Here let it be considered how our Lord is occu- pied, and what he has engaged to do for his believing people :
1. He intercedes for them —
[As the high-priest, after offering his sacrifice, went within the vail to sprinkle the blood upon the mercy-seat, and to burn incense before it, so did our Lord ascend to heaven on purpose to complete the work he had begun, and to offer continual intercession for us at the right hand of God. Now we are assured that " him the Father heareth always ;" and consequently the benefits of his intercession cannot but be poured out on all his people. Hence there is peculiar stress laid on this act of his, as ensuring to us the benefits of his death g. His death indeed is represented as making the atonement for our sins, and reconciling us to God ; but it is his resurrection to a life of glory in heaven, that completes our justification, and perfects our salvation11.]
2. He works effectually in them —
[By his Spirit he yet dwells in all his saints1: and he has engaged that " his grace shall be sufficient for them," so that the weakest of them all shall be " enabled to do all things through his strength" communicated to them*. It is this which renders them invincible : " their life is hid with Christ in God ;" yea, " Christ himself is their life ;" and therefore, when he shall appear in his glory, they will assuredly appear there with him1.]
3. He will come at last, and take them to himself — [When they shall have fought the good fight of faith, and
gained the victory over all their spiritual enemies, they will not be forgotten of him : he will send his angels to bear up their spirits to the realms of bliss ; and in due time he will restore also their bodies to life ; that, in a re-embodied state, they may inherit the kingdom prepared for them. This assurance he gave to his Disciples in the preceding context™; and when, by that event, death shall be swallowed up in victory, then will the promise in our text be finally accomplished ; and their life of grace will be completed in a life of glory.]
Behold what encouragement this subject affords to all;
1. To believe on Christ —
8 Heb. vii. 25. Rom. viii. 34.
h Horn. iv. '25. and v. 10. and viii. 34. i See ver. 17, 18.
k Phil. iv. 13. l Col. in. 3, 4. m ver. 3.