§ 64.

Participation of the righteous in the blessedness of Christ.

The future blessedness of the righteous, may be summarily described by saying, that (1) they shall partake in a high, though not unlimited degree (2), of the happiness of Jesus himself (3).

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Son of God Rom. 8: 29,

I. Among the many brethren of Christ, even the least of them shall be conformed unto the image of the -shall be coheirs with him. Matth. 25: 40. συμμορφοι της εικόνος του υἱου (του Θεού). ν. 17, συγκληρονο μοι αυτου (Χριστου).

II. The most intimate union with Christ is a privilege, by which the pious of the human family are distinguished even from angels. See the work on the Object of the death of Christ, p. 584.

III. John 17: 20-22, the glory which thou gavest me, I gave to them (that believe). Matth. 25: 21, 23, enter into the joy [marriage feast] of thy Lord. comp. 22: 2. Rom. 8: 17. (IH. 1.) 2 Tim. 2: 10-12, we shall live with him-we shall reign with him (Christ). (§ 62. Ill. 11.) 2 Thess 2: 14. 1 Cor. 19, the fellowship of Jesus Christ. 1 John 3: 2. 1 Cor. 15: 49. Phil. 3: 21, we shall be fashioned like unto the body of his glory i. e. his glorious body. Heb. 3: 14, μɛroxoi γεγοναμεν του Χριστου “ through Jesus all things are subjected also to his brethren as his coheirs by virtue of their union with him, in as far as they are capable of such participation." Rev. 3: 21, I will give to him, to sit with me on my throne.

1 Zweck des Todes Jesu, p. 584.

$ 65.

Christ is the exclusive cause of our salvation.

The reason why the future felicity of the christian, consists in a participation of the blessedness of Jesus, is, because God has decreed that men should obtain salvation through Christ and for his sake (1). The man Jesus is particularly appointed to be the Guide of men to salvation; he is the proper and immediate cause of their salvation (2)-not only because he (3), or God through him (4), will actually bestow salvation on his people, nor merely because Jesus Christ receives the spirits of the blessed dead into the kingdom of heaven (5), and restores their bodies to life (6), and as judge of the family of man, apportions to each one his lot (7); but because he has purchased the right (8) to make us partakers of his blessedness. For, just as the first man, by his transgression, lost the advantages which he had possessed, and involved himself and his posterity in misery (§54-57); so (9), on the contrary, did Christ Jesus, by his obedience, purchase the right (§ 87-92) to use his exalted privileges in bestowing salvation on men (10). But this subject will be more fully discussed in the fourth Book, which treats of the Redeemer of the human family.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

I. That salvation is bestowed only through Christ, and on the exclusive ground of his merits, is evident from the following numerous passages. 2 Tim. 1: 9, who hath saved us and called us with a holy calling, not on account of our works, but on account of his own purpose and the grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus, before the world began. Eph. 1: 3-5,

who hath blessed us through Christ, having predestinated us to sonship through Jesus Christ. Eph. 2: 7, the riches of his grace in Christ Jesus. John 14: 6, I am the way (to the Father) and the life. 6:57, he that eateth me, shall live through me. 1 John 4: 9, that we might live through him the Son of God). 5: 11, and this testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. John 1: 12, but to as many as received him gave he power to become the sons of God, namely, to them that believe in his (Christ's) name. Gal. 4: 7, heirs of God through Christ. Rom. 6:23, the gracious gift, xaoloμa, of God, is eternal life, through Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 5: 9, 10, God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. 5: 10, God who hath called us to his eternal glory through Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 1: 4. 2 Tim. 2: 10. Acts 4: 11, 12, ovæ eori εν αλλῳ ουδενι ἡ σωτηρια (η εν Χ. Ι.) ουτε γαρ ονομα εστι έτερον εν ᾧ δει σωθηναι ήμας neither is there salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we could be saved. In this last passage, owrŋqia does not signify the cure of diseases, as Teller and Michaelis, in reference to v. 10, have translated it, but its meaning is salvation.1 Peter had, on another occasion (3: 12), referred the populace to the cure of the lame man, wrought by Christ (v. 6), as an evidence of the dignity and glory of his person, and as a reason why they should believe in him as their Saviour (v. 21). And here he gives the same explanation before the Sanhedrim. The two synonymous clauses of v. 12, give a stronger expression to the same truth, which is contained alike in both. From the individual fact that the cure of the lame man was owing to his faith in Jesus, is inferred the general proposition, that

1 Dissert. De sensu historico, p. 13. Opusc. Acad. Vol. I, p. 17. Diss. I. in Libros N. T. hist. p. 91, 89.

the hopes of men in general centre in Christ. Εν ανθρωποις is here used for the simple dative ανθρωποις.

Π. Acts 5: 31, αρχηγος και σωτηρ, i. e. αρχηγος της σωτηρίας. The Prince and Saviour, i. e. Prince of salvation. John 11:25, the resurrection and the life. Col. 3: 4, Christ our life. 1:27, the hope of glory. 1 Tim. 1: 1, our hope. Heb. 2: 10, the Captain or Prince of salvation. 5: 9, the cause of eternal salvation.

III. John 10: 28, I give them eternal life.

11:25.

IV. John 17: 2, as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 1 Cor. 15: 57, thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. 4: 14, knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise up us also through Jesus. 1 Thess. 4: 14. (see § 62. Ill. 2.) John 5: 22, 27, the Father gave all judgment to the Son. Acts 17: 31, he (God) will judge by that man whom he hath appointed. Rom. 2: 16, God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ. 1 Tim. 6: 14, until the appearance of Jesus Christ, whom [God shall show].

V. Jesus Christ will perfect the happiness of the blessed.-2 Tim. 4: 18, The Lord shall preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom. comp. v. S. 1. John 11: 26, 25. John 11: 26, 25. Luke 23: 42. Acts 7: 59, Lord Jesus! receive my spirit. The souls of those who died before the time of Christ and obtained salvation, were saved for Christ's sake. Gen. 5: 24. Heb. 11: 5. (§ 69. Ill. 1). Luke 20: 37, where the salvation of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, is spoken of. 16: 23. John 8: 56, 52. (§ 66.) But their salvation has received an accession, since the man Jesus is in heaven (§ 97). And the saints who died before Christ, will receive from him who is the first that ever arose from the dead, their bodies which were subjected to death on account of

Adam's sin. 1 Cor. 15:20, 23. Col. 1: 18. Acts 26: 23. These bodies shall be in a renovated form; and thus the ancient saints shall receive their full measure of blessedness. From Christ, the salvation of all men shall receive its consummation,1 even of those who arose shortly after him.2 Salvation shall be perfected by him, at the time of the general resurrection and judgment.3 Until all the citizens of the future world have been born, it is impossible that the present state of the human family, and of the things of this world, acov ovros Luke 20: 34, should terminate, or that the expected new order of things (61) should begin, in which being born and dying shall no more be found (v. 35). But when the new order of things begins, the salvation of men shall receive its completion, not only by their receiving their bodies (v. 35), but also by being reinstated in the possession of their original residence (§ 61. Ill. 16-23) in a renovated form adapted to their life of future happiness. And as this visible world cannot be renovated, until all the citizens of the future world are born (2 Pet. 3: 13), and until the reformation of those who are to be sanctified, shall have actually taken place (v. 9); the consummation of the happiness of the blessed dead which arises from being located in the new world, must necessarily be deferred, until the time of the last generation of the human family (§ 61. Ill. 13), until the majestic appearance of the Judge who shall assign to the risen dead and to those then living, their residence in the new-created world, and give to each such a station as his conduct in this

12 Tim. 4: 8. Heb. 11: 39, 40.

2 Matth. 27: 53. Hess' Biography of Jesus, Vol. II. p. 312, 363. 3 In John 5: 21, 22, Christ combines Swoлolε and xoivεiv. v. 27, 29.-κρισις and the αναστασις will be at the same time.ν. 28, 29, the resurrection and judgment will be on the last day. John 12: 48. 6: 39, 40. 2 Thess 1: 7-12. 2: 1. comp. 1 Thess. 4: 15, 7. 2: 1. 1 John 4: 15. 1 Cor. 15: 23. Rev. 20: 11.

4 Heb. 11: 40, that they might not be perfected without us. ment on Heb. Note f. in loc.

See com