Thirdly, Job expresses his faith in Christ as his Redeemer
Thirdly, Job expresses his faith in Christ as his Redeemer
He asserts and claims his interest in him, when he calls him my Redeemer; which is more than to say or believe that he is a Redeemer. It is one thing, with the men of Samaria, to know, believe, and own, that Christ is the Savior of the world; and another thing, with Job and other believers, to know, own, and declare him to be our Savior and Redeemer; the one without the other will be of little avail; the one is indeed absolutely requisite to the other. The disciples of Christ are justly reprehended for their slowness to believe, and for their hesitation about Christ’s being he who was to redeem Israel. And on the other hand, such are commended who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah and Savior of the world; for without believing that he is a Redeemer, we cannot believe in him as ours; but then, such a faith is not to be depended on, because it may be where there is no true grace, no going out to Christ, relying on him, or committing anything to him.
Again, Such an act of faith as Job here puts forth on Christ, is more than a bare reliance on him, or hope of interest in him. Souls, when first awakened to see their need of Christ, and the worth of him, long for an interest in him, but cannot claim it; their language is, give me Christ, or I die; but cannot see their property in him; under a sense of their perishing condition, and with some encouraging hopes of finding grace and mercy, they venture on him, resolving, that if they perish they will perish at his feet; they put their mouths in the dust, if so be there may be hope; and sometimes encourage themselves, that there is hope in Israel concerning this thing; and so are helped to trust in the Lord, and stay themselves upon the mighty God of Jacob. But,
This is expressive of a very strong act of faith, such as was the church’s, when she said, My beloved is mine, and I am his; (Song of Solomon 2:16) and Thomas’s, when he made a declaration of it in these words, My Lord and my God; (John 20:28) and the apostle Paul’s, who could say, Who hath loved me, and hath given himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) Now let it be observed, that it is not this, or any other act of faith, that gives a soul an interest in Christ; not this act, because then none could be said to have an interest in him, unless they had the faith of assurance; nor any other act, because a man cannot believe unless he is alive in Christ; and no man can be alive in Christ without an interest in him; consequently then an interest in Christ is before faith, and not by it; he that liveth and believeth in me shall never die. (John 11:26) An interest in Christ is not got but given; it is not obtained by faith, nor any other act of the creature, but is owing to the free grace of God. Faith views an interest in Christ as freely given; asserts and claims it on that act of grace, but does not procure it.
An interest in Christ is the greatest of blessings: To be able to say these two words in faith, my Redeemer, is the greatest mercy in the world. If a man could say, the whole world was his; all the riches of the Indies, the vast treasures that lie in the several parts of the universe; all the kingdoms, inheritances, and possessions of the earth his, what would it signify, if he could not say, that Christ was his? This is the chief of mercies, and what gives a title to all the other blessings of grace, which are all the believer’s, because Christ is his, and he is Christ’s: It is a discovery of this which supports the soul in dying moments, and when just ready to enter upon an invisible world. Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth I desire besides thee. My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for everse (Psalm 73:25, 26) Job not only had an interest in Christ; but,