Section 945
VI. To consider the objects of justification, who are God's elect
(Romans 8:33, 34) Who shall lay any, thing to the charge of God's elect? it is God that justifies, that is, his elect; who are described,
1. By their number: They are many: By his knowledge shall my righteous Servant justify many . (Isaiah 53:11) And, by the obedience of one many are made righteous . (Romans 5:19) Jesus Christ engaged as a surety for many, and gave his life a ransom for many, (Matthew 20:28, Hebrews 9:28) and was offered up to bear the sins of many; which is the true reason why many are justified by him. Many are brought to believe on him for life and salvation, even as many as were ordained to eternal life; (Acts 13:48) and many sons, in consequence of all this, will be brought to glory: Many shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven . (Matthew 8:12; John 14:2) And hence there are many mansions in Christ's Father's house preparing for them. This leads us to observe,
(1.) That they are not a few who are justified by Christ. Though Christ's flock is but a little flock, in comparison of the world's goats; though Christ's people are but, few in comparison of the vast number of hypocrites and formal professors; (for many are called, but few chosen; (Matthew 20:16; Luke 13:24) many strive to enter in at the strait gate, but few there be that enter in at it; ) yet, considered in themselves, they are a great number, which no man can number. Now this serves to magnify the grace of God, to exalt the satisfaction and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to encourage distressed souls to seek and look to Christ for righteousness; seeing it is wrought out for many, and many are justified by it. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6)
(2.) This shews that all mankind are not justified. Though they are many who are justified, yet they are not all. For all men have not faith to receive Christ's righteousness; nor are all men saved, as they would be, if they were justified: for those who are justified by his blood, shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:9) Yet all the elect are justified: For in him shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory. (Isaiah 45:25)
2. The objects of justification are described by the quality of them, or by their state and condition. Before conversion, they are represented as ungodly; and after conversion, as believers in Christ. Thus, in our text: All that believe are justified. By whom we are to understand, not nominal believers, or such who only profess to believe in Christ; but real ones, who with the heart believe unto righteousness, and whose faith works by love to Christ and to his people. But I go on,