#62 Art. IV “Justification” of the Apology of the Augsburg Confession.It must, therefore, stand as impregnable ground, that we become acceptable and just before God, for the sake of Christ, through faith, and not on account of our love and works. This we shall endeavor to set forth in a clear, positive, and tangible form.
While the heart has no peace with God, it cannot be just; because it shrinks from the wrath of God, falls into despair, and feels unwilling that God should judge. Hence, the heart cannot be just and acceptable in the sight of God, because it is not at peace with him. Faith alone, then pacifies the heart, which obtains rest and life, (Rom. 5:1) when it freely and confidently relies upon the promises of God, for Christ’s sake. But our works can never pacify the heart; for we continually find that they are impure; consequently it must follow, that through faith alone we become acceptable to God and righteous, when we are satisfied in our hearts, that God will be merciful to us, not on account of our works and our fulfillment of the law, but by grace alone, for Christ’s sake.
What can our opponents allege against this argument? What can they contrive or devise in opposition to this manifest truth? For it is undoubtedly true, and experience very forcibly teaches, that our works or worship cannot afford peace to our consciences, when we truly feel the judgment and wrath of God, or fall in temptation. (Henkel Translation, p. 187).