Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 2 · Verse and explication 5
Vers. 6. And hath raised us up together, and made us fit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
HEre are the other two branches of their delivery, to wit, first, The raising of their bodies at the last day; for, their spiritual resurrection from the death of sin to newnesse of life was mentioned, ver. 5. Secondly, Their glorification in Heaven: both which are yet to come, 2 Tim. 2. 18. Mat. 25. 34. And yet he speaketh of them as already past, when the Father raised and glorified Christ; because, seing Christ, in His resurrection and entering of heaven, did sustain a publick person, representing all the Elect, as their Head and Atturney-generall, Job. 10. 15. Therefore He was judicially looked upon by God in those actions, as if all the Elect had risen when He rose, and taken possession of Heaven, when He did enter it: Hence it is, that in the close of the verse it is added, in Christ, to shew we are not yet raised and glorified in our own persons, but in Christ our Head. And the Spirit of God doth choose to set forth their future resurrection and glorification, by shewing these are already accomplished in Christ their Head, rather than by saying, God shall raise them up and glorifie them, that he may with one and the same labour point out the dependencie which their resurrection and glorification have upon Christs, as the effect upon the cause, the thing promised upon the pledge thereof, as also the undoubted certainty that those shall come to passe, a certainty greater than that of a simple prediction and promise, even such certainty, as the giving of a pledge, and holding forth of an effectuall and necessary cause do give for performance of the thing promised; for, Christs resurrection is both a pledge, (1 Cor. 15. 20.) and cause of our resurrection, Rom. 8. 11. which holdeth also in His glorification.
Doct. 1. The fruits and effects of Gods eternal love and mercy, and of Christs merit toward the Elect, are not confined within this present life, but are in a great part to have their accomplishment after time, when the bodies of Believers shall be raised up in glory at the last day, and they perfectly glorified with Christ in Heaven for ever: for, those two fruits of the Fathers love, and of Christs merit, even the Resurrection and Glorification of Believers, are here expressed, while it is said, and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places. 2. Those, and those only shall partake of the resurrection of the just, which is to life everlasting, Job. 5. 29- And shall be glorified hereafter, whom God doth quicken by converting grace here: for, those three parts of the delivery of lost sinners, are of equal latitude; He hath quickened us, raised us up, and made us sit in heavenly places. 3. As it is a thing full of difficulty to be believed, that after worms have consumed this flesh of ours, it shall be raised up in glory, and that we, who are heirs of hell, and children of wrath, shall one day reign with Christ for ever; so those are things, not only sure in themselves, but which the Lord would have converted and quickened Believers assured of; that so their comfort under crosses might be more abounding, 2 Cor. 4. 14. with 16, 17, 18. and their courage against death more strong, 1 Thess. 4. 18. and that they in all things may live as becometh those who not only shall rise, and take possession of glory in their own persons, but also are already risen and glorified with, and in Christ their Head, Col. 3. 1, even by having their conversation in Heaven, while they are yet upon earth, Philip. 3. 20. for, that they might be perswaded of their future resurrection and glorification, the Spirit of God doth speak of them as already done, viz, in the sense given in the exposition; He hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places.