[5.] From this ransom and act of obedience there is a liberty resulting unto us, for the redeemed are let go when the ransom is paid. Now this liberty is a freedom from sin, that we may become the ser- vants of God: Kom. vi. 22, 'Being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.' Christ came not to free us from the duty
Col. I. 14.] redemption by ciirasT. 423
of the law, but the penalty and curse thereof. To free us from the duty of the hxw is to promote the devil's interest. No ; he freed us from the wrath of God that we may serve him cheerfully, to establish God's interest upon surer and more comfortable terms, to restore us to God's favour and service : to God's favour, by the pardon of sin ; to his service by writing his laws on our hearts and minds. Sometimes our redemption from the curse is spoken of:. Gal. iii. 13, 'Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.' Sometimes our redemption from sin : Titus ii. 14, ' Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity ; ' and so by consequence from the power of the devil, which is built on the curse of the law and reign of sin. Satan's power over us doth flow from the sentence of the condemnation pronounced by the law against sinners, and consists in that dominion sin hath obtained over them. If the curse of the law be disannulled, and the power of sin broken, he is spoiled of his power: Col. ii. 14, 15, ' Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross ; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them.'
[6.] That we are not partakers of this liberty, nor of the bene- fit of this ransom, till we are in him, and united to him by faith, for the text saith, ' In whom we have redemption by his blood.' Certainly we must be turned from Satan to God before we are capable of re- ceiving the forgiveness of sins, Acts xxvi. 18. We do not actually partake of the privileges of Christ's kingdom till we be first his sub- jects: 'Who hath delivered us from the power of Satan, and hath trans- lated us into the kingdom of his dear Son : in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.' Christ and his people are an opposite state to the deviland his instruments. While we are under the opposite power we belong not to Christ, and the privileges of his kingdom belong not to us ; but as soon as we are translated and put into another estate, then we have the first privilege, 'remission of sins.' Look, as in the fall there was sin before guilt, so in our reparation there must be conversion, renovation, or repentance before remission. We are first effectually called or sanctified, and then justified and glorified. Man's recovery to God is in the same method in which he fell from him. It is first brought about by a new nature, and communication of life from Christ. He regenerateth that he may pardon, and he pardoneth that he may further sanctify and make us everlastingly happy.
Thirdly, That remission of sins is a part, and a princi})al part of redemption,
1. How is it a part or fruit of redemption ?
I answer — Kedemption is taken either for the impetration or appli- cation.
[1.] The impetration or laying down the price, that was done by Christ upon the cross. So it is said, Heb. ix. 12, ' Christ by his own blood obtained eternal redemption for us,' Then was God propitiated, the deadly blow given to the kingdom and power of the devil, and the merit and ransom interposed, by the virtue of which we are pardoned. The obtained redemption and remission of sins is a fruit flowing from it, and depending upon it as an effect upon the cause.
424 EEDEMPTION BY CHRIST. [SeE. I.
[2.] The scripture considers redemption in its application. Besides laying down the price, there is an actual deliverance and freedom by virtue of that price. This is either begun or complete. The complete redemption, or freedom from sin and misery, is that which the godly shall enjoy at the last day : Kom. viii. 23, ' We which have the first- fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body;' Eph. iv. 30, ' Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption ; ' Eph. i. 14, ' In whom also, after ye believed, ye were sealed with tliat S^Dirit of promise, which is the earnest of our in- heritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession.' The inchoate or begun deliverance is that measure of deliverance which believers enjoy now by faith, which consists of two parts — justification and sanctification. Sanctification : 1 Pet. i. 18, Titus ii. 14, ' Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works ; ' when "we are free from the power and weight of sin. Justification, so it is in the text, and Eph. i. 7 ; when sin is freely pardoned, and our debt cancelled, and we are delivered from evil and wrath to come.