[4.] His resurrection was his victory over death, which is the wages of sin. If Christ be risen from the dead, then is sin conquered ; for the sting of death is sin. Therefore his resurrection declareth plainly that sin is done away, and so it is a pattern and pledge to assure us of the forgiveness of sins.
3. His exaltation at the right hand of God — 'Who is even at the right hand of God.' This confirmeth all the other ends.
[1.] The truth of Christ's dignity and office: John xvi. 10, 'Of righteousness, because I go to my Father.'
[2.] The validity of Christ's satisfaction ; for our surety is not only got out of prison, but preferred ; not only discharged, but honoured and rewarded, and appeareth in the presence of God. Christ did in effect say to God, as Judah the patriarch did to Jacob concerning Benjamin, Gen. xliii. 9, ' I will be surety for him ; thou shalt require him of me : if I bring him not to thee, and set him before thee, let me never see thy face more, but bear the blame for ever.' So Christ undertaketh to be responsible for these poor creatures. What they owe put upon my score, as Paul said to Onesimus.
[3.] That he is in a full capacity to convey life to others. All weak- ness is removed fi'om him ; his human nature is glorified and seated in heaven, and his divine majesty and glory is restored to him ; so that we may reflect upon him witli comfort, as a king on the throne, in his royal palace and place of residence. David was king as soon as anointed by Samuel ; but when crowned in Hebron, then did he actually ad- minister the kingdom, and reward his servants and followers in the desert. Christ, when lifted up, filleth all things, Eph. iv. 10.
[4.] His victory over his enemies, death and sin ; as is fully seen, Ps. ex. 1, ' The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until
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I make thine enemies thy footstool ;' and Heb. x. 13, 'From hence- forth expecting, till his enemies be made his footstool.'
But there is somewhat peculiar.
(1.) By entering into heaven he hath opened heaven for us. He hath carried our nature thither, our fle.sh into heaven, and advanced it at the Father's right hand in glory, and so hath taken possession of heaven for, and in the name of, all believers, that in time they may ascend and be partakers of the same glory : John xiv. 2, ' I go to prepare a place for you.' It was prepared before tlie world began by the decree of God : Mat. xxv. 3i, ' Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prefiared for you from the foundation of the world.' It was prepared in time by the purchase of Christ : Heb. ix. 15, ' For the redemjition of the trangressions that were under the first testament, that they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.' Now he is gone to heaven to pursue and apply that right ; gone thither as our harbinger: Heb. vi. 20, ' Whither the forerunner is for us entered ; ' opened Paradise again to us, which was formerly shut and closed by our sins.
[2.] By this means we have a friend in heaven, who is always at the right hand of God to prevent breaches between him and us : 1 John ii. 1, ' And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous ; ' as David had Jonathan in Saul's court to give notice of danger, and to interpose, to take ofi' all displeasure conceived against him.' It is a great privilege, questionless, to have a friend in the court of heaven to take up all difierences between God and us, as a merciful and faithful high priest to answer all accusations of Satan, and hinder wrath from breaking out upon us, as it would do every moment if we had the desert of our sins.
(3.) His being exalted at the right hand of God noteth that honour and power which is put uj)on the Redeemer. He hath received ' all power in heaven and earth,' Mat. xxviii. 18 ; and Eph. i. 20, 21, 'God set him at his right hand, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come ; ' so 1 Peter iii. 22, ' He is gone into heaven, angels, authorities, and powers being made subject to him.' This height of honour to which Christ was exalted shows how much his friends may trust him, and venture their all in his hands : Ps. ii. 12, ' Blessed are all they that put their trust in him ; ' how much his enemies may fear liim ; every knee must bow to him ; — they must either bend or break, Phil. ii. 10. We have not thoughts high enough of the glory and excellency of Jesus Christ, and therefore the glory and splendour of created things doth soon dazzle our eyes, and our hearts are hardly held up and fortified against these discouragements that we must meet with in his service. Surely, since Christ is in the highest dignity and power with God, and hath all the heavenly hosts and creatures at his command, we should more encourage ourselves in the Lord ; for all this power is managed for the comfort and defence of the godly, and the terror and punishment of his and their enemies. This power was given him as God-man, when he entered into heaven, and sat down on the right hand of Mnjesty.