2 Corinthians 5

And as the soul does not die, so neither does it sleep in the body for a time. If the soul be at death absent from the body (2 Corinthians 5:8), then it cannot sleep in the body. There is an immediate passage from death to Glory: It is but winking and we shall see God (Luke 23:4…

3. The saints at death shall not only have a sight of God, but shall enjoy the love of God; there shall be no more veil on God's face, nor his smiles checkered with frowns, but God's love shall discover itself in all its radiant beauty and fragrant sweetness. Here the saints pra…

In fact, yet a further degree of Christ's humility, he not only was made flesh, but in the likeness of sinful flesh. He knew no sin, yet he was made sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). He was like a sinner, he had all sin laid upon him, but no sin lived in him (Isaiah 53:12).

For such a High Priest became us, who is holy, undefiled, separate from sinners. Christ knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21); he knew sin in the weight, not in the act. It was requisite that he who was to do away the sins of others, should himself be without sin.

Let our hearts and tongues join in consort to bless God, and let us show our thankfulness to Christ by fruitfulness; let us bring forth (as spice trees) the fruits of humility, zeal, good works. This is to live to him, who has died for us (2 Corinthians 5:15). The wise men did n…

2. Creatures above us glorify God: the angels are ministering spirits (Hebrews 1:14). They are still waiting on God's throne, and bring some revenues of glory into the exchequer of heaven: then surely man should be much more studious of God's glory than the angels, for God has h…

Seneca says, True joy latet in profundo — it is hidden within. Worldly joy is in Superficie; it lies in the outside, like the dew that wets the leaf (2 Corinthians 5:12). Who rejoice in appearance — [illegible Greek text] — in the face.

And God does first hew and polish them by affliction, that they may be fit for the heavenly building. The House of Bondage prepares for the house not made with hands (2 Corinthians 5:1). The vessels of mercy are seasoned with affliction, and then the wine of glory is poured in.

2. They shall be openly acquitted at the day of Judgment. This is to be laid down for a position, that there shall be a Day of Judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10). For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

In this heavenly kingdom is that which is satisfying, unparalleled beauty, rivers of pleasure; and this for ever: (Psalm 16:11) At your right hand are pleasures for evermore: Heaven's eminence is its permanency; and this kingdom God's children shall enter into immediately after…

3. That Christ should not only die for sinners, but die as a sinner. (2 Corinthians 5:21) He was made sin for us. He who was among the glorious persons of the Trinity, was numbered among transgressors (Isaiah 53:12).

They are the messengers of the Lord of Hosts (Malachi 2:7). They represent no less than God himself (2 Corinthians 5:20): Now then we are ambassadors for Christ. Jesus Christ was of this calling; he had his mission and sanction from heaven (John 8:18).

3. Faith is a grace so acceptable to God, because by faith we present a righteousness to God which does best please him. We bring the righteousness of Christ into the court, which is called the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). To bring Christ's righteousness, is to bri…

In this spotless robe of Christ, we outshine the angels. Theirs is but the righteousness of creatures, this is the righteousness of God himself (2 Corinthians 5:21): "That we might be made the righteousness of God in him." How great a blessing then is forgiveness?

2 Corinthians 5:17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold all things are become new. In this Scripture consists the essence and soul of religion.

That is, to be punished for them; for other sense the words can have none. He made him sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), so he bore our sins (Isaiah 53:11). How?

Seventhly, that this love was the same in Father and Son, acted distinctly in the manner that shall be afterwards declared; so vain are the pretences of men who from the love of the Father in this matter, would argue against the love of the Son; or on the contrary. Eighthly, tha…

The Apostle is here referring to the day of judgment, and tells us that he would then be found in Christ, when he comes upon his last trial, that so he may be able to stand it out, and find an absolution at God's tribunal. If there were no judgment wherein men are to appear, and…

But since there will certainly [illegible] time come wherein every son and daughter of Adam shall be brought forth to the bar, and pass an exact trial, it must needs speak it a piece of the highest prudence in them to be most carefully providing for it, and the most manifest fol…

Q. Having spoken of the person of Christ, tell in the next place what is Christ's office? A. His office in the general is to be a Mediator between God and man, to work reconciliation between them (1 Timothy 2:5; 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19). Q. What need was there of such a Mediator?

Q. Wherein do these two covenants differ? A. The covenant of works being made with man in innocency may be called a covenant of amity or friendship between God and man being friends; but the other is a covenant of gracious reconciliation, when sin had brought in enmity between t…

What righteousness is it then? That perfect righteousness whereby we are justified is that righteousness which was wrought by Christ, and inherent in his person (Isaiah 45:24, 25; Jeremiah 23:6; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:18, 19). How comes the righteousnes…

Q. Who must be judge at that day? A. Jesus Christ is appointed of God to be the Judge of quick and dead (Acts 10:42; 17:31; John 5:22, 27; 2 Timothy 4:1; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Q. Who must be judged?

Third, to put the greater difference between the estate of God's children here and that hereafter in heaven. To this very purpose is that speech of the apostle in 2 Corinthians 5:7: 'Here we walk by faith, not by sight.' He had said before that the estate of believers in this li…

Light, says the apostle (Ephesians 5:13), is that whereby things are made manifest — that is, to the sense of sight, to which light properly belongs. And as light and faith are here severed, as you see; so sight also is in 2 Corinthians 5:7 distinguished from faith, which is the…

You have been in hell — give warning to others against coming there. 'Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men' (2 Corinthians 5:11). If the rich man had come back from hell, what stories would he have told to scare all his brothers?

For, God does not justify him that lies rotting in his former sins, and weltering in his old corruption; but him that believes in Christ, and repents of his sins. And that man in his faith is justified, and in his repentance sanctified, and so he is made a new man: yea, as Saint…

Now, if all men had been effectually called, then all would have received the promise of the Gospel; but many Nations in former ages never heard of Christ: and therefore there was never in all ages a general effectual calling of all men. Objection. Paul saith, God reconciled the…

I answer, (1) We do not I fear sufficiently understand what was the frame and spirit of those first Believers; and out of how very little of their own they would administer to the greater necessities of others, that there might be no lack in the Body. So the Apostle tells us tha…

And as this enmity and disorder entered into the whole, by the sin of Man; so the foundation of this catholic peace and order, from which nothing is excluded but the Serpent and his seed, must be laid in peace between God and Man. This therefore God designed in Christ alone (2 C…

He sent him in the flesh, for he sent him made of a woman, made under the Law (Galatians 4:4), wherein the Word was made flesh (John 1:14); but he sent him only in the likeness of sinful flesh. And that because he made him sin, who knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). He took our f…

This was done by Christ alone, who was therefore the [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] of this covenant, and all the grace of it. See (2 Corinthians 5:19, 20; Galatians 3:13, 14; Romans 3:25). 2. No restipulation of obedience to God could be made by man, that might be a ground of ente…

Of this nature was the Atonement and Reconciliation which he made by his blood, and peace with God for sinners thereon. See (2 Corinthians 5:19, 20; Ephesians 2:14, 15, 16). The benefits which hereon are actually collated on the Church, whereby it is brought into its consummate…

Hereunto belongs the slaying, destruction, or removal of the enmity that was between them. This with respect to God, was done by the atonement he made, the sacrifice he offered, and the price of redemption that he paid (2 Corinthians 5:21). But the whole work is not hereby compl…

[In non-Latin alphabet], if, is generally taken here not to be a conditional but a causal conjunction. And so, as many judge, it is used: (Romans 8:31; 2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Thessalonians 3:8; 1 Peter 1:17). And it is rendered in our translation by For, For that another Priest;…

Hence believers have boldness to appear before him, and approach to his presence. See (Romans 5:11; 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19, 20, 21; Ephesians 2:13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18). Hereon was it the procuring, the purchasing cause of this privilege.

1. He undertook as the Surety of the Covenant to answer for all the sins of those who are to be, and are made partakers of the benefits of it. That is, to undergo the punishment due to their sins; to make atonement for them, by offering himself a propitiatory sacrifice for their…

Men are apt to put off thoughts of it, to have slight thoughts about it; but it is and will be dreadful, terrible, and eternally destructive of every thing that is good, and inflictive of every thing that is evil, or that our nature is capable of. I. There is an apprehension of…

[⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩], is to rest in, to approve, to delight in, to be pleased with: so is it always used in the New Testament, whether spoken of God or men. See (Matthew 3:17), Chap. 12:18, Chap. 17:5, (Luke 3:22), Chap. 12:32, (Romans 15:26, 27), (1 Corinthians 1:21), Ch…

But I must not too far digress. The command of God, the love and care of Christ towards his Church, the ends of God's patience and long-suffering, the future manifestation of his glory in the salvation of believers and the condemnation of those that are disobedient, the necessit…

Let them see what must be their everlasting condition. 3. Spiritual life is an effect of creating power: where this life is, there is a new creation, a new creature (Ephesians 4:24; 2 Corinthians 5:17). If any man be in Christ, he is a New Creature, as we have already hinted; no…

Truly, the eternal Sabbath, which our glorious Jesus carries all his people into, men will be weary of it, it will be a rack to them, they won't be suited in it, if they should not have a heart for good works inspired into them; none but those that are thus pure in heart, will b…

(2.) Do gospel considerations influence, and work on your hearts? It may be you can sometimes fear: but does the love of Christ ever constrain you (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15)? If you do live at all a spiritual life, you live to him that died for you, and his love constrains you: an…

4. Love to God must be active; it is like fire, which is the most active element; it is called, The Labour of Love, 1 Thessalonians 1.3. Love is no idle grace, it sets the head a studying for God, the feet a running in the ways of his Commandments: The love of Christ constrains,…

So Paul was contented to bear the afflictions which God had laid upon him, and his reason was, "Because (says he) we look not on things which are seen, but on things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2…

And so he is said to be righteous who has a change of heart wrought in him, and is transformed by the renewing of his mind (Romans 12:2). Such an one, though he is not another man, yet he is a new man (2 Corinthians 5:17). The faculties are not new, but the qualities; as the str…

We take Christ for Lord and Master, and give up ourselves to him, that we may be no longer at our own dispose, and therefore it is not only robbery, but treachery and breach of Covenant to seek ourselves in any thing. This resignation must be made out of a sense of Christ's love…

Again, works are to be done in regard of men: that our neighbor may be helped in worldly things — Luke 6:38; that he may be won by our example to godliness — 1 Peter 3:14; that we may prevent in ourselves the giving of any offense — 1 Corinthians 10:32; that by doing good we may…

Reason 2. (2 Corinthians 5:21) He who knew no sin, was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God which is in him. From which I reason thus: As Christ was made sin for us, so are we made the righteousness of God in him: but Christ was made sin, or, a sinner…

As for Christ's burial and resurrection which followed his death, they served not to satisfy but to confirm and ratify the same. Again Paul says (2 Corinthians 5:21): He that knew no sin was made sin for us, that is, the punishment of sin for us; but if the Church of Rome says t…