A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors, Book 2 · Part 2 · Subpart 52
Christ is All, and in All.
Col. 3.11.
Where there is neither Greek, nor Jew, Circumcision, nor Ʋncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, Bond nor Free; but Christ is All, and in All.
NOw to conclude with this second Head of Metaphors, Similies, Types, Parables, and other borrowed Terms, concerning the Lord Jesus, I may well infer from the whole of what hath been said, That Christ is All, and in All. The Words are a Proposition, in which you have,
1. The Subject, But Christ.
2. The Predicate, He is All, and in All.
Christ is All in all things that are necessary to Salvation, and that to all Persons that do believe on him. Christ is a Believer's All, and he esteems him so to be: Not to exclude the Persons of the Father, and of the Holy-Ghost; for what Christ is as God, they all are, being but one and the same eternal Being: So that he that honoureth the one, honoureth the other also; he that honoureth the Son, honoureth the Father, and the Holy-Ghost.
I. Christ is All in All in the First Creation, (though this I do not say is directly intended in this place.)
1. He was before all things.
2. He is the Original of all Creatures, the Founder, or (to use the Scripture-Phrase) the Beginning of the Creation of God, Rev. 3.14. He made all things, Heb. 1.2, 3all things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
3. He upholdeth all things by the Word of his Power, &c.Col. 1.16. And by him all things do consist.
4. As he was before all the Original and first Former of all things, and as he upholdeth them; so likewise for him all things are and were created.
5. He hath the disposing of all things: By him Kings reign, Prov. 8. Mat. 28.18, 19.and Princes decree Judgment. All Power is given to him in Heaven and Earth. He hath the Keys of Hell and Death. He sets up, and pulls down, kills and makes alive at his Pleasure.
6. He is Heir of all things. He hath universal Lordship over Angels, Saints, wicked Men, and Devils. See Christ the Heir.
II. But more directly, Christ is All in All in the second Creation.
1. He is the Substance of all Shadows:Col. 2.17. Which are Shadows of good things to come, but the Body is of Christ.
2. He is the Anti-type of all Types, the All which Moses and the Prophets pointed to.
3. He is all in all in Pacification, and Reconciliation of God to Man, and of Man to God: He hath abolished in his Flesh the Law of Commandments, contained in Ordinances, for to make in himself of twain one new Man, so making Peace.Col. 1.19, 20. Eph. 2.15. 2 Cor. 5.21. Isa. 57▪6. Jer. 33.16. Isa. 45.24.
4. Christ is all in all in Satisfaction, and Payment of our Debts: He was made Sin for us, that knew no Sin, that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him. The Lord hath laid on him the Iniquities of us all.
5. Christ is all in all in Justification: He is the Lord our Righteousness. It is in him all the Families of the Earth, and every believing Soul is justified: In the Lord shall one say, have I Righteousness and Strength.
6. Christ is all in all in Election, he is the Root of it, the first of Election, the Sum of our Election▪ we are chosen in him, for him, and given to him: None shall be saved but such as are elected; but had it not been for Christ, none had been elected; had not Christ been found as the Fruit of the Wisdom of God, what would have signified Election, the Fruit of the Grace of God?
7. Christ is all in all in Vocation; He it is that hath called us, and that makes that Calling effectual to us: Who hath saved us, and called us, not according to our Works, 1 Tim. 1.7but according to his Purpose and Grace.
8. Christ is all in all in Sanctification: But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us Wisdom, 1 Cor. 1.1and Righteousness, and Sanctification, and Redemption. He hath loved us, and washed us from our Sins in his own Blood.
Rev. 1.5. Eph. 1.6.9. Christ is all in all in Acceptation: He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.
10. Christ is all in all in respect of Salvation, he is the Author of Salvation: I looked, and there was none to uphold, therefore mine own Arm brought Salvation. He hath no Partner or Competitor: His Name shall be called JESƲS, because he shall save his People from their Sins: Neither is there Salvation in any other.
Acts 4.12.11. He is all in all in Conversion. (1.) It is he that shews the Soul the Need and Necessity of it. (2.) He it is that quickneth us: You hath he quickned, who were dead in Trespasses and Sins. Eph. 2.1.(3.) He it is that hath begotten us by his Word and Spirit, and hath given a new Heart to us, and hath planted a new Principle of Life in us.
12. He is all in all in the Pardon of Sin. (1.) He purchased Pardon for us. (2.) He gives us a broken Heart in order to it, and a Heart to ask it, and a Hand to receive it. (3.) Pardon is given for his Name's sake.
13. Christ is all in all in every Grace. (1.) He gives Faith: To you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. (2.) 'Tis he that hath shed abroad the Love of God in our Hearts, Phil. 1.29. Rom. 5.3, 6. Joh. 1.16. Heb. 12 2.by the Holy-Ghost. All Grace is treasured up in him: Of his Fulness have we all received, and Grace for Grace. He is the Author, Increaser, and Finisher of our Faith, and all other Graces in us.
14. Christ is all in all in the Ministry of the Word. (1.) 'Tis Christ that is preached: We preach Christ crucified. (2.) 'Tis Christ that gives Grace and Gifts to preach:1 Cor. 1. Eph. 3.8. To me is this Grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable Riches of Christ. (3.) 'Tis he that ordains and appoints Men to this Work, and puts all true Preachers into the Ministry. (4.) 'Tis he that opens the Mouth to speak, and the Ear and Heart to hear and receive the Word. Take Christ away, and what Gospel can be preached? &c. What is Paul? and what is Apollo? I am nothing. Gospel-Ministry, and Ministers are nothing without Christ. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, 1 Cor. 3.7neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the Increase.
15. He is all in all in every Ordinance.
First; In Baptism. 1. This Ordinance shews forth Christ's Death. 2. It holds forth his Burial: We are buried with Christ in Baptism. 3. It holds forth his Resurrection,Rom. 6. take Christ away, and what signifies Baptism?
Secondly; In the Lord's-Supper, Christ is all in all. 1. It holds forth, that his Body was broken, and his Blood was shed. 2. It shews his Love to us, and his Suffering for us.
Thirdly; In Prayer Christ is all in all. 1. We must ask in his Name. 2. By the help of his Spirit. 3. 'Tis he that presents and makes our Prayers acceptable to God. 4. What is Prayer, or any Duty Saints can perform, if they meet not with him in it, and if it be not done to his Glory? An Ordinance without Christ, is but as a Cabinet without a Jewel, or a Shell without the Kernel.
16. Again, Christ is (as one saith) all from the Father, all to the Father, and all with the Father.
(1.) All from the Father: I am come that ye might have Life, (Life here, and Life hereafter,Joh. 10.10) and that ye might have it more abundantly. The Life of Grace, and of Glory, they are by Christ.
(2.) Christ is all to the Father: I am [the] Way, [the] Truth, and [the] Life. Every Word here hath its Article in the Greek:Joh. 14.6. No Man cometh to the Father, but by me. Christ is the Way wherein, the Truth whereby, and the Life whereunto we walk: Christ is the Way without Error, the Truth without Falshood, and the Life without Death. Truth lies between Way and Life, as if the Way to Life were through Truth.
(3.) Christ is all with the Father: I know thou hearest me always. Christ hath God's Ear at all times. He is the Object of the Father's Delight: This is my beloved Son, in whom I acquiesce; so the Greek: It is an emphatical Word, and signifieth an infinite Affection.foreign Mat. 3.17.
17. Christ is all in all in respect of Merit: He hath merited all for us, and conveys all to us. As we have all propter Christum, so we receive all we have per Christum, through Christ. He is not only the Fountain, but the Medium or Conduit-Pipe.
18. Christ is all in all, or the Sum of the whole Gospel; all the Good here, or the promised Good we shall receive hereafter, is through him; he is virtually every thing unto us, in every Condition. (1.) Art thou sick? Christ is thy Physician, and thy Physick too. (2.) Art thou poor? Christ is thy Riches. (3.) Art thou weary? Christ is thy Rest: I will give you Rest. (4.) Art thou in Trouble?Mat. 11.28, 29. Christ is thy Peace: This Man shall be our Peace, when the Assyrian comes into our Land. (5.) Art thou a Stranger? He is thy Way, and the End of thy Journey. (6.) Art thou despised and contemned by Men? Christ is thy Honour: To you that believe he is precious; in the Greek, He is an Honour.
Quest. Who is he that makes Christ his All?
Answ. 1. He makes Christ his All, that owns him, believes in him, obeys, worships, and adores him, as God over all, Rom. ….5.
2. He that loves him above all.
3. He that denies himself of and forsakes all for Jesus Christ's sake, and follows him.
4. He that aims at Christ, and exalts him in all he is, hath, doth, or undergoeth: Yea, doubtless I account all things but Loss, for the excellency of the Knowledg of Jesus Christ my Lord, for whom I have suffered the Loss of all things, Phil. 3.8. Gal. 2.20.and do account them but Dung, that I may win Christ.
5. He makes Christ his all, that wholly lives by him, for him, and to him.
6. He makes Christ his all, who cannot be satisfied with any thing this World affords, or can afford, without him.
7. The Man that makes Christ his all, will not take any of his Right and Honour from him; he will not diminish his Glory, or ascribe that to the Creature which belongs to Christ.
8. He that makes Christ his all, will not be contented in any Ordinance or Duty, if he have not his influencing, quickning, and comforting Presence.
9. He makes Christ his all, who, when it comes in competition, will let all go, even his own Life, before he will part with him.
10. He that makes Christ his all, likes and loves him in all: He loves not the Saints chiefly because they are of his Opinion in every thing, but for that of Christ he sees in them.
11. He makes Christ his all, that longs above all things to be like him, and to have his Image implanted in his Heart.
Quest. Why doth a true Christian make Christ his All?
1. Because he is God over all; it were a Sin thus to exalt him, were he not God.
2. Because he hath a Name given him above all, above every Name:Rom. 9…. Phil. 2.9, 10. At the Name of Jesus every Knee shall bow, &c.
3. Because Christ hath suffered and done all those things for us, which we should have done and suffered.
4. Because a Believer sees himself unable to do any thing without him.
5. Because he is made of God all in all things to them.
6. Because nothing is of any worth in a Saint's eye, without Christ.
7. Because in having Christ, he hath all.
Application.
IS Christ all? then this reproves them that esteem of any thing here in this World above him.
1. It reproves such as esteem the Pleasures, Honours, and Profits of the World above him.
2. It reproves, and may eternally shame them that esteem of their Sins, and base Hellish Lusts, more than him. Many will adventure the Loss of Christ, rather than forego their evil Courses.
3. It reproves them that esteem and exalt Christ in some things only; he is not all in all to them.
4. How then doth it reprove them that make Christ nothing at all, who wholly cast him away, and build their Hopes of Salvation upon another Foundation?
Secondly; Be advised from hence, whosoever thou art, to make Jesus Christ thy All.
Motives.
1. Thou hast nothing that will stand thee in any stead, till Christ be thy all.
2. If thou hast not Christ to be thy all, thy Knowledg and Profession of him will not prove to be worth any thing at last.
3. If thou hast not Christ for thy all, when Death comes, what will become of that thou hast? Thou wilt then have nothing.
Quest. How shall a Person come to have Christ to be his All?
Answ. 1. He must let all his Sins …
2. He must let all Consultings with Flesh and Blood go.
3. He must let all his own Righteousness go, so as not to rest and depend upon it for Salvation.
Thirdly; This affords much Comfort to the Godly.
1. Is Christ thy All? Thou hast a great All; what can there be more? Thou mayest say with Jacob, I have enough; the word is, all.
2. Thou canst never lose thy All, because thou canst not lose thy Christ.
3. Thou canst never be undone, tho thou losest all thou hast in this World for Christ's sake, because to thee Christ is All, and in All.