The Death and Life of God’s Son

The apostle speaks in our text about enemies. Who are these enemies? Earlier in the chapter Paul called them “the ungodly” and “sinners.” What are enemies? Enemies are wicked rebels who are without God in the world. On account of our sin, already in Paradise, we are alienated from God. We hate Him and His glorious perfections; we kick against His purposes, His precepts, and His providences. Moreover, we are enemies of Christ, the only Savior; we reject His blood and His grace. The Holy Ghost and His operations we despise; His influences we do not desire. Enemies we are—also of God’s people, yes, of all our neighbors. Shall we ever of ourselves bow under the Word of God, under His law and gospel? Never—for we are enemies. To God we say, “Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways.”

However, it is indispensable for salvation that we learn this experimentally. No, a head-knowledge of this truth will not do for eternity; we must have heart-knowledge. Historical faith is insufficient. Temporary faith has no root in Christ, either. By the saving operations of the Spirit, discovering and uncovering us to the foundations, we must be made acquainted with our state of enmity.

If this may happen to us and in us, then God becomes God in our life, and we become what we are—enemies. Oh, once our eyes are opened to that solemn truth, how we then grieve and lament! How we then weep with a godly sorrow from a broken heart! Then it becomes true for us, “The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Then I become as Saul, a raging persecutor, breathing out threatenings and slaughter. Whether it is in gross sin or with a superficial religion, I learn what a wicked enemy I am—a stubborn enemy of God and of my own salvation.

This enmity is so deeply rooted that I can never cut it out of my heart. To be sure, when the Lord by His Spirit begins to teach me these matters, and I begin to experience a little of my enmity, then I will do my utmost to subdue that enmity, to destroy that enmity, to improve myself before God, and to make peace with Him. Why is that? The love of God is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost which is given unto me. That love returns to God; it seeks to serve Him, to fear Him, and to bow before Him. He has been so forbearing, so kind; and I have forsaken Him, rejected Him. More and more I am convinced that “I have sinned against Thy grace, and provoked Thee to Thy face.” How impossible it is to make things right with God; what a depraved wretch I am! The Lord makes such a remnant what they are—poor and needy sinners, guilty and undone sinners; for enemies they are, and enemies they remain. Their case is hopeless and lost.

Deeper still cuts that knife. Such a guilty transgressor not only learns that his enmity must be remedied—which is utterly impossible from his side—but he learns more and more that God is angry with the wicked every day. That enemy has become an object of God’s displeasure, for the Lord hates sin. He will by no means clear the guilty. Such an enemy belongs to the children of wrath, and the Lord cannot have any dealings with them. The prophet has testified, “But they rebelled, and vexed His Holy Spirit: therefore He was turned to be their Enemy, and He fought against them.” What a solemn word that is, “He was turned to be their Enemy.” Why? “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity.” They learn as our Heidelberg Catechism states, “God will have His justice satisfied.” Oh, are there yet such enemies found among us? Ungodly sinners who have forfeited every right of existence before God? Who only have a right to the lowest and blackest place in hell? Have you experimentally learned your wicked opposition to God—but also God’s holy and righteous opposition to you and to all your enmity?

Hearken then to the blessed word of the apostle, “When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son.” Our enmity requires that satisfaction to the broken law be given, namely, extreme, everlasting punishment of body and soul. After all, we have sinned against the most high majesty of God. However, of whom did the Judge of heaven and earth now require that satisfaction? The wrath of God, the strict demand of His justice required the death of His only begotten and beloved Son, according to the Covenant of Grace and Reconciliation. To this end the Father gave Him; and the Son, willingly and voluntarily, came to accomplish His labor as Surety in the place of His elect Zion. His deep humiliation began on earth at His humble birth; it continued as He grew up in obscurity, but it became so very bitter as He began his official ministry. Deep was His suffering, grievous the scorn and derision. “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” was the cry of the multitude, and innocently He was condemned to death. His body was nailed to the tree; His soul bore the fierce wrath of God. His death was cursed, shameful, filled with anguish and pain.

Who can fathom those words “the death of His Son”? Christ was forsaken of His God, out of love to His Father’s attributes and out of love to His own whom He had to redeem. What were they? They were nothing but enemies, a denier like Simon Peter, disciples who were offended at Him and who fled from Him. How inexpressibly great also was the love of the Father to give His Son into death—to require His death. Oh, the depth of that sovereign wisdom to devise such a way of redemption! The wrath of God was stilled because the demand of justice was met by the death of the Son of God. The penalty was born, the ransom was paid, the law was disarmed of its curse, and the Father was satisfied. The Father was pleased with the labor and offering of His Son. There you have what Paul declares in our text—on Good Friday enemies were reconciled to God by the death of His Son.

From the dying lips of the Savior the words had been heard, “It is finished.” His atoning blood had been shed; reconciliation had been wrought. During His sojourn on earth Christ had rendered doing love and now on Golgotha He had rendered dying love.

What is then necessary furthermore? All those who are taught to grieve about their own enmity against God will learn it. They begin to long for that reconciliation in their own life. They miss that blessed favor of God; they yearn for Jehovah’s kindly face, giving them happiness and grace. What has been objectively merited by Christ must be subjectively applied by the Spirit of God.

Every benefit of the Covenant of Grace, every spark of love and life, flows forth from the atoning death of the Son of God. However, that quickened remnant needs to be exercised in this, needs to be led and guided, needs to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That chosen race does not begin to live on Good Friday, but they are first of all declared in the eternal good pleasure of God. They are quickened from death to life in time by that efficacious calling, that regeneration which the Lord works within them without their aid. In a way of being broken down and learning to own more and more their enmity within and the enmity of God against sin—such people are brought to an end. The Lord makes room for His Son and forms His Son in them by His Spirit. By faith they come to know Him and follow on to know Him.

Rich can be their comfort and lively their hope. How their soul can be enlarged when they may see that they can be delivered by this Savior, for He is able to save to the uttermost. The openings in prayer, the bedewing of their soul, the instructions from Above, the leadings by the Spirit, the exercises in the Mediator—how gracious, how tender, how loving!

Nevertheless, this remains as the Lord proceeds in the heart of such a remnant—an ungodly enemy and an offended Judge. Then I may have tasted the sweet fruit of Christ’s reconciliation, but when death draws nigh, I need more than the benefits; I need the Benefactor. Then I need, “This God is my salvation.” Although from God’s side that reconciliation has been wrought, I need the application else I perish. When God’s justice is maintained, and the Surety is hidden, then the yawning pit is open for me—righteously. Oh, then it is an eternal wonder of sovereign grace that the Surety appears and testifies that He has descended into hell for me and by His death He has reconciled me—that enemy—to God. He brings in His blood, that precious blood of reconciliation—and behold, then, on the basis of satisfied justice, mercy is granted, righteousness imputed, and life given for a prey.

What else does the apostle write? “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” The benefits of Christ’s death are already so marvelous and great. However, what is the experience of that remnant? They find out more and more their indwelling corruption and the snares of unbelief; they end up in affliction, strife, oppression, temptation, bondage, and assaults of the enemies; they experience how cold, how barren, how dry, how prayerless, how listless they are and remain of themselves. That sinner becomes poorer than ever before.

Hearken then! “Much more,” testifies the apostle, “being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” In His resurrection it is, “I live, and ye shall live also.” In every standing of their life, yes, also after the conscious reconciliation has been granted unto that blessed people whose sins are forgiven—in every standing of their life they need to be administered out of that living and exalted Redeemer, day by day and moment by moment. Thus they are saved by the life which Christ has after His resurrection. He did not remain on earth but ascended into heaven and is sitting at the right hand of His Father. There He is the Advocate with the Father for His people who continually sin away everything. There He continually maketh intercession for all His own, the small as well as the great. There He is the Head over all things to His Church. All power is given unto Him in heaven and in earth. He was dead, and, behold, He is alive for evermore.

Young and old, do pray, “The grace Thou showest to Thy saints, that grace reveal to me.” Do you know experimentally something of that enmity? Be of good cheer, for enemies were and are reconciled to God by the death of His Son. What is much more, being reconciled, and yet as perishing sinners who must die daily, you shall be saved by His life. The Lord grant faith to believe it. Here already are the beginnings of that joy and comfort, the foretastes of never-ending communion. Much more is waiting. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” We shall join in singing, “Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood.”

— Rev. A.H. Verhoef
St. Catharines, ON

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