Phil. iii. 10. That I may know him, and the power of his
resurrection.
MANY think that religion is not an object of choice, but rather of compulsion and constraint : and hence they frequently suggest to the godly, that the mea- sure of piety to which they aspire is not necessary. But true Christians do not regard God as a task- master, standing over them with a rod ; but as a Father, delighting in the happiness of his children : and they desire to act the part of duteous children, fulfilling his will to the utmost of their power. They are not satisfied with " winning Christ, and being found in him :" they would serve him, and honour him, and resemble him: and, like St. Paul, they desire to " know him, and the power of his resurrection."
To elucidate this truth, I will shew,
I. What is meant by " the power of Christ's resur- rection"—
As the death of Christ has an efficacy, so his resur- rection also has an influence,
1. On our justification —
[The death of Christ was not of itself sufficient. Under the law, the high-priest must not only offer sacrifice, but must take the blood of that sacrifice, and enter with it into the holy of holies, and sprinkle it there upon the mercy-seat and before the mercy-seat, and offer incense also there : nor, till these things were done, was he authorized to deliver his blessing to the people3. So the Lord Jesus must not only offer himself a sacrifice for sin ; but must enter into heaven with his own blood, there to present it, in our behalf, before his God and Fatherb: nor without this would his work have been complete. Hence our justification is not only ascribed to his resurrection in conjunction with his death0, but even in preference to his death d; since it was the completion of that which by his death was only begun.]
a Lev. xvi. 11 — 15. b Heb. ix. 24.
c Rom. iv. 25. d Rom. viii. 34.