WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?

When it pleased the eternal Son of God to tabernacle among us, and preach the glad tidings of salvation to a fallen world, different opinions were entertained by different parties concerning Him. As to His person, some said He was Moses; others, that He was Elias, Jeremiah, or one of the ancient prophets. Few acknowledged Him to be what He really was, God blessed forevermore.”

As to His doctrine, though the common people, being free from prejudice, were persuaded of the heavenly tendency of His going about to do good, although the generality heard Him gladly, and said He was a good man; yet the envious worldly-minded, self-righteous governors and teachers of the Jewish church grieved at His success on the one hand, and unable (having never been taught of God) to understand the purity of His doctrine, not only were so infatuated as to say that He deceived the people, but were also so blasphemous as to affirm that He was in league with the devil himself, and cast out devils by Beelzebub the prince of devils. No, our Lord’s own brethren and kinsmen, according to the flesh, were so blinded by prejudice and unbelief, that on a certain day, when He went out to teach the multitudes in the fields, they sent to take hold on Him, urging his as a reason for their conduct. “That He was beside Himself.””

Thus was the King and the Lord of glory judged by man’s judgment, when manifest in flesh: and far be it from any of His ministers to expect better treatment. No, if we come in the spirit and power of our Master, in this, as in every other part of His sufferings, we must follow His steps. The like reproaches which were cast on Him, will be thrown on us also. Those that received our Lord and His doctrine, will receive and hear us for His name’s sake.”

But he is unworthy the name of a minister of the gospel of peace, who is unwilling, not only to have his name cast out as evil, but also to die for the truths of the Lord Jesus. It is the character of hirelings and false prophets, who care not for the sheep, to have all men speak well of them. “Blessed are you, (says our Lord to His first apostles, and in them to all succeeding ministers), when men speak all manner of evil against you falsely for My name’s sake.” And indeed it is impossible but such offenses must come: for men will always judge of others according to the principles from which they act themselves. If they do not care to yield obedience to the doctrines which we deliver, they must necessarily, in self-defense, speak against preachers, lest they should be asked that question which the Pharisees of old feared to have put to them, if they confessed that John was a prophet — “Why then did ye not believe on Him?” In all such cases, we have nothing to do but to search our own hearts; and if we can assure our consciences before God, that we act with a single eye to His glory, we are cheerfully to go on in our work, and not in the least to regard what men or devils can say against or do unto us.”

But to return: You have heard what various thoughts there were concerning Jesus Christ, while here on earth. Nor is He otherwise treated, even now that He is exalted to sit down at the right hand of His Father in heaven. A stranger to Christianity, were he to hear that we all profess to hold one Lord, would naturally infer that we all thought and spoke one and the same thing about Him. But alas! to our shame be it mentioned, though Christ is not divided in Himself, yet professors are sadly divided in their thoughts about Him: and that not only as to the circumstances of His religion, but also of those essential truths, which must necessarily be believed and received by us, if ever we hope to be heirs of eternal salvation.”

Some call themselves Christians, and yet seldom or never seriously think of Jesus Christ at all. They can think of their shops and their farms, their plays, their parties, their assemblies and horse races, (entertainments which directly tend to exclude religion out of the world), but as for Christ, the Author and Finisher of faith, the Lord who has bought poor sinners with His precious blood, and who is the only thing worth thinking of, He is not in all, or at most in very few of their thoughts.”

Mere heathen morality, and not Jesus Christ, is preached in most of our churches. And how should people think rightly of Christ, of whom they have scarcely heard? Bear with me a little then, while, to inform your consciences, I ask you a few questions concerning Jesus Christ: For there is no other name given under heaven whereby we must be saved, but His.”

First, What think you about the person of Christ? “Whose Son is He?””

This is the question our Lord put to the Pharisees in the words following the text; and never was it more necessary to repeat this question than in these last days. For numbers that are called after the name of Christ, and, I fear, many who pretend to preach Him, are so far advanced in the blasphemer’s chair, as openly to deny His being really, truly, and properly God. But no one that ever was partaker of His Spirit, will speak thus lightly of Him. No, if they are asked, as Peter and his brethren were, “But whom say ye that I am?” they will reply without hesitation, “The Son of the ever-living God.” For the confession of our Lord’s divinity is the rock upon which He builds His church. Were it possible to take this away, the gates of hell would quickly prevail against it.”

My brethren, if Jesus Christ is not very God of very God, I would never preach the gospel of Christ again: for it would not be the gospel; it would be only a system of moral ethics; Seneca, Cicero, or any of the philosophers, would be as good a savior as Jesus of Nazareth. It is the divinity of our Lord that gives a sanction to His death, and makes Him such a high priest as became us, one who, by the infinite merits of His suffering, could make a full, perfect, sufficient sacrifice, satisfaction, and oblation to infinitely offended justice.”

But if Jesus Christ is no more than a mere man, if He is not truly God, He was the vilest sinner that ever appeared in the world: for He accepted of divine adoration from the man who had been born blind, as we read John 9:38: “And he said, Lord, I believe; and worshipped Him.” Besides, if Christ is not properly God, our faith is vain, we are yet in our sins: for no created being, though of the highest order, could possibly merit anything at God’s hands. It was our Lord’s divinity, that alone qualified Him to take away the sins of the world; and therefore we hear John pronounce so positively, that “the Word (Jesus Christ) was not only with God, but was God.” For the like reason, Paul says, “that he was in the form of God: that in Him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” No, Jesus Christ assumed the title which God gave to Himself when He sent Moses to deliver His people, Israel: “Before Abraham was I AM.” And again, “I and My Father are one.” Which last words, though our modern infidels would evade and wrest, as they do other Scriptures, to their own damnation, yet it is evident that the Jews understood our Lord when He spake thus, as making Himself equal with God; otherwise, why did they try to stone Him as a blasphemer?”

Secondly, What do you think of the manhood or incarnation of Jesus Christ?”

Christ was not only God, but He was God and man in one person. Thus run the text and context, “When the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, What think ye of Christ? Whose Son is He? They say unto Him, The Son of David. How then (says the divine Master), does David in spirit call Him Lord? From which passage it is evident, that we do not think rightly of the person of Jesus Christ, unless we believe Him to be perfect God and perfect Man, subsisting of a reasonable soul and human flesh.”

The reason why the Son of God took upon Him our nature, was the fall of our first parents. I hope there is no one present so atheistic as to think that man made himself: no, it was God that made us, and not we oursolves. I would willingly think that no person is so blasphemous as to suppose that if God did make us He made us such creatures as we now find ourselves to be; for this would be giving God’s word the lie, which tells us, that “in the image of God (not in the image which we now bear on our souls) made He man.” As God made man, so God made him perfect. He placed him in the Garden of Eden, and condescended to enter into a covenant with him promising him eternal life upon condition of unsinning obedience; and threatening eternal death, if he broke His law and ate the forbidden fruit.”

Man did eat; and herein acting as both himself and us in that curse, which God, the righteous Judge, had said should be the consequence of his disobedience. But here begins that mystery of godliness, God manifested in the flesh. For (sing, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth!) the eternal Father, foreseeing how Satan would bruise the heel of man, had in His eternal counsel provided a means whereby He might bruise that accursed serpent’s head. Man is permitted to fall, and become subject to death; but Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, Light of light, very God of very God, offers to die to make an atonement for his transgression, and to fulfill all righteousness in his stead. And because it was impossible for Him to do this as He was God, and yet since man had offended, it was ncessary it should be done in the person of man. Rather than we should perish, this everlasting God, this Prince of peace, this Ancient of days, in the fullness of time, had a body prepared for Him by the Holy Ghost and became an infant. In this body He formed a complete obedience to the law of God; whereby He in our own stead fulfilled the covenant of works, and at last became subject to death; even death upon the cross; that as God He might satisfy, as man He might obey and suffer; and being God and man in one person, might once more procure a union between God and our souls.”

And now, what think you of this love of Christ? Do not you think it was wondrous great? especially when you consider that we were Christ’s bitter enemies, and that He would have been infinitely happy in Himself, not withstanding if we had perished forever. Why, why, O ye sinners, will you not think of this love of Christ? Surely it must melt down the most hardened heart. While I am speaking, the thought of this infinite and condescending love fires and warms my soul. I could dwell on it forever. But it is expedient for you that I should ask you another question concerning Jesus Christ.”

What think you about being justified by Christ?”

I believe I can answer for some of you: for many, I fear, think to be justified, or looked upon as righteous in God’s sight, without Jesus Christ. But such will find themselves dreadfully mistaken: for out of Christ, ‘God is consuming fire.’”

Others satisfy themselves with believing that Christ was God and man, and that He came into the world to save sinners in general: whereas, their chief concern ought to be, how they may be assured that Jesus Christ came into the world to save them in particular. “The life that I now live in the flesh, (says the apostle), is by faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Observe, for me; it is this immediate application of Jesus Christ to our own hearts, that renders His merits effectual to our enternal salvation. An unapplied Christ will do us no service at all.”

There are others who go still farther; for they think that Jesus Christ is God-man: that He is to be applied to their hearts; and that they can be justified in God’s sight, only in or through Him: but then they make Him only a Savior in part: they want to do what they can themselves, and then Jesus Christ is to make up the deficiencies of their righteousness. This is the sum and substance of our modern divinity. Were it posible for me to know the thoughts of most that hear me this day, I believe they would tell me this was the scheme they had laid, and perhaps depended on for some years, for their eternal salvation. Is it not then high time for you to entertain quite different thoughts concerning justification by Jesus Christ; for if you think thus, you are like those unhappy Jews, who went about to establish their own righteousness, and would not submit to, and consequently missed that righteousness, which is of God by faith in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

What think you then, if I tell you that you are to be justified freely through faith in Jesus Christ, without any regard or fitness foreseen in us at all? For salvation is the free gift of God. I know no fitness in man, but a fitness to be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone forever. Our righteousnesses, in God’s sight, are but as filthy rags; He cannot bear them. We must not come to God as the proud Pharisee did, bringing in as it were a reckoning of our services; we must come in the temper and language of the poor publican, smiting upon our breasts, and saying, “God be merciful to me a sinner,” for Jesus Christ justifies us while we are ungodly. He came not to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. The poor in spirit only, they who are willing to go out of themselves, and rely wholly on the righteousness of another, are so blessed as to be members of His kingdom.”

Our salvation is all of God, from the beginning to the end: it is not of works, lest any man should boast; man has no hand in it. It is Christ who is to be made to us, of God the Father, wisdom, righteousness, sanctifcation, and eternal redemption. His active as well as His passive obedience is to be applied to poor sinners. He has fulfilled all righteousness in our stead that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. For the promise is to us and to our children, and to as many as the Lord our God shall call. It is as effectual to all who believe in Him now, as formerly; and so it will be, till time shall be no more.”

This is gospel, this glad tidings of great joy to all that feel themselves poor, lost, undone, damned sinners. “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come unto the waters of life and drink freely; come and buy, without money and without price.” Behold a fountain opened in your Savior’s side, for sin and for all uncleanness. “Look unto Him whom you have pierced,” look unto Him by faith, and verily you shall be saved, though you came here only to ridicule and blaspheme, and never thought of God or of Christ before.”

Lastly, What think you of Jesus Christ being formed within you?”

Whom Christ justified; them He also sanctifies. Although He finds, yet He does not leave us unholy. A true Christian may not so properly be said to live, as Jesus Christ to live in him: for they only that are led by the Spirit of Christ, are the true sons of God.”

As I observed before, so I tell you again, the faith which we preach is not a dead, but a lively active faith wrought in the soul, working a thorough change by the power of the Holy Ghost in the whole man: and unless Christ be thus in you, notwithstanding your orthodoxy in the foregoing principles, not withstanding your good desires, and attending constantly on the means of grace; yet, in Paul’s opinion, you are out of a state of salvation. “Know ye not (says that apostle to the Corinthians, a church famous for its gifts more than any other church under heaven), that Christ is in you (by His Spirit) unless ye be reprobates?””

For Christ came not only to save us from the guilt, but from the power of sin; till He has done this, though He may be a Savior to others, we can have no assurance or well-grounded hope that He has saved us; for it is by receiving His blessed Spirit into our hearts, and feeling Him witnessing with our spirits, that we are the sons of God, that we can be certified of our being sealed to the day of redemption.”

This is a great mystery; but I speak of Christ and the new birth. Do not marvel at my asking you, what you think about Christ being formed within you? for either God must change His nature, or… ours. For as in Adam we all have spiritually died, so all that are effectually saved by Christ, must in Christ be spiritually made alive. His only end in dying and rising again, and interceding for us now in heaven, is to redeem us from the misery of our fallen nature, and, by the operation of his blessed Spirit, to make us meet to be partakers of the heavenly inheritance with the saints in light. None but those that thus are changed by His grace here, shall appear with Him in glory hereafter.”

Examine yourselves therefore, my brethren, whether you are in the faith; prove yourselves, and think it not sufficient to say in your creed, I believe in Jesus Christ; many say so, who do not believe, who are reprobates, and yet in a state of death. You take God’s name in vain when you call Him Father, and your prayers are turned into sin, unless you believe in Christ, so as to have your life hid with Him in God, and to receive life and nourishment from Him, as branches do from the vine.”

I know, indeed, the men of this generation deny there is any such thing as feeling Christ within them; but alas! to what a dreadful condition would such reduce us, even to the state of the abandoned heathen, who, Paul tells us, “were past feeling.” The apostle prays that the Ephesians may abound in all knowledge and spiritual understanding, or as it may be rendered, spiritual sensation. For there is a spiritual as well as a bodily feeling; and though this is not comnsunicated to us in a sensible manner, as outward objects affect our senses, yet it is as real as any sensible or visible sensation, and may be a truly felt and discerned by the soul, as any impression from without can be felt by the body. All who are born again of God know that I do not lie.”

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