THE TRUTHS OF CHRIST IN A DIALOGUE

Article 5

Letterwise

As the Son of God has taken the Suretyship upon Himself in the Council of Peace, so He has also actually accomplished this when He assumed the human nature from the virgin Mary. This especially consisted in perfect obedience unto death, Phil. 2:8, with regard to which we must particularly observe the following: First, an actual obedience consisting in a keeping of all the commandments of the law, to fulfill all righteousness, Matt. 3; and secondly, a passive obedience consisting in all that suffering outwardly and inwardly, in soul and body, namely, in bearing the wrath of God, the curse of the law, hellish agonies and distresses, till He died on the cross and it was all finished, so that sin might be condemned in the flesh and all righteousness of the law might be fulfilled, Rom. 8:3,4. That the Lord Jesus has accomplished and fulfilled all that was required of the sinner, as a Surety and Substitute in his stead, is evident from the following:

1. Because He was the Surety upon Whom all their sins were laid, Isa. 53:6, and their iniquities are called His, Ps. 10:12.

2. Because He is their High Priest, whose work it was to offer and sacrifice Himself for others, Hebr. 4 and Eph. 5.

3. Because He himself is the sacrifice, Hebr. 10:12; the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world, John 1:29; Who did bear our sins in His own body on the tree, I Peter 2:24; and in the place of the sinner has been made a curse, Gal. 3:13.

4. For that reason His death and obedience is called an atonement. Job 33:24 (Dutch version) ; a ransom, Matt. 20:28; a valuable price, I Peter 1:18; ;redemption, Hebr. 9:12; purchased, Acts 20:28.

5. Therefore it is said that He died for His church, 1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:15; Rom. 5:8; and His death called a ransom, I Tim. 2:6; and a sacrifice for sin, Hebr. 10:12.

And thus this Surety has glorified God, John 17; has kept His holiness in its full lustre, Isa. 5:16; satisfied His righteousness, Rom. 8; sanctified His name, John 17; fulfilled His law, Gal. 4; and in His good pleasure opened a way for sinners to be brought to the Throne of Grace, that He might be glorified in them forever, Rev. 5:12, because from this comes forth the following:

1. That for the sake of His passive obedience all the sins are forgiven of the chosen sinner and all his punishment remitted, because the Surety has atoned and borne them. Isa. 53:5: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” Matt. 26:28: “For this is My blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” See also Rom. 3:24; Eph. 1:7; Hebr. 9:12; etc.

2. By His actual obedience, being a fulfillment of the law, they receive a right unto life; for the Surety Himself did not need this righteousness, but had given Himself as the Head of the Covenant of Grace to merit this for them as the Lord their Righteousness, Jer. 23. “Their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord,’ Isa. 54:17; He is made unto them righteousness, 1 Cor. 1:30. And in order that the sinner might be eternally saved, it was necessary for him to receive the forgiveness of sin, release from punishment, and a right unto eternal life, as these blessings are combined in Dan. 9:24: “And to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness.” Acts 26:18: “That they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me.” Through the merits of the Surety this is imputed. Rom. 1:11: “That righteousness might be imputed unto them.” Read this whole chapter, in which Paul urges this so powerfully.

3. Consequently the Surety has then merited all the benefits of the Covenant, to apply these to them and to enjoy the fruits, namely, effectual calling, spiritual birth, faith, justification, sanctification, peace, happiness, and all consolation. Rom. 5:1: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ah, we may say that even before their calling they are placed in a state of reconciliation and are the subjects of God’s special and eternal love, Jer. 31:3; that under the means of grace they are kept from the sin against the Holy Ghost, and finally, on the appointed time it is said to them: “In thy blood live,” Ezek. 16:6.

4. But we must also observe here, that Jesus has merited that kingdom for Himself as Mediator, to have that redeemed people as His possession, to gather them as King, to reign over them, protect and keep them, and finally to lead them into glory. This is evident from the nature of the Council of Peace and the promise of the Father, Who has appointed Him this kingdom, Luke 22:29. Therefore it is aid in Isa. 53:10: “When Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed.” For the suffering of death, He is crowned with glory and honor, Hebr. 2.9; and Phil. 2:8 and 9: “And became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name.” “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God,” Hebr. 12:2. For this reason His redeemed ones are called His subjects, His own people, His inheritance, His possession, etc. And He is their Prince and King, anointed over Zion, the hill of His holiness, Ps. 2:6.

Concerned

We can readily deduce from the nature of this satisfaction that it was not brought forth for all people, but only for some who will obtain this grace, because:

1. They have been given to the Surety already in the Council of Peace, John 17; they are a certain seed, Isa. 53, children of promise, Rom. 9.

2. Jesus has not become a Surety for all. If He had become a Surety for all, they consequently would all be saved considering that He has fulfilled the Suretyship; but from the result it is evident that not all are saved. Therefore, He has not become a Surety for all men, but only for His sheep to whom He will give eternal life, John 10.

3. Therefore we find that those, for whom He has wrought this satisfaction as the Surety, are so expressively named in the Word of God as follows: His inheritance, Ps. 16:5; His people, Matt. 1:21; His Church, Acts 20:28; His peculiar people, Titus 2:14; His friends, John 15; His brethren, Hebr. 2:11; “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people,” 1 Peter 2:9, etc.

4. He did not suffer for all, Matt. 26:28, nor pray for all, John 17:9, but for those the Father gave Him.

5. The fruits of this satisfaction do not come to all; for it will be directly applied to the redeemed, and they are called, born again, sanctified, obtain peace with God, forgiveness of sin, and a new life, Eph. 2:1.

6. It is also evident from the results. During the dispensation of promise there was a holy and an unholy lineage; in the family of Noah, a Ham; in that of Abraham, an Ishmael; in that of Isaac, an Esau. During the Old Testament they were not all Israel, which were of Israel, Rom. 9:6; and all the heathen did not know God, Gal. 4:8. During the days of the New Testament experience teaches us yet every day, “that wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matt. 7:13,14.

Considering all this it certainly should excite us into a hearty examination of ourselves, whether we have a share therein, because how great is the blessing and happiness of those who will thus be saved, but how terrible shall the wretchedness be of those who will be lost forever! An imaginary hope, a false trust, or an outward confession do not count here, but only the truth within and an actual experience of these truths.

(To be continued).

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