Cofiant y diweddar Barch Robert Everett/The Fullness of Christ

Cofiant y diweddar Barch Robert Everett

gan David Davies (Dewi Emlyn)

SERMONS.

DECIPHERED FROM THE PRIVATE STENOGRAPHIC WRITINGS OF REV.
R. EVERETT, D. D.

THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST.

WINFIELD, Nov. 20, 1835.

Col. 1: 19." For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell."

To him who feels his need of a Savior, whose conscience is awakened to take a view of the evil nature of sin and its certain and everlasting consequences, such a declaration as this must be momentous and interesting. For here is all our hope; what Christ is, and our relation to him; on this is based all our hope. The apostle dwells, in this paragraph, upon the excellency of Christ, and the various relations which he sustains to his people. Several particulars are named, touching the divine and mediatorial glory of Christ. Read some of the preceding verses—12, 13, &c. Sinners, while they remain in a state of sin, of disobedience and unbelief, are in Satan's power; so easily is man tempted to acts of disobedience to his Maker, that he is led by Satan at his will. But, by the renovating and regenerating grace of God, he is delivered from Satan's kingdom, and introduced into the kingdom of Christ—he chooses to be governed by the laws of that kingdom, and to participate in its immunities.

Verse 14. "In whom we have redemption through His blood," &c. Having incidentally (as it were) named the name of Jesus, the apostle, in a beautiful digression, dwells upon the excellency and glory of Christ. A distinction is made here between the atoning blood of Christ and the blessing of redemption.

Verse 15. "Who is the image of the invisible God"—that is, the hidden things of God have been brought to light through the mediation of Christ; those attributes and principles which otherwise would have lain hidden or "invisible," are brought to clear light. The "first-born," that is, He is at the head of the creation of God; as the first-born in a family had certain privileges, which gave him the precedence, so Christ, as Mediator, is at the head of God's family. &c.

I. The fullness of Christ.

"It pleased the Father,"

1. Christ's fullness consists in the indwelling of the Godhead in the person of Jesus Christ. The apostle says, chap. 2: 9: "For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." The doctrine of the supreme and perfect divinity of Christ is one in which every believer feels a most profound interest. It is that on which depends our eternal salvation. For, if he is a mere man, how can he be our Savior, any more than some other prophet or teacher of religion? and how can we trust in him? "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm." If Christ Jesus be not the true God, why should so much be said of his love to man? If he was but a mere prophet, we are at a loss to know why so much should be said of his amazing love and compassion. But that he is a divine person, and that all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in him, is evident from the plain, positive, and often repeated declarations of the Bible. Thomas, speaking to Christ, says, "My Lord and my God." And, with the other disciples, he worshiped Christ, and was not forbidden. The apostle says, (Phil. 2: 6), "He thought it not robbery to be equal with God," and in another place, (Rom. 9: 5), "Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever." Again, the apostle John, speaking of Christ, says, (1 John 5: 20), "This is the true God, and eternal life." And the prophet, speaking of the Savior as a "child born unto us," says, "His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

But it was not my design to enter upon the proofs which we have of the divinity of Christ. I would simply say, that the same attributes which are applied to the Father are applied to Christ. The same work -of nature, of providence and of grace. And the same worship is rendered to him. This is not true of any of the prophets mentioned in the Scriptures. The attributes of Jehovah are never applied to a mere man.

Now, let me ask, will you trust in that Savior, that divine Savior? Is he such an one as you would wish him to be? or are you still determined to risk the everlasting consequences, and choose the pleasures of sin for a season, and refuse to submit to the terms of the gospel?

2. Jesus Christ is possessed of all needed qualifications to the work of mediator. In order rightly to estimate this sentiment, it is necessary to consider briefly what it is to be a mediator, and what the Lord Jesus Christ had to do as mediator between God and man. A mediator is one who stands between parties at variance to bring about a reconciliation, and to do it in such a way as will imply no dishonor upon him who received the injury, or against whom the offense was committed. Now, Christ comes forward as mediator between a rebel world and the holy and righteous government of God. He stands in the sinner's place, and the sin, the accumulated sin of a world, is imputed to him; and what is to be done? Will he plead the harmlessness of the offense? will he take the sinner's part in this way? will he attempt to lay aside any of the claims of God's law and government? &c. What, then, must be done? Shall the sinner be condemned to irretrievable ruin? An atonement must be made for sin-a provision must be found which will answer all the ends of public justice, and secure all the principles of divine government, while the repenting and believing sinner is fully and forever pardoned. And what was that atonement? Read the transactions of Bethlehem, of Gethsemane, and of Calvary.

Now, the Lord Jesus Christ is possessed of all the needed qualifications to fulfil the office of mediator. He is one nearly related to both parties. He is one who never participated in the sinner's offense; though he clothed himself in our nature with all its sinless infirmities, yet he was holy and harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners. He was one of such dignity and glory, that his obedience and suffering would answer instead of the eternal suffering of the rebel sinner, and whose suffering would form a barrier against sin, as effectual, and more effectual, than the everlasting punishment of the sinner himself. Yea, all qualifications for the stupendous work of mediation and redemption were found in him. Why not, then, believe on him? Why not lay aside all weapons of rebellion, and come to that adorable Savior?

3. There is a fullness of spiritual blessing in Christ to meet the wants of every humble supplicant at the throne of grace. Jesus Christ is represented in Scripture as the depository of spiritual blessings, the head and treasury of the kingdom of grace; so that all the blessings which we need are found in him. We are directed, therefore, to come to the throne of grace in his name; and we are assured that all the promises which God has given his people are confirmed to us in Christ. In him they are "Yea and Amen." Now, let us specify some of these blessings and promises. Do we need wisdom? what is the promise? "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God." But how do we obtain that wisdom? Jesus Christ is made unto us "wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." Do we need energy and strength in the work of the Lord? the promise is, "As thy days, so shall thy strength be;" but this strength is derived from Christ. "Without me, ye can do nothing." "When I am weak, then am I strong."

There is a fullness in Christ, 1. To meet the condition of the sinner as a sinner. 2. To meet the wants of his people from the moment of their conversion until they arrive in heaven. 3. To meet the wants of his church triumphant in heaven.

II. The reason assigned why all fullness should dwell in Christ-"for it pleased the Father." It should be remarked that the word "Father" is not found in the original text; the literal rendering would be, it was pleasing; or, it was meet, it was suitable that in him, &c.-there was a meetness, a suitableness that is in itself pleasing-pleasing to God, pleasing to all heaven, pleasing to man, too, that in Him, as mediaator and Savior, all fullness should dwell. But why?

1. It is pleasing in order that the greatest sinner, who would seek the Lord, may not despair of salvation. Seeing that all fullness is treasured in Christ, there is no room left for despair. Let your sins be ever so numerous, and ever so atrocious and aggravated-great sinners have been saved; they who had gone great lengths in sin, and whose sins were awfully aggravating. The apostle, in writing to the Corinthians, dwells upon a black catalogue of crimes -Saul, of Tarsus, was a persecutor of the church of God, &c.

2. It was pleasing, in order that the wants of every saint in every possible circumstance may be supplied. The fullness of Christ is such as meets every condition, at all times and under all circumstances. Here is not only a fullness, but all fullness. What an encouragement is this to trust in Jesus! None need fear to repose unlimited confidence in him; whatever your wants may be, whatever your condition. Do you lack wisdom? do you need special strength? do you need pardoning mercy? do you need grace to sustain you under the providential dealings of God; is your cross heavy? is the cup of affliction full? Then flee to this blessed, all-sufficient Savior, who says, "Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out."

3. It was meet and pleasing, in order that the affections of all his people may centre in him as their common Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ is here represented as the head of the church, and as the one who has the pre-eminence in all things. It is a happy circumstance in any community if there be one on whom the affections of all may be centered as their common parent-that common parent becomes a bond of union. Thus a virtuous prince holds the hearts of his subjects.

4. If all fullness dwells in Christ, then is it right that he should have all the praise. Every child of God, every one who is truly converted, renders praise and adoration to the Savior in this world. This is the sentiment of his heart, and this will be the song of heaven-all heaven will forever unite in ascribing "blessing and honor and glory and power unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." Are we prepared thus to honor and praise him?

From this subject we see the sin and folly of resting upon any system of salvation which excludes Jesus Christ. There are those who have formed for themselves a system of salvation (as they suppose) without Christ, saying that if they deal honestly with their neighbors, paying to every man his just dues, and avoid gross immorality, it is all that will be required. But, my friend, beware of this! This was the religion of the Pharisees and the infidel Sadducees, and of Saul of Tarsus, previous to his conversion. What a miserable system of religion must that be which excludes Christ as a divine Savior! Without warmth, without light, without life!