#29 Art. IV “Justification” of the Apology of the Augsburg Confession.We shall now show, that this faith, and nothing else, justifies us before God. First I would remind the reader, that as the truth, that Christ is our only Mediator, must and shall always stand, irrefutably, so also no one can deny, that through faith we are justified without works. For how can Christ be and remain the Mediator, unless, through faith, we hold to him as the Mediator, and thus become reconciled to God; unless we firmly believe, that for his sake we are just before God? Now this is faith, to confide in and rely on the merits of Christ, that for his sake God will assuredly be merciful to us.
As clearly as the Scriptures say, that besides the law the promises of Christ are necessary for salvation, they also teach that faith justifies. The law does not preach remission of sins through grace. Again, we cannot fulfill or keep the law, till we receive the Holy Ghost. Accordingly we must insist, that the promises of Christ are necessary to salvation, and no one can comprehend or receive them except through faith alone. Those therefore, who teach we are not justified before God through faith, suppress Christ and the Gospel, and teach the law. (Henkel Translation, p. 170).
