2. The perfection of the Redeemer's work —
[Every part of Christ's work was considered by the Apostle as a security for the salvation of God's elect. His death, his resurrection, his ascension, his intercession are so many pledges, that no one shall ever trust in him in vain.
For what end was it that Christ died, but to procure " eternal redemption" for his peoplep? " He gave his own life to be a ransom for them0- ;" " he shed his blood for the remission of their sinsr:" " he died that they might live no longer to them- selves, but unto him that died for thems." We confess, that, if we look only at their steadfastness, they may come into con- demnation; and " the weak brother for whom Christ died, and that has been actually washed in his blood, may perish4:" but their security is in Christ; who will not readily forego the ends of his death, or give up to Satan the souls which he has purchased at so dear a rate.
The resurrection of Christ is a great additional security to the believer ; because it was a liberating of our surety from the prison to which he had been carried on our account ; and con- sequently it argues the full discharge of that debt which he had taken upon himself. Hence a peculiar stress is laid upon it in the text ; as also in another place, where it is said, " If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life11." Now if he " died for our offences, and rose again for our justification*," will he suffer this end to be defeated ? We may be well assured he will not.
From the ascension of Christ a yet fuller assurance may be derived, because he is gone to " the right hand of God" both as our forerunner and our head. He is not only " preparing places for his people," but is invested with ail power in heaven and in earth, and has the government of the whole universe committed to him, on purpose that he may put down all his,
1 Mic. vii. 19. m Num. xxiii. 21. n Col. ii. 10.
0 Rom. viii. 30. p Heb. ix. 12. i Matt. xx. 28. r Matt. xxvi. 28. s 2 Cor. v. 15.
1 Rom. xiv. 15. and 1 Cor. viii. 11. u Rom. v. 10. x Rom. iv. 25.