Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

know that these names imply and chiefly express an inward character. Honest man, friend, and all the terms descriptive of character, are daily used in the same way. But because you apply such appellations to men whose hearts you cannot know, is it to be inferred that there are honest men, and friends, who are not so in heart? If the visible churches to whom the Epistles were written were called "saints," "holy brethren," "faithful," "beloved of God," "elect," "justified," "sanctified in Christ Jesus," "partakers of the divinę nature," "children of God," "joint heirs with Christ," it is not necessary to suppose that these titles denoted an outward character and condition only, unless indeed Christianity is altogether an outside thing, not at all intended to cleanse the fountain of action, or form the temper for a future life.

Secondly, if the terms under consideration really denoted an inward change in Jews and pagans, the same change must be wrought in people in a Gospel land, unless they already possess the temper denoted by the terms. If any can be found who are not what is really intended by new creatures and new born, it is plain that they must be created and born anew. But whether all the inhabitants of Christendom, or even all within the pale of the Christian Church, do possess such a character, will appear when the import of these terms comes to be examined.

Now for the trial of the question. Do the terms new creation and new birth denote the production of real holiness of heart, or a mere introduction to the visible Church, from a pagan, Jewish, or Gospel state? Let us examine the two phrases separately.

First, of the new creation. It is by this operation that "the new creature" or "new man" is formed. What account then have we of the new creature or new man?

To be a new creature is to be in Christ: "We are His workmanship created IN Christ Jesus." Unless then a union to the visible Church actually unites one to Christ, something more is meant by the new creation. It is absolutely necessary to be a new creature in order to be in Christ: "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature." Unless then a union to the visible Church is essential to a union with Christ, something more is meant by the new creation.*

Here let us settle once for all what is meant by being in Christ. To be in Christ is to be so housed in Him as to be completely sheltered from condemnation: "There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." It is to be "members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones:" "So we being many are one body in Christ." It is to have a sure title to all the promises. The promises were all made to Christ, and are repre

[blocks in formation]

sented as laid up in Him for all who are thus inclosed: "To Abraham and his Seed were the promises made: He saith not, And to seeds, as of many, but as of One, and to thy Seed, which is Christ." "That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ." "For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him amen." To be in Christ is to be in Him as in a house which will inclose us after all visible churches shall cease,which will inclose us when we lie in the grave, and when we rise. The apostle speaks of those who had "fallen asleep in Christ," and says that "the dead in Christ shall rise first." In short this was a common expression used by the apostles to denote the union of real Christians to Christ.* And all this is implied in being a new creature.

To be a new creature is to possess that faith which worketh by love, and avails to salvation: Compare the two following texts, standing near each other in the same Epistle: "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love." Again, as far as the new creation proceeds it annihilates the old man, and produces something entirely new: "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold ALL things are become new." Again, to become a new creature or new man is to be delivered from the power of sin, and to be made holy in heart and life: "We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works." "Our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed." "Lie not one to another seeing ye have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge AFTER THE IMAGE OF HIM THAT CREATED HIM." What more do you require ? Show me, you say, a text which plainly declares that the new creation produces true holiness. That text you shall see. "That ye put off, concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and that ye put on the new man, which AFTER GOD IS CREATED in RIGHTEOUSNESS and TRUE HOLINESS."*

* Rom. viii. 1. and xii. 5. and xvi. 7. 1 Cor. iii. 1. and xv. 18, 22.
Gal. i. 22. and iii. 16.
Eph. iii. 6. and

2 Cor. i. 20, 21. and xii. 2.

ν. 30. 1 Thes. iv. 16.

If these texts do not establish the point that the new creation is something more than a change in the outward character and condition; -if to be renewed in the spirit of our mind, after the image of Him that created us, -if after God to be created in righteousness and true holiness, does not mean to be made holy as He is holy, it is impossible to express that idea in language. Let us now turn, Secondly, to the new birth. The meaning of this phrase cannot be mistaken if you attend to the figure as it is carried out into the cause, means, and effects. The subjects of the new birth are begotten of God, by the incorruptible seed of the Word, are born His children, the seed of Christ, the heirs of God, and joint heirs with His Son. That all these terms are only the expansion of the same figure, and refer to one and the same change, will be seen by a single glance at the following texts:

* Rom. vi. 6. 2 Cor. v. 17. Gal. v. 6. and vi. 15. Eph. ii. 10. and iv. 22-24. Col. iii. 9, 10.

"Whosoever believeth-is born of God; and every one that loveth Him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God."

"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil."

"To them gave He power to become the sons of God; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

"The children of the promise are counted for the seed."

"If children then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ."

"He saved us by the washing of regeneration,

-that-we should be made heirs."

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »