The whole is expressed in that place of the apostle wherein the doctrine of justification is most eminently proposed unto us, Rom. iii. 24, 25, " Being justified freely by his grace through the redemjD- tion that is in Christ Jesus; whom God hath set forth to be a pro- pitiation tlu'ough faitli in his blood ; to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins." Whereuuto we may add, Eph. i. 6, 7, " He hath made us accepted in the Beloved ; in whom we have redemption through his blood, according to the riches of his grace." That whereby we are justified, is the especial object of our faith unto justification. But this is the Lord Christ in the work of his mediation: for we are justified by the redemption that is in Jesus Christ; for in hhn we have redemption through bis blood, even the forgiveness of sin. Christ as a propitiation is the cause of our justification, and the object of our faith, or we attain it by faith in his blood. But this is
90 ON JUSTIFICATION.
SO under this formal consideration, as he is the ordinance of God for that end, — appointed, given, proposed, set forth from and by the grace, wisdom, and love of God. God set him forth to be a propitia- tion. He makes us accepted in the Beloved. We have redemption in his blood, according to the riches of his grace, whereby he makes us accepted in the Beloved. And herein he " abounds towards us in all wisdom," Eph. i. 8. This, therefore, is that which the gospel pro- poseth unto us, as the especial object of om- faith unto the justification of life.
But we may also in the same manner confirm the several parts of the assertion distinctly: —
(1.) The Lord Jesus Christ, as proposed in the promise of the gospel, is the 2^ecidiar object of faith unto justification. There are three sorts of testimonies whereby this is confirmed : —
[1.] Those wherein it is positively asserted, as Actsx. 43, " To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever be- lieveth in him shall receive remission of sins." Christ believed in as the means and cause of the remission of sins, is that which all the prophets give witness unto. Actsxvi. 31, " Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." It is the answer of the apostle unto the jailer's inquiry, — " Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" His duty in believing, and the object of it, the Lord Jesus Christ, is what they return thereunto. Acts iv. 12, " Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Tliat which is pro- posed unto us, as the only way and means of our justification and salvation, and that in opposition unto all other ways, is the object of faith unto our justification; but this is Christ alone, exclusively unto all other things. This is testified unto by Moses and the prophets; the design of the whole Scripture being to direct the faith of the church unto the Lord Christ alone, for life and salvation, Lidce xxiv. 25-27.
[2.] All those wherein justifying faith is affirmed to be our believ- ing in him, or believing on his name ; which are multiplied. John i. 12, " He gave power to them to become the sons of God, who be- lieved on his name ;" chap. iii. ] 6, " That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life;" verse 36, " He that be- lieveth on the Son hath everlasting life;" chap. vi. 29, " This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent;" verse 47, " He that believeth on me hath everlasting life;" chap. vii. 38, " He that believeth on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." So chap. ix. 35-37, xi. 25; Acts xxvi. 18, "That they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." 1 Pet, ii. 6, 7. In all which places, and
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many others, we are not only directed to place and affix our faitli on him, but the effect of justification is ascribed thereunto. So expressly, Acts xiii. 38, 39 ; which is what we design to prove.
[3.] Those which give us such a description of the acts of faith as make him the direct and proper object of it. Such are they wherein it is called a " receiving" of him. John i. 12, " To as many as re- ceived him." Col. ii. 6, " As yon have received Christ Jesus the Lord." That which we receive by faith is the proper object of it ; and it is represented by their looking unto the brazen serpent, when it was lifted up, who were stung by fiery serpents, John iii. 14, 15, xii. 32. Faith is that act of the soul whereby convinced sinners, ready other- wise to perish, do look unto Christ as he was made a propitiation for their sins; and who so do " shall not perish, but have everlasting life." He is, therefore, the object of our faith.