Question 30: How does the Spirit apply the redemption purchased by Christ to us?
Answer: The Spirit applies to us the redemption purchased by Christ by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.
In this answer, there are two things. It is implied that Christ is the glorious purchaser of our redemption, in the words, “The redemption purchased by Christ”. And it is declared that the Spirit applies to us this purchased redemption, by working in us faith, etc.
The thing implied is—that Jesus Christ is the glorious purchaser of our redemption. The doctrine of redemption by Jesus Christ is a glorious doctrine; it is the marrow and quintessence of the gospel, in which all a Christian’s comfort lies. Great was the work ofcreation—but greater the work of redemption; it cost more to redeem us than to make us. In creation, there was but the speaking of a word; in redemption, there was the shedding of blood. The creation was but the work of God’s fingers. Psalm 8:3. Redemption is the work of his arm. Luke 1:51.
“Having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Heb 9:12. Christ’s purchasing redemption for us implies that our sins mortgaged and sold us. Had there not been some kind of mortgaging there had been no need of redemption. When we were thus mortgaged, and sold by sin, Christ purchased our redemption. He had the best right to redeem us, for he is our kinsman. The Hebrew word for Redeemer, Goel, signifies a kinsman, one who is near in blood. In the old law the nearest kinsman was to redeem his brother’s land. Ruth 4:4. Thus Christ being near akin to us, “Flesh of our flesh,” is the fittest to redeem us.
How does Christ redeem us?
By his own precious blood. “In whom we have redemption through his blood.” Among the Romans, he was said to redeem another, who laid down a price equivalent for the ransom of the prisoner. In this sense Christ is a Redeemer; he has paid a price. Never was such a price paid to ransom prisoners. “You are bought with a price; and this price was his own blood.” So, in the text, “by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” This blood being the blood of that person who was God as well as man, is a price sufficient for the ransom of millions.
From what does Christ redeem us?
From sin. To be redeemed from slavery is a great mercy—but it is infinitely more to be redeemed from sin. There is nothing that can hurt the soul but sin. Affliction cannot hurt it, it often makes it better, as the furnace makes gold the purer; but it is sin that damnifies. Now, Christ redeems us from sin. “Now, once in the end of the world has he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
But how are we redeemed from sin? Do we not see corruption stirring in the regenerate? Do we not see much pride and unmortified passion?
Redemption is either begun—or perfect. Sin cannot stand with a perfect redemption; but here on earth, redemption is only begun, and sin may stand with an imperfect redemption. There may be some darkness in the air at the sun’s first rising—but not when the sun is at the full meridian. While our redemption is but begun, there may be sin; but not when it is perfect in glory.
In what sense has Christ redeemed justified people from sin?
(1.) A justified person is redeemed from the guiltof sin—though not the stain of sin. Guilt is the binding a person over to punishment. Now, Christ has redeemed a justified person from the guilt of sin; he has discharged his debts. Christ says to God’s justice, as Paul to Philemon, “If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.” Verse 18.
(2.) A justified person is redeemed from the powerand dominion of sin—though not from the presence of sin. Sin may may rage in a child of God—but not reign. Lust raged in David, andfear in Peter—but it did not reign; they recovered themselves by repentance. “Sin shall not have dominion over you.” Rom 6:14. Sin lives in a child of God—but is deposed from the throne; it lives not as a king—but a captive.
(3.) A justified person is redeemed from the cursedue to sin. “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.” Gal 3:13. Christ said to his Father, as Rebecca to Jacob, “Upon me, upon me be the curse; let the blessing be upon them—but upon me be the curse.” And now, there is no condemnation to believers. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1.
An unbeliever has a double condemnation; one from the law which he has transgressed, and the other from the gospel which he has despised. But Christ has redeemed the believer from this malediction, he has set him outside of the power of hell and damnation.
To what has Christ redeemed us?
Christ has redeemed us to a glorious inheritance. “For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay!” 1 Peter 1:4.
(1.) Christ has redeemed us to an inheritance. Christ has not only redeemed us out of prison—but he has redeemed us to a state of happiness, to an inheritance. Heaven is not a lease which soon expires—but an inheritance; and a glorious inheritance; called an inheritance in light. Col 1:12. Light adorns and gilds the world. What would the world be without light—but a prison? The heavenly inheritance is irradiated with light. Christ, as a continual sun, enlightens it with his beams. Rev 21:23.
(2.) Christ has redeemed us to an incorruptibleinheritance. It does not moulder away or suffer dissolution. Earthly comforts are shadowed out by the tabernacle, which was transient. But heaven is set out by the temple, which was fixed and permanent, built with stone, overlaid with gold. This is the glory of the celestial inheritance; it is incorruptible. Eternity is written upon the frontispiece of it.
(3.) Christ has redeemed us to an undefiledinheritance. The Greek word for undefiled, alludes to a precious stone called Amiantus, which cannot be blemished. Such a place is heaven, undefiled, nothing can stain it; there is no sin there to eclipse its purity. For holiness and undefiledness, it is compared to pure gold, and to the sapphire and emerald. Rev 21:19. “The sapphire has a virtue,” says Pliny, “to preserve chasteness, the emerald to expel poison.” These are the lively emblems of heaven, to show the sanctity of it; no fever of lust; no venom of malice; none but pure virgin spirits inhabit it.
(4.) Christ has redeemed us to an unfadinginheritance. The Greek word is the name of a flower, Amarantus, which keeps fresh and green for a long time. Such is the heavenly inheritance, it does not lose its orient color—but keeps its freshness and greenness to eternity; its beauty never fades away.
To this glorious inheritance has Christ redeemed the saints; an inheritance which cannot be fully described or set forth by all the lights of heaven, though every star were a sun. And that which is thediamond in the ring, the glory of this inheritance—is the eternal sight and fruition of the blessed God! The sight of God will be a most alluring, heart-ravishing object; the king’s presence makes the court. “We shall see him as he is!” It is comfortable to see God showing himself through the lattice of an ordinance, to see him in the Word and sacrament. The martyrs thought it comfortable to see him in a prison. Oh then, what will it be to see him in glory, shining ten thousand times brighter than the sun! and not only see him—but enjoy him forever! Faith itself is not able fully to comprehend this reward. All this blessedness has Christ purchased for us, through the redemption of his blood.
Use one: Of INSTRUCTION.
(1.) See into what a wretched deplorable condition we had brought ourselves by sin! We had sinned ourselves into slavery, so that we needed Christ to purchase our redemption. Says Cicero, “Slavery is the worst condition.” But by sin we are in the worst slavery—slaves to Satan, a merciless tyrant, who sports in the damnation of souls! We were in this deplorable condition, when Christ came to redeem us.
(2.) See in this, as in a transparent glass, the love of Christ to the elect. He came to redeem them; and died intentionally for them. It would be great love for a king to pay a great sum of money to redeem a slave. But if the king should willingly become a prisoner in his stead, and die for his ransom—this would be a matter of astonishment! Jesus Christ has done all this, he has written his love in characters of blood! It would have been much for Christ to speak a good word to his Father for us—but he knew that was not enough to redeem us. Though a word speaking made a world—yet it would not redeem a sinner. “Without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.”
Use two: Of TRIAL. If Christ came to purchase our redemption, then let us test ourselves—to see whether or not we are the people whom Christ has redeemed from the guilt and curse due to sin. This is a needful trial; for there is only a certain number whom Christ has redeemed. “Oh,” say sinners, “Christ is a redeemer, and we shall be saved by him!” Beloved, Christ came not to redeem all, for that would overthrow the decrees of God. Redemption is not as large as creation. I grant there is a sufficiency of merit in Christ’s blood to save all; but there is a difference between sufficiency and efficiency. Christ’s blood is a sufficient price for all—but it is effectual only to those who believe. A plaster may have a sovereign virtue in it to heal any wound—but it does not heal any, unless applied to the wound. And if it is so, that all have not the benefit of Christ’s redemption—but only some—then it is a necessary question to ask our own souls, “Are we in the number of those who are redeemed by Christ, or not?”
How shall we know that?
(1.) Such as are redeemed are RECONCILED to God. The enmity is taken away. Their judgments approve of God, and their wills are inclined to God. Col 1:21. Are they redeemed—who are unreconciled to God, who hate God and his people, who do all they can to disparage holiness? Are they redeemed who are unreconciled to God? Christ has purchased a reprieve for these; but a sinner may have a reprieve, and yet go to hell. John 5:6.
(2.) Such as are redeemed by Christ are redeemed from the WORLD. “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver (or redeem) us from this present evil world.” Gal 1:4. Such as are redeemed by Christ—are risen with Christ, Col 3:1. As birds that land upon the ground to pick up a little seed, immediately fly up to heaven again; so the redeemed of the Lord use the world, and take the lawful comforts of it—but their hearts are presently off these things, and they ascend to heaven. They live here—and trade above. Such people as Christ has died for, are “dead to the world.” They are dead to its honors, profits, and preferments. What shall we think of those who say they are redeemed of the Lord—and yet are lovers of the world? They are like the tribes who desired to have their portion on this side Canaan. “They mind earthly things.” They pull down their souls—to build up an estate. They are not redeemed by Christ—who are not redeemed from the world.
Use three: Of COMFORT to such as are redeemed. You are most blessed—the lot of free grace has fallen upon you! You were once in the devil’s prison—but God has freed you from that prison! You were once bound in the chains of sin—but God has begun to beat off your chains, and has freed you from the power of sin, and the curse due to it. What a comfort is this! Is there any consolation in Christ? It is shine. Is there any sweet fruit growing upon the promise? You may gather this sweet fruit. Are there any glorious privileges in the gospel? They are yours— justification, adoption, glorification. Is there any glory in heaven? You shall shortly drink of that river of pleasure. Have you any temporal comforts? These are but a pledge of more. Your meal in the barrel is but a meal by the way, and a pledge of that angels’ food which God has prepared for you. How may you be comforted in all worldly afflictions, though your fig-tree does not flourish! Death itself has lost its sting. Death shall carry you to your Redeemer! Do not fear dying, since you cannot be perfectly happy but by dying.
Use four: Of EXHORTATION. Long for the time when you shall have a full and perfect redemption in heaven—an eternal jubilee—when you shall be freed not only from the power but from the presence of sin! Here a believer is as a prisoner who has broken prison—but walks with a fetter on his leg. When the banner of glory shall be displayed over you, you shall be as the angels of God! You shall never more have a sinful thought; nor pain nor grief, nor aching head nor unbelieving heart. You shall see Christ’s face, and lie forever in his arms! Long for that time, when you shall put off your prison garments, and change your raiment, and put on the embroidered garment of glory! Oh long for it! Yet be content to wait for this full and glorious redemption, when you shall be more happy than you can desire! “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9.