... Just as it is necessary to keep this statement—Christ as Mediator—so it is necessary to defend that faith justifies. For how will Christ be Mediator if we do not use Him as Mediator in justification, if we do not hold that we are counted righteous for His sake? To believe is to trust in Christ's merits, that for His sake God certainly wishes to be reconciled with us. Here is a similar point: Just as we should defend that the promise of Christ is necessary apart from the Law, so also should we defend that faith justifies. For the Law cannot be performed unless the Holy Spirit is received first. It is, therefore, necessary to defend that the promise of Christ is necessary. But this cannot be received except through faith. Therefore those who deny that faith justifies teach nothing but the Law, both Christ and the Gospel being set aside.
~BOC, Apology, IV (II), 69-70
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