[3.] His kingly office. He that was to be King of kings and Lord of lords needed to be both God and man. God, that he might cast out the prince of this world, and having rescued his church from the power of darkness, might govern it by his word and Spirit, and finally present it to himself a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. Man he needed to be for his own glory, ' that he might be the first-born among many brethren,' — and head and mem- bers might suit, and be all of a piece, — and for our consolation, that we might be heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, Rom. viii. 17, — and for the greater terror and ignominy of Satan, that the seed of the woman might break the serpent's head. In short, God, that he might govern and influence a people so scattered abroad upon the face of the earth, and raise them up at the last day ; man, that our nature (the dignity of which was so envied by Satan) might be exalted at the right hand of Majesty, and placed so near God, far above the angelical.
Thirdly, With respect to the persons who are to be considered and concerned in Christ's mediation : God, to whom we are redeemed ; Satan, from whom we are redeemed ; and we ourselves w^ho are the
Col. I. 19.] true man in one person. 483
redeemed of the Lord. And you shall see, with respect to God, with respect to Satan, with respect to ourselves, our Mediator ought to be both God and man.
1. God he need to be. With respect to God, that he may be ap- peased by a valuable compensation given to his justice. No mere man could satisfy the justice of God, appease his wrath, procure his favour; therefore our surety needed to be God to do this. And with respect to Satan, that he might be overcome. Now none can bind the strong one and take away his goods but he that is stronger than he, Luke xi. 21. Now no mere man is a match for Satan ; the conqueror of the devil must be God, that by strong hand he may deliver us from his tyranny. And with respect to man, that he may be saved. Not only because of the two former respects must he be God, but also there is a special reason in the cause — the two former respects evince it ; for unless God be appeased, man cannot be reconciled, and unless the devil be overcome, man cannot be delivered. If a God be needful for that, man cannot be saved unless our Kedeemer be God ; but there is a special reason, because of our own obstinacy and rebellion, which is only overcome by the divine power. It is necessary man should be converted and changed, as well as God satisfied and Satan overcome. Now who can convert himself or change his own heart ? That work would cease for ever unless God did undertake it by his all-conquering Spirit. Therefore our Mediator must be God, to renew and cleanse our hearts, and by his divine power to give us a divine nature.
2. Man also he ought to be with respect to these tliree parties : — With respect to God, that the satisfaction might be tendered in the nature which had sinned, that ' as by man came death, by man also might come the resurrection from the dead,' 1 Cor. xv. 21, 22 ; that ' as in Adam all die, so by Christ shall all be made alive.' So with respect to the devil, that he might be overcome in the nature that was foiled by his temptations. And with respect to us, that ' he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified, might be of one,' Heb. ii. 11. The priest that wrought the expiation, and the people for Avhom it was wrought, were of one stock ; the right of redeeming belonged to the next kinsman. Christ is our Goel who redeemed us, not only jure proprietatis, as his creatures — to God as God — hwijurepropinquitatis, as his kinsmen. So as man we are of kin to him, as he came in our nature, and as he sanctifieth ; doubly akin, not only by virtue of his incarnation but our regeneration, as he was made of a woman, and we born of God. These are the reasons.
Use. Let me press you to admire this mystery of godliness. The man Christ Jesus in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily. The life and strength of our faith depends upon it, for as he is true man, flesh of our flesh, and bone of our bone, he will not be strange to us, and as he is God, he is able to help us.
Two things I will press you to : —
1. Consider what a fit object he is for your faith to close with.
2. Own him as your Lord and your God.
First, To raise your trust and confidence, consider what a fit object he is for your faith, how he is qualified for all his ofiices of prophet, priest, and king.
484 JESUS CHRIST TRUE GOD AND [SeR. VII.