2 Cor. V. 19, 20. God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them ; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us : we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
NATURAL as well as revealed religion teaches us that God is the author and giver of all good things. He originally formed man out of the dust of the earth, and still brings us into existence in our successive generations. He appoints the time and place of our birth : he bestows the talents we severally possess :
he preserves the health of our bodies, and the vigour of our minds : *' in him we altogether live, and move, and have our being." Nor is it less evident that re- demption also is the work of his hands : for he formed the plan alone, and executed it without the creature's aid. He sent his Son ; and qualified him for his office ; and upheld him in it. He laid our iniquities on him ; and accepted his vicarious sacrifice ; and commissioned his Apostles to declare these tidings to the world. All this is plainly asserted in the passage before us ; from which we shall,
I. Shew what God has done to save us —
There are two things particularly specified in the text :
1. He has wrought salvation for us —
[Man in innocence walked with God as a friend ; but, as soon as he had fallen, shunned his presence, and fled from him as an enemy. Since that time " the carnal and unrenewed mind has been in a state of enmity against God ;" and all the children of men have shewn themselves " enemies to God in their minds by wicked works." To effect a reconciliation for themselves was impossible : but God, in his infinite mercy, opened a way for their restoration to his favour. He assumed our nature, and, in the person of Jesus Christ, became our substitute and surety; that, by his own obedience to the law which we had broken, and his enduring of the penalties which we had incurred, he might make satisfaction to his injured justice, and pardon us without any dishonour to himself. Ey this means " he has reconciled the world unto himself;" "nor will he impute to any their trespasses," if they will accept the reconciliation which he offers them.]
2. He has sent salvation to us —
[God has in every age raised up men to whom " he has committed the word of reconciliation," on purpose that they might publish it to their fellow-creatures. He has not com- mitted it to angels, whose presence would confound us, and who, from their never having tasted the bitterness of sin, would probably be unable to sympathize with us : but he has appointed those to speak to us, who are " encompassed with the same infirmities," and who need the same forgiveness, as ourselves. To these " he has given the ministry of reconcilia- tion." He sends them forth, not to tell men how to purchase his favour, or how (as the common expression is) to make their