This Blessedness

This Blessedness

                                                            

Romans 4:9

“Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.”

            If it be asked what blessedness the Apostle has in view by the expression “this blessedness” the answer is found in the verse from which the expression is taken; “For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.” The Blessedness is more definitively stated in previous verses; where it is written “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” (Romans 4:4-8).

            The scripture is sun beam clear; that “by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8, 9) The love and grace of God toward the spiritual seed of Abraham is one of the moving causes of the everlasting covenant. (Malachi 1:2; Jeremiah 31:3) The everlasting covenant of grace springs from the goodness of God, that which is in God in himself and not drawn forth from God by any thing that is in man; but wholly from God as He is in Himself. Moses had said to the Lord “I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, (God said) I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy to whom I will show mercy.” (Exodus 33:18, 19) The grace of God is Sovereign Grace, or it is His Grace who is the Sovereign of the universe; God is under no constraint to be of a gracious disposition toward any of His fallen creatures, who have sinned against Him. God’s Mercy is Sovereign Mercy, that is, the mercy that God willingly exhibits toward His fallen creatures as the Sovereign God. God owes neither Mercy nor Grace to any of His creatures, for in the fall, the creature forfeited his position of favor in the sight of God; and has turned to be an enemy to his God, (Colossians 1:21).

Man, having fallen into a state of sin, resists the rule of God; and stands in open rebellion against his God. When God came to man in the person our Lord Jesus Christ; this is the reception He received. “But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.”(Luke 19:14) “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (that is, in love received him as a benevolent creator) He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” (John 1: 10, 11) “Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhoreth,..” (Isaiah 49:7) “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Isaiah 53:3) The natural heart of man is utterly turned against the Lord; therefore the doctrine of God’s free and sovereign grace in Jesus Christ is despised. Men by nature have a desire to determine their own destiny, to walk in their own way, and therefore hate the doctrine of election of grace; and men hate the fact that God has predestinated the elect to salvation in Jesus Christ. But does man’s hatred of God and His way of grace hinder the purpose of God, or, does mans rebellion turn aside the free grace of God, and make the word of God of no effect? Nay, God forbid! For “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:” (Romans 5:20) “And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are they that wait for him.” (Isaiah 30:18) In spite of all that man has wickedly done our God has said “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” (Isaiah 43:25 see also verses 22-25)

“Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, (the Jew) but to that also which of the faith of Abraham; who is he father of us all,” (Romans 4:16)

“Therefore it is of faith” the promise of eternal life is to the believer; for our Lord Jesus Christ said “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” (John 6:47; 5:24; I John 5:1) Faith is by revelation of God, as our Lord Jesus told Peter “Blessed art thou Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 16:17) The Father had revealed to the heart of Simon Peter that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ of God; and upon Simon Peter’s confession of faith our Lord acknowledged the work of the Father in the heart of Peter by saying Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: etc. Saving Faith in the heart, is the work of God; and it is not of man’s choice, nor is it of man’s decision; but it is the work of God. God puts in the heart of man faith which was not there before, for He says “I will put my laws in their mind, and write them in their hearts: (Hebrews 8:10). It is true that God gives His gifts by means; and the mean that God is pleased to use in giving saving faith is the preaching of the gospel. (Romans 10:13-17) God causes His elect to pass under the preaching of the gospel and works in their heart to believe His record of His Son, which is eternal life. (I John 5:11) To this truth agree the words of the Savior “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” (John 6:47). “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) Reader, give diligent regard to the word of God; the gift of God is not an offer, it is a free grace gift given in the Sovereign Power of God; and it is life eternal, manifest in believing the record that God gave of His Son.

“That it might be by grace” God in grace provides all that is required for the salvation of the objects of grace. The free grace of God seeks nothing from man in the way of merit, not a wise choice, not a willingness to believe, not an ability to believe, no cooperation on the part of man, for what God requires in the way of duty, God freely gives by His grace; God puts all that is necessary in the heart of His people; so that God provides all that is required of man as a free grace gift. For first of all, grace is defined as unmerited favor, that is, God has favor to His elect with no reason in the elect which calls forth His favor. Our Lord has said “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.” (Hosea 14:4) And again it is written “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” (Romans 3:24) God loves His elect freely; that is, without a cause in the elect; and God justifies the elect freely, again it is without a meritorious cause in the elect. In the case of His justification, the procuring cause is the accomplished redemption that is in Christ Jesus, in whom the elect were chosen before the foundation of the world and with whom they stood in union from everlasting. And it is precisely because of this covenant union that the children of the covenant are partakers of the blessedness of the finished redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Must the children of the covenant be willing to come to Jesus Christ for all the fullness of salvation? Yes, and therefore He saith “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power,” (Psalm 110:3). It is the Power of God the Holy Ghost effectually working in the heart of the elect sinner that produces a willingness to seek the Lord, for, “No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:44). Must the children of the covenant believe that Jesus is the Christ? Yes, and therefore God reveals the true identity of Jesus Christ to Peter, and in the same way, to all the children of the covenant. Must the children of the covenant repent of their dead religious works, and former idolatry? Yes, therefore God “gives them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;” (II Timothy 2:25; Acts 5:31). “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” (Romans 9:16) Therefore the children of God are born, “not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:13)

“To the end the promise might be sure to all the seed” Reference is to the spiritual seed of Abraham. (Genesis 3:15; Hebrews 2:13, 16; Galatians 3:7, 16, 29; Titus 1:1, 2) The spiritual seed of Abraham is Christ, (Galatians 3:16, 29) and all who are chosen in Christ as members of His mystical body, the church; (I Corinthians 12:12, 13) these are united to Christ in covenant union from eternity past. Faith is the manifestation of covenant interest in Christ. It is the determination of God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, that all the spiritual seed shall receive the inheritance of grace, which is eternal life in Christ Jesus. This determination is not based on anything as foreseen in the creature, as faith, or repentance; but the determination is established in the eternal purpose of God (Ephesians 3:11), and is secured in the finished redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:6-9; Romans 3:24). God saves His people according to His own purpose and grace which was given His elect in Christ Jesus before the world began (II Timothy 1: 9). The promise is sure to all the seed, because the seed (those who are chosen in Christ) was given to Christ of the Father, and Christ Jesus has promised that “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)

This Blessedness, into which Abraham entered through the grace of God in Christ Jesus, is stated first as “the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,” (Romans 4:6) and secondly as; “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” (Romans 4:7, 8). To have a proper apprehension of these blessed truths we must consider, not what the children of the covenant are in them selves; but what their inheritance of grace is in Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus in His eternal being was “set up from everlasting” (Proverbs 8:23) He was appointed to all the offices for the church which He has from everlasting executed. In the beginning or from everlasting Jesus Christ has represented and spoke for His spouse the church because of the eternal covenant union which binds them as one, that is, as Christ the Head, and the Church His body. (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22, 23; 5:30; John 14:20; 17:21-26; I Corinthians 12:12, 13, 27; 6:17)

Christ Jesus acted in the bond of the covenant when in eternity past He spoke as Advocate, and Surety for His spouse the church. (I John 2:1; Hebrews 7:22) In that eternal covenant union, the Husband, Christ Jesus and His spouse, the church, were considered one; therefore being one in the reckoning of God; the spouse did, in her Husband, all that the Husband did in union with His spouse. And it can be said that all that the Husband, Christ Jesus, did, the spouse also did in Christ. Therefore all the church of God is crucified with Christ, (Galatians 2:20); and not only that but also, quickened together with Christ, and hath been raised up together, and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-6) according to the bond of the covenant, or the eternal union that exists between the Head of the body and the body, 0r between the Husband and the spouse. And therefore when Christ Jesus fulfilled the law and the prophets, (Matthew 5:17, 18) the church of God fulfilled the law and the prophets in Christ Jesus; for, the law of God must be obeyed, and this the church of God did perfectly, in Christ. Not only has the church of God perfectly obeyed the law and prophets in Christ Jesus, but also, the Church has been put to death under the penalty of the law of God in Christ. The Apostle Paul said “I am crucified with Christ” Galatians 2:20, and in that instance what applies to the Apostle also applies to the rest of the body the church. The entire church of God was considered of God as put to death in the body of Jesus Christ, because of covenant union with Christ, they being one in the sight of God.

In this oneness, or union of Christ Jesus and His church, the people of God are reckoned to be one with Jesus Christ. In this union it is right in the sight of God that the sin of the church should be laid on Jesus Christ who is the Head of the body the church; for “the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) and “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree:” (Galatians 3:13) and “He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (II Corinthians 5:21) Therefore the sin of the church has been imputed to the Head of the church our Lord Jesus Christ. Since the sin of the church has been laid on Christ, the church has no chargeable sin. The church can not be charged with sin that has already been charged to Jesus Christ, and for which Christ Jesus and the church in Christ, has suffered death. Therefore because of the finished redemption that is in Christ Jesus, that is, because Christ has paid the sin debt of the church in full, God will not impute sin to His church. Christ Jesus has put away the sin of His elect forever by the sacrifice of himself, therefore “blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin”. God cannot according to His own justice impute sin to the sinner and the sinners surety which is Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:22).

Not only is this so, that, God will not impute sin to His church, but also; God does impute the righteousness of Jesus Christ, which is the righteousness of God, (Romans 1:17; 3:25) to the church of His elect. God robes the church of His elect in the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels. (Isaiah 61:10) Jesus Christ Himself is the justifying righteousness of His church; for “this is the name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Jeremiah 23:6) The church of Christ takes the name of her spouse and “this is the name whereby she shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness. (Jeremiah 33:16) Jesus Christ is the total righteousness of the church of God, the church contributes nothing to the finished work of righteousness of Jesus Christ. The only acceptable clothing for the church of God is the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ, which is the righteousness of God, any thing less is cast out. (Matthew 22:12, 13)

Christ alone is the justifying righteousness of the church of God, for, “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.”(Romans 10:4) and it is written “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6) The Apostle Paul states this truth of himself and every other saint “I find then a law, that, when I would do good evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” (Romans 7:21-23) Therefore the church of God is crucified with Christ, (Galatians 2:20) that being “..dead to the law by the body of Christ;” (Romans 7:4) sin might not be imputed to the church, for “..God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them;..” (II Corinthians 5:19).

The sin for which Christ Jesus suffered, and died was the sin of His church. God charged the sin of His elect to Jesus Christ because of the eternal union that exists between Christ and His people. Christ Jesus had become surety of the New Testament, (Hebrews 7:22) and as surety the sin of the church of God was “Laid on Him” (Isaiah 53:6) that is, the sins of the church was imputed to Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ acknowledged the righteous judgment of God in imputing the sin of His church to Himself the Head of the church; and therefore calls the sin of His church “my sins” (Psalm 69:5; 38:3). The sins Christ Jesus called “my sin” are His by imputation, and not by commission, for, “in Him is no sin” (I John 3:5) and “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:” (I Peter 2:22) “this man hath done nothing amiss” (Luke 23:41); “And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:9) “Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?” (John 8:46)

“who knew no sin” (I Corinthians 5:21) “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity;” (Hebrews 1:9) “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)  “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;” (Hebrews 7:26) “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” (I Peter 1:19). Sin charged to the Lord Jesus Christ did not make Him a sinner, for in all He did in baring the sin of the elect, and putting away the sin of the elect, He is remained the Holy One of God, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8). Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Lord of glory (I Corinthians 2:8) and the King of glory (Psalms 24:7-10) whose name is “Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of peace;” (Isaiah 9:6) and who is “Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:23), this same Lord Jesus Christ “His own self bare our sins ( that is, the sins of the church of God) in his own body on the tree” (I Peter 2:24). Christ Jesus by Himself purged our sins, and is set down on the right hand of the majesty on high, (Hebrews 1:3) where all power is given unto Him “in heaven and in earth” and He commands “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. (Matthew 28: 19-20)     

A.J. Ison

All That the Father Giveth Me

All That the Father Giveth Me

John 6:37

            “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

            Here is a clear and unambiguous statement from the Lord of Glory “all that the Father giveth to me shall come to me;” this is simply a statement of fact all that the Father giveth the Son will infallibly come to Him in faith, believing on Christ to the saving of their soul. God the Father has elected or chosen His people from among the inhabitants of the earth in eternity past (Ephesians 1:3-11) and has secured them in federal union in Jesus Christ, or put another way; the Father sanctified the elect in Christ Jesus, that is to say the Father set the elect apart in Jesus Christ (Exodus 13: 2 compared with Exodus 13:12 here understand that to sanctify is to set apart) (Jude 1; I Corinthians 1:2). And God the Father has sent His only begotten Son into this world to bring His many sons (the elect) to final glory. This statement is absolute there are no extenuations, no contingencies, it is absolute and unconditional, this is a statement of the Fathers will in sending His only begotten Son into this world that He might gather together all His chosen in one, that is in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:10).

            In God’s covenant or testamentary dealings with men both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, the transactions are sealed by blood (Hebrews 9:18-22; Matthew 26:28). The Old Testament was a temporary administration of the everlasting covenant of grace, designed to prove to men, that man can never be justified before God by his personal obedience to the law. Men cannot be justified by their works under the law for by the law is the knowledge of sin (Psalm 143:2; Romans 3:20). And “the scripture hath concluded all under sin” (Galatians 3:22). The law has shown men what they should do, because they are creatures made by God. Being rational creatures they should obey and worship God. However, all men having fallen in sin in the first man (Adam) are ruined creatures, they are totally depraved, are lost to God and are so lost that they can neither desire to return nor can they return to fellowship with God. Therefore man must be forever lost, ruined, and damned, unless God in free grace will do something for the fallen sinner. And God has done something about man in his ruined condition. God, in His absolute sovereignty has elected or chosen a remnant, (Romans 11:5) taken from among men of every people, tongue, kindred, and nation (Revelation 5:9) and has given them to His Son for their safety and finally to be, by Jesus Christ brought to glory, for “the Lord will give grace and glory:” (Psalm 84:10; II Thessalonians 2:13, 14).

            Our Lord Jesus’ statement was “all that the Father giveth me shall come to me” (Jn. 6:37). Therefore everyone the Father has given the Son shall come to the Son for all salvation, and only those who were given to the Son do so, those who never come to the Son were not given to the Son. In our Lord’s Great High Priestly Prayer He said “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.” (John 17:6). These men along with those that would believe through their word (verse 20) were given to Christ Jesus before the world began. They had been the Father’s by His choice of them from among men, and the Father has committed them to the Surety of the New Testament.

That Surety is Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:22) on whom the Father has imposed the office of Mediator of the everlasting covenant. The everlasting covenant is in the hand of Jesus Christ the New Testament. As Mediator, Jesus Christ stands in the law place of each of the elect, He stood condemned by the law of God in the room and stead of the elect because of their covenant interest in His Mediation. Their covenant interest in the Mediation of Jesus Christ stems from their having been from eternity chosen in federal union with Christ (Ephesians 1:3-11; II Timothy 1:9; II Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 8:28-39; I Peter 1:2). They stand in their federal Head, in union with Him from everlasting, and because of this union they are reckoned of God one in and with Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:22, 23). Therefore all that Christ has done and suffered the elect in Jesus Christ did and suffered. When Christ fulfilled the law to its jot and tittle His members did so in Him (I Corinthians 12: 12, 13, 27). In all Christ’s sufferings and doings the church of the elect were one with Him. When Christ satisfied the law and justice of God, the church in Jesus Christ satisfied the law and justice of God (I John 2:2).

All the elect in Christ are justified in Christ, for they are justified by His shed blood and righteousness (Romans 5:9; 4:22-25). Because the elect in Christ (Ephesians 1:4) have fulfilled the law in Christ they shall live in Christ. “Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 18:5). Since the elect have fulfilled the law in Christ, they must live in Christ. These are they who having been given to Christ from eternity shall come to Christ in time and receive eternal salvation. Their works have nothing to do with their being chosen in Christ from eternity “for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8, 9). “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” (II Timothy 1:8, 9).

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me” all that the Father gave to His Son were given in eternity past, and concerning them our Lord Jesus said “this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28). Notice His blood was shed for many, not all, but many. How many? “as many as thou hast given Him” (John 17:2) what then has faith to do with salvation? “as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” (Acts 13:48). Then are there few that will be saved, no there are very many, for there is a great multitude that no man can number, but by comparison to all the sons of Adam there are but very few. 

A.J. Ison

  

           

           

Beholding Christ as Christ

Beholding Christ as Christ

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ” (I Corinthians 12:12).

            This subject contains some of the most profound and sublime truths which in themselves prove most substantial in times of severe trial and which provide solid ground on which the children of God can stand in such times. For what could provide more assuring confidence, when considering the history of men, than to realize that our Creator was in the midst of all and directing all to His Own Glory, first and foremost, and then for the eternal good of His chosen (Romans 2:28-30; Ephesians 1:1-11; II Timothy 1: 7-10)? In this article we are to consider Christ as Christ. Oh Lord our God, through the grace of the Holy Ghost, and if you will, be pleased to guide our feeble attempt. Amen.                                             

When considering Christ, as Christ, we must consider the Head, Christ, joined to the body, the church (Ephesians 1:22, 23). Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 1: 1, 14). He is God the Son (Psalm 2:7; 45:6; John 10:30; I John 5:7), one of the Divine Persons who are the Plurality in Unity, the Plurality of Persons in Unity of Essence (Isaiah 48:16; Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16, 17). He is the I Am (Exodus 3:14: John 18:5, 6) the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End, (Revelation 1:8). He is the Word, Wisdom, and Power of the Triune Jehovah (I Corinthians 1:24), He is of one undivided essence and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and is He of the same Eternity and Infinity as the other two Persons in the Godhead. His Deity, is the source and principle reason of the efficacy in all His undertakings.

All that is in Christ Jesus is involved in all His undertakings, whether we are to consider Him as the eternal Spirit by whom His perfectly holy human nature was offered a sin offering and wherein He accomplished redemption and brought in eternal righteousness and everlasting salvation for His people, or whether we are to consider His perfectly holy humanity. We must consider one Person in whom there is extant two distinct natures, and yet still only one Person, so that all He undertakes in that one Person is upheld by all that is in either nature wherein lies the authority and the power for all that “shall be” as declared by Holy Scripture. For He has made this declaration “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure” (Isaiah 46:10). “The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand” (Isaiah 14: 24).

In all that Jehovah the Son undertakes in time and to all eternity, all things are according to the everlasting covenant of unmingled grace for He saith, “When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am, and I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things” (John 8:28). And again our Lord said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for whatsoever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise” (John 5:19). Our Lord could not step out of Himself (in His Divine nature and in His character of God-Man Mediator) in doing anything that was not ordered according to that covenant which is ordered in all things and sure (II Samuel 23:5). Every thought, word and deed that issued from our all glorious Lord was according to that eternal edict of the covenant and provided that perfection that is required of the children of the covenant, that our fellowship with the Triune Jehovah will be full for “In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:9) and “who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (I Corinthians 1:30).

In beholding Christ as Christ, we must not think of Him in His Godhead only, but as God in union with sinless human nature. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1 and 1:14). God the Son took sinless human nature (Luke 1:35) into union with Himself in order to be the Mediator of the everlasting covenant of unmingled grace and to be a “daysman” (Job 9:33) between God in the Trinity of His Persons and man in sinful and ruined nature (Hebrews 13:20). So great was the undertaking that none less than one of the Persons of the Godhead could finish the awful task and bring the children of the covenant, the “many sons,” to final glory (Hebrews 2:10).

             The everlasting covenant of grace, wherein was promised eternal life, was made before the world began (Titus 1:2). The persons involved in the covenant were chosen, named, and their names were enrolled in the “book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Hebrews 12:23; Revelation 13:8). The Lamb of God (our Lord Jesus Christ) was slain from the foundation of the world, that is, our Lord Jesus was virtually slain which means the slaying of the Lamb of God was as sure to be accomplished as if that event had already occurred. The Lamb was to be slain according to the “determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23). “For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined to be done” (Acts 4:27, 28). The Son of God took human nature into union with Himself in order to stand in office for men.  He was and is the Mediator of the everlasting covenant of grace; He is God and man in one person; He is the God-Man Mediator of the everlasting covenant of grace (I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 13:20).   

            Christ Jesus was chosen as the Mediator of the everlasting covenant “from of old from everlasting” (Micah 5:2). Christ is the elect of God, or the chosen of God (Isaiah 42:1). His members were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world, or before the world began, and predestinated to the adoption of children (Ephesians 1:4, 5). All of this is according to the good pleasure of God the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost (I John 5:7, 8). When considering Christ as Christ, we must consider Him in eternal federal union with His people or one with them in covenant terms and conditions (John 14: 20, 10, 11) in that order to show the relation of unity that exists between God and His Church in Christ (John 17: 11, 20, 21, 22, 23). “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1). Those who are enabled of the Holy Ghost to rightly consider the Christ of Holy Scripture will be comforted in the knowledge that we are in Christ, “not of blood (not by our earthly linage), nor of the will of the flesh (not by anything that is in ourselves), nor of the will of man (not by our own will), but of God” (John 1:13), Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The saved are in Christ by the will of God.

            The church in Jesus Christ is in Christ and always has been in Christ because of eternal federal union with Christ by the decree of the Eternal Three in One (Ephesians 1:3-7; II Timothy 1:8-10). Put in the words of the writer and according to the weakness of his fallible understanding and in human expression which confessedly is infinitely beneath the glory of our infinite God and Creator; the covenant may have run in determinations such as this. The Father spoke to the Son and to the Spirit, saying, “I have set My love upon a people (I John 4:9, 10; Jeremiah 31:3) from among what will be nations, tongues, and kingdoms of peoples (Revelation 5:9). These whom I have loved and chosen, I have desired to be my covenant people; my own and not another’s (I Peter 1:2; Romans 8:29).These alone whom I have loved and chosen as Sons and Daughters, I have set them apart in my own Son, (Jude 1) who is ‘my Fellow’ (Zechariah 13:7) in whom they are and in whom they shall be delivered from every enemy or difficulty (Romans 3:23-26). These whom I now behold in the perfections of My own Son shall fall in ruin, under My curse and into death, because of their natural federal head, whom I have named Adam (Romans 5:12) who will be the natural father of that race. From the curse of My law and justice must these be redeemed and delivered by My own Son whom I have appointed Surety of My covenant (Hebrews 7:22) and into whose hand I have now delivered them for that end (I Corinthians 1:2; Romans 3:24, 25). My Son shall bring My many sons to glory by His own blood and righteousness and in bringing My many sons to glory, My only begotten Son shall destroy the works of Satan (Hebrews 2: 10-14).”

            God the Son spoke in federal union with the elect (Ephesians 1:4, 5) saying, “I will be Surety and a ransom for those whom thou hast given me (John 17:2) and whom thou hast loved and whom I have cherished from everlasting (Hebrews 7:22; Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45). They are mine for ‘all mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in them’ (John 17: 11). I will be ‘made flesh’ (John 1:14) in order that I may be one with my church and people, (John 14:20) for I am one with thee My Father (John 10:30) and therefore ‘they also may be one in us’ (John 17:21). ‘For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee’(Hebrews 2: 11, 12).

I will redeem them from the curse which they fell under in their natural federal head Adam (Romans 5: 12), for I will be ‘made a curse’ for them (Galatians 3:13). I will endure the sufferings which they deserve, in my own body, and pay the debt of death which they should owe to thy law and justice (Ezekiel 18:4). Though Father I am without sin and I know no sin and I have no sin, yet for the sake of the glory of thy grace (Ephesians 2:7) and for their pardon sake, thou shalt lay on me the iniquity of them all (Isaiah 53:6) and I will bear their sin in my own body on the tree (I Peter 2:24) and by myself will I purge their sin (Hebrews 1:3) and once in the end of the world put away their sin forever (Hebrews 9:26). Thus will I be made sin for them (II Corinthians 5:21) a sin offering. And Father, because thou hast chosen them in federal union with me from of old, even from the days of eternity, I do own their sin as my own, though not my own by commission, but by imputation because of federal union, according to thy sovereign council, will, purpose, decree and covenant (Psalm 69:1-5; 38:1-4; II Samuel 23: 5). By dying in the stead of those thou hast given me, I will honor and Propitiate thy justice and truth (Isaiah 42:21) in order that ‘mercy and truth’ may meet together in agreement (Psalm 85:10).

I will abide in the earth and under thy most holy law as man in public office, standing in the stead of those thou hast chosen in me before the world was made. I will fulfill the law to its jot and tittle (Matthew 5:18) and it shall be charged to the credit of my members. I will obey thy law in thought, word, and deed, in order that my obedience may be accounted as their own who are in me as members (I Corinthians 12:12; Psalm 139:16; Revelation 13:8). By my perfect obedience in life, and in death, in the room and stead of my members, I will ‘finish the transgression,’ and ‘make an end of sins,’ and ‘make reconciliation for iniquity.’ I will bring in ‘everlasting righteousness,’ ‘I will seal up the vision and prophecy,’ and I the most holy shall be anointed Prophet, Priest, and King (Daniel 9:24) for I Am ‘over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.’ (Romans 9:5). My members shall rejoice in my accomplishments on their behalf, saying, ‘I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels’ (Isaiah 61:10). My people, whom thou hast appointed mine own because they are justified from sin in me, shall never have sin imputed to their charge ever again to all eternity for, I ‘shall bare their iniquity’ (Isaiah 53:11). In that which shall be called time, my members shall speak of me saying, ‘Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for (because of) our justification’ (Romans 4:25).”

The Holy Ghost spoke to the Father and to the Son, saying, “at thy word I will descend into the hearts of thy chosen and redeemed people. There I will be to them a Spirit of ‘wisdom and revelation’ (Ephesians 1:17) in the knowledge of the God. I will break up their hard, stony and rebellious heart for ‘the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be’ (Romans 8:7) and because ‘the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned’ (II Corinthians 2:14). I will give them a new heart and a new spirit, and thereby make them willing in the day of My power (Ezekiel 36:26: Psalm 110:3). ‘I will put my laws in their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God and they shall be my people’ (Hebrews 8:10). I will make them to be ‘partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust’ (II Peter 1:4) and thereby cause them to walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them (Ezekiel 36:27). I will cause them to be gracious persons in their deportment and relations to their peers, yet these things shall not be any part of their justifying righteousness, for the Mediator, Christ Jesus alone, is to them ‘THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ for they are justified by Christ’s blood (Romans 5:9). For ‘by Him all that believe are justified from all things’ (Acts 13:39). The ransomed, regenerated elect, shall rejoice in Christ Jesus, and though regenerated, and having received of my grace, still they shall have no confidence in the flesh, (Philippians 3:3) for they will gladly admit ‘we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.’ (Isaiah 64:6).”

A.J.Ison