Commentary Upon Colossians 1 and 2, Chapter 1 · Verse 14
VERSE 14. In whom we have redemption through His bloud, the forgiveneſſe of ſins.
NOw followeth the deſcription, to ſhew the excellency of this former bleſſing, from the excellent benefit wee have by him, and the worthineſſe of his Perſon. [In whom] in which deare Sonne: and this phraſe in whom, noteth both the Author of the benefit next adjoyned, and likewiſe the order or meane by which it commeth to be applyed in us, viz, wee being by faith in Him: in whom, then is, through which Sonne, we being ſet into Him by faith, wee have redemption; which word is taken Actively or Paſſively. Actively, for the act of CHRIST His working it; Paſſively, for the receiving of it into us, or the applying of it in us that are believers: ſo it is here, as if it were ſaid, we are redeemed. The force of the Word is, ranſomed, brought forth of ſome miſerable penall condition: a price or ranſome payd for us, which was His bloud. See Epheſ. 1.7, 14. 1 Tim. 2.6. Who gave Himſelfe a ranſome for all. He conſtrueth this redemption to be Pardon of ſinne; freedome from all that penall condition to which wee were ſubject by reaſon of ſinne. For to pardon ſinne is to releaſe the puniſhment to which the guilt of ſin doth bind us.
What is the ſingular love of our King unto us; Obſ. 1 even ſuch that Hee hath bought us with His bloud, wee are ranſomed by Him, and not with ſilver or gold, but with His pretious bloud. 1 Pet. 1, 18, 19. If that a King ſhould empty all his coffers, and alienate all his Crowne Land to reſcue his Subjects, he ſhould ſhew himſelfe a naturall Prince: but what is this to that ranſome which our King hath tendered?
This doth let us ſee what cauſe we have of thankefulneſſe for CHRIST; not onelyonly in regard of his love, Vſe 1 and naturall affection to us, but for this great benefit which we have by Him. Were we ſlaves in the Turkiſh gallies, taken priſoners in the warre, were we kept hard in debters hall, how would we give thankes to God for ſuch a one as ſhould purchaſe our liberty with ſome ſumme of money? How much more to be releaſed from that woefull captivity in which the Divell doeth hold us through ſinne, and the curſe of God, whereof he is the executioner?
This letteth us ſee our duties towards CHRIST, Vſe 2 not to be young maſters, our owne men, walking after our owne hearts, but to live to Him who hath bought us dearely: the Apoſtle Saint Peter on the ſame ground inferreth this exhortation. For as much then as CHRIST hath ſuffered for us us in the fleſh, 1 Pet. 4.1, 2.arme your ſelves likewiſe with the ſame minde: for hee that hath ſuffered in the fleſh, hath ceaſed from ſin; that He no longer ſhould live the reſt of His time in the fleſh to the luſts of men, but to the will of God. If men doe but ſmall matters for us, ^ we are theirs to be commanded, their ſervants, theirs while we live, to the utmoſt of our power: but God may come from heaven, take thy nature to the fellowſhip of His Perſon, ſhed the pretious bloud of His man-hood, and when He hath done all, have no thankefull duty acknowledged.
Laſtly we ſee hence our woefull eſtates by nature; Vſe 3 wee are bondſlaves, further then this our King doth ſet us free. True it is we are like the Iewes, when they were told of being ſet free from this thraldome; we (ſay they) were never any mans ſervants, never other then free: So wee thinke we are free enough: ô no (beloved) we are all by nature ſold under ignorance, under ſinne, under condemnation, neither ſhall we ever come forth till this Sonne of God, the truth ſet us free.
Remiſsion of ſins] Obſerve hence,Obſ. What is the greateſt bleſsing which CHRIST our King doth procure us, pardon of ſinne: great indeed, binding us to be thankefull for our King. We ſee how Kings at their Coronations, when they enter upon their people, they doe every way endeavour to winne their hearts, teſtifie their princelike bounty and clemency; hence come the cuſtomes of giving pardons to ſundry, even of capitall offences, of releaſing ſubſidies and ſuch like dues otherwiſe, of giving and enlarging and confirming charters to ſundry places: thus our Saviour that King of glory, doth give a full pardon to His Subjects, a generall pardon; for it is ſayd indefinitely, none excepted, that in Him we have forgiveneſſe of ſinnes: which Saint Iohn doth conſter in theſe words, the bloud of CHRIST clenſeth us from all ſins; 1 Ioh. 1.9.originall, actuall, paſt, future, the moſt royall Charter that ever was given to the ſonnes of men. This is the grace promiſed, I will be mercifull to their iniquities, and remember their ſinnes no more. It is the juſtification and abſolving of us ſinners by God for that ſatisfaction or redemption which Chriſt tendered, we are juſtified (ſaith Saint Paul) freely by His grace, that is, we are ſet free from our ſins through Christ His redemption. Rom. 3.21Christ was made ſinne, that is, a ſacrifice or ſurety for ſinners, bearing all our ſin, that we might be made Gods righteouſneſſe, righteous before God in him. Againe this remiſſion is a general never-revoked pardon, I will be mercifull to them and remember their ſins no more.
Why doe we then ſtill aske forgiveneſſe? Que.
We aske not every day to bee anew juſtified, Anſ. but that the ſenſe of this which our ſinne doth weaken might bee renewed: the Copie of our Charter is not every day anew graunted, but exemplified onelyonly. The Papiſts erre that make remiſſion of ſinne onelyonly a releaſe of ſome part of the puniſhment, and of ſins before baptiſme; leaving us to penance, to the treaſury of ſatisfaction for our after offences, as if we could have no new benefit by Chriſt His bloud; they derogate from that worthy Sacrifice, and abridge our royall Charter.
To ſhew us what cauſe we have to bleſſe God for this deare Sonne: Vſe to ſhew us likewiſe this comfortable eſtate to which we are brought: If we were deepe in books, and had Sergeants feed every where upon bils and bonds to lay us up; Is it not a wofull condition? would not one be beholding and glad of him that would ſet him forth of debt and danger, that he needed not to feare the wolfe at his doore? How much more are we to thinke that God hath forgiven us all our debts, that CHRIST hath paid the uttermoſt farthing? Hence commeth all our boldneſſe, whereas before we durſt not ſhew our heads: now we ſay, it is God that justifieth, who ſhall condemne us? What can comfort a man which is ready to ſuffer, if not this, to ſee his pardon ſealed him from the King?
Laſtly, marke that he ſaith, in CHRIST wee have theſe things; which noteth not onelyonly CHRIST His meriting and effectuall applying, but our being in Chriſt by faith, which is a neceſſary antecedent, before wee can have them applyed in us.Obſerv. Whence obſerve, That before we can have any of theſe bleſsings, which come from Chriſt, we muſt have Chriſt by faith. All benefits may be conceived as they are gotten by CHRIST, as they are applied in us, begun, continued, perfected. Now our redemption CHRIST hath begged or rather bought of His Father; yet wee are in our ſelves, as if there were no ſuch matter till by Faith we come to be in Him. Suppoſe there were twentie traytours in the Tower lay condemned: Say againe, the Prince ſhould yeeld his Father ſuch ſatiſfaction for ſome whom hee would ſave, wherewith the King his Father ſhould be contented, and give him their pardon thereupon; here the thing is done betwixt the King and his Son, yet till the Prince ſend to them, write to the Keeper to deliver ſuch and ſuch to him, they are in the ſtate they were in, and ſo continue: So it is with God, Chriſt and us: the redemption is all concluded betwixt God and His beloved Son; yet till this is effectually made knowne to our hearts, ſo that they beleeve on this grace of CHRIST; we are as we were, in hold, in the feare of our condemnation; we are juſtified through the redemption in CHRIST: but ſo that before it can be applyed in us, wee muſt have faith in His bloud, being ſet forth unto us in the Word preached. Can wee have the ſtrength of bread without eating bread? no more can we have any benefit by the bread of life without beleeving on Him. In Chriſt by faith we have theſe things.
Wherefore reſt not in your naturall conditions, Vſe 1 come forth of your ſelves to CHRIST; get Him your own, even to dwell in your hearts by faith, and all is yours. We ſee Princes doe give pardons; but yet if men according to the forme will not ſue out their pardons, and take them out of my Lord Keepers Court, they ſhall have no benefit by the Kings mercy, and moſt worthily; for they debaſe the benefit; for we deeme that an ill benefit that is not worth the fetching: So you, if by faith and true repentance you doe not ſue forth this free pardon of God; then woe be to your ſoules, you ſhall have no benefit by His mercy.
We that have our part in CHRIST, Vſe 2 what cauſe have we to rejoyce, whom it hath pleaſed Him to ingraft into Himſelfe? we can want nothing, being in Him, and He in us.
Thus much for the benefit.