A minister once asked a dying child of God, "On what are you depending?"
"On God's justice," the woman replied.
"You mean God's mercy, don't you?" the surprised minister asked.
"No, I mean God's justice," she answered. "Jesus Christ paid the full price for all my sins. God is too just to try to collect payment twice."
Upon what truth regarding God and His justification of sinners was this woman relying?
God will never try to collect more than the full price for the debt f sin. Those for whom Jesus died are free. The full price for all their sins has been paid.
The true believer is justified from all his sins -original and actual; past, present, and future. The application of Christ's righteousness to his account frees him from the condemnation of all in. He is counted righteous in Christ.
The principles of substitution and representation are involved in both God's Covenant of Works, with Adam as its covenant head; and in the Covenant of Grace, with Christ as its Covenant Head. This parallel principle is shown in the chart below.
|
Adam, as Representative Head |
Christ, the Second Adam, as Representative Head |
|
Sinned; broke God's law |
Lived Sinlessly; fulfilled God's law |
|
Earned eternal death |
Earned eternal life |
|
Death is imputed to all Adam's children, all people |
Life is imputed to all Christ's children, all the true Church, all true believers |
For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one Man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ.
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.
- Romans 5:15b, 17-19
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Why does the guilt of Adam's original sin apply to all his children? Why does the righteousness of Christ's obedience apply to all His children? |
