A Body of Divinity, Vol. 2 (of 4): Wherein the doctrines of the Christian religion are explained and defended, being the substance of several lectures on the Assembly's Larger CatechismRidgley, Thomas
Religion
A Body of Divinity, Vol. 2 (of 4): Wherein the doctrines of the Christian religion are explained and defended, being the substance of several lectures on the Assembly's Larger Catechism
Moreover, it was necessary that redemption should be brought about in
such a way, as would lay the sinner under the highest obligation to
admire the love, both of the Father and the Son. Now, if Christ had
performed only one act of obedience, or suffered in the least degree,
this instance of condescension, though infinite, would not have had so
great a tendency to answer this end; nor could it have been said, as it
is, with a great emphasis of expression, that _God commendeth his love
towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us_, Rom.
v. 8.
_Object. 2._ It is objected, by others, that Christ’s active obedience
was no part of the satisfaction which he gave for us, inasmuch as this
was a debt due from him for himself, his human nature (in which alone he
could yield obedience) being under a natural obligation to perform it;
therefore he could not be said to pay that debt for us, which was due
for himself. As for his passive obedience, that, indeed, might be
performed for us, because, being an innocent person, he was not under
any obligation to suffer, but by his own consent; but this cannot be
said of his active obedience. And it is farther objected, that if he had
performed active obedience for us, this would have exempted us from an
obligation to yield obedience ourselves, and consequently this doctrine
leads to licentiousness.
_Answ._ We allow that Christ as Man, was obliged to perform obedience,
as a debt due from him, as a creature, and consequently, now he is in
heaven, he is under the same obligation; though this has no reference to
the work of our redemption, which was finished before he went thither:
nevertheless, the obedience he performed before his death, might be
deemed a part of that satisfaction which he gave to the justice of God
for us; for,
(1.) His being under the law, was the result of his own voluntary
consent, inasmuch as his incarnation, which was necessary, to his
becoming a subject, was the result of the consent of his divine will.
Now, if he came into the world, and thereby put himself into a capacity
of yielding obedience by his own consent, which no other person ever
did, then his obedience, which was the consequence hereof, might be said
to be voluntary, and so deemed a part of the satisfaction which he gave
to the justice of God in our behalf.
(2.) Though we do not deny that Christ’s active obedience was a debt due
to God for himself, yet it does not follow, from hence, that it may not
be imputed to us, nor accepted for us; even as that perfect obedience
which was to have been performed by Adam, according to the tenor of the
first covenant, though it were to have been imputed to all his
posterity, was, nevertheless, primarily due from him for himself.
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