11. Faith as the Only Outward means of Revealing Christ and Saving Grace
I noted earlier that in interpretation, the "context is king" and "the wider context is the king's supreme advisor." With this reminder, I now ask, what is the meaning of "faith... is the sole instrument of justification" as found in 1689.11.2 in light of the wider context?
Let us compare "faith... is the sole instrument of justification" (in 1689.11.2) with "the gospel be the only outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace" (in 1689.20.1). I believe these two statements are parallel. The King's supreme adviser will make plain the meaning of the phrase "faith... is the sole instrument of justification." Faith, which receives and rests in Christ and His righteousness, answers to the gospel call, since faith comes by hearing. (Please note that it does not say "regeneration or new birth comes by hearing" as it is commonly assumed!). If the gospel is the only outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace, then faith in Christ, the response to the gospel of Christ, does exactly the same. Faith is also the only outward means or the sole instrument of revealing one's interest in Christ and saving grace as the result of God's gracious act of effectual call unto eternal life.
When is Christ and saving grace applied to God's elect? It is before faith. 1689.10.1-3 says, "Those whom God hath predestined unto life, He is pleased in His appointed and accepted time, effectually to call, by His Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ... . Those whom God effectually calleth, He also freely justifieth... All those that are justified, God vouchsafed, in and for the sake of His only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption." All these speak of Christ and saving grace applied to the elect personally in God's appointed and accepted time, when the elect was still in the state of sin and death.
The term "Christ and saving grace" (1689.20.1) and "grace and salvation by Jesus Christ" (1689.10.1) are synonymous, and can only refer to the justified and blessed state as the result of God's sovereign and gracious act at effectual call to eternal salvation involving God's acts of justification, regeneration, and adoption - which took place by pure sovereign grace alone apart from man's faith.
Faith in Jesus Christ is the SOLE outward means or instrument of revealing the glorious work of salvation ALREADY APPLIED to an elect personally at effectual calling to grace and salvation - involving justification, regeneration, and adoption, accompanied with the gift of the Spirit of adoption to indwell the effectually called.
