The Sum of Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 2 · Christ's two natures · Question 43
Queſt. 43. What other commodities receive we by the ſacrifice and death of Chriſt?
Anſw. That by the vertue of his death, our old man is crucified, ſlain, and buried together with him,aRom. 6.6. that henceforth evill luſts and deſires may not reigne in us,bRom. 6.6, 12. but we may offer our ſelves unto him a ſacrifice of thankſgiving.cRom. 12.1.
The Explication.
THis Queſtion concerneth the fruits and commodities of Chriſts death Here alſo the end of Chriſts death, and the fruits of the ſame, are all one thing (as we have before ſhewed in his Paſsion) conſidered with diverſe reſpects. For thoſe ends which Chriſt propoſed unto himſelfe in dying, they become fruits unto us in receiving and apprehending them. The fruit therefore and commodity of Chriſts death is the whole work of our Redemption. Juſtification or remiſsion of ſins,Juſtification or remiſsion of ſins: becauſe the juſtice of God requireth, that God ſhould not puniſh a ſinner twice: but he hath puniſhed our ſins in Chriſt: Therefore he will not puniſh again the ſame in us. The bloud of Jeſus Chriſt purgeth us from all ſin, 1 John 1.7.as well originall as actuall; as well of fact, or doing what we ſhould not, as of omiſsion, or not doing what we ſhould. So then we are juſtified, that is, we are freed from the guilt as well of puniſhment as of crime, by the death of Chriſt. The cauſe of this effect is the death of Chriſt. The gift of the holy Ghoſt and regeneration.The gift of the holy Ghoſt, and, through his working, regeneration, and a new life: becauſe Chriſt by his death hath not onelyonly obtained for us pardon of our ſin, and reconciliation with God, but alſo the gift of the holy Ghoſt, that by his working and vertue the old man might be crucified with Chriſt: that is, that by the holy Ghoſt, through the efficacy of Chriſts merit, and our engraffing into him, our corrupt, and as yet not regenerated nature might be aboliſhed in us: and that of the contrary, righteouſneſſe might be begun in us, the image of God (deſtroyed by the Divell in us) might be reſtored, and we, by the ſame ſpirit, moved to ſhew and yeeld all thankfulneſſe for ſo great a benefit. Chriſt is made unto us righteouſneſſe, wiſdome, ſanctification, and redemption. Ye are compleat in him, 1 Cor. 1.30. Col. 2.9.which is the head of all principality, &c. The death of Chriſt is the impellent or motive cauſe in effectuating as well our juſtification, as our regeneration, in two reſpects. 1. In reſpect of God: becauſe for the death of Chriſt God pardoneth us our ſins, and giveth us the holy Ghoſt, and reſtoreth in us his image. Being juſtified in his bloud. Rom. 5.9, 10, Gal. 4.6.Being reconciled to God, through the death of his Son. Becauſe ye are ſonnes. God hath ſent forth the ſpirit of his Sonne into your hearts, which cryeth Abba, Father. 2. In reſpect of us alſo it is an impellent cauſe: becauſe they, who apprehend Chriſts merit by a true faith, and apply his death unto themſelves; for them it is impoſſible to be unthankfull, or not indeavour to live to the praiſe and honour of his name, which is, to begin newneſſe of life. The application of Chriſts death, and the conſideration thereof, will not ſuffer us to be ungratefull, but forceth us to love Chriſt again, and prove therein our thankfulneſſe for ſo ineſtimable a benefit. No man therfore may imagine any remiſſion of ſins without regeneration: and he lieth unto himſelfe and the world, who boaſteth of Chriſts death applied to himſelf, yet hath no deſire to live godly and holily to the honor of Chriſt. For all, after they are once juſtified, prepare and addreſſe themſelves to doe thoſe things which are gratefull unto God: For regeneration, or the deſire and endeavouring of obeying God, cannot be ſeparated from the applying of his death unto us, nor the benefit of regeneration from the benefit of juſtification. All who are juſtified, are alſo regenerated and ſanctified: and all who are regenerate, are alſo juſtified. Object. The Apoſtle attributeth our regeneration to Chriſts reſurrection: why then is regeneration here attributed to his death? 1 Pet. 1.3.Anſw. It is attributed unto Chriſts death, as touching his merit: for he merited regeneration for us by dying. And it is attributed to Chriſts reſurrection, in reſpect of the applying of it; for, by riſing from the dead, hee applyeth unto us regeneration, and giveth us the holy Ghoſt. Eternall life.Eternall life is alſo the fruit of Chriſts death. God ſo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoſoever beleeveth in him, ſhould not periſh, but have everlasting life. John 3.16. 1 John. 5.12.God hath given unto us eternall life, and this life is in his Son.
The meaning of the Article, I beleeve in Chriſt dead.Now what is it, To beleeve in Chriſt dead? Anſ. It is to beleeve, that Chriſt hath not only ſuffered extreme torments for my ſake, but alſo death it ſelfe, and hath by his death obtained for mee remiſſion of ſins, and reconciliation with God, and conſequently alſo the holy Ghoſt, who beginneth in me a new life, that I may again be made the Temple of God, and at length attain unto everlaſting life, wherein I ſhall worſhip and magnifie God for ever.