Such
were the steps pursued, or means employed, to accomplish the
redemption of the church, and hence we perceive that it was procured
at an infinite expence. Nothing that men were able either to do or
suffer, could have brought it about. Had they presented their
offended Maker with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of
rivers of oil; yea had the tender parent given his first born for his
transgression, the fruit of his body for the sins of his soul, all
would have been of no avail. None of them can by ANY MEANS redeem his
brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: for the redemption of
their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever. Jewish altars for
ages were overflowed with the blood of bulls, of sheep, and of goats,
offered in sacrifice to God; but sin still remained unexpiated, and
divine justice unsatisfied: For
it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take
away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world he saith,
Sacrifice and offerings thou wouldest not, but a body thou hast
prepared me. In burnt-offerings. and sacrifices for sin thou
hast had no pleasure.
But Jesus our glorious High Priest, after he had offered one
sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of God; and
thus proved that he had made full atonement for iniquity and
satisfied all the demands,
of justice. - But how stupendous and much to be praised and admired
is the grace, which moved and impelled the Son of God to offer
himself a sacrifice for sin, that he might work out redemption for
his people. Estimating it according to the nature and extent of the
torture and agony to which he voluntarily subjected himself, in the
garden and on the cross, which torture and agony he suffered in the
room of others, the magnitude of it must be vast indeed. Reflect on
the overwhelming sorrow of his soul, - look. to his bloody sweat, -
and hearken to his dying speech, My
God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me! - learn the immensity of his grace. Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends.
3. Once more,
consider the nature of redemption, - that you may still contemplate
the grace by which, believers in Christ are saved. And redemption is
of the most important and interesting nature. To all true believers,
it secures, deliverance from the guilt and dominion of sin, from the
curse of the law, and from future condemnation; yea so significant
and comprehensive is this term, that it implies the whole work of a
sinner's salvation. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but
by his own blood (Christ) entered in once into the holy place, having
obtained eternal redemption for us. Having,
as our great high Priest made full atonement for sin, the result is,
that deliverance from its guilt, power and penal consequences, was
effected for them that repent and believe; and that the most ample
provision was made for the 'pardon of their sins, the justification
of their persons, the sanctification of their nature, and the eternal
glorification of both their souls and bodies in the world to come.
This deliverance
from iniquity, and provision for the enjoyment of spiritual
blessings, traced to the atoning sacrifice of Christ as their source,
and viewed in all their appendages and connexions, display the nature
of redemption, in general. Is it represented under the idea of a
purchase? Is it salvation to the souls of God's elect from the
tyranny of satan, from sin, death and hell, and at length to their
bodies from the power of the grave? And is it productive of felicity
on earth and of endless bliss in a future state? All is in perfect
harmony with the above representation of its nature.
But it may be
enquired, How far as to persons, does this benefit extend ? To
God's elect only, or to all men? As to the divine INTENTION in
redemption, it regards the elect only. But if the inquiry be, What is
it SUFFICIENT to do ? The answer is, To save mankind in general.
It behoveth us to
have charity towards those that differ from us; and being in this
imperfect state so liable to err, we ought seriously to deprecate
every appearance of an approximation to infallibility: still we
should be fully persuaded in our own minds. I feel then no hesitation
in stating it as my opinion that Arminius erred when he declared,
"That Jesus Christ by his death and sufferings made an atonement
for the sins of every individual in particular." (This is the
second point presented to the Synod of Dort by the Arminians). On the
contrary Dr. Owen seems to speak as the oracles of God, when he says,
"SUFFICIENT was the sacrifice of Christ for the redemption of
the whole world and for the expiation of all the sins of all and
every man in the world. This sufficiency of his sacrifice hath a
two-fold rise: first, the dignity of the person that did offer, and
was offered; secondly, the greatness of the pain 'he endured' by
which he was able to bear, and did undergo the whole curse of the
law, and wrath of God" due to sin. And this sets forth the
innate, real, true worth and value of the blood shedding of Jesus
Christ. This is its own true, internal perfection and sufficiency.
That it should be applied unto any, made a price for them, and become
beneficial to them, according to the worth that is in it, is external
to it, doth not arise from it, but merely depends upon the intention
and will of God." (See The Death of death)
With this passage
accords the subjoining one taken from the Baptist Magazine, Vol. II.
p. 306. “CALVIN, and many after him, considering the Divinity of
Christ as stamping an infinite value on all that he did, have adopted
the spirit of David's servants, who said Thy life is worth ten
thousand of ours, and have affirmed that the sufferings of Christ
were an exposition of the divine displeasure against sin, and
therefore, in fact, of sufficient value to atone for all the sins
that ever were or ever can be committed:— but their effect is
limited by the divine purposes. — An eminent minister, now living,
in his confession of faith at his ordination, expressed himself on
redemption in the following manner: I am led to believe that to
effect the redemption of a peculiar people, the Son of God became
incarnate,— that by his life and death he left behind him a pattern
of perfect obedience, whilst he finished the work given him to fulfil
as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of his people, — and this
truth, though despised of men is that in which the peculiar glories
of the gospel concentrate, that wherein God has abounded towards us
in all wisdom and prudence. That there is full redemption in the
blood of Christ,— that men indiscriminately are required to
exercise repentance and faith as the means of obtaining it, that it
is the duty of the ministers of the gospel to enforce their
compliance, by every motive which can be drawn from the anger or the
love of an almighty God, appear evident from the sacred scriptures."In matters of
religion or conscience, we should call no man Master, but appeal to
the law and the testimony, as our only guide and directory. In
perfect harmony with this axiom, the above passages seem to display
the nature and scope of the redemption through the blood of Christ.
On the one hand, they maintain the necessary particularity of it, and
secure it from that undue latitude which Arminians attach to it; and
on the other, they harmonize it with unlimited invitations to
sinners, on which the scriptures abundantly insist, and which
false-calvinism, contrary to the plainest declarations and strongest
evidence, disavows and reprobates — But, O what immense riches of
grace are displayed in the redemption by Christ! Grace on the
Father's part, in not sparing his own Son, but delivering him up for
us; grace on the Son's part in readily complying with his Father's
designs, and giving his life a ransom for many: and grace in the
inestimable and countless gifts and benefits which result from his
interposition and death. Through this grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
christians are saved, as were the old testament saints. To it they
are to trace their reconciliation to God, the pardon of their
offences, the righteousness by which :their persons are justified,
the operations of the holy Spirit, and everlasting bliss beyond the
grave, as to their meritorious cause. By grace are ye saved,
through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift .of God :
not by works, lest any man should boast: for we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God bath before ordained
that we should walk in them.
