Justification, Volume 1 Quotes

“Aquinas goes further than the Protestant Reformers in stressing the need for grace. While the Reformers held that human nature as created was capable intrinsically of fulfilling its vocation, Thomas insists that even before the fall Adam and Eve required supernatural grace in order to obey in genuine love.39 It will therefore not do for Protestant critics to declaim medieval (and contemporary Roman Catholic) theology as having a “weak view of grace,” full-stop. Rather, it had a different view of grace—primarily as an infused substance to restore original justice (i.e., mastery of the lower self by the higher self) and assist the soul to cooperate toward final beatitude.”
― Michael S. Horton, Justification, Volume 1

“This is the wonderful exchange which, out of His measureless benevolence, Jesus Christ has made with us; that, becoming Son of man with us, He has made us sons of God with Him; that, by His descent to earth, He has prepared an ascent to heaven for us; that, by taking on our mortality, He has conferred His immortality upon us; that, accepting our weakness, He has strengthened us by His power; that, receiving our poverty unto Himself, He has transferred His wealth to us; that, taking the weight of our iniquity upon Himself, He has clothed us with His righteousness.”
― Michael S. Horton, Justification, Volume 1

“For faith does not justify because it is so good a work and so God-pleasing a virtue, but because it lays hold of and accepts the merit of Christ and the promise of the Holy Gospel.”
― Michael S. Horton, Justification, Volume 1

“Calvin told Cardinal Sadoleto that “we are assailed by two sects: the pope and the Anabaptists.” Although they seem quite different, he says, they are both dedicated to an enthusiasm that draws people away from the external word.”
― Michael S. Horton, Justification, Volume 1

“The Galatians were not so grossly mistaken as to believe that they were justified by observing the law alone,” says Calvin. “They wanted to mix Christ with the law, but even the smallest amount of righteousness cannot be attributed to the law without renouncing Christ and his grace.”
― Michael S. Horton, Justification, Volume 1

“He does not say, ‘Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s’ servants? or of ‘God’s faithful ones?’ but ‘of God’s elect.’ . . . He does not say, it is God who forgave our sins, but what is much greater, ‘It is God that justifies.’ For when the Judge’s sentence declares us just, and a Judge such as that too, what signifies the accuser? . . . for He has both elected and justified us, and the wondrous thing is that it was also by the death of His Son that He did so. Who then is to condemn us, since God crowns us, and Christ was put to death for”
― Michael S. Horton, Justification, Volume 1

“us, and not only was put to death, but also after this intercedes for us?”
― Michael S. Horton, Justification, Volume 1