Who Shall Lay Anything To The Charge Of God's Elect
Who Shall Lay Anything To The Charge Of God's Elect
Occasioned By The Death Of Mrs. Ann Brine, Late Wife Of The Reverend Mr. John Brine. Preached August 11, 1745
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth: Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us—Romans 8:33, 34
The preceding chapter contains the believer's complaint of indwelling sin, and expresses the nature; prevalence and ill effects of it, and his grief of mind on that account; and this chapter declares his triumph of faith in a view of deliverance from it, and from an condemnation by it, through the blood, righteousness and sacrifice of Christ: which triumph is founded upon things the most solid and substantial, delivered in the text and context; such as relate to the grace of the Father in predestination, in the mission of his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, in not sparing him, but delivering him up for us all; in the effectual vocation, justification, and glorification of his chosen ones; and which relate to the grace of Christ, in his assumption of human nature, in fulfilling the law both in its precept and penalty, in his sufferings and death, in his resurrection, session at God's right hand, and intercession for his people; and which relate to the grace of the blessed Spirit, in quickening, and renewing carnal minds; in leading men out of themselves, to Christ; in witnessing to their Spirits that they are the children of God, and in helping their infirmities, and making intercession for them according to the will of God; and particularly this triumph, of faith is expressed in the fullest and strongest manner in the words before us, who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? etc.
The words are put by way of interrogation, who shall lay any thing, to the charge of God’s elect? or accuse them? or call them to an account? Or enter an action against them, in open court? It is a challenge, a bidding defiance to all and every one to do it; since it is God that justifieth, that is, his elect: he acquits and clears them from. all charges exhibited against them; and therefore whatever are said against them are of no avail, and can never issue in their condemnation; who is he that condemneth the elect of God? that will censure or pass sentence upon them? and if any should, what will it signify, seeing it is Christ that died for their sins, and rose again far their justification, and is at the right hand of God, as their advocate, and ever lives to make intercession far them . Though these things are put by way of question, they may be reduced to absolute propositions: the sense of them is, that "there are none that can lay any thing to the charge of God's elect to any purpose, but what will easily be set aside; nor can any justly bring them under a sentence of condemnation, and much less execute such a sentence on them." The whole may be comprised in the two following propositions:
I. That no charge shall be brought against, nor any condemnation brought upon the elect of God.