The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 130

to be sin for us," made a aub~litute or ransom, an offering, whoreby the wra.lh of God WM turned away. Reoonciliation is aocomplishcd not by our repentance e.nd confC88ion of sin, nor by e.ny suffering on our part, nor by any merit of our work, but altogether by the de11th of the Lord Jeaue Christ in our behalf. God's righteousness is thus set forth. The ple.n of salvation changed nothing in the character of Almighty God. Neither bi~ righteousness nor his love was modified integrally by Christ's atonement. "God is righteous,"" God .:S love," are no truer facts now the.n they eternally were. What the gospel teaches is that the righteousness and the love of God he.ve assumed special fonns of manifestation and operative activity through the Lord Jesus Christ. It is nght«Jwness, not in the normal relation of Law to the original transgressor, but in e.n instituted relation of Law to one who took the place of the transcrressor. It is love as grace, the form of love that provided for the righteousness on whi~h St. Paul lays such an emphasis. It is not a change in the Law, but in the administration of Le.w, and the glory of it lies in the fact that the D_iv1ne government presents in this higher form the resplendent. spectacle of tha.t progression from the "natural" to the "spiritual,'' which St. Paul discusses in his argument on the resurrection. Whatever obstacles existed.in the way of this sublime advance have been removed by Christ. "Mercy an.a truth" have their existence as attribntes of the Divine nature; they have "met togethe1:." " Rightwusnua cmd peace'' are not to be confounded, but they haTe " kissed eaah other."-L Ver. 6.-" .Absent from the Lord.• To those disciples and ·apostles who were with.:11{e Lord Jesus during his earthly ministry, the separation which commenced .upon ,his ascension must have been painful indeed. In the case of Paul, however, the ,languago employed in this passage scarcely seems so naturaL But we leam from the record of.his sentiments what ought to be to all Christians their first .thought, their governing principle, viz. their relation to Jesus Christ. The earthly state of all:such .is a state oi a~ce from the Lord-a fact not to be grieved over, but to be recognized and felt. " L Tms ABSENCE IS NOT SPillITUAL, BUT BODn.Y. His own- word is fulfilled, "A .little while, and ye shall not see me." The exclamation of his .people iii verified," Him,·not having seen, we love." . , :: , II. Tms ABSENCE IS APPOINTED BY DIVINE WISDOM.AND LOVE. It cannot be regarded as a matt.er of chance or of fate. It is the will of him who. most loves us and who most cares for us, which is apparent in this provision. ;: III. THERE IS A BD.'EFICENT PUllPOSE IN THIB ABSENOE, .. Such .. was the obvious int.ention of our Savionr himself. "It is good for you," he said, "that I go away;" His aim was to lead .his people into a life of faith, and to excite our confidence in -himself who has gone to prepare a place for us. IV. TEERE All.E CERTAIN DANGEBS INVOLVED IN THIS ABSENOE. There is danger lest, separated from our Lord, we should grow worldly and. carnal, lest our love, to Jesus should wax cold, lest we should magnify ourselves, -lest we should be ashamed of a religion whose Head is not visibly among us. V. YET THERE AU COll!PENBATIO!ll"S lli THIB. ABSENCE. It is intended to fortify·and perfect the trnly Christian character. It will make the meeting, when it takes place, more delightful a.nd welcome. ., VL WHAT EXEBCISEB AllE strGGESTED BY THIS ABSENCE? 1. Remembrance of Christ. ·2. Faith in Christ. 3. Communion with Christ. 4. Fidelity to Christ in his absence. 5. Anticipation of his speedy return. VII. THE TE!UllNATI0N 01!' THIS PERIOD 01!' ABSENOE IS AT BAND, .Tliose who '}ive until the Lord's return shall welcome him to his inheritance. · Others must be absent from Christ until they are absent from the body, when they shall be "present." with the Lord."-T. ' Ver. 7.- ~ walk <f faith. Life is a pilgrimage which men undertake and accoin- plish upon very different principles and to very different results and ends, 1n this parenthesis St. Paul very succinctly and very impressively describes the nature of that pil,,,"limage which he had adopted and with which he was satisfied. • I. THE WALi:[ WITH WHICH THAT OF THE CHRISTIAN IS CONTRASTED. Thie, which is that of the u!le!l1ighti:ncd tlld unrenewed, ill the walk by sight; i,e. by repressing the 011. v. 1-21.] '£HE SEUO.ND EPISTLE, TO THE CORINTHlANS. 131.