We have before shewn, that Christ and his salvation were contained in the promises made to Abram ; and that Abram's faith had respect to them. Now we say that by his faith Abram became interested in all that Christ did and suffered, precisely as we do at this day. The only difference between Abram and us is this : Abram believed in a Saviour that should come ; and we believe in a Saviour that is come. As to the efficacy of Christ's death, there is no difference at all between those who preceded, or those who followed him : he was " the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." The righteousness of Christ also availed as much for the justifying of believers under the Old Testament, as of those who were his more im- mediate followers. The parallel drawn by St. Paul between the sin of the first Adam and the righteousness of the second Adam, is equally just, whether it be referred to Abram or to us: it designates the way in which Abram was justified, as well as the way in which we are justified : " By one man's offence death reigned by one : much more they which receive the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." " As by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of One the free gift comes upon all men to justification of life." " As by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous0." In a word, " Christ, who had no sin of his own, became a sin- offering for" Abram, just as he did for us: and Abram, by believing in Christ, became, as all other believers do, " the righteousness of God in himp."]
Application —
We intreat you, Brethren,
1. To bear in mind in what way you yourselves are to be saved —
[You have heard how Abram's faith " was counted to him for righteousness." But was this only an historical fact ; a fact in which you have no personal interest ? Far from it : St. Paul assures us, that "it was not recorded for Abram's sake only, but for ours also, to inform us, in what manner we are to be justified, and to assure us that righteousness shall be imputed to us also, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification'1." Now in this passage there is an express parallel drawn between the man- ner of Abram's justification, and of ours. While therefore it proves on the one hand that Abram had respect to the death
0 Rom. v. 17 — 19. p 2 Cor. v. 21. <i Rom. fv. 23—25.