Sermons preached

3dly. How far the Mediation of Christ is concerned in this Effect. We are renewed by God's creating Power, but through the intervening Mediation of Christ.

1. This creating Power is set forth with respect to his Merit. The Life of Grace is purchased by his Death, 1 Joh. 4. 9. God sent his only begotten Son into the World, that we might live by him; Here spiritually, hereafter eternally; Life opposite to the Death incurred by Sin. And how by him? by his being a Propitiation, that he speaks of there, vers. 10. We were in a State of Death when the Doors of Mercy were first opened to us, under the Guilt and Power of Sin; for while the Guilt and Tyranny of Sin remaineth, we are said to be dead, and strangers to the Life of God; and we begin to live when first regenerated by the Spirit of Christ. Now this we have not without Christ being a Propitiation for our Sins, that is, without doing something whereby God, without any impeachment of his Honour, might show himself placable and propitious to Mankind; his Justice, Holiness, and Hatred of Sin, being sufficiently demonstrated in the Sufferings of Christ. Now the Honour of his governing Justice being kept up, his pardoning Mercy is the more freely exercised. God may be propitious to Mankind, and yet still be acknowledged as a sin-hating God.

1. This creating Power is set forth with respect to his Merit. The Life of Grace is purchased by his Death, 1 Ioh. 4. 9. God sent his only begotten Son into the World, that we might live by him; Here spiritually, hereafter eternally; Life opposite to the Death incurred by Sin. And how by him? by his being a Propitiation, that he speaks of there, vers. 10. We were in a State of Death when the Doors of Mercy were first opened to us, under the Guilt and Power of Sin; for while the Guilt and Tyranny of Sin remaineth, we are said to be dead, and strangers to the Life of God; and we begin to live when first regenerated by the Spirit of Christ. Now this we have not without Christ being a Propitiation for our Sins, that is, without doing something whereby God, without any impeachment of his Honour, might shew himself placable and propitious to Mankind; his Justice, Holiness, and Hatred of Sin, being sufficiently demonstrated in the Sufferings of Christ. Now the Honour of his governing Justice being kept up, his pardoning Mercy is the more freely exercised. God may be propitious to Mankind, and yet still be acknowledged as a sin-hating God.