Thomas Goodwin :: Section One :: Chapter Two

CHRIST SET FORTH
Section One :: Chapter Two

The scope and argument of this discourse is, either direction to Christ as the object of faith, or encouragement to believers, from all those particulars in Christ mentioned in the text.

Faith and the supports of it, or rather Christ, as by his death and resurrection, he is the foundation of faith and the cause of our justification, and is the main subject of these words. All which therefore, to handle more largely, is the intended subject of this discourse. And therefore, as we have seen Christ’s faith for us, so now let us see what our faith is to be towards him: only take this along with you, for a right hounding of all that follows, that the faith (the object and support of which I would discourse of), is only faith as justifying; for justification was properly here the matter of Christ’s faith for us, and is also answerably here held forth by Paul, as that faith which believers are to have on him. Now faith is called justifying, only as it has justification for its object, and as it goes out to Christ for justification; so that all that shall be spoken must be confined to this alone, as the intendment of the text. And concerning this, the text does two things:

• 1. It holds forth Christ the object of it, “Who shall condemn? Christ has died.” And he being the sole subject of those four particulars that follow, as encouragements to faith, must necessarily be therefore the object here set forth unto our faith.
  
  
• 2. In Christ we have here all those four things made matter of triumph to believers, to assure them they shall not be condemned, but justified: in that Christ (1.) died, (2.) rose again, (3.) is at God’s right hand, (4.) intercedes.

So that (for the general), I am to do two things; and therein I shall fulfill the text’s scope.

• 1. Direct your faith to Christ, as to its right object.
  
  
• 2. To encourage your faith from these several actions of Christ for us, and show how they all contain matter of triumph for faith in them, and also teach your faith how to triumph from each of them. And herein I am to keep close to the argument propounded, namely, faith as justifying; or to show how faith, seeking justification in Christ, may be exceedingly raised from each of these particulars, and supported by them, as by so many pillars of it. So as although Christ’s death, and resurrection, may fitly serve to encourage our faith in many other acts it uses to put forth (as in point of sanctification to be had from Christ, into which his death and resurrection have an influence), yet here we are limited to the matter of justification only; “It is God that justifies; who shall condemn, seeing Christ has died?” Romans 8:33-34. And herein to show how his death, and resurrection, may and do afford matter of comfort and triumphing in point of justification from all these. And thus you have the sum of these words, and of my scope in this ensuing treatise.