then confess: "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." And,
"there is none that doeth good, no, not one." And, "against thee, thee only,
have I sinned."

Having been humbled by the Law, and having been brought to a right estimate
of himself, a man will repent. He finds out that he is so depraved, that no
strength, no works, no merits of his own will ever deliver him from his guilt.
He will then understand the meaning of Paul's words: "I am sold under sin";
and "they are all under sin."

At this state a person begins to lament: "Who is going to help me?" In due
time comes the Word of the Gospel, and says: "Son, thy sins are forgiven thee.
Believe in Jesus Christ who was crucified for your sins. Remember, your sins
have been imposed upon Christ."

In this way are we delivered from sin. In this way are we justified and made
heirs of everlasting life.

In order to have faith you must paint a true portrait of Christ. The
scholastics caricature Christ into a judge and tormentor. But Christ is no law
giver. He is the Lifegiver. He is the Forgiver of sins. You must believe that
Christ might have atoned for the sins of the world with one single drop of His
blood. Instead, He shed His blood abundantly in order that He might give
abundant satisfaction for our sins.

Here let me say, that these three things, faith, Christ, and imputation of
righteousness, are to be joined together. Faith takes hold of Christ. God
accounts this faith for righteousness.

This imputation of righteousness we need very much, because we are far