Not only all causes of quarrel were to be taken away, that so we should not be under displeasure, but also that was to be given unto us that makes us the objects of God's delight and pleasure, on the account of the want whereof we are distanced from God : —
(1.) It gives a removal of that for which we are refused. This is sin in the guilt, and all the attendancies thereof The first issue of purchased grace tends to the taking away of sin in its guilt, that it shall not bind over the soul to the wages of it, which is death.
How this is accomplished and brought about by Christ, was evi- denced in the close of the foregoing chapter. It is the fruit and effect of his death for us. Guilt of sin was the only cause of our separation and distance from God, as hath been said. This made us obnoxious to wTath, punishment, and the whole displeasure of God; on the account hereof were we imprisoned under the curse of the law, and given up to the poAver of Satan. This is the state of our unaccep- tation. By his death, Christ — bearing the curse, undergoing the punishment that was due to us, paying the ransom that was due for us — delivers us from this condition. And thus far the death of Christ is the sole cause of our acceptation with God, — that all cause of quarrel and rejection of us is thereby taken away. And to that end are his sufferings reckoned to us ; for, being " made sin for us," 2 Cor. V. 21, he is made "righteousness unto us," 1 Cor. i. 30. ' John iii. 36; Eph. ii. 12, 13.
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But yet farther; this will not comj)lete our acceptation with God. The old quarrel may be laid aside, and yet no new friendship begun ; we may be not sinners, and yet not be so far righteous as to have a right to the kingdom of heaven. Adam had no right to hfe because he was innocent ; he must, moreover, " do this," and then he shall " live." He must not only have a negative righteousness, — he was not guilty of any thing; but also a positive righteousness, — he must do all things.
(2.) This, then, is required, in the second place, to our complete acceptation, that we have not only the not iinputation of sin, but also a reckoning of righteousness. Now, this we have in the obe- dience of the life of Christ. This also was discovered in the last chapter. The obedience of the life of Christ was for us, is imputed to us, and is our righteousness before God ; — by his obedience are we "made righteous," Rom. v. 19. On what score the obedience of faith takes place, shall be afterward declared.
These two things, then, complete our grace of acceptation. Sin being removed, and righteousness bestowed, we have peace with God, — are continually accepted before him. There is not any thing to charge us withal : that which was, is taken out of the way by Christ, and nailed to his cross, — made fast there ; yea, publicly and legally cancelled, that it can never be admitted again as an evidence. What court among men would admit of an evidence that hath been pub- licly cancelled, and nailed up for all to see it? So hath Christ dealt with that which was against us; and not only so, but also he puts that upon ns for which we are received into favour. He makes us comely through his beauty; gives us white raiment to stand before the Lord. This is the first part of purchased grace wherein the saints have communion with Jesus Christ. In remission of sin and impu- tation of righteousness doth it consist; from the death of Christ, as a price, sacrifice, and a punishment, — from the life of Christ sj^ent in obedience to the law, doth it arise. The great product it is of the Father's righteousness, wisdom, love, and gi'aco; — the great and asto- nishable fruit of the love and condescension of the Son; — the gi'eat discovery of the Holy Ghost in the revelation of the mystery of the gospel.
2, The second is gi-ace of sanctification. He makes us Hot only accepted, but also acceptable. He doth not only purchase love for his saints, but also makes them lovely. He came not by blood onl}^ but by water and blood. He doth not only justify his saints from the guilt of sin, but also sanctify and wash them from the filth of sin. The first is from his life and death as a sacrifice of propitiation; this from his death as a purchase, and his life as an example. So the apostle, Heb. ix. 14; as also Eph. v. 26, 27. Two thhigs are
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eminent m this issue of purchased grace: — (1.) The removal oi defile- ment; (2.) The bestowing of cleanness in actual grace.
(1.) For the first, it is also threefold: — •
[1.] The habitual cleansing of our nature. "We are naturally un- clean, defiled, — habitually so; for "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?" Job xiv. 4 ; " That which is born of the flesh is flesh," John iii. 6. It is in the pollution of our blood that we are born, Ezek. xvi., — wholly defiled and polluted. The grace of sanctifica- tion, purchased by the blood of Christ, removes this defilement of our nature. 1 Cor. vi. 11, "Such were some of you; but ye are washed, ye are sanctified." So also Tit. iii. 3-5, " He hath saved us by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost." How far this original, habitual pollution is removed, need not be disputed; it is certain the soul is made fair and beautiful in the sight of God. Though the sin that doth defile remains, yet its habitual defilement is taken away. But the handling of this lies not in my aim.