An Exposition Upon Colossians, Biblical commentary 1 · Chapter 1 · Verse 14
Verse 14:
In whom wee hauehave redemption, through his bloud, euen the forgiuenesse of sinnes.
IN the former Verses our Redemption is considered, as God the Father is the efficient cause of it. In this Verse it is considered as CHRIST is the Instrumentall cause of it: in the Verse foure things are to be noted. 1. By whom wee are redeemed (viz.) by the Sonne of Gods louelove, implyed in the first words. 2. Who are redeemed [wee,] that is, the faithfull. 3. how wee are redeemed, (viz.) by his bloud. 4. With what kinde of redemption, not by redemption from losse in estate, or seruitude in body, but from sinne in the soule.
In whom.] Doct. That is, the Sonne of God is the redeemer of the sonnes of men: hee that had no sinnes of his owne, did worthily cancell other mens: hee that was in no debt, paid our debts. In this worke of Redemption wee may see Pietie it selfe beaten for the impious man: and Wisedome it selfe derided for the foolish man: and Truth it selfe slaine for the lying man: and Iustice it selfe condemned for the vniust man: and Mercy it selfe afflicted for the cruell man: and life it selfe dying for the dead man. None can redeeme vsus but Iesus Christ: hee onelyonly is God and man, hee onelyonly was deputed hereunto, hee onelyonly it is that is the first borne, the brother, and the kinsman aLeuit. 25. Two things required in a Redeemer.. Two things are required in a Sauiour or Redeemer, viz. Right and Power: and the title or right must be eyther by proprietie or by propinquitie. In power and propriety the Father or holy Ghost might redeeme, but in propinquitie Christ onelyonly is the next kinsman.
Secondly, it is to be noted, that hee saith (in whom) not (by whom) to teach vsus, that the comfort of our Redemption is not then had when Christ, as Mediator, doth pay the price: but when, as our Head, hee receiueth vsus to himselfe: we must be in Christ before we can be pardoned: it is a vaine thing to alledge that Christ dyed for vsus, vnlesse wee can cleare it, that wee are the members of Christ by conuersion and regeneration: wee must be in Christ before the Diuell will let goe his hold: wee must be in Christ before wee can receiue of the influence of his grace; for that descends onelyonly from the Head to the Members: wee must be in Christ before we can be couered with his garment: and if wee be not in the Vine we cannot perseuer.
Wee. Quest.] Quest. How could the obedience and sufferings of one man serue to redeeme so many men?Ans. Ans. It is sufficient because he did all willingly; because also he was himselfe innocent and without fault: but especially because this obedience and suffering was the obedience of him that was more then man.
Againe, it is to be noted that hee saith (wee,) not all men, hauehave redemption, as the Vniuersalites dreame.
HaueHave. Quest.] Quest. Had not the Fathers before Christ, redemption in him as well as wee?Ans. Ans. They had: first, in Predestination, because they were herevnto elect: secondly, in efficacie, in as much as they that did beleeue in Christ, had the vertue of the redemption to come. Hence, that Christ is said to be the Lambe slaine from the beginning of the world.
By his bloud.] Christ shed his bloud many wayes: as when hee was circumcised, in his Agonie in the Garden, when hee was crowned and whipped, when hee was crucified, and when with a Speare his side was pierced; but here it is by a Synecdoche taken for all his sufferings.
Foure wayes of redemption.There hauehave beene in former times foure wayes of Redemption. First, by Manumission, when the Lord let his Vassaile voluntarily goe out free: but thus could not wee be redeemed; for the Diuell neuer meant to manumit vsus. Secondly, by Permutation, as when in the warres one is exchanged for another: and thus could not wee be redeemed; for who should be changed for vsus? Thirdly, by violent Ablation, as Abraham redeemed Lot, by force rescuing him: but this way did not stand with Gods Iustice. Fourthly, by giuing a Price, and thus wee are redeemed: but what price was giuen? not Gold and Siluer, nor the bloud of Goates; not thousands of Rammes, or riuers of Oyle; not the Sonnes of our bodies, for the sinnes of our soules bMich. 6.4.5.: nay, if a whole thousand of vsus had beene burned in one heape, it would not hauehave expiated for one mans sinne: but the price was the bloud of Iesus Christ c1 Pet. 1.19., and by this price wee may see how hatefull a thing sinne is in Gods sight; and we may resolue that we are not our owne men, any more to doe what wee list.Vses. Neyther ought wee to be seruants of men d2 Cor. 5. The comforts in the doctrine of forgiuenesse of sinnes.. Besides, if there had beene merit in the workes of the Law, the Sonne of God needed not to hauehave shed his bloud: and seeing it is shed, wee neede no other Mediator, nor workes of satisfaction, or superrogation.
Forgiuenesse of sinnes.] The doctrine of remission of sinnes is many wayes comfortable: it is a comfort, 1. That sinnes may be remitted e1 Iohn 2.1.: 2. That this remission may be applyed particularly; thou maist hauehave it, and keepe it for thy selfe f1 Iohn 1.9.: gEsay 43.25. Ier. 35.34. Micha 7.19. Psal. 32.1.3. That if our sinnes be once forgiuen, they can neuer be laid to our charge more; they returne not: 4. That where God forgiues one sinne, hee forgiues all sinnes h1 Iohn 2.6.: 5. That where God forgiues sinne, hee heales the nature; where hee iustifies hee sanctifies. An earthly Prince may forgiue the Felon, but hee cannot giuegive him a better disposition: but GOD neuer forgiues any man, but hee giues him a new heart also iEzech. 36.26.27 1 Iohn 1.9. & 2.1.4. Acts 5.31.. 6. That where God forgiues the sinne, hee forgiues the punishment also kPsal. 32.4. Mat. 9.2.5.. Lastly, that by remission of sinnes wee may know our saluation lLuke 1.77..
Secondly, as it is a comfortable Doctrine to faithfull men, so it is a terrible Doctrine to wicked men,The terror of the doctrine of forgiuenesse of sinnes. and that many wayes: first, all mens sinnes are not forgiuen: secondly, all neede remission of sinnes: thirdly, if sinne be not forgiuen, it makes men loathsome to God mPsal. 32.1.; which the word (couer) importeth: it sets the Soule in debt: it seperates betweene God and vsus, and hinders good things from vsus nEsay 59.2.: it defiles oPsal. 51.1.: it remaines vponupon Record, written with a pen of iron▪ and with the poynt of a Diamond pIer. 17.1.: it causeth all the disquietnesse of the heart qPsal 38.3.: it is the cause of all Iudgements: It brings death rRom. 6. vlt. What a man should doe to get his sinnes forgiuen him..
Thirdly, a Question is here to be considered of, viz. What should a man doe that hee may get a comfortable assurance that his sinnes are forgiuen him? Ans. He that would be assured of remission of sinnes must doe these things. First, hee must forgiue other men their trespasses against him, else hee cannot be forgiuen tLuke 4.18. 1 Iohn 1.9. Hos. 14.3. Zach. 12.12. Chap. 13.1.. Secondly,sMat. 6 14. he must search out his sinnes by the Law, and mourne ouer them in Gods presence, striuing to breake and bruise his owne heart with griefe in secret, in the confession of them to God, Luke 4.18. 1 Iohn 1.9. Hos. 14.3. Zach. 12.12. to the end, & 13.1. Thirdly, vvee must take heede of the sinne against the holy Ghost: which beginning in Apostacy, is continued in Persecution of the knowne Truth, and ends in Blasphemy; and is therefore a sinne vnpardonable, because the sinner is vtterly disabled of the power to repent. And howsoeuer all sinnes against the holy Ghost are not vnpardonable, but onelyonly that sinne that hath the former three things in it; yet the man that would hauehave euidence of pardon▪ must take heede of all wayes of offending against Gods Spirit: and therefore must take heede of speaking euill of the way of godlinesse, of contemning the meanes of Grace, by which the Spirit workes, and of tempting, grieuing or vexing of the holy Ghost within his owne heart or others. Fourthly, he must daily attend vponupon the preaching of the Gospell, till the Lord be pleased to quicken his owne Promises, and his heart vntounto the ioyfull application of the Comforts of Gods LoueLove, continued in his Word. And when men come to Gods presence to seeke so great a mercy as the pardon of sinne, they must aboue all things, take heede of wilfull hardnesse of heart, least their vnwillingnes to be directed by Gods Word, be requited with that curse that God should grow vnwilling that they should repent, and hee should forgiue them uMarke 4.11.12. Acts 26.18.. Fiftly, the Prayers of the faithfull are very auaileable to procure the pardon of sin zMarke 1.4. Acts 5.31. & 10.43.. Sixtly, he must with due preparation be often in receiuing the Sacrament of the Lords Supper; which is to the worthy Receiuer, a worthy Seale of Remission xIam 5.16.. Seauenthly, hee must amend his life and belieue in Iesus Christ yMat. 26.28..