The Method of Grace, Sermon 19 – Summation
The Nineteenth SERMON.Sermon 19.
1 PET. 3. 18.Text. The Saints coming home to God by Reconciliation and Glorification, opened and applied.
For Christ hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust; that he might bring us to God.
THe scope of the Apostle in this place is to prepare and fortifie Christians for a day of suffering. In order to their chearful sustaining whereof he prescribeth two excellent rules of mighty use for all suffering Christians.
First, To get a good Conscience within them, vers. 16, 17. hic murus aheneus esto.
Secondly, To set the example of Christs suffering before them, vers. 18. for Christ hath once suffered for sinners: the sufferings of Christ for us, is the great motive engaging Christians to suffer chearfully for him.
In the words before us we have,
First, The sufficiency and fulness of Christs sufferings intimated in that particle [once] Christ needs to suffer no more, having finished and compleated that whole work at once.
Secondly, The meritorious cause of the sufferings of Christ, and that is sin, Christ once suffered for sins: not his own sins, but ours: as it follows in the next clause, which is the third thing here observable, viz.
Thirdly, The admirable grace and unexampled love of Christ to us sinners, the just for the unjust, in which words the substitution of Christ in the room and place of sinners, the vice-gerence of his death is plainly expressed. Christ died not only nostro bono, for our good, but also nostro loco in our stead.
Fourthly, Here is also the final cause or design and scope of the sufferings of Christ, which was to bring us to God.
Fifthly, Here is also the issue of the sufferings of Christ, which was the death of Christ in the flesh, and the quickning of Christ after death by the Spirit: many excellent observations are lodged in the bosom of this Scripture: all which I must pass in silence at this time, and confine my discourse to the final cause of the sufferings of Christ, namely that he might bring us to God: where the observation will be plainly and briefly this.
DOCT.
That the end of Christs cursed death and bitter sufferings was Doct.to bring all those for whom he died unto God.
In the explication and preparation of this point for use two things must be spoken unto.
viz.
1. What Christs bringing us to God imports.
2. What influence the death of Christ hath upon this design of bringing us to God.
First, What Christs bringing us to God imports: and certainly 1.)there be many great and excellent things carried in this expression: more generally it notes our state of reconciliation and our state of glorification: by reconciliation we are brought nigh to God, Ephes. 2. 13. Ye are made nigh, (i. e:) reconciled, by the blood of Christ. Heb. 12. 22, 23. we are said to come to God the Judge of all. By reconciliation we are brought nigh unto God now; by glorification we shall be brought home to God hereafter, 1 Thes. 4. 17. We shall be ever with the Lord: but more particularly this phrase, that he might brings us to God, imports,
First, That the chief happiness of man consisteth in the (1.)enjoyment of God: that the creature hath as necessary dependance upon God for happiness, as the stream hath upon the fountain, or the image in the glass upon the face of him that looks into it. Look as the sum of the creatures misery lies in this, depart from me; separation from God is the principal part of damnation: So on the contrary, the chief happiness of the creature consisteth in the enjoyment and blessed vision of God, 1 John 3. 2. Psal. 17. 15. I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness.
Secondly, It implies mans revolt and apostasie from God, (2.)Ephes. 2. 12. But now in Christ Jesus, ye who were sometime afar Li…t facult ates non …runt per lapsum abolitae, determinatio tamen earum ad objecta spiritualia fuit protinus extincta. Zeae…. de imagine Dei.off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Those whom Christ bringeth unto God were before afar off from him, both in state and condition; and in temper and disposition: we were lost creatures, and had no desire to return to God: the Prodigal was said to go into a far Country, Luke 15. 30.
Thirdly, Christs bringing us to God implies our inability to return to God of our selves: we must be brought back by Christ, or perish for ever in a state of separation from God: the lost sheep is made the embleme of the lost sinner, (3.)Luke 15. 5. The sheep returns not to the fold of it self, but the shepheard seeks it, finds it, and carries it back upon his shoulders: and the Apostle plainly tells us, Rom. 5. 6. that when we were without strength (i. e.) any ability to recover, help or save our selves; in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Fourthly, Christs bringing us to God evidently implies (4.)this, that Gods unsatisfied justice was once the great bar betwixt him and man: man can have no access to God but by Christ: Christ brings us to God by no other way but the way of satisfaction by his blood: he hath suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. Better ten thousand worlds should perish for ever, than God should lose the honour of his justice. This great Obex, or bar to our enjoyment of God is effectually removed by the death of Christ: whereby it is not only fully satisfied, but highly honoured and glorified, Rom. 3. 24. and so the way by which we are brought to God is again opened (to the wonder and joy of all Believers) by the blood and sufferings of Christ.
Fifthly, and lastly, It shews us the peculiar happiness and (5.)priviledge of Believers above all people in the world. These only are they which shall be brought to God by Jesus Christ in a reconciled state: others indeed shall be brought to God as a Judge, to be condemned by him: Believers only are brought to God in the Mediators hand, as a reconciled Father to be made blessed for ever in the injoyment of him: every Believer is brought singly to God at his death, Luke 16. 22. and all Believers shall be jointly and solemnly presented to God in the great day, Col. 1. 22. Jude v. 24. They shall be all presented faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. Now the priviledge of Believers in that day will lie in diverse things.
First, That they shall be all brought to God together: this will be the general assembly mentioned, Heb. 12. 22. there shall be a collection of all Believers in all ages of the world into one blessed assembly: they shall come from the East, and West, and North, and South, and shall sit down in the Kingdom of God, Luke 13. 29. O what a glorious train will be seen following the redeemer in that day!
Secondly, As all the Saints shall be collected into one body: so they shall be all brought or presented unto God, faultless and without blemish, Jude v. 24. A glorious Church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, Ephes. 5. 27. For this is the general assembly of the spirits of just men that are made perfect, Heb. 12. 23. All sin was perfectly separated from them, when death had separated their souls and bodies.
Thirdly, In this lies the priviledge of Believers, that as they shall be all brought together, and that in a state of absolute purity and perfection, so they shall be all brought to God: they shall see his face, in the vision whereof is fulness of joy, and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore, Psal. 16 11. The objective blessedness of the Saints consisteth in their fruition of God, Psal. 73. 25. To see God in his word and works, is the happiness of the Saints on earth, but to see him face to face will be the fulness of their blessedness in Heaven, 1 John 3. 2. This is that intuitive, transforming and satisfying vision of which the Scripture frequently speaks, Psal. 17. 15. 2 Cor. 15. 28. Rev. 7. 17.
Fourthly, to be brought unto God, must needs imply a state of perfect joy and highest delight: so speaks the Apostle Jude v. 14. Christ shall present or bring them to God with exceeding joy: and more fully the joy of this day is expressed, Psal. 45. 15. With joy and rejoycing shall they be brought, they shall enter into the Kings Palace: it will be a day of universal joy, when all the Saints are brought home to God in a perfected state. For,
1. God the Father will rejoice when Christ brings home that precious number of his elect, whom he redeemed by his blood: he rejoyceth in them now though imperfect, and under many distastful corruptions and weaknesses, Zeph. 3. 17. How much more will he rejoyce in them when Christ presents them without spot or wrinkle to him, Ephes. 5. 27.
2. Jesus Christ will exceedingly rejoyce, 'twill be the day of the gladness and satisfaction of his heart: for now, and not till now he receives his mystical fulness, Col. 1. 24. beholds all the blessed issues of his death, which cannot but give him unspeakable contentment, Isai. 53. 11. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.
3. The day in which Believers are brought home to God, will be a day of unspeakable joy to the holy Spirit of God himself. For unto this all his sanctifying designs in this world had respect: to this day he sealed them: after this day he stirred up desires and groanings that cannot be uttered in their hearts, Ephes. 4. 30. Rom. 8. 26. Thus all the great and blessed persons, Father, Son and Spirit, will rejoyce in the bringing home of the elect to God. For as it is the greatest joy to a man to see the designs which his heart hath been long projecting and intently set upon, by an orderly conduct, at last brought to the happy issue he first aimed at; much more will it be so here: the counsel and hand of each person being deeply concerned in this blessed design.
4. The Angels of God will rejoyce at the bringing home of Believers to him: the spirits of just men made perfect will be united in one general assembly with an innumerable company of Angels, Heb. 2. 22. Great is the affection and love of Angels to redeemed ones: they greatly rejoyced at the incarnation of Christ for them, Luke 2. 13. They greatly delighted to pry into the mysterie of their redemption, 1 Pet. 1. 12. They were marvellously delighted at their conversion which was the day of their espousals to Christ, Luke 15. 10. They have been tender and careful over them, and very serviceable to them in this world, Heb. 1. 14. and therefore cannot but rejoice exceedingly to see them all brought home in safety to their Fathers house.
5. To Conclude, Christs bringing home of all Believers unto God, will be matter of unspeakable joy to themselves. For whatever knowledge and acquaintance they had with God here, whatever sights of faith they had of Heaven and the glory to come in this world; yet the sight of God and Christ the Redeemer will be an unspeakable surprise to them in that day. This will be the day of relieving all their wants; the day of satisfaction to all their desires: for now they are come where they would be; arrived at the very desires of their souls.
Secondly, In the last place, let it be considered what influence the death of Christ hath upon this design, and you 2.shall find it much every way. In two things especially the death of Christ hath a blessed causality and influence in this matter,
viz.
1. It effectually removes all obstacles to it.
2. It purchaseth (as a price) their title to it.
First, The death of Christ removes all obstacles out of the way of this mercy: such were the bars hindring our access to God, as nothing but the death of Christ could remove and open a way for Believers to come to God. The guilt of sin barred us from his gracious presence, Rom. 5. 1, 2, 3. Hosea 14. 2. The filth of sin excluded us from God, Hab. 1. 13. Heb. 12. 14. The enmity of our nature perfectly stopped up our way to God, Col. 1. 21. Rom. 8. 7. by reason hereof fallen man hath no desire to come unto God, Job 21. 14. The Justice of God like a flaming Sword turning every way, kept all men from access to God: and lastly, Satan that malicious and armed adversary lay as a Lyon in the way to God, 2 Pet. 5. 8. Oh with what strong bars were the gates of Heaven shut against our souls! The way to God was chained up with such difficulties as none but Christ was able to remove; and he by death hath effectually removed them all: the way is now open, even the new and the living way, consecrated for us by his blood. The death of Christ effectually removes the guilt of sin, 1 Pet. 2. 24. washes off the filth of sin, 1 John 5. 6. takes away the enmity of nature, Col. 1. 20, 21. satisfied all the demands of justice, Rom. 3. 25, 26. hath broken all the power of Satan, Col. 2. 15. Heb. 2. 14. and consequently the way to God is effectually and fully opened to Believers by the blood of Jesus, Heb. 10. 20.
Secondly, The blood of Christ purchaseth for Believers their right and title to this priviledge, Gal. 4. 4, 5. But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the Law: to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of Sons, (i. e.) both the relation and inheritance of sons. There was value and worth enough in the precious blood of Christ, not only to pay all our debts to justice, but over and above the payment of our debts to purchase for us this invaluable priviledge. We must put this unspeakable mercy of being brought to God, as my Text puts it, upon the account and score of the death of Christ. No Believer had ever tasted the sweetness of such a mercy, if Christ had not tasted the bitterness of death for him. The use of all you will have in the following Deductions of truth.
Deduction 1.
Great is the preciousness and worth of souls, that the life of Christ should be given to redeem and recover them to God: As God laid out his thoughts and counsel from eternity upon them to project the way and method of their salvation: so the Lord Jesus in pursuance of that blessed design, came from the bosom of the Father, and spilt his invaluable blood to bring them to God. No wise man expends vast sums to bring home trifling commodities. How cheap soever our souls are in our estimation, 'tis evident by this they are of precious esteem in the eyes of Christ.
Deduction 2.
Redeemed souls must expect no rest or satisfaction on this side Heaven, and the full enjoyment of God: the life of a Believer in this world is a life of motion and expectation: they are now coming to God, 1 Pet. 2. 4. God, you see, is the centre and rest of their souls, Heb. 4. 9. As the Rivers cannot rest Fe…ti nos ad te, & inquietum est cor nostrum do…ec requiescat in te. Aug. Confess. lib. 1. cap. 1.till they pour themselves into the bosom of the Sea, so neither can renewed souls find rest till they come into the bosom of God. There be four things which do and will break the rest and disturb the souls of Believers in this world; afflictions, temptations, corruptions, and absence from God: if the three former causes of disquietness were totally removed, so that a Believer were placed in such a condition upon earth where no affliction should disturb him, no temptation trouble him, no corruption defile or grieve him: yet his very absence from God must still keep him restless and unsatisfied, 2 Cor. 5. 6. Whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.
Deduction 3.
What sweet and pleasant thoughts should all Believers have of death! When they dye, and never till they dye shall they be fully brought home to God. Death to the Saints is the dore by which they enter into the enjoyment of God: the dying Christian is almost at home, yet a few pangs and agonies more, and then he is come to God in whose presence is the fulness of joy. I desire, saith Paul, to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better, Phil. 1. 23. It should not scare us to be brought to death, the King of terrors, so long as it is the office of death to bring us to God. That dreaming opinion of the soul sleeping after death is as ungrounded as it is uncomfortable: the same day we loose from this shore, we shall be landed upon the blessed shore, where we shall see and enjoy God for ever. O if the friends of dead Believers did but understand where, and with whom their souls are, whilst they are mourning over their bodies: certainly a few believing thoughts of this would quickly dry up their tears, and fill the house of mourning with voices of praise and thanksgiving.
Deduction 4.
How comfortable and sweet should the converses and communication of Christians be with one another in this world! Christ is bringing them all to God through this vale of tears, they are now in the way to him, all bound for Heaven, going home to God to their everlasting rest in glory: every day, every hour, every duty brings them nearer and nearer to their journeys end, Rom. 13. 11. Now, saith the Apostle, is our salvation nearer than when we believed. O what manner of heavenly communications and ravishing discourses should Believers have with each other as they walk by the way! O what pleasant and delightful stories should they tell one another about the place and state whither Christ is bringing them, and where they shall shortly be▪ What ravishing, transporting, transforming visions they shall have that day they are brought home to God: how surprizingly glorious the sight of Jesus Christ will be to them, who died for them to bring them unto God. How should such discourses as these shorten and sweeten their passage through this world; strengthen and encourage the dejected and feeble minded, and exceedingly honour and adorn their profession! Thus lived the Believers of old, Heb. 11. 9, 10. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange Country, dwelling in Tabernacles with Isaac, and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise, for he looked for a City which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. But alas, most Christians are either entangled in the cares and troubles, or so ensnared by the delights and plasures, which almost continually divert and take up their thoughts by the way, that there is but little room for any discourses of Christ and Heaven among many of them: but certainly this would be as much your interest as your duty. When the Apostle had entertained the Thessalonians with a lovely discourse of their meeting the Lord in the air, and being ever with the Lord, he charges it upon them as their great duty to comfort one another with those words, 1 Thes. 4. 17, 18.
Deduction 5.
How unreasonable are the dejections of Believers upon the account of those troubles which they meet with in this world! 'Tis true, afflictions of all kinds do attend Believers in their way to God; through many tribulations we must enter into that Kingdom: but what then? Must we despond and droop under them as other men? Surely no, if afflictions be the way through which you must come to God, then never be discouraged at affliction. Troubles and afflictions are of excellent use under the blessing of the Spirit to further Christs great design of bringing you to God. How often would you turn out of that way which leads to God, if God did not hedge up your way with thorns, Hosea 2. 6. Doubtless when you come home to God, you shall find you have been as much beholding (it may be a great deal more) to your troubles than to your comforts, for bringing you thither: however the sweetness of the end will infinitely more than recompence the sorrows and troubles of the way: nor are they worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in you, Rom. 8. 18.
Deduction 6.
How much are all Believers obliged in point of interest to follow Jesus Christ whithersoever he goes! Thus are the Saints described, Rev. 14. 4. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth: these were redeemed from among men being the first-fruits unto God, and to the Lamb. If it be the design of Christ to bring us to God, then certainly it is our duty to follow Christ in all the paths of active and passive obedience through which he now leads us, as ever we expect to be brought home to God at last: We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end, Heb. 3. 14. If we have followed him through many sufferings and troubles, and shall turn away from him at last, we lose all that we have wrought and suffered in Religion, and shall never reach home to God at last: the Crown of life belongs only to them who are faithful to the death.
Deduction 7.
Let all that desire or expect to come unto God hereafter, come to Christ by faith now. There is no other way to the Father but by Christ: no other way to Christ but faith: how vain therefore are the hopes and expectations of all unbelievers? Be assured of this great truth, Death shall bring you to God as an avenging Judge, if Christ do not bring you now to God as a reconciled Father: without holiness no man shall see God: the dore of hope is shut against all Christless persons, John 14. 6. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. Oh what a sweet voice cometh down from Heaven to your souls this day, saying, As ever you expect or hope to come to God and enjoy the blessedness that is here, come unto Christ, obey his calls, give up your selves to his conduct and government, and you shall certainly be brought to God: as sure as you shall now be brought to Jesus Christ by spiritual union, so sure shall you be brought to God in full fruition.
Blessed be God for Jesus Christ, the new and living way to the Father.
ANd thus I have finished the Motives drawn from the titles and benefits of Christ, serving to enforce and quicken the great Gospel-exhortation of coming to, and effectually applying the Lord Jesus Christ in the way of faith. O that the blessings of the Spirit might follow these Calls, and fix these Considerations as Nailes in sure places. But seeing the great hindrance and obstruction to faith is the false opinion and perswasion of most unregenerate men, that they are already in Christ; My next work therefore shall be in a second Use of Conviction to undeceive men in that matter; and that by shewing them the undoubted certainty of these two things:
First, That there is no coming ordinarily to Christ without the Applications of the Law to our Consciences in a way of effectual Conviction.
Secondly, Nor by that neither without the teachings of God, in the way of spiritual illumination. The first of these will be fully confirmed and opened in