Formulary Friday: Help!

Me: I was pretty discouraged after reading the second homily. It sounds so negative to say ‘we are of ourselves verily, sinful, wretched and damnable.’ Are you serious that I don’t have any hope of being righteous before God?

Preacher: Because all men be sinners and offenders against God, and breakers of his law and commandments, therefore…every man of necessity is constrained to seek for another righteousness or justification, to be received at God’s own hands.

But how could I ever be counted righteous when I’m not?

Preacher: God sent his only Son our Saviour Christ into this world to fulfil the law for us, and by shedding of his most precious blood to make a sacrifice and satisfaction…to his Father for our sins, to assuage his wrath and indignation conceived against us for the same. …This is that justification or righteousness which St Paul speaketh of when he saith No man is justified by the works of the law, but freely by faith in Jesus Christ(Romans 3).

That makes no sense. In what sense can salvation be called ‘free’ if a ransom has to paid?

Preacher: God…hath so tempered his justice and mercy together, that he would neither by his justice condemn us unto the everlasting captivity of the devil and his prison of hell…., nor by his mercy deliver us clearly without justice…but with his endless mercy he joined his most upright and equal justice.

So what’s involved in this salvation?

Preacher: Three things…must go together in our justification: upon God’s part, his great mercy and grace; upon Christ’s part, justice, that is, the… price of our redemption by the offering of his body with the shedding of his blood…and upon our part, true and lively faith in the merits of Jesu Christ.

So I don’t need to repent or hope or love – I just need faith?

Preacher: Faith doth not shut out repentance, hope, love, dread, and the fear of God, to be joined with faith in every man that is justified, but it shutteth them out from the office of justifying. So that, although they be all present together in him that is justified, yet they justify not all together.

Aren’t you worried that no one has ever seen this before you?

Preacher: This faith the holy Scripture teacheth: this is the strong rock and foundation of Christian religion: this doctrine all old and ancient authors of Christ’s Church do approve: this doctrine advanceth and setteth forth the true glory of Christ, and beateth down the vain glory of man: this whosoever denieth is not to be counted for a true Christian man.

What’s all this talk about being saved by faith alone?

Preacher: This form of speaking we use in the humbling of ourselves to God, and to give all the glory to our Saviour Christ, which is best worthy to have it.

So what’s my part in this? Can I trust in Jesus and just live however I like?

Preacher: That faith which bringeth forth, without repentance, either evil works or no good works is not a right, pure and lively faith, but a dead, devilish, counterfeit, and feigned faith, as St. Paul and St. James call it.

Right, so let’s just get clear, if God has shown done these amazing things for us, how should we live?

Preacher: If we be not desperate persons, and our hearts harder than stones, they move us to render ourselves unto God with all our will, hearts, might, and power; to serve him in all good deeds,…to seek in all things his glory and honour…; evermore dreading willingly to offend such a merciful God and loving Redeemer in word, thought or deed.

So what’s the sign that I really am saved?

Preacher: These be the fruits of the true faith: to do good, as much as lieth in us, to every man; and, above all things, and in all things, to advance the glory of God.

Thank you very much.