[March 27th, 1859.]
The common interpretation of this passage, which supposes that Christ is here referred to, as he who shall appear, is assumed to be correct.
Who and what is Christ? 1. He is the eternal Son of God. The second person in the Trinity, equal with the Father.
-
He is the eternal Son of God manifested in the flesh, i.e., clothed in our nature, having a true body and a reasonable soul.
-
As such, having lived and died and risen again, he has ascended up into heaven, and all power in heaven and in earth is now committed to his care. He is the head, the center, the radiant point in the universe, the clearest revelation to all intelligent beings of the Being and perfections of God.
II. In what sense are we said to be like him?
-
This likeness includes the sanctification of the soul; the conformity of our souls to his moral image. We are to be like him in knowledge, in feelings, in our whole inward life. This is plain, (a.) Because we are said to be destined to be conformed to the image of his Son; which is explained by saying that we are predestined to be unblamable before him in love. (b.) Because the good set before us is the fulness of the measure of the stature of Christ. That is, complete conformity to him. (c.) Because everywhere in Scripture Christ is set forth as the pattern after which we are to be fashioned.
-
It includes the likeness of our bodies to his glorious body. This is directly asserted in Phil. 3:21: “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”
In 1 Cor. 15 it is argued at length, that as we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall bear the image of the heavenly. This refers to the nature of the resurrection body.
- We shall be like him in glory. That is, we shall share in his exaltation and dominion. This is proved, (a.) By those frequently occurring passages in which we are said to reign with Christ, to be glorified together with him. We are said to be joint heirs with Christ, i.e., to share with him in his inheritance. (b.) The glory which the Father has given the Son he says he has given to his people. (c.) Man, our nature; the redeemed, the Church, or body of Christ, in the Scripture, is said to be destined to absolutely universal dominion. Rom. 4:13 says, that the promise to Abraham and his seed was that they should be heirs of the world, i.e., of the universe. In 1 Cor. 3:21, 22, “All things are yours, whether things present or things to come.” In Ps. 8. God is said to have put all things under man. Paul twice at least expounds that passage, 1 Cor. 15:27, e.g., when he shows that nothing is excepted from this subjection save God himself. In Heb. 2 he argues from the same passage the universal dominion, not of Christ individually, but of that to which our race, i.e., the redeemed, are in Christ exalted. See also Eph. 1:20, 21.
III. When is the consummation to take place?
-
It is a progressive work. The first stage is regeneration. This conformity advances during this life.
-
The second stage is at death, when the souls of believers, being made perfect in holiness, do immediately pass into glory.
-
The last stage is at the second coming. This is taught in Rom. 8:18–24; in the Epistle to the Philippians; in 1 Thess. 2:14–18; 1 Cor. 15. Then will believers enter on that kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world.
IV. How is this transformation effected?
-
It is said to be by the mighty power of God. 2. To be, as far as the soul is concerned, by the truth. 3. It is the peculiar work of the Spirit.
-
It is said to be the effect of the vision of Christ. Paul was converted at the sight of Christ. He defined his conversion as the revelation of Christ in him. We are said to be transformed into his likeness by beholding his glory. The beatific vision has this transforming power.
The expression, “For we shall see him,” may express not the cause or proof of our transformation, but that the necessary condition of our seeing Christ is that we should be like him.
V. Who are to be thus changed?
- Not all men. 2. Not all professors or ministers. 3. But those who purify themselves as he is pure.
← 234. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God · Contents · 236. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Cor. 5:6 →