Chapter 5
In Justification there is a State of
Having premised
these three particulars, not unworthy of our consideration, and serving to
prepare the way unto what followeth to be spoken unto; we come now more
particularly to handle the words, and to see what may be drawn out of them for
our information and edification, that we may be instructed concerning the
nature of this noble privilege, and concerning the way, how it is brought
about, and persons may be made partakers thereof, as also stirred up unto a
right improvement of the truth herein, whether we be already made partakers
thereof, or are yet strangers thereunto.
We
intend not (as we hinted at the beginning) to touch upon, far less to discuss
at length, all the many and perplexed controversies, that are moved, both of
old and of late, by men of different principles and persuasions. Nor do we
intend to handle the several arguments, which the Apostle adduces for
confirmation of the truth, in this matter, but our purpose only being to touch
upon, and at least, to endeavor the clearing of some of the principle
questions, moved in this matter, in reference to the forementioned ends, we
shall satisfy ourselves, at present, with speaking to such particulars, as the
text will give grounds for.
The
words having been cleared, and the scope of the Apostle declared, which cannot
be hid from the eyes of any, who will read the purpose, there are only two
things, which call for our consideration; First, the conclusion, which the
Apostle is disproving and confuting with a manifesto; to wit, that no man is
justified in the sight of God by the Law, or by the works of the Law. Next, The argument, which the Apostle makes use of, to this end; for
the just shall live by faith.
The
Apostle’s way of arguing here, and elsewhere, with the same, or
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the like argument, whereby he states an inconsistency,
yea an opposition, between justification by Law, and justification by faith,
saith, that it will not be very necessary to speak much to that, which is here
the Apostle’s conclusion; that is, to clear, that justification is not by the
works of the Law: for the clearing of justification by faith will enforce that
of itself. We shall not therefore insist upon that, howbeit we may in end,
consider, what is said by some for justification by works, and what way such
think to shun the odium, of manifestly contradicting the Apostle, and of
maintaining that error, which he sets himself so peremptorily against, as acted
by the Spirit of God.
The
principle thing then, which we have here to do, is to consider the import of
the Apostle’s argument, for the just shall live by faith, yet we are not
to consider these words, in their just length and breadth, nor particularly, in
reference to the use, which the prophet Habakkuk makes of them, Habakkuk 2:
4, and this same Apostle Hebrews 10: 38, (of this we have spoken
elsewhere.) But only in reference to the use, which the Apostle here makes of
them, in clearing up the way, how justification is brought about. And
considering them in this respect, we will have two things only to take notice
of; First —the assertion of justification by faith. Next —the influence, that
this assertion hath into the Apostle’s conclusion; to wit, that therefore
justification is not by the law, nor by the works of the law.
In
speaking to the first, we will have occasion to speak both to the beginning,
the nature and ground of this change, made in justification, as also to the
continuance of that state of justification. And then we will have occasion to
show, how both the beginning and continuance of justification is by faith: for
as the sinner at first becomes just, or is brought into a justified state by
faith, so is he carried on and continues in that state of life, to the end:
this being always true, that first and last, the just lives by faith; faith
begins, and faith carries on this life, until the justified man be glorified.
The
Apostle (that we may come to speak something to clear the nature of this state
of justification) is asserting justification by faith, to cry down
justification by the law, or by the works of the law, which some false teachers
were persuading those Galatians to believe; and he adduces a passage of
Scripture, which says, the just shall live by faith, thereby giving us
to understand, that the just man, or the justified man, is a living man; for the
just liveth. And it is too narrow, to interpret this life, of eternal
life; and this would make the Apostle’s argument very obscure; we must
therefore understand it of a life begun here, which shall certainly end in
glory: and this is most consonant both to the prophet’s scope, and to the scope
of the Apostle here.
Whence
we may gather, that justification is by faith, there is a real life obtained:
by justification the soul is brought into a new state of life; and by it, such
as were really dead, are really made alive. This may be further cleared from
these particulars following.
1. Such
are said to be born again John 3: 5 not only by the Spirit, which
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may import sanctification, but also by water, which may
import justification, wherein iniquities are pardoned, and the soul is washed
from its guilt, through the blood of Jesus Christ, represented by the water in
baptism. Thus are they also put into a new state, being delivered from the
power of darkness, and translated into the Kingdom of His dear Son, Colossians
1: 13. Christ now owns them, as His, and Satan has no more power and
jurisdiction over them, their guilt being removed, and their sins being
pardoned: for, because of sin hath Satan, as a jailor, had power over them, as
so many prisoners, but sin being taken away, in their justification, they are
loosed from his bonds, and delivered from his prison and power. We see Paul was
sent Acts 26: 18 To open eyes, and to turn from
darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive
forgiveness of sins, &c.
2.
Hereby they are brought into a state of salvation, and being out of harm’s way,
they are said to be saved, being now in a state of life and salvation, through
Jesus Christ, Ephesians 2: 5, 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith:
and how was this? It was by Christ, together with whom they were quickened;
when before they were dead in sins and trespasses, v. 5. So Titus 3: 5 Not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but
according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and
renewing of the Holy Ghost. But how was this work of salvation begun? See
verse 7. That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs,
according to the hope of eternal life. So that as justification makes way
for adoption; so it brings souls into a safe state, a state of salvation; so as
they, in a sense, are already denominated, saved; that is, brought out of the
state of death, and put into a state of salvation: Thus are they also said, to
be quickened together with Him, (i.e. Christ) having forgiveness of all
their sins, Colossians 2: 13. This will be further clear, if we consider
how —
3.
Those, who are justified, shall certainly be saved,
not only in respect of the decree and purpose of God; but in respect also of the
Gospel constitution, and the declared will of God. Therefore saith the Apostle Romans
8: 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them,
which are in Christ Jesus. And all such, as are in Christ Jesus, are
justified; as the Gospel cleareth. And again more clearly, verse 30 And whom he justified, them he also glorified.
The connection between these two is indissoluble. So does the Apostle not only
assert, but he confirms this, Romans 5: 9 Much more being now justified by
his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. And again, verse 17, For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one,
much more they, which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of
righteousness. (That is, who welcome, embrace and receive the rich offer of
grace, and the righteousness of Christ, freely and graciously presented in the
Gospel to all that will accept thereof) shall reign in the life by one Jesus
Christ. So likewise, verse last, That as
sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign thru righteousness unto
eternal life by Jesus Christ, our Lord.
4. They
who are justified, are brought into a state of
blessedness, and therefore may well be said to live, or to be made partakers of
a life, Romans 4: 6, 7, 8. Even as David also describe the man, unto whom
God imputes
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righteousness, without works; saying, blessed are they whose
iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man, to
whom the Lord will not impute sin. See
Psalm 32: 1, 2. If then they be brought into a state of blessedness, they must
be in a state of life; for death and blessedness are inconsistent.
5. They
are said to be redeemed; and consequently brought out of the state of death,
wherein they were, Ephesians 1: 7, In whom we have
redemption, through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches
of his grace. In and by justification is this forgiveness of sins, whereby
they are made partakers of a redemption. See Colossians 1: 14 where the same is
asserted by the Apostle.
For
further clearing of this, let us see wherein this life consists; and then we
shall not only see, that it is really a life, but also, that it is a special
and excellent life. To this end therefore, let us consider these following
particulars.
1.
Hereby they have remission and pardon of their iniquities, as was now cleared,
and is manifest from Romans 3: 24, 25. Being justified freely by this grace,
through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ; whom God hath set forth to be a
propitiation for the remission of sins, that are past, &c. And by this
remission and pardon of sins, they have a freedom and exemption from the curse
and wrath of God, that was lying upon them, and to which they were obnoxious by
sin and guilt, original and actual, which they were to be charged with, that
being the penalty threatened in the law, even death and the curse of God; for
it is written, cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written
in the law, to do them, Galatians 3: 10, Deuteronomy 27: 26. O how
excellent a life is this, to be delivered from the wrath of the Almighty,
sin-revenging God, and from the curse and malediction of the great Legislator,
and dreadful judge? How rightly may they be said to live, who are freed from
the sentence of death, to which they were liable; from the penalty of the
broken Law of the great God of Heaven and Earth; and from that doom, that all,
who shall not share of this rich privilege of redemption, shall be made to hear
at length, depart from me, ye cursed, &c. A person guilty of death,
and lying in chains, looking for nothing but the sentence and doom to be given
out against him, would think himself a living man, if instead of that sentence,
which he was every hour looking for, he should hear of a free and gracious
pardon. Much more may this state of remission be looked upon as a state of
life. (2) They are hereby freed from that death, slavery and tyranny, which the
law did exercise over them before, and does exercise over all such, as are not
yet justified, for as the Law discovers sin, Romans 3: 20, so it works wrath,
Romans 4: 15, and thereby hath dominion over a man, binding him over in chains,
as it were, unto the wrath and curse of God. But Christ hath now delivered
them from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for them, Galatians 3: 13. And
they by faith having fled to him, are pardoned, and
the law hath no more to say, especially it is satisfied by the cautioners being
made a curse, and having fulfilled it in our nature and place, Romans 8: 3, 4.
Thus are they freed from and
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dead to the Law by the body of Christ, Romans 7: 4. O what
a noble, sweet and refreshing life is this, to be free of this slavery and
bondage, whereby the Law is always lying about the neck of the poor sinner, the
curse and wrath of God, as oft as he sins. And add to this — (3.) that they are
freed from the just and well grounded management of the Law against them by
Satan, or a wakened conscience. I say just and well grounded management;
for I grant, the Devil and a misinformed conscience can bring forth the Law,
and terrify with a true believer, by charging him with the transgressions
thereof, even after these transgressions are pardoned; but this is unjust and
illegal; and the believer is under no obligation to acknowledge these charges,
or to admit them, but, on the contrary, to reject them, as being groundless,
and contrary to the tenor of the Gospel. But the unbeliever and unjustified
soul is laid open to all these fearful charges and dreadful challenges, to all those summons, that are as so many poisoned darts, shot
into his very heart, every one of which is a death to him, which he sees not
how to avoid. Must not then this be a considerable and noble heavenly life, to
have sin pardoned and thereby be freed from these soul affrighting, heart
piercing, conscience burning, and mind tormenting accusations, charges, libels,
and dittayes, brought home and delivered by the wicked accuser of the brethren,
and a wakened enlightened conscience? Must there not be many lives in this one?
2.
Hereby they have peace and reconciliation with God, being justified by faith, we have peace with God, Romans 5: 1. God was in
Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto
them, II Corinthians 5: 18, 19. They are now reconciled, Romans
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3.
Hereby they are absolved and acquitted from all, that could be justly laid to
their charge: for justification in Scripture, is expressive of a juridical act
of a just judge, absolving a person from the guilt laid to his charge, and from
the sentence of the Law, due upon the account of that, where with he was
charged; and never doth denote a making of righteous by infusing of
righteousness, or by making any real physical change within, whatever Papists
say, as we see, Deuteronomy 25: 1, II Samuel 15: 4, Proverbs 17: 15, Isaiah
50: 8, I Kings 8: 31, 32, Exodus 23: 7, Matthew 12: 37, Luke 7: 29, 16: 15. And
in multitudes more places. O! what a life is here, when a poor self-condemned
sinner stands before the Judge, the righteous Lord, and has his sins charged
upon him, and the Law brought forth, cursing every transgressor, for every
transgression, and justice appearing against him, calling for the execution of
the sentence, according to the Law, and for death and vengeance due by Law; and
upon all this can look for nothing but doom and present execution of the
dreadful sentence: what a life, I say, is it for such a sinner; standing in
this posture, to have a sentence of absolution pronounced, and be openly
declared righteous, and not worthy of death, and free of the charge given in
against him: and thus it is with believers, according to the Gospel
constitution; for though they have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,
in themselves; yet now are they justified freely by his grace, through the
redemption that is in Jesus Christ, and that by faith, Romans 3: 22, 23, 28.
Galatians 2: 16. Though they were unrighteous, fornicators, idolaters,
adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves with
mankind, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners; yet now are they
justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, I Corinthians 6: 9, 10, 11. God
justified the ungodly, Romans 4: 5. The circumcision by faith and the
uncircumcision thru faith, Romans 3: 30.
4. The
ground of this sentence of absolution, passed upon them, or in their favor,
will more manifest both the reality and excellency of
this life. Though they in themselves have been, and are sinners and ungodly,
and cannot plead not guilty, nor adduce any ground in themselves where upon
they can plead exemption from the penalty of the Law; but as they stand guilty
in Law, so they stand convicted in their own consciences, their mouths are
stopped, and they are become guilty, Romans 3: 19. They know and acknowledge
that they have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, verse 23, and so can
expect nothing, but death and destruction, if the Lord should enter with them
in judgment, and mark iniquity, Psalm 130: 3, and 143: 2. Yet, the judgment of
the Lord being always according to truth, Romans 2: 2, such as he pronounces
righteous, and absolves from the sentence of the Law, as such, must be
righteous; for to justify the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, Proverbs
17: 15. And seeing they are not, neither can be, righteous in themselves, nor
have a righteousness of their own, which they can present to justice, and in
which they can appear before God, who is a righteous judge, they must needs
have a righteousness from some other; and this is a surety-righteousness, the
righteousness of the Mediator and Cautioner, Jesus Christ, imputed to them, and
received by faith. And being
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clothed with this noble robe of righteousness, with
Christ, who is the Lord our Righteousness, and bears this name and
title, Jeremiah 23: 6, and who is made of God unto us righteousness I Corinthians
1: 30, they may be looked upon as living indeed. In the Lord have they
righteousness, and upon this account, in the Lord are they justified,
and shall glory, Isaiah 45: 24, 25. This is the righteousness of God,
without the Law, which is manifested by the Law and the prophets; the
righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ, unto all, and upon all
them that believe. Romans 3: 21, 22. This is that faith, or object of
faith, that was imputed to Abraham for righteousness, Romans 4: 3, 5, 9. And the righteousness, that God imputes without
works verses 6 and 11. This is the righteousness of faith, through which
the promise is, verse 13. This is the righteousness,
that shall be imputed to all, who believe on Him, that raised up Jesus
our Lord from the dead, verse 24. This is the free gift by grace, which
is by one man, Jesus Christ, that hath abounded unto
many, Romans 5: 15. This is that abundance of grace, and gift of
righteousness, which believers receive, whereby they reign in life, by
one Jesus Christ, verse 17, and that righteousness of one; by which the
free gift comes upon all believers, unto justification of life, verse 18, and
that righteousness, through which grace reigns unto eternal life by Jesus
Christ, our Lord, verse 21. This is the righteousness of the Law,
fulfilled in us, by God’s own Son, whom He sent in the likeness of sinful
flesh, Romans 8: 2, 3. This is God’s righteousness, to which the
Jews would not submit, but went about to establish their own
righteousness: for Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one
that believes, Romans 0: 3, 4. It is that righteousness, which is of
faith, which the Gentiles have attained, who followed not after
righteousness; and which Israel did not attain to, though they followed
after the Law of righteousness, because they sought it not by faith, but as it
were by the works of the Law, for they stumbled at that stumbling stone, Romans
9: 30, 31, 32. By this are believers made the righteousness of God in
Him, who, though He knew no sin, yet was made sin for us. II Corinthians
5: 21. This is that righteousness, which is through the faith of Christ,
the righteousness, which is of God by faith, Philippians 3: 7, 8, 9, which
Paul desired only to be found in, and that in opposition to his own
righteousness, which is of the Law; and for which he did account all things,
which formerly were gain to him, to be loss and dung. Now, what a noble life of
safety and security is this, for a poor naked sinner, void of all
righteousness, and thereby exposed to the lash of the Law, to the curse and
wrath of God, to be covered with a complete and perfect righteousness,
consisting in full satisfaction to all the demands of the Law, both for doing
and suffering; with which the self-condemned sinner may now, with boldness and
confidence, think of approaching unto, and appearing before the Tribunal of
God? Who can express the serenity of soul, the inward peace, calmness, and
quietness of mind, the joy, cheerfulness, and exulting of heart, that follows
hereupon? How is the drooping, sinking, dead and discouraged soul,
that hath any sense or feeling of this, revived and quickened? And
howbeit the sense of it be away (as often it happens) yet the change, that is
hereby made, when the Lord imputes this righteousness of Christ and
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causes the soul by faith to embrace it, and accept of it, is
as a resurrection from the dead.
5. They
have as a benefit, necessarily following upon, and inseparably accompanying
this justification, the noble and rich privilege of adoption: For to as
many, as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, John 1:
12. And all those, that are justified, receive Him and His righteousness,
and rest upon it. Being thus redeemed from under the Law, they receive the
adoption of sons, Galatians 4: 5. And being justified by His grace, they
are made heirs, according to the hope of eternal life, Titus 3: 7. And by
this as their state is demonstrated to be a state of life; so the many and
exceeding great and rich, yea incomprehensibly glorious and excellent favors,
advantages, and privileges, that lie in the womb of this comprehensive
privilege, show their life to be an excellent life: for (1) Being thus adopted,
they have a new relation unto God, as their Father, and they are His children,
taken into His family: they have His name put upon them, they are called by His
name, or His name is called upon them, Jeremiah 14: 9. Then is that word made good, II Corinthians 6: 18 I will be a Father unto you,
and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord God Almighty. Then is
He their God in a peculiar manner, and they are His people, Jeremiah 31: 1.
Then have they written upon them the name of Christ’s God, and the name of the
City of
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heart of man to conceive, and say, all that is mine, through
Jesus Christ I am served heir thereunto, and have begun position thereof, in
mine Head and Elder brother Jesus Christ? (4.) Being adopted, they have the
earnest of the Spirit, sealing them to the day of redemption: for in Christ
they have obtained an inheritance, and are sealed with that Holy Spirit of
promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the
purchased possession, Ephesians 1: 11, 13, 14, & 4: 30. And who can express
what a life this is? (5.) Being adopted, they have free access to the
throne of grace with boldness, God being their father, the door stands open,
and they may approach with liberty, freedom, and filial boldness; for through
Christ, they have an access by the Spirit unto the Father, Ephesians 2: 18.
And in Him, they have boldness and access with confidence, by the faith of
Him, Ephesians 3: 12. They may now come boldly unto the throne of grace,
that they may obtain mercy, and find grace for help in time of need, Hebrews 4:
16. By Him they have access by faith into the grace, wherein they stand Romans
5: 2. And here certainly is a life, the riches of the joy and comfort
whereof cannot be expressed. (6.) Being adopted, they receive the Spirit of
adoption, whereby they are delivered from that Spirit of Bondage, under
which they were formerly; and are now principled, spirited and emboldened to
cry Abba, Father, Romans 8: 15. That slavish fear, under which they
sometime were, is away, and they have now the reverential fear of children,
which doth not hinder, but encourages them to approach, with freedom and
enlargement of spirit and now they have the Spirit of prayer and supplication,
whereby they can call on God, as their father in Christ; because they are
sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son, into their hearts crying Abba,
Father, Galatians 4: 6. What a resurrection from death unto life is this,
to have heart and tongue loosed, and to be in case to speak unto the Father, in
the language of the Spirit through Jesus Christ? (7.) Being adopted, they have
a right to all privileges of the sons of God, and are under the Fatherly care,
inspection, provision, protection, leading, teaching, and chastisement of their
kind God and Father. Psalm 103: 13, Proverbs 3: 11, 12; 14: 26, Matthew 6:
30, 32, I Peter 5: 7, Hebrews 12: 6. And o! What a bundle of mercies of
life is here? The believer may welcome all the dispensations of God, and
receive them, as out of the hand of a tender hearted father; and say, Thus
and thus doth my Father unto me; this is the hand and working of a Father about
me: This how sharp so ever it seem to be, yet is the effect of tender love, and
flows from the heart and bowels of a kind and compassionate Father to me.
6.
Their justification saith, They are translated out of
nature, and delivered from that death, under which they did lie formerly,
unable to perform any, even the least, vital act of life. For before
justification, they are united unto Christ by faith, life is begun in their
soul, the seed of life is beginning to bud in them, and to bring forth fruit,
when they are enabled to believe, and to act faith upon, and to receive Jesus
Christ, as He is offered in the Gospel. The spiritual life is in them, and is
working, when it moves them Christ-ward, and powerfully draws and inclines their
soul
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to close with Christ. This faith is the work of the
Spirit of God alone; it is not of ourselves, but
the gift of God, Ephesians 2: 8. This believing is according to the
working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him
from the dead, Ephesians 1: 19, 20. Therefore is the Spirit called, the Spirit
of Faith, which all believers have II Corinthians 4: 13.
In order to the effectual producing of this grace of faith in the soul, their
minds are enlightened to understand spiritually and savingly, the things of
God, Acts 26: 18. For God reveals them unto them by His Spirit, who only knows
the things of God; which Spirit they have received, that they might know the
things, that are freely given them of God, I Corinthians 2: 10, 11, 12. Now
they have received the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, in knowledge of Him,
the eyes of their understandings being enlightened, Ephesians 1: 17, 18.
And as their minds are changed, so is their heart; for the heart of stone is
taken away, and the heart of flesh is given, according to the promise, Ezekiel
36: 26, and their wills are renewed and inclined unto good: They have gotten
the one heart, and the new Spirit, Ezekiel 11: 19. The Lord hath wrought in
them both to will and to do, Philippians 2: 13. Their heart is
circumcised to love the Lord, according to the promise Deuteronomy 30: 6. And
the Lord hath put His Spirit in them Ezekiel 26: 27, and thereby hath drawn
them unto Christ, John
These
things clear, how justly the justified soul may be said to live; and in what
respects, the justified state is a real state of life.