§ 280. The law, although it was given in order to justify man, as was said above, could not justify man, not from itself, but from human weakness. For no one could fulfill it perfectly, as it is written: "All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), and so with his justification he departed from us. With justification, I say, for as far as the fulfillment of the law is concerned, Christians must fulfill it even now, they must obey it, they must lead their lives according to its rule and teaching. Otherwise, those who do not want to live according to its rule will not escape the curse and condemnation announced in the law.

And if the law has departed from us with justification, for no flesh can be justified by the works of the law (Gal. 2:16), since they could not fulfill it, then it refers us to the Gospel and, as weak, entrusts us to Christ, preached in the Gospel, Who freely, without works of the law, justifies and saves those who believe in Him (Romans 3:24-28). In this sense, it seems, the Apostle wrote: "The Law was for us a guide to Christ, that we might be justified by faith" (Gal. 3:24). For besides teaching us what to do and what not to do, and thus trying to lead us away from our sins, he, as if taking us by the hand, leads us to Christ, who are defective and weak, for what he teaches us we do not do, and so he rebukes us and condemns us, and does not justify us, frightens us and does not console us, he shows us our weakness, and does not take it away, but thereby convinces us, as it were, to look for another means through which we could get rid of our wretchedness.

In such a distress of conscience we are convinced to have recourse to God's merciful promise in Christ Jesus, to His holy Gospel and Christ, of Whom the Gospel revelation preaches, Who justifies those who have not made the law, but those who believe in Him, freely and delivers them from all calamity and wretchedness, as He Himself says: "If the Son sets you free, ye shall be truly free" (John 8:36). being unable to be justified by the law, to be justified by faith (Gal. 3:24). For Christ took upon Himself the condemnation of the law, to which we, as sinners and transgressors of the law, were subject, and gives us a blessing. He Himself bore our sins in His Body on the tree (1 Peter 2:24), so that He might give us His righteousness by faith, as the Apostle wrote: He made Him who knew no sin a sacrifice for sin, that in Him we might become righteous before God (2 Corinthians 5:21). More on this will be set out below.

From the above, it follows:

1) The Gospel was from the beginning of the world the same as it is preached today.

2) The same faith was from the beginning of the world, which is now preached, for the fathers of the Old Testament believed in the coming Christ, and we believe in Him who came.

3) They had the same image of justification and salvation that we have, that is, faith in Christ. For it is ordained in God's pre-eternal counsel that a man who has sinned should be saved only through Christ, by faith in Him. And what was ordained then is now done, and whosoever is saved is saved by faith. For the Gospel is a mystery hidden from eternity in God (Ephesians 3:9), as it was said before.

4) As a Christian begins with faith, so faith begins with the Gospel. Without the Gospel, there can be no faith. We must believe God's merciful promise, which relates to the Gospel, if we want to receive faith in our hearts.

5) In order to receive faith in the heart from the Gospel, one must feel in the heart the power, reproof, condemnation and fear of God's judgment from the law. This requires the preaching of the law of God.

6) From this it can be seen how one should learn in the Word of God, that is, in the law and the Gospel, since from the law sin is known and God's wrath against sin is felt (see Romans 3:20), and from the Gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit consolation and living faith are instilled in the heart.

7) The Gospel does not benefit those who are defective, unrepentant and do not cease to sin, since it is only preached to those who fear God and His righteous Judgment and are wounded by fear and sorrow for their sins. They need and are offered consolation from the Gospel. They are told: "Do not be afraid, only believe" (Mark 5:36). To them Christ preached in the Gospel is the Comforter and Physician, just as He Himself says: "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick" (Matt. 9:12).

Chapter 2.

On Faith