May 20, 2010

Marrow of Modern Divinity - Fisher - V - Chapter 2 continued

Required reading
Marrow of Modern Divinity 
by Edward Fisher (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Continue Chapter 2 by reading the two sections entitled 'Christ's fulfilling of the law in the room of the elect' and 'Believers dead to the law as the Covenant of works'.

My summary
A good portion of today's reading involved Boston's copious notes, which if you're reading Christian Focus edition are placed throughout the text.  I am reading Boston's comments but not summarising them for the book club, just sticking to Fisher.

Fisher now shows how Christ fulfilled the covenant of works for the elect: 'And so the law proceeding in full scope against him [Christ], set upon him, and killed him; and by this means, was the justice of God fully satisfied, his wrath appeased, and all true believers acquitted from all their sins, both past, present, and to come.'

The implication of this is drawn out that believers are dead to the covenant of works.

What grabbed me
Nomista asked a good question and Evangelista gave a good answer:
'Nom. But, sir, how could the sufferings of Christ, which in respect of time were but finite, make full satisfaction to the justice of God, which is infinite?
Evan. Though the sufferings of Christ, in respect of time, were but finite, yet in respect of the person that suffered, his sufferings came to be of infinite value; for Christ was God and man in one person, and therefore his sufferings were a sufficient and full ransom for man's soul, being of more value than the death and destruction of all creatures.
'

The punishment of the divine Jesus for a finite number of hours on the cross is of infinite value and thus able to completely satisfy the infinite punishment of hell.  Any other man would not have been able to make the satisfaction, even if he had lived without sin.

Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 2 by reading the two sections entitled 'The warrant to believe in Christ' and 'Evangelical repentance a consequent of faith'.


Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.

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