before, at, or after effectual calling - contributes any thread to the ground of justification. He then applies the truth to those holding a damning confidence in their own works and to true Christians battling the conflicting witnesses of conscience and the gospel.