59. What does it help you now, that you believe all this?

That I am righteous in Christ before God, and an heir of eternal life.^[1]

^[1]Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17;  Jn. 3:36;  *Tit. 3:7;  *Rom. 5:1;  *Rom. 8:16.

60. How are you righteous before God?

Only by true faith in Jesus Christ:^[1] that is, although my conscience accuses me, that I have grievously sinned against all the commandments of God, and have never kept any of them,^[2] and am still prone always to all evil;^[3] yet God, without any merit of mine,^[4] of mere grace,^[5] grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction,^[6] righteousness, and holiness of Christ,^[7] as if I had never committed nor had any sins, and had myself accomplished all the obedience which Christ has fulfilled for me;^[8] if only I accept such benefit with a believing heart.^[9]

^[1]Rom. 3:21-25;  Gal. 2:16;  Eph. 2:8-9;  Phil. 3:9.  ^[2]Rom. 3:9-10.  ^[3]Rom. 7:23.  ^[4]Tit. 3:5. ^[5]Rom. 3:24;  Eph. 2:8.  ^[6] I Jn. 2:2.  ^[7]I Jn. 2:1;  Rom. 4:4-5;  II Cor. 5:19.  ^[8]II Cor. 5:21. ^[9]Jn. 3:18;  *Rom. 3:28;  *Rom. 10:10.

61. Why do you say that you are righteous by faith only?

Not that I am acceptable to God on account of the worthiness of my faith, but because only the satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ is my righteousness before God;^[1] and I can receive the same and make it my own in no other way than by faith only.^[2]

^[1]I Cor. 1:30; 2:2.  ^[2]I Jn. 5:10.  *Isa. 53:5; *Gal. 3:22;  *Rom. 4:16.