Doubting the Severity of the Law

Pastor Martin opens the very essence of the justifying act, showing it is two distinct yet inseparable elements: God pardons all our sins and accepts our persons as righteous in His sight. He marshals texts on forgiveness from Acts 13, Romans 4, Exodus 34, Psalm 103, Psalm 130, Isaiah 43-44, and then turns to the master-and-two-servants illustration to demonstrate that pardon alone is not enough - positive righteousness is also required, conferred in Christ as 1 Corinthians 1:30 and Romans 5:1-2 declare.

Pastor Martin closes the catechism's definition of justification by treating its final clause: justification is received by faith alone. He marshals the testimony of Scripture from Romans 3-5, Galatians 2-3, Philippians 3, and Ephesians 2 to show faith is the sole instrument; defines justifying faith as a Spirit-wrought, conviction-born receiving and resting upon Christ; and explains why faith alone - because it is wholly receptive, an empty hand that takes what God gives. He closes with a member's surgery testimony of resting on Christ alone in the face of death.