Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

SERMON III,

THE COVENANT OF REDEMPTION.

PSALM XXV. 14.

THE SECRET OF THE LORD IS WITH THEM THAT FEAR HIM; AND HE WILL SHEW THEM HIS COVENANT.

THE great mystery of human redemption

[ocr errors]

was hid from ages and generations.' Such is the declaration of the inspired apostle St. Paul, who elsewhere states that it was "hid in God from the foundation of the world; but at length was made manifest to his saints." In the fulness of time it was made known to the church by Christ and his apostles. The same sacred writer, speaking of the truths and blessings of the gospel in another place, says, "It is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit: for the spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God."

We must not however imagine, because the mysteries of the gospel are revealed to us in the written word, that therefore we need no farther revelation of

it, is faith in Christ. There is no other way in
which justification is conferred by God or received
by man. Of course I speak not here of infants or
such as are physically incapable of exercising faith.
This is another dispensation-a necessary exception
to a general rule. But I may confidently say of you,
and of all to whom the gospel comes, that none are
justified and saved who do not believe; and that all
who believe are justified and saved.
Hence we see

the vast importance of faith. Faith, as being con-
nected with our salvation, is in a sense, as important
to us as Christ himself. For what is ascribed to
Christ meritoriously, is ascribed to faith instrument-
ally. It is necessary therefore that we should know
what this faith is; and here I shall make two remarks:

1. First, a justifying faith implies a firm belief of that method of salvation by Christ which the gospel reveals.

[ocr errors]

Faith in its general acceptation, is belief founded upon the testimony of another. A divine faith is belief founded upon the testimony of God as revealed in his word; and consequently faith in Christ is believing the testimony of God concerning Christ. Hence, faith is said to be a receiving of the witness of God, which he hath testified of his son;" and unbelief, on the other hand, is "not receiving the record which God gave of his Son.". Now, what is the substance of this record, or testimony? Let the apostle John answer this question. "This is the record that God hath given unto us, eternal life, and this life is in his Son." God in the

[ocr errors][merged small]

gospel testifies that he has established a method of bestowing everlasting life upon guilty sinners, who were justly condemned to eternal death and the apostle further declares, that this immortal life, with the glory and blessedness it includes, is only to be obtained in and through His beloved Son Jesus Christ; and that nothing appears from any other quarter, but horror and despair. For the gospel supposes that all are sinners and exposed to condemnation that they are unable to make satisfaction for their sins, or to merit the divine favour, by any thing they can do or suffer. It represents the Lord Jesus Christ as substituting himself in the place of the guilty, bearing the punishment due to their sins, and obeying the law of God in their stead. This is the method, and the only method of reconciliation adopted by God. He receives sinners as justified through the obedience, sufferings, and death of his beloved Son, who became their substitute and surety. This is the substance of the testimony of God in the gospel; and faith implies a firm and affecting persuasion of its truth. This testimony is revealed to your eyes in the scripture, and it is published in your ears by the preaching of the gospel. And if you believe with a justifying faith, you are so convinced of the truth of this representation, as to venture upon it the salvation of your soul.

2. Secondly, a justifying faith includes the approbation and acceptance of this method of salvation by the faith of Jesus Christ.

If you are sensible of your guilt and misery by sin,

and truly believe the testimony of God respecting the ability and willingness of Christ to save sinners, one would suppose that it must follow as a necessary consequence, that you will trust in him for salvation. This the justified believer does. Renouncing himself and all hope in his own righteousness, he places his whole dependence on the Lord Jesus, and desires that God would deal with him entirely on the ground of His merits. This is faith, and this faith justifies instrumentally. For when any one thus believes, the righteousness of Christ is imputed to him, and accepted for him. And thus the love of God is manifested in sending and giving "his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life." For on the ground of this love and the principles of the gospel, God no longer views the believer as a sinner condemned by the law; but as pardoned, justified, and having a righteousness equal to all its demands. He pronounces him just, and gives him a title to eternal life, as though he deserved it on his own account, on the principle of perfect and sinless obedience to the covenant of works.

This, my brethren, is the way of salvation. On no other ground can we, with safety, venture our souls, with all their eternal interests. But here we stand on a solid foundation, the rock of ages; and "other foundation can no man lay." Interested in the blood and righteousness of Jesus the Saviour, we are safe and secure (O, may you and I be so!) for time and eternity. The scripture evidence for this

plan of salvation is abundant and decisive. It is stated in a great variety of passages. We have a clear summary of it in the third chapter of the epistle to the Romans :-"Under the law, every mouth must be stopped, and all the world become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God, without the law, is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God, which is, by faith of Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference; for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the forgiveness of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time, his righteousness; that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."

What are the lessons of improvement which this subject is calculated to afford? Allow me to notice

three.

1. First, we learn from it the danger of those who reject the gospel method of salvation.

Our justification, and, consequently, our salvation, is only "by the faith of Jesus Christ. For there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." If, therefore, you do not receive Jesus Christ as your. Saviour, you are

« AnteriorContinuar »