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BENEFITS ARISING FROM A JUSTIFYING FAITH
IT may excite surprise, that the Apostle should contend so earnestly for the doctrine of justification by faith alone, when on many other subjects he evinces a candour that might almost be construed into indifference. The eating of meats offered to idols; the observance of times and seasons which under the Jewish law were regarded as holy; yea, and even the practice of circumcision itself, if not set in opposition to the Gospel; were left by him to the discretion of men, to be used or neglected as they thought fit. But to receive the doctrine of justification by faith was not left to the option of any; nor was any alternative offered them, but to submit to it, or perish. This however was not without good reason, since it was not possible to substitute any thing in the place of that doctrine, or to interfere with it in any degree, without making void the whole work of redemption. Moreover, by this doctrine such blessings were insured to man as could not be procured by any other means. Some of these the Apostle enumerates in the passage before us: and we shall consider them in the order in which they lie—
I. A state of favour and acceptance with God—
[Man, as a sinner, is exposed to the wrath of God, and is under a sentence of actual condemnation. But being justified by faith in Christ, he is freed from guilt through the atoning sacrifice which has been offered for him, and is brought into a state of reconciliation with God. From the moment that he believes in Christ, “the anger of God is turned away from him;” and there remains, if we may so speak, no longer any thing upon him, which can call forth the Divine displeasure against him: his sins are all washed away in the Redeemer’s blood; and he is clothed from head to foot in the robe of the Redeemer’s righteousness, so that in the sight of God he stands without spot or blemish [Note: Eph_5:27. Jude, ver. 24.]. Having thus perfect reconciliation with God, he has peace in his own conscience, even that “peace of God which passeth all understanding.”
Into this state “he has access by faith in Christ;” and in it “he stands,” having this peace as an abiding portion. It is the very portion which Christ himself promised to all his faithful followers; “In me ye shall have peace:” “My peace I give unto you.” And hence the Lord Jesus bears, as his own peculiar title, that glorious name, “The Prince of Peace [Note: Isa_9:6.].”]
Next, in succession to this blessing, is,
II. A joyful hope of his glory—
[The believer, being made a child of God, is become “an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ [Note: Rom_8:17.]:” and he immediately begins to look forward to that inheritance to which he has been begotten, which is “incorruptible, and undefiled, and never-fading; and is reserved in heaven for them, as they are reserved by the power of God for it [Note: 1Pe_1:4-5.].” To this inheritance our blessed Lord encouraged his Disciples to have respect continually, and to anticipate in their minds the everlasting fruition of it: “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And, if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also [Note: Joh_14:2-3.].” And accordingly we find the Apostle Paul sweetly assured of the possession of it, as soon as he should be liberated from this earthly tabernacle [Note: 2Co_5:1. Php_1:21; Php_1:23.]; and teaching all to expect the same portion at the period of their dismission from the body [Note: 2Ti_4:8.]. Well may the believer rejoice in such a hope: for, what are earthly crowns and kingdoms in comparison of those to which he is heir [Note: Rev_3:21.]?]
Whilst the believer receives such great benefits from Christ, he experiences,
III. A delight even in tribulations for his sake—
[Tribulations must of necessity in themselves be painful: but as endured for Christ, they become a source and occasion of joy. The believer knows beforehand that he shall be called to suffer them [Note: 1Th_3:4.]; and he is prepared to glory in them, as the Apostles did, who, when they had been imprisoned and scourged for their fidelity to Christ, went forth from their persecutors, “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his sake [Note: Act_5:41.].” They know that their sufferings will be productive of present, no less than of eternal, benefit to their souls; that, though in the first instance tribulation may cause impatience, it will ultimately “work patience,” by bringing him to a meek submission to the Divine will: from patience so increased, he will derive “experience,” or a decisive evidence that God is with him, and that the grace of God has wrought effectually on his soul. By that experience his “hope” will be exceedingly confirmed; for he will see the very justice, as well as the truth, of God pledged to recompense what is so endured for his name’s sake [Note: 2Th_1:6-7.]: and this “hope will never make him ashamed,” as theirs will, who look for salvation in any other way than through faith in Christ. Thus he will see that “his light and momentary afflictions are in reality working for him a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory [Note: 2Co_4:17-18.]:” and in this view of them he will greatly rejoice; even as Paul did, who took pleasure in his multiplied distresses [Note: 2Co_12:10.], and counted even the most cruel death for the sake of Christ and his Church as a subject of the most heartfelt congratulation [Note: Php_2:17-18.]. Instead of repining at his trials, he receives them as a most invaluable gift of God to him for Christ’s sake [Note: Php_1:29.], and glorifies God for them as a most precious testimony of his love [Note: 1Pe_4:12-16.]. His enemies indeed “think not so, neither do they mean so:” nothing is further from their hearts than to advance the work of godliness in the souls of those whom they persecute, and to augment their joy: but this is the real effect of persecution, which, like fire, purifies them from their dross, and causes its victims to leap for joy [Note: Luk_6:23. ó ê é ñ ô Þ ó á ô å .].]
To this elevated state of mind the believer is advanced by,
IV. A sense of his love shed abroad in the heart [Note: This, as it is usually interpreted, is made to sanction the idea, that a sense of God’s love in the soul is of itself a sufficient ground for an assurance, that our hope is truly scriptural, and shall never be disappointed. But such an idea would lead to the most fatal delusions. A most able and judicious commentator (Mr. Scott), aware of this danger, endeavours to remove it, by including in “the love of God shed abroad in the heart,” all the fruits resulting from it. But an easier, and, in the Author’s judgment, a better way to get rid of the difficulty, is, to connect this clause of the text with those words in ver. 3, “We glory in tribulations also;” the intermediate parts being taken parenthetically. Then the proper sense of these words may be given to them without any danger, and a beautiful light be thrown on the whole passage: for though the love of God in the heart is not of itself a sufficient evidence of the soundness of our hope, it is, beyond every thing in the world, an incentive to despise, or rather to glory in, sufferings for the Lord’s sake. We would read it thus: “We glory in tribulations also; (knowing, &c. &c.;) because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, &c.”]—
[This is a blessing which, though not to be appreciated or understood by those who have never received it, is yet most assuredly enjoyed by many of God’s chosen people. We scarcely know how to describe it, because it consists chiefly in an impression on the mind occasioned by manifestations of God’s love to the soul. Nothing is more certain than that Christ will “manifest himself to his people, as he does not unto the world.” This he will do by the agency of the Holy Ghost, who will “take of the things that are Christ’s, and will shew them unto us.” As “a spirit of adoption” too, he will give us views of the Father, as our Father in Christ Jesus: he will also “witness with our spirits that we are Christ’s;” and will be in us as “an earnest of our everlasting inheritance;” and will “seal us unto the day of redemption.” By all these operations on our souls, he will “fill us with joy and peace in believing,” yea, with “a joy unspeakable and glorified.” This is in reality a foretaste of heaven itself; and, where this is, a man, if he had a thousand lives, would be ready to lay them all down for his Lord and Saviour, accounting nothing dear to him, so that “Christ might but be magnified in him, whether by life or death.” How persons have been transported with these manifestations, and been enabled by them to triumph over their most malignant enemies, ecclesiastical history, yea the history of our own martyrs, sufficiently informs us. This sense of the Divine presence and love is not indeed at all times equally powerful on the soul: but it is the privilege of all who flee unto the Saviour as their only refuge, and rely upon him as their only hope.]
We would exhort you then, beloved,
1. To hold fast the doctrine of justification by faith only—
[No other doctrine brings such blessings along with it. Hence, they who impugn this doctrine, pour contempt on all these effects of it, as fancies that have no reality, and as the creatures of a heated imagination. But we must discard the Scriptures themselves, if we discard these things from the experience of God’s people: and therefore let none deprive you of your hope. Believe in Christ: make him “all your salvation, and all your desire.” Dismiss with abhorrence every thought that tends to lower him in your estimation, or to rob him of his glory; and to the latest hour of your lives “live altogether by faith in Him, who has loved you, and given himself for you.”]
2. To seek the privileges connected with it—
[If any enjoy them not, the fault is utterly their own. Circumstances may interfere to put a difference between one and another, so that persons, equally pious, may not be equally full of peace and joy: and the same persons may sometimes experience a diversity of frames. But, generally speaking, these blessed exercises of mind will be found in men in proportion to the simplicity of their faith, and the entireness of their devotion to God. All the persons in the blessed Trinity are engaged to make you thus blessed. The Father lays his anger by, and speaks peace to your souls. The Lord Jesus Christ, as your Advocate with the Father, secures these blessings for you, and, as your living Head, imparts them to you. And the Holy Ghost communicates to you all those exquisite delights, which the sense of God’s love, and a prospect of his glory, are calculated to inspire. Seek then the peace that passeth all understanding; and the joyful “hope that purifieth the heart:” and seek such an abiding sense of God’s presence, as shall raise you above all the things of time and sense, and convert tribulation itself into a source of joy and a ground of glorying. Then will you adorn this doctrine of God our Saviour; and will put to shame the enemies of the Gospel, by the transcendent efficacy of it upon your souls.]