Faithful and Just to Forgive
Salvation comes through a perfect law fulfilled in every jot and tittle, which Christ kept for us through His spotless life.
Horatius Bonar emphasizes that our salvation is rooted in the perfect fulfillment of God's law, which was accomplished by Jesus Christ. He explains that Christ, though above the law, willingly became subject to it, fulfilling every requirement and enduring its penalties on our behalf. This act of vicarious law-keeping ensures that believers are redeemed from the curse of the law, highlighting that Christ is not merely a helper but the Savior who fully satisfies the demands of justice. Bonar reassures that through faith in Christ, we receive a holy and righteous salvation, free from the law's claims. Ultimately, he underscores that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to all who believe.
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It is by a perfect law that we are saved; else it would be an unholy salvation. It is by a perfect law fulfilled in "every jot and tittle" that we are saved; else it would be an unrighteous salvation. The Son of God has kept this law for us; He has magnified it and made it honorable; and thus we have a holy and righteous salvation. Though above law in Himself, He was made "under the law" for us; and by the vicarious law-keeping of His spotless life, as well as by endurance unto death of that law's awful penalties, we are redeemed from the curse of the law.
"Christ is the end (the fulfilling and exhausting) of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth" (Romans 10:4). For Christ is not a helper, but He is the Saviour.
He did not come to enable us to save ourselves by keeping a mitigated law, but to keep the unmitigated law in our room, that the law might have no claim for penalty upon any sinner in Christ.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Perfect Law of God
- A. The law is the standard of righteousness
- B. The law is fulfilled in every jot and tittle
- II. The Son of God's Law-Keeping
- A. He magnified the law and made it honorable
- B. He kept the law for us through His spotless life
- III. Redemption from the Curse of the Law
- A. Christ's vicarious law-keeping redeems us
- B. Christ's endurance of the law's penalties redeems us
Key Quotes
“Christ is the end (the fulfilling and exhausting) of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth” — Horatius Bonar
“Christ is not a helper, but He is the Saviour” — Horatius Bonar
“He did not come to enable us to save ourselves by keeping a mitigated law, but to keep the unmitigated law in our room” — Horatius Bonar
Application Points
- We are redeemed from the curse of the law through Christ's vicarious law-keeping and endurance of its penalties.
- Christ's law-keeping makes us holy and righteous, and the law has no claim for penalty upon any sinner in Him.
- We are not saved by keeping a mitigated law, but by Christ's keeping of the unmitigated law in our room.