A thought from Edwards on Good Friday
402. WORK OF REDEMPTION. WISDOM OF GOD IN REDEMPTION. SPIRIT OF GOD. The sum of all that Christ purchased is the Holy Ghost. God is he of whom the purchase is made, God is the purchase and the price, and God is the thing purchased: God is the Alpha and the Omega in this work. The great thing purchased by Jesus Christ for us is communion with God, which is only in having the Spirit; 'tis participation of Christ's fullness, and having grace for grace, which is only in having of that Spirit which he has without measure; this is the promise of the Father, Luke 24:49. He purchased God's love, favor and delight, which is still the Holy Ghost, for us; Galatians 3:2, "This only would I learn of you, Received you the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" and 3:13-14, "He was made a curse for us...that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." "Good things" and "the Holy Spirit" are synonymous; Matthew 7:11, "How much more shall your heavenly Father give good things to them that ask him?" [with]Luke 11:13, "How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Therefore 'tis called the "Spirit of promise" (Ephesians 1:13), because it is the great subject of the promises, the sum of the gospel promises.
Christ purchased for us grace and many spiritual blessings in this world, but they are all comprised in that, in having the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. Christ purchased glory for us in another world, that we should be like God, that we should be perfect in holiness and happiness; which still is comprised in that, in having the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. The Spirit is that river of water of life, which in heaven proceeds from the throne of God and the Lamb Revelations 22:1. Therefore the Holy Ghost that believers have here, is said to be the earnest of the inheritance, or purchased possession Ephesians 1:14. The earnest is some of the same given before hand; the purchased possession is only a fullness of that Spirit.
As the persons of the Trinity are equal among themselves, so there seems to [be] an exact equality in each person's concern in the work of redemption, and in our concern with them in that great affair; and the glory of it equally belongs to each of them. The benefits and blessedness of redemption are wholly and entirely from each of them: it is wholly originally from the Father; the Son is the medium of it all; the Holy Ghost immediately possesses us of it all, or rather is the sum of it all-he possesses us of it by coming and dwelling in us himself. Thus "of him, and through him, and to him" (or in him) "are all things," Romans 11:36.
If it be said that more glory belongs to the Father and the Son, because they manifested a more wonderful love, the Father in giving his Son infinitely dear to him, the Son in laying down his life; yet let it be considered, that the Holy Ghost is that wonderful love. Just so much as the two first persons glorify themselves, by shewing the astonishing greatness of their love and grace, just so much they glorify that love and grace, who is the Holy Ghost. God's giving his dear Son, and the Son's suffering so much, glorifies the Holy Ghost, as it shews the worth of the Holy Ghost, that the Father should give his Son, and the Son pay so great a price that the Holy Spirit might be purchased.
"Miscellanies" No. 402. Works, 13, 466-467.
Christ purchased for us grace and many spiritual blessings in this world, but they are all comprised in that, in having the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. Christ purchased glory for us in another world, that we should be like God, that we should be perfect in holiness and happiness; which still is comprised in that, in having the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. The Spirit is that river of water of life, which in heaven proceeds from the throne of God and the Lamb Revelations 22:1. Therefore the Holy Ghost that believers have here, is said to be the earnest of the inheritance, or purchased possession Ephesians 1:14. The earnest is some of the same given before hand; the purchased possession is only a fullness of that Spirit.
As the persons of the Trinity are equal among themselves, so there seems to [be] an exact equality in each person's concern in the work of redemption, and in our concern with them in that great affair; and the glory of it equally belongs to each of them. The benefits and blessedness of redemption are wholly and entirely from each of them: it is wholly originally from the Father; the Son is the medium of it all; the Holy Ghost immediately possesses us of it all, or rather is the sum of it all-he possesses us of it by coming and dwelling in us himself. Thus "of him, and through him, and to him" (or in him) "are all things," Romans 11:36.
If it be said that more glory belongs to the Father and the Son, because they manifested a more wonderful love, the Father in giving his Son infinitely dear to him, the Son in laying down his life; yet let it be considered, that the Holy Ghost is that wonderful love. Just so much as the two first persons glorify themselves, by shewing the astonishing greatness of their love and grace, just so much they glorify that love and grace, who is the Holy Ghost. God's giving his dear Son, and the Son's suffering so much, glorifies the Holy Ghost, as it shews the worth of the Holy Ghost, that the Father should give his Son, and the Son pay so great a price that the Holy Spirit might be purchased.
"Miscellanies" No. 402. Works, 13, 466-467.
posted by Michael McClenahan at 12:47:00 pm
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