Francis Turretin (1623-1687):
As faith is the instrument of justification by receiving the righteousness of Christ, so it is the root and principle of sanctification, while it purges the heart and works through love. Justification itself (which brings the remission of sins) does not carry with it the permission or license to sin (as the Epicureans hold), but ought to enkindle the desire of piety and the practice of holiness. . . . Thus justification stands related to sanctification as the means to the end.
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Institutes of Elenctic Theology (3 vols; P&R 1994), 2:692-93
Without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith in Christ's completed work on the cross justifies the believer, as Christ's righteousness is imputed to the sinner's account and our sins are imputed to Christ's account, achieving reconciliation between holy God and sinful man. Christ therefore paid our sin debt in full, paying the penalty for all our sins, past, present and future. This is the basis of out Christian liberty, but it does not give us license to sin. On the contrary, our love for God and our gratitude that He has saved us, adopted us, and appointed us as His ambassadors should motivate us to live a life separated from sin and the world. It also compels us to witness of His love and to let His love and light flow through us and be manifest as good works, not as a means to salvation but as the evidence thereof. I am following your blog and invite you to follow mine, Saved by Grace: http://savedbygracebiblestudy.blogspot.com/
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