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CHRIST A DYING AND A RISEN SAVIOUR
SCARCELY had the good seed of the Gospel been sown in the world, before Satan, by his agents, scattered tares, which in the earlier stages of their growth could not easily be distinguished from them, and from which the field will never be wholly freed until the harvest. The resurrection itself, that most fundamental doctrine of Christianity, on which every other doctrine rests, was denied by many. A Sadducean spirit of infidelity was imported into the Church from among the Jewish converts, as a vain philosophy was from among the Gentiles; and both concurred to bring into doubt the resurrection from the dead;—the one denying that it ever could take place, and the other asserting that it was only a mystical change which had taken place already: and between them both “the faith of many was overthrown.” St. Paul therefore, in the close of this epistle, set himself to counteract these errors, and to establish, for the benefit of the Church in all future ages, the truth which he had invariably maintained. He first shews that Christ had risen; and from thence he proceeds to prove that we also shall rise in like manner. But it is with the former position alone that we are concerned at present, that alone being referred to in the words before us; from which we shall be led to shew you,
I. What was the Gospel which Paul preached—
This is told us more fully in the words following our text.
The Apostle preached, that Christ had both died and risen according to the Scriptures—
[The Scriptures of the Old Testament had invariably asserted that Christ should suffer, and that he should rise again on the third day. Both these things were in some degree intimated in the first promise, that “the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head;” but they were more plainly revealed in the institutions of the Mosaic law, especially in the ordinance of the two birds; the one of which was killed, and the other, when dipped in the blood of the one that had been killed, being suffered to fly away [Note: Lev_14:49-53.]: as also in the appointment of the scape-goat, which carried into the wilderness all the sins which had been previously expiated by the blood of another goat that had been slain [Note: Lev_16:8-10.]. Both the one and the other had also been subjects of prophecy; his death being foretold in all its minutest circumstances — — — and his resurrection being fixed to a precise time after it, even the third day, before any change towards corruption should have taken place upon his body [Note: Jon_1:17. Psa_16:9-10.].
What the Scriptures had thus plainly foretold, was in due time accomplished. The death of Christ was known to the whole Jewish nation, thousands of whom were spectators of it: nor was his resurrection less clearly ascertained; as even the falsehood invented to conceal it fully attests. The variety of occasions on which our Lord appeared to his Disciples after his resurrection, once to above five hundred brethren at once, left no possibility of doubt respecting it [Note: ver. 5–8.]: and to testify of this was the great work committed, in the first instance to the the twelve Apostles, and afterwards to the Apostle Paul, to whom Jesus appeared in a vision, on purpose that he might be, in that respect, on a par with all the other Apostles.]
This he calls the Gospel—
[This, in truth, is the Gospel: and it comprehends all that is necessary for us to know. That “Christ died for our sins, and rose again for our justification,” is the sum and substance of that mystery, which God from all eternity devised for the redemption of fallen man, and which is unfolded to us in the writings of the New Testament. We may expatiate upon the various parts of this mystery, so as to exhibit them more clearly and fully to your view; but we can never add to it: to attempt to add any thing to it, were to destroy it utterly. There is no redemption but through the death of Christ; no salvation, but through his renovated life [Note: Rom_5:10.] — — —]
St. Paul having stated what the Gospel is, proceeds to shew—
II. In what manner it should be regarded by us—
The Corinthians “had received it into their hearts.” and were at that time “standing in it;” and this shews us what we also must do—
1. We must “receive it” into our hearts by faith—
[We must “receive it” as true. There must be no doubt in our minds respecting it. We must have no more doubt of Christ expiating our guilt by his death, or of his
rising to carry on in heaven the work he began on earth, than of our own existence. We must be thoroughly established in these great and fundamental truths. To question either the one or the other of them in any degree, were little better than to renounce Christianity altogether.
We must receive it also as suitable, yea, as exactly suited to our necessities. We must feel that we need precisely such an atonement as he offered for us; and that we also need a living Saviour, who shall make continual intercession for us with the Father, and communicate to us, out of his own inexhaustible fulness, all those supplies of grace and strength as our necessities require. It is this view of the correspondence between the offices of Christ and our necessities, and a consequent affiance in him for the supply of our wants, that constitutes the very essence of saving faith.
We must receive it also as sufficient for us. This great mystery of godliness is absolutely perfect. Nothing can be added to it. And of this we should be fully convinced. We should see that there is in his death a sufficient “propitiation for the sins of the whole world:” and that there is in him such a fulness of all spiritual gifts, that “he is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by him.”
In this way is his Gospel to be received, and thus it is that “with the heart man believeth unto righteousness.”]
2. We must “stand fast in it” even to the end—
[Nothing must be suffered to turn us away from this faith. We must brave all persecutions, and rather lay down our life than deny the Saviour in any manner. “It is he only who will lose his life for Christ’s sake, that shall find it unto life eternal.” Nor must we yield to the influence of temptations of any kind, so as to be drawn aside by them. “The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life,” if enjoyed in ever so great a degree, will but ill repay us for the loss which we shall sustain by suffering them to choke the good seed of Gospel truth: for “if any man draw back, my soul,” says God, “shall have no pleasure in him.” Neither must Satan, that subtle adversary, prevail against us by his devices. In ten thousand ways will he endeavour to “turn us from the simplicity that is in Christ:” but with “the sword of the Spirit, and the shield of faith” we must resist him till we are crowned with victory, and see him “bruised under our feet.” We shall then, and then only, “be partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end [Note: Heb_3:14.].”]
In the Corinthians themselves we see,
III. The benefits that will accrue to those who duly receive it—
St. Paul says of them, that “they were saved by it:” and this benefit we confidently assure to all who embrace the Gospel with their whole hearts.
1. They shall be brought into a state of acceptance with God—
[When our Lord gave his Disciples their commission to preach his Gospel, he expressly authorized them to declare, that “all who believed it should be saved.” And in all the book of God there is not to be found so much as one single word against a penitent believer. “All who believe,” says St. Paul, “are justified from all things:” even sins of a crimson dye are so washed as to be made “white as snow.”]
2. They shall have the earnest and foretaste of the heavenly glory—
[There is no limit to the blessings promised to the true believer. The Spirit of God shall be poured out upon him, to reveal all the Father’s love, and all the glory of Christ, to the soul. “He will glorify Christ, and take of the things that are his, and shew them unto us.” He will be in us “a Spirit of adoption, enabling us to cry, Abba, Father:” He “will witness to our spirits that we are the children of God:” He will give us “an earnest of our eternal inheritance,” and “seal us unto the day of complete redemption.”]
3. They shall be brought in safety to the full possession of their everlasting inheritance—
[It is here supposed that they “stand fast in the faith;” for if they “make shipwreck of the faith,” they cannot hope for the blessings which are promised to those only who “endure unto the end.” Hence is that caution given in our text; “Ye are saved, if ye keep in memory (and hold fast to the end) what I have preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” If our faith be only a dead faith, it will be in vain: for in this sense even “the devils believe and tremble.” But, if our faith be living and lively, we need not fear. That never shall be exercised in vain. That shall overcome every thing that is opposed to it, and shall remove all the mountains that oppose our spiritual progress. Only live truly by faith on the Son of God as having loved you and given himself for you, and God pledges himself that “none shall ever pluck you out of his hands,” and that “you shall never perish, but shall have everlasting life.” By the exercise of this “faith you shall be kept by the power of God to a full and everlasting salvation;” for the Gospel still is, no less than in the Apostolic age, “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.”]
We would improve this subject,
1. In a way of inquiry—
[Have you received this Gospel as you ought? We ask not whether you have a mere notional and speculative belief of it; for that is common to all who bear the Christian name: but have you such a faith in Christ as enables you to rejoice in all that he has done, and is yet doing, for you? Do you glory in him, and renounce every other ground of hope, and “cleave to him with full purpose of heart?” Do not deceive yourselves in relation to these things; for no faith is saving but that which brings you daily to the foot of his cross, and causes you to receive daily out of his fulness all the blessings which you stand in need of.]
2. In a way of caution—
[Those who are fettered by human systems pass over such cautions as are given in our text: but we dare not act thus. We are persuaded that cautions against apostasy are as necessary in their place as promises of perseverance. Attend then to the caution about “holding fast” what has been preached to you. Innumerable are the cautions given us in the Scriptures upon this head: and it is by a salutary fear of apostasy that God will keep us [Note: 1Co_9:27.]. “Beware then lest, being led away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own steadfastness [Note: 2Pe_3:17.].” Know where your strength is, even in your risen and exalted Saviour; and live altogether by faith in him, “holding fast your confidence, and the rejoicing of your hope firm unto the end [Note: Heb_3:6.].”]
3. In a way of encouragement—
[Cleave thus unto the Lord Jesus Christ, and “ye shall be saved.” However numerous or powerful your enemies may be, they shall not prevail against you: for “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” If indeed Christ be not able to keep you, then you may well give way to fears: but, if his death be a sufficient atonement for the sins of the whole world, and all power in heaven and in earth be committed to him for the use of his Church and people, then you may dismiss all fear: for, though only a worm in yourselves, you shall “thresh the mountains.” Be strong then, ye fearful and faint-hearted: for “he will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax, but will bring forth judgment unto victory.” He has said that “of those who have been given him he will lose none;” and he is faithful who hath promised. “Fear not; only believe: and according to your faith it shall be unto you.”]