Hence it appears with how much justice he called himself "a wise master-builder x:" indeed the whole of his ministra- tions prove him to have been "a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth y."]
He further declares the scope or end at which he continually aimed —
[The Apostle considered himself to be nearly in the situa- tion of Abraham's servant, who was sent out to procure a wife for Isaac2: and, like him he laboured to accomplish his mission in the best and most successful manner a. He wished to present all, whether Jews or Gentiles, perfect in Christ Jesus."
He wished to present them perfect in his righteousness. All who believe in Christ are freely justified from all their sinsb. They are clothed in the unspotted robe of Christ's righteousness, and are "presented faultless before the presence of the Father's glory c." Whatever iniquities may have been committed by them in their former life, they are all " blotted out as a morning cloud, and cast into the depths of the sea." From the moment that they believe in Jesus, they are per- fectly reconciled to God ; they are " accepted in the Beloved d," and are "complete in hime."
He sought to present them also perfect through his grace. This was the end at which our blessed Lord aimed in dying for sinners f: and the very same was the Apostle's end in preaching to them. He would not have his converts to con- tinue in a low state of holiness, but to attain the fullest con- formity to the Divine image : he would have them to " be holy, even as He which had called them was holyg." This is the more usual acceptation of the term " perfect" in the sacred volume : it means that growth which Christians in general may be expected to attain : it imports maturity, in opposition to infantine weakness. And so anxious was the Apostle to bring his converts to this state, that he continued " travailing, as it were, in birth with them," till it was fully accomplished: and this was the true reason of his so often " changing his voice" towards themh in a way of consolation or reproof.]
From hence we see unquestionably,
II. The line which mutually becomes us in the rela- tion in which we stand —
x 1 Cor. hi. 10. v 2 Tim. ii. 15. z Gen. xxiv. 4.
a 2 Cor. xi. 2. b Acts xih. 39. c Jude, ver. 24.
d Eph. i. 6. e Col. ii. 10. and Rev. iii. 18. middle clause,
f ver. 22. 8 1 Pet. i. 15, 16. h Gal. iv. 19, 20.