And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: (18) Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (20) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (21) Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (22) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. (24) For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (25) But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
I include the whole of what remained in the Chapter after the former observations, having already far exceeded my limits to a Poor Man's Commentary. And indeed, what the Holy Ghost hath here so blessedly set forth, though if followed up to the full, would furnish many volumes, yet may be comprized, in the leading features of it, within a small compass.
We have, first, the Church admonished, in their calling on the Father to keep in remembrance, in all their approaches to the throne, their safety and security in Christ in whom God beholds the Church, and accepts the Church, as freely, fully, and everlastingly justified in Christ; and as holy in Christ, without blame before him in love. And though the Father, without respect of persons, as they are in themselves, and considered without an eye to Chris t, judged according to every man's work; yet the chosen in Christ by the Father is a personal thing; and God hath respect to his dear Son, and views the persons of his redeemed in Him. Yea, Christ himself was fore-ordained for this express end, and set forth by the Father, a propitiation through faith in his blood. Pass, therefore, saith the Apostle, the time of your sojourning here in fear, that is, not in the bondage fear of servants, but the dutiful fear of children, Romans 8:15-17
Secondly. Lose not sight of your oneness and interest in Christ, by which ye are not only betrothed to Him forever, and that before the foundation of the world; but also have been redeemed by him, from the Adam-state of sin in which ye were involved by nature, during this time-state of the Church. And as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, such as the contemptible idols of carnal men, silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish, and without spot; see to it, that this knowledge, and this conviction, be productive of all the blessed effects, in living upon Christ, walking with Christ, rejoicing in Christ, and making Him what God hath made him to the Church, which is his body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all. Reader! Mark the very sweet words of God the Holy Ghost on this vast subject, and observe, how very strong the Lord hath worded the faith of them that believe in God by Him, that your faith and hope might be in God. Not that your faith and hope might be in your own improvements. Not in a work wrought in you, but for you; even centering both faith and hope in God. Oh! how sweet, when Christ is made in the believer's view as set forth in God's; and when received by him, as he is made of God, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, that, according as it is written, he that glorieth let him glory only in the Lord, 1 Corinthians 1:30
Thirdly. As in all the other parts of our interest in the covenant of grace, so here eminently the Church is taught her blessedness in the new-birth, from the power of God the Holy Ghost, which, in common with the electing-love of the Father, and the redeeming love of the Son, brings the people of God into the enjoyment of all their mercies, being born of that incorruptible seed which liveth and abideth forever. And, hence, amidst all the mutable circumstances of our sinful, fallen, dying nature, which, like grass, is but of momentary continuance; this spiritual birth everlastingly secures the being, and well-being of all Christ's redeemed. They are born again, their adoption-character is thereby proved; and they are manifested to be the heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. Oh! the preciousness of these divine truths! Oh! the unspeakable mercy, when God hath revealed them to his people by the Spirit!