But, I say, what cause would there be to ask in his name more than in the name of some other, since justice was provoked by our sin, if he had not undertaken to make up the difference that by sin was made betwixt justice and us? For though there be in this Jesus infinite worth, infinite righteousness, infinite merit, yet if he do not with these interest for us, we get no more benefit than if there were no mediator. But this worth and merit is in him for us, for he undertook to reconcile us to God; therefore, his name is with God so prevailing for us poor sinners, and thus that we ought to go to God in his name. Hence, thus, it is evident that Jesus Christ hath paid full price to God for sinners, and obtained eternal redemption for them.
THE SEVENTH DEMONSTRATION.
SEVENTH. That Jesus Christ, by what he hath done, hath paid full price to God for sinners, &c., is evident because we are also commanded to give God thanks in his name—' By him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name (Heb 3:15).
'By him, therefore.' Wherefore? Because he also, that he might 'sanctify us with his own blood, suffered without the gate' (v 12).
He sanctified us with his blood, but why should the Father have thanks for this? Even because the Father gave him for us, that he might die to sanctify us with his blood—' Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son; in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Col 1:12-14). The Father is to be thanked, for the contrivance was also his; but the blood, the righteousness, or that worthiness, for the sake of which we are accepted of God, is the worthiness of his own dear Son. As it is met, therefore, that God should have thanks, so it is necessary that he have it in his name for whose sake we indeed are accepted of him.
Let us therefore by him offer praise first for the gift of his Son, and for that we stand quit through him in his sight, and that despite all inward weakness, and that in spite of all outward enemies.
When the apostle had taken such a view of himself to put himself into a maze, with an outcry also, 'Who shall deliver me?' he quiets himself with this sweet conclusion, 'I thank God through Jesus Christ' (Rom 7:24,25). He found more in the blood of Christ to save him than he found in his own corruptions to damn him, but that could not be, had he not paid full price for him, had he not obtained eternal redemption for him. And can a holy and just God require that we give thanks to him in his name if it was not effectually done for us by him?
Further, when the apostle looks upon death and the grave and strengthens them by adding to them sin and the law, saying, 'The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law,' he presently added, 'But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through Jesus Christ' (1 Cor 15)—the victory over sin, death, and the law, the victory over these through our Lord Jesus Christ: but God hath given us the victory; but it is through our Lord Jesus Christ, through his fulfilling the law, through his destroying death, and through his bringing in everlasting righteousness. Elisha said to the king of Israel, that had it not been that he regarded the presence of Jehoshaphat, he would not look to him nor regard him (2 Kings 3:14); nor would God at all have looked to or regarded thee, but that he respected the person of Jesus Christ.
'Let the peace of God [therefore] rule in our hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful' (Col 3:15). The peace of God, of that we have spoken before. But how should this rule in our hearts? He directs you by the following words—' Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly'—that is, the word that makes revelation of the death and blood of Christ and of the peace that is made with God for you thereby.
'Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ' (Eph 5:20). For all things; for all things come to us through this name Jesus—redemption, translation, the kingdom, salvation, with all the good things wherewith we are blessed.
These are the works of God; he gave his Son, and he brings us to him, and puts us into his kingdom—that is, his true body, which Jeremiah calleth a putting among the children, and a 'giving us a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations' (Jer 3:19; John 6).
