Evidently nothing short of living faith will satisfy the representations of God's Word and the nature of the case.

Whenever the returning sinner exercises the first act of this living faith, he is justified, that is, then God performs that judicial or forensic act, by which a believing sinner, in consideration of the merits of Christ, is released from the penalty of the divine law, and is declared to be entitled to heaven.

[Note 13] In this state of justification the believer continues through life, unless he by voluntary transgression falls from a state, of grace and becomes a backslider.
IV.

_The evidence of this pardon or justification, to the believer himself, is within his own heart:_-- (_a_) It is that peace of God, or sense of pardoned sin, wrought in the soul by the Holy Spirit.

"Being justified by faith, we have _peace with God_, through our Lord Jesus Christ.Rom.v.