The justification of a sinner.

Herman Witsius has written:

“Let us now at length proceed to treat of the justification of man as a sinner, but considered as in Christ the Surety. As this subject is the foundation of all solid comfort, so it is full of mysteries and perplexed with many controversies: nevertheless it is clearly delivered in the scriptures, if men would only be satisfied with their simplicity, and not shut their eyes against the light, which so freely shines upon them, nor give way to curious niceties, and the roving of a luxuriant fancy. We thus define the gospel justification of a sinner: “It is a judicial, but gracious act of God, whereby the elect and believing sinner, is absolved from the guilt of his sins, and hath a right to eternal life adjudged to him, on account of the obedience of Christ, received by faith.””

(Witsius, Herman. The Economy of the Covenants Between God and Man, Volume I, Kingsburg, CA: den Dulk Christian Foundation, 1990, p. 401)