1. As to the _first_, it informs us, that “as by the disobedience of one man, (or by one transgression, namely, that of _Adam_) many were made sinners; so by the obedience of one, JESUS CHRIST (therein including his passive as well as active obedience) many were made righteous.” And again, “As by the disobedience of one man, judgment came upon all men unto condemnation;” or all men were condemned on having _Adam_’s sin imputed to them; “so by the obedience of one, that is, JESUS CHRIST, the free gift of pardon and peace came upon all men, (all sorts of men) unto justification of life.” I say all sorts of men; for the apostle in this chapter is only drawing a parallel between the first and second _Adam_ in this respect, that they acted both as representatives; and as the posterity of _Adam_ had his sin imputed to them, so those for whom CHRIST died, and whose representative he is, shall have his merits imputed to them also. Whoever run the parallel farther, in order to prove universal redemption (whatever arguments they may draw for the proof of it from other passages of scripture,) if they would draw one from this for that purpose, I think they stretch their line of interpretation beyond the limits of scripture.
2. Pardon for the sin of our lives was another thing, which we wanted to have secured to us, before we could be at peace with GOD.
And this the holy scriptures inform us, is abundantly done by the death of JESUS CHRIST. The evangelical prophet foretold that the promised Redeemer should be “wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities; that the chastisement of our peace should be upon him; and that by his stripes we should be healed,” _Isaiah_ liii. 6. The angels at his birth said, that he should “save his people from their sins.” And St. _Paul_ declares, that “this is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that JESUS CHRIST came into the world to save sinners.” And here in the words of the text, “Such (or, as I observed before, these things) were some of you; but ye are washed, &c.” and again, “JESUS CHRIST is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” And, to shew us that none but JESUS CHRIST can do all this, the apostle St. _Peter_ says, “Neither is their salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved,” but the name of JESUS CHRIST.
How GOD will be pleased to deal with the _Gentiles_, who yet sit in darkness and under the shadow of death, and upon whom the sun of righteousness never yet arose, is not for us to enquire. “What have we to do to judge those that are without?” To GOD’s mercy let us recommend them, and wait for a solution of this and every other difficult point, till the great day of accounts, when all GOD’s dispensations, both of providence and grace, will be fully cleared up by methods to us, as yet unknown, because unrevealed. However, this we know, that the judge of all the earth will, most assuredly, do right.
But it is time for me to draw towards a conclusion.
I have now, brethren, by the blessing of GOD, discoursed on the words of the text in the method I proposed. Many useful inferences might be drawn from what has been delivered; but as I have detained you, I fear, too long already, permit me only to make a reflection or two on what has been said, and I have done.
If then we are freely justified by the death and obedience of JESUS CHRIST, let us here pause a while; and as before we have reflected on the misery of a fallen, let us now turn aside and see the happiness of the believing, soul. But alas! how am I lost to think that GOD the Father, when we were in a state of enmity and rebellion against Him, should notwithstanding yearn in his bowels towards us his fallen, his apostate creatures: And because nothing but an infinite ransom could satisfy an infinitely offended justice, that should send his only and dear Son JESUS CHRIST (who is GOD, blessed for ever, and who had lain in his bosom from all eternity) to fulfil the covenant of works, and die a cursed, painful, ignominious death, for us and for our salvation! who can avoid crying out, at the consideration of this mystery of godliness. “Oh the depth of the riches of GOD’s love” to us his wretched, miserable and undone creatures! “How unsearchable is his mercy, and his ways past finding out!” Now know we of a truth, O GOD, that thou hast loved us, “since thou hast not with-held thy Son, thine only Son JESUS CHRIST,” from thus doing and dying for us.