3. Who they are that shall enjoy the benefits of redemption —
[Many imagine that, because Christ has died for all, all shall be saved ; but redemption is by no means so extensive as the curse. With respect to heathens we know little how God will deal with them ; but we know what will be his conduct towards the Christian world : they who believe in Christ, and they only, will be finally saved h; such alone were compre- hended under the term " us."]
These points being cleared up, we shall,
II. Shew by what means we are redeemed —
By the Mosaic law persons hanged were deemed accursed1. Hence Christ, in his death, was " made a curse" or held accursedk. In becoming a curse, he was our substitute —
[Christ did not die merely for our good ; he endured the curse in our stead. This was typically represented under
the Mosaic law1 : the prophets concur in establishing
this truth™; the Apostles confirm it in the plainest
terms" His curse indeed was not the same with ours,
either in quality or duration ; yet it was fully adequate to all the demands of law and justice; and it was such as God appointed for him, and accepts on our behalf.]
This substitution of Christ was the mean of effect- ing our redemption —
[God ordained it for this very end0. He was pleased with it in this viewp. He was reconciled to man on account of itq. Our redemption is expressly ascribed to itr. Our deliverance from the guilt and power of sin is effected by its. It was the price paid for the salvation of the church4.]
h Mark xvi. 16. The faith here spoken of is not a mere assent to the truths of Christianity, but a living, operative, and purifying faith, Acts xv. 9. Jam. ii. 20, 26.
» Deut. xxi. 23.
k See the words immediately following the text.
1 Lev. xvi. 7 — 10, 21, 22. It is impossible not to see in this passage that the scape-goat had the iniquities of the Jewish nation transferred to him, while the goat that died made atonement for them.
m Dan. ix. 26. "Not for himself," Isai. liii. 5.
n 2 Cor. v. 21. 1 Pet. ii. 24. & iii. 18. ° Rom. hi. 25.
p Eph. v. 2. <J Rom. v. 10. r Eph. i. 7.
■ Heb. ix. 13, 14. * Acts xx. 28. with 1 Cor. vi. 20.