Page images
PDF
EPUB

be remarked, that in the presence of an assembled world, the thoughts, the words, and the actions of all mankind, shall be brought into view.-2 Cor. v. 10; Eccl. xii. 14; Jude 15; Matt. xii. 36, 37.

If it be here asked, why works shall be produced at last, and what place they shall have in respect of the punishment of the wicked and the reward of the righteous, we answer,

1. The good works of the righteous (mentioned in Matt. xxv.) shall be produced, not as the ground or reason of their sentence, but only as evidences of their union with Christ, and of their right and title to heaven through him.-See John xv. 8, 14. The sentence passed on the righteous, is on the ground of free grace alone, reigning through the imputed righteousness of Christ, unto everlasting life; and it will be pronounced upon them according to their works, as flowing from faith in Christ, or from a renewed and sanctified heart, but not for their works, or even for faith itself, as if eternal life were merited by them. The righteous are called upon to inherit the kingdom prepared for them; but they do not procure it as servants do their wages.

2. The works of the ungodly, on the other hand, are produced, not only as evidences of their state, but as the proper cause and ground of their condemnation. Good works merit not salvation, but evil works merit condemnation; for "death is the wages of sin; but eternal life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord."-Rom. vi. 23.

On the day of final judgment, a twofold sentence shall be pronounced by Christ the Judge,—one in favour of the righteous, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; and the other against the wicked, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."-Matt. xxv. 34, 41.

INFERENCES.

From this subject we learn,—1. The necessity of setting our affections on things above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. 2. The necessity of suffering patiently for his sake. 3. That Christ's exaltation is a pledge of the believer's exaltation, and of his being admitted into the presence of God. 4. That God is well pleased with the work of Christ on earth. 5. That believers have no cause to fear any real evil from their enemies; seeing the Lord Christ

reigneth in Zion. 6. That the Church of Christ shall prosper in the world. 7. The danger of scoffing at the thoughts of the general judgment. 8. The necessity of meditating on the world to come. 9. The necessity of improving the day of our merciful visitation. 10. That we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ. 11. That the last judgment shall glorify the perfections of Jehovah before the world. 12. The happiness of the righteous and the misery of the wicked. 13. The necessity of holiness. 14. That Christ will appear exceedingly glorious in the eyes of all those by whom he has been despised, as well as of those who have believed on him.

OF THE APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION UNDER WHICH ARE CONSIDERED, THE AGENT BY WHOM IT IS APPLIED, THE MEANS USED FOR ITS APPLICATION IN EFFECTUAL CALLING, AND THE MANNER AND ORDER OF APPLYING IT.

Of the Agent by whom Redemption is applied. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit.

ANALYSIS AND PROOFS.

We are here taught,

1. That redemption has been purchased by Christ for his people. Heb. ix. 12.-" By his own blood he entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."."-See also Eph. i. 7.

2. That redemption must be applied to believers. John i. 12. As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his

[merged small][ocr errors]

3. That redemption is effectually applied to believers by the Holy Spirit. Tit. iii. 5.—" He saved us by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.”—See also Ezek. xxxvi. 27.

EXPLANATION,

Obs. 127.-Redemption has been purchased by Christ for his people.

Redemption is deliverance by payment of a price. The redemption purchased by Christ consists of two things: 1. Deliverance from all evil,-from sin the greatest evil, and from eternal wrath.-Matt. i. 21; Rom. vi. 6, 7; 1 Thess. i. 10. 2. Restoration to all good, or the possession of all the happiness and blessings which man forfeited by the fall, which may be all summed up in eternal life, begun in this world and perfected in glory.

The purchaser of this redemption was Jesus Christ, the Lord from heaven. It was he alone that assumed our nature; he alone that could redeem our mortgaged inheritance; and he alone that could bruise the head of the old serpent-the devil, and give him a deadly wound which could never be healed.

The ransom which Christ paid as the price of redemption, was himself. In the ransom is included all that he did and suffered for sinners. Although it is true that Christ our Redeemer exerted an almighty power, and delivered the lawful captives; yet it is also true that he paid a ransom for his people. And this ransom was himself, his life, his blood.— 1 Tim. ii. 6; Mark x. 45; 1 Pet. i. 18.

They who are interested in this ransom, are all that have been or shall be united to Christ by the effectual working of his Holy Spirit; believers in every age and nation, to whom God hath given and shall give power to become his sons.— John i. 12.

Obs. 128.-Redemption must be applied to believers.

To apply redemption to sinners, is to interest them in it, to invest them in the possession of it, to make it theirs in all its effects and consequences, and to all the purposes for which it was purchased, both for present peace and comfort, and for future glory.

This application is so necessary, that none can have any saving benefit by it until it be applied.-John i. 12. Before this application, the elect are in a state of wrath, their sins are unpardoned, and they have no actual right to the heavenly inheritance. As a remedy cannot recover any one unless it be applied, so men must die eternally, unless

H

the redemption of Christ be applied to them in particular for their recovery from the effects of the fall.

Obs. 129.-Redemption is effectually applied to believers by the Holy Spirit.

The applier of the redemption purchased by Christ, is the Holy Spirit. Tit. iii. 5; John vi. 63.-"It is the Spirit that quickeneth." Neither the Father's gift of Christ, nor the Son's dying in our stead, will bring us back to the favour and image of God, if the work of the Spirit be wanting. And it is as impossible for the sinner to apply it to himself, as it is for him to pay to God a ransom for his soul.

This part of the work of the Spirit was typified in a very striking manner, under the law, by the sprinkling of the blood of the sacrifice upon the people.-See Exod. xxiv. 8.

In this work, the Spirit is called the Holy Spirit, to show, that as he is essentially holy, so all his operations are also holy; and that his work is designed for holy purposes,—viz., the renewing of the whole man, and the rendering of it conformed to the image of God, and meet for the enjoyment of him.

He is here called Christ's Holy Spirit, because, although he is also the Spirit of the Father, yet, in applying_redemption, he is sent more immediately by Christ. See John xiv. 16, and xvi. 7.

The application is here said to be effectual, to show, that there is an application of it which is not effectual,—that is, an outward application of it in the ordinances of Christ's appointment, which is not of itself effectual. This is evident from the case of Simon Magus, who was baptized, but to whom the redemption by Christ was not effectually applied; for he was still "in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity."-Acts viii. 23.

The persons to whom the Spirit applies Christ's redemption, are those and those alone for whom it was purchased. The application of redemption is as extensive as the purchase of it, but not more so.-Eph. i. 13.

The means which the Spirit makes use of in the application of redemption are, the reading and hearing of the Word. But the preaching of the Word is more generally the effectual means of working upon the heart of the sinner.-Hence see 1 Cor. iii. 5.

INFERENCES.

From this subject we learn,-1. The necessity of the redemption purchased by Christ. 2. The happiness of all those who are interested in this redemption; and the misery of all those who have no interest in it. 3. The duty of selfexamination, that we may know whether Christ be our Redeemer-whether we are brought out of slavery or bondage into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 4. The necessity of the work of the Spirit on the soul. 5. The happiness of all who have the Spirit of Christ. 6. The danger of all who reject the Holy Spirit of promise, by whom the soul is sealed to the day of redemption.

Of the Means used for the Application of Redemption in Effectual Calling.

The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.

ANALYSIS AND PROOFS.

We are here taught,—

1. That in applying redemption to the people of God, the Spirit worketh faith in them. Eph. ii. 8.-"By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God."

2. That by faith believers are united to Christ. Eph. iii. 17.-"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith."

3. That believers are united to Christ in their effectual calling. 1 Cor. i. 9.-"God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord."

EXPLANATION.

Obs. 130.—In applying redemption to sinners, the Spirit worketh faith in them.

When the Spirit applies redemption to those sinners for whom it was purchased by Christ, he works faith in them. Hence he is called the Spirit of faith.-2 Cor. iv. 13. He alone is the efficient cause of faith in the soul. It requires the same power to work faith in the soul, that was wrought in Christ when he was raised from the dead. See Eph. i. 19, &c.

« PreviousContinue »