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Pilgrim said:
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speratus said:
It is not the exercise of faith that justifies but faith itself that justifies. Faith is not a good work but a gift of God whereby we lay hold of Christ and His righteousness not having a righteousness of our own.
ABSOLUTELY NOT...... it is NOT "faith itself that justifies", my friend, but Christ, upon the union with Him through faith (a vehicle, means), God declares the sinner justified. Faith in and of itself has absolutely no value whatsoever. It is the OBJECT of faith that justifies. I am shocked to see you write such a thing.

I was trying to point out the error of associating the exercise of faith with faith itself. I grant my wording could have been a little better (i.e., faith that justifies). However, I am surprised you object to a basic expression that has been so widely used and understood among the Reformers in the very sense that I use and explain the expression. Faith does indeed justify because it is the only means whereby we lay hold of Christ and His righteousness.