June - the Free Presbyterian church of Scotland

Sermon. 49nor chastisements designed for His own good, nor symbolicalor didactic exhibitions, designed to illustrate and enforce truth,and exert a moral influence on others; these are all subordinateand collateral ends. Nor were they the mere natural consequencesof His becoming a man and subjecting Himself tothe common lot of humanity. They were divine inflictions.It pleased the Lord to bruise Him. He was smitten of Godand aWicted. These sufferings were declared to be on accountof sin, not His own, but ours. He bore our sins. Thechastisement of our peace was on Him. They were designedas an expiation, or for satisfaction of justice. They had,therefore, all the elements of punishment, and consequently itwas in a strict and proper sense that He was made a cursefor us. All this is included in what the Apostle teaches inthis passage (Gal. iii. 13), and its immediate context. (2)Redemption from the law. Nearly allied to this mode ofrepresentation are those passages in which Christ is said tohave delivered us from the law. Redemption from bondageto the law includes not only deliverance from its penalty, butalso from the obligation to satisfy its demands. This is thefundamental idea of Paul's doctrine of justification. The lawdemands and from the nature of God, must demand perfectobedience. It says: "Do this, and live," and "Cursed iseveryone that continueth not in all things which are written inthe book of the law to do them." No man since the fall isable to fulfil these demands, yet he must fulfil them or perish.The ouly possible method, aceording to the Scriptures, by whichnwn can be saved, is that they should have a substitute to meetthis obligation of perfect obedience. This, the Apostle teaches,as being effected by Christ. He was "made under the law toredeem th1Yl that were under the la\\," (Gal. iv. 4, 5). Therefore,in Romans vi. 14, he says to believers: "Ye are not underthe law, 11l1t under grace." This redemption from the law inRomans vii. -1, is said to be "by the body of Christ." Hencewe arc ju"t.ifh·d not hy our own obedience, but "by theobedience" of Christ (Rom. v. 18, 19). RedclI1l'Lioll in t.his