What the benefits of the Gospel are.
What the benefits of the Gospel are.
§ 14. Furthermore, that we may understand and note more accurately the benefits of Christ offered by the word of the Gospel, it should be noted that they are partly privative and partly positive. The privative consist of the removal of evil things [τῇ τῶν κακῶν ἀφαιρέσει]; the positive, of the adding of effects [τῇ τῶν ἐνεργημάτων θέσει]. We use this enumeration to say that Christ’s benefits are these: (1) Taking our sins upon Himself. You see, “God has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6). “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29, 36). “God made Him to be sin for us” (2 Cor. 5:21).
(2) The payment of the penalties owed because of our sins. You see, we have put Christ “into the service of our sins; we have wearied Him with our iniquities” (Isa. 43:24). “He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him” (Isa. 53:5). “He restored what He did not steal” (Ps. 69:[4]).
(3) His perfect fulfillment of the Law in our stead. You see, Christ came into the world for the very purpose that He might “fulfill the Law” (Matt. 5:17). “He is the end [τέλος], the fulfillment, of the Law for the righteousness of everyone who believes” (Rom. 10:4).
(4) Liberation from the curse of the Law. “There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13).
(5) Our reconciliation with God. “Through Christ God has reconciled us to Himself; God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them” (2 Cor. 5:18–19). “God the Father was pleased to reconcile all things to Himself through Christ, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross” (Col. 1:19–20).
(6) Liberation from Satan’s captivity and reign. “The Son of Man came to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). “God has delivered us from the power of darkness and has transferred to us the kingdom of His Son” (Col. 1:13).
(7) Adoption as sons of God. “To all who received Him, who believed on His name, He gave power to become sons of God” (John 1:12). “God predestined us that He would adopt us as His sons through Jesus Christ” (Eph. 1:5).
(8) The giving of the Holy Spirit. “ ‘He who believes in Me, rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ But He said this about the Spirit, which those who believed in Him would receive” (John 7:38–39). “Because you are sons, God has the sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts” (Gal. 4:6).
(9) The blessed possession of eternal life. “Grace rules through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 5:21). “Through the Spirit, by faith” (in Christ), “we wait for the hope of righteousness” (Gal. 5:5).
Although these all pertain to the benefits of Christ which are offered in the word of the Gospel, yet of necessity a distinction must be made between the benefit of justification and grace and the benefit of renewal and of the gift [that comes] through grace. Certainly both come to us for Christ’s sake and from Him, yet we are not justified before God by renewal and the gift [that comes] through grace but only through faith in Christ, the consequence of which is the inner renewal; this will be discussed in greater detail in the article on justification [Commonplace XIX, §§ 149–83; On Good Works (Commonplace XX), §§ 13–15].