The Sum of Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 2 · covenant · Question 20
ON THE 7. SABBATH.Queſt. 20. Is then ſalvation reſtored by Chriſt to all men who periſhed in Adam?
Anſ. Not to allaMatt. 7.14. & 22.14., but to thoſe only who by a true faith are engraffed into him, and receive his benefitsbMark 16.16. Joh. 1.12. & 3.16, 18, 36. Iſa. 53.11. Pſal. 2.12. Rom. 3.22. & 11.20. Heb. 4.3. & 5.9. & 10.39. & 11.6..
The Explication.
HAving declared the doctrine concerning the means of our delivery through Chriſt, the queſtion Who, and By what means they are made partakers of this delivery, whether all, or only ſome, orderly followeth. This twentieth Queſtion therefore is a preparation to the doctrine of faith, without which, neither the Mediatour, nor the preaching of the Goſpel profiteth any man. Hereby alſo carnall ſecurity is prevented or met withall,Gal. 2.17. and that opprobrious contumely, that Chriſt is the miniſter of ſin. The anſwer to this queſtion conſiſteth of two parts: 1. Salvation is not reſtored by Chriſt to all that periſhed in Adam: 2. But to thoſe onelyonly who by true faith are ingraffed into Chriſt, and imbrace his benefits. The former part is too too evident by daily experience:John 3.36. John 3.5. Mat. 7.21. He which beleeveth not in the Son ſhall not ſee life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. Except a man be born from above he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Not every one that ſaith unto me Lord, Lord, ſhall enter into the kingdome of heaven. The cauſe why all are not ſaved by Chriſt,Why all are not ſaved by Chriſt. is not the inſufficiency of the merit and grace of Chriſt, (for Chriſt is the full propitiatory ſacrifice for the ſinnes of the whole world, as concerning the worth and ſufficiency of the ranſome and price which he paid) but it is the infidelity of men, whereby they refuſe the benefits of Chriſt offered in the Goſpel; and therefore periſh not through any defect of Chriſts merit, but through their own fault. The other part alſo is proved by Scripture: As many as received him, John 1.12. Iſa. 53.11.to them he gave power to be the ſons of God. By his knowledge my righteous ſervant ſhall juſtifie many. Now the reaſon why beleevers only are ſaved, is,Why the faithfull only are ſaved by Chriſt. becauſe they only lay hold on, and imbrace the benefits of Chriſt; and becauſe in them alone God obtaineth the end for which he delivered up his Son unto death: for the faithfull only agniſe the mercy and grace of God, and yeeld thanks unto him for the ſame.
The ſumme therefore of all is, that though the ſatisfaction of Chriſt our Mediator for our ſins is moſt perfect, yet all are not delivered by it, but they only who beleeve the Goſpel, and do apply the merit of Chriſt by a true faith unto themſelves.
Object. 1. Grace exceedeth the ſinne of Adam: If therefore for the ſin of Adam all men are caſt away; much more by the grace of Chriſt all, and not beleevers onelyonly, ſhall be ſaved. Anſwer to the antecedent. Grace exceedeth and is above ſin, in reſpect of the ſufficiency of the ſatisfaction, not in reſpect of the application thereof: Wherefore, that all are not ſaved through the ſatisfaction or obedience of Chriſt, the fault thereof ſticketh in men themſelves, and is to be aſcribed unto the unbeleevers, who imbrace not the grace of Chriſt offered, but like ungratefull men reject it. Object. 2. Whomſoever Chriſt hath fully ſatisfied for, they are to be received of God into favour; for ſo doth the justice of God require: But Christ hath fully ſatisfied for all the ſins of all men: Therefore all men are to be received of God into favour; or if this be not done, God ſhall be unjust, or ſomewhat is derogated from Chriſts merit. Anſw. The Major propoſition being underſtood ſimply, and without any limitation, is falſe. All are received into favour for whom Christ hath ſatisfied, with this condition, if they apply the ſatisfation of Chriſt unto themſelves by faith: This condition is expreſly added;John 3.10. So God loved the world, that hee gave his Sonne, that whoſoever beleeveth in him ſhould not periſh, but might have everlaſting life. Object. 3. Adam by one ſinne made all ſubject to condemnation; but Chriſt doth justifie onelyonly ſome: The force therefore of Adams ſin is greater to condemne, then of Chriſts ſatisfaction to ſave. Anſw. The force of Chriſts ſatisfaction is ſeen not in the multitude of them who are ſaved, but in the greatneſſe of the benefit.We deny the conſequence of this argument, becauſe the force, excellency, and efficacy of Chriſts ſatisfaction is not to be eſteemed by the multitude or number of thoſe men who are thereby ſaved, but by the greatneſſe of the benefit it ſelfe. For it is a greater work to deliver and ſave even one from everlaſting death, then to make all men by one ſin guilty of everlaſting death: for be it that Chriſt ſhould ſave even but one man, yet it was neceſſary, 1. That he ſhould pay in a finite time a puniſhment in greatneſſe and value infinite, not onelyonly for that one ſin of Adam, but for other infinite ſins which follow it, of which every one alſo deſerves infinite puniſhment. It was required alſo, 2. That he ſhould purge and take away, not only that originall and birth-ſin, but alſo infinite others; 3. And ſhould reſtore in him a perfect conformity with God. Wherefore the grace of Chriſt in ſaving even one man, doth in infinite manner exceed the ſin of Adam. Anſ. 2. Again, that the force of that efficacy which is in Chriſts merit and benefit paſſeth not through all men, as the ſtrength of Adams ſin paſſed through all his poſterity; the fault hereof is in men, who do not as much apply unto themſelves by a true faith Chriſts merit, as they do apply unto themſelves the ſin of Adam, both by being born in it, and conſenting unto it, and foſtering it. Now the reaſon why all men do not beleeve, nor apply this Chriſts benefit unto themſelves, is a queſtion of higher and deeper ſpeculation, impertinent to this place. This may ſuffice for anſwer herein,Rom 9.28, God hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth. And he will ſo ſhew his mercy, that hee will alſo exerciſe his juſtice.