John 5:24

The fourth instance of Christs Godhead and equality with the Father, is held out in several particulars, relating to mans salvation: Namely, that the Doctrine of the Gospel is his Word; that it requireth absolute faith and closing with God through him; and that he gives perseverance and eternal life to such as beleeve in the Father through him, according to the Word. Whence learn, 1. It is the great and undeniable evidence of mens giving due honour unto Jesus Christ the Sonne of God, when his Word is acknowledged and received as becometh; and when by making use thereof, we do promove our own eternal happinesse; So much may be gathered from the dependance from this verse on the former, he is then honoured, when his Word is heard. For, in this work the glory of his God-head shineth brightly, and his love to his people is such, as to account himself especially honoured in that which promoveth their happinesse. 2. Christ would have men very serious in the matter of esteeming his Word, and of their own salvation, and would have them taking him up as very serious about it, and very real in what he saith concerning their well-being; Therefore doth he begin with an asseveration, Verily, verily, I say unto you, to shew that the way of sinners salvation was no small matter in his minde, and that he was worthy to be credited concerning it, and to invite them to seriousnesse. 3. The Doctrine of the Scripture is Christs voice, who as God equal with the Father, is the prescriber of mens duty, and of the way of their salvation; an authorizer of a rule of faith and manners to binde the conscience, and who is Mediatour, is the purchaser of the good newes of the Gospel for lost sinners; for, saith he, it is my word, not as a Messenger carrying it onely, as Paul saith of himself, that the Gospel was his, Rom. 2.16. Nor yet onely as the Purchaser of good tydings, (though both these be true,) but as principal Author, with the Father of that Doctrine, and particularly of the Gospel, whether published by himself, or by his Ambassadours, Luke 10.16. 4. Christs Doctrine is to be reverently attended and hearkened unto, and absolute obedience is due to what he saith, without exception; And for this end, he is to be heard in every message, who is God over all, and who speaketh from heaven, and who in his voice of the Gospel, hath not that dreadful sound, which accompanied the Law, Heb. 12.19, &c. attending it; for, it is their duty, that they hear my word, saith he, hearing importing obedience thereunto, and attention as previous to that, and all this, because it is his word. See Deut. 18.15. 5. The Doctrine of Christ, and especially of the Gospel, is then rightly heard, when we bring faith, and not our reason and corrupt sense, to judge of it, and when it puts a sinner out of himself, to flee by faith to a refuge; for, so is added, he that heareth my word, and beleeveth. Christs doctrine may be a stumbling block, and foolishnesse, if we bring not faith, 1 Cor. 1.18, 23. and whatever change the Gospel work on men, yet it works not savingly, till it drive men out of themselves, to live by faith. 6. Faith, whereby the Doctrine of Christ is embraced to salvation, is not our own, but Gods gift, and wrought by means of hearing the Word: for, so much is imported in the order; he that heareth and beleeveth, see Rom. 10.17. 7. Saving faith, begotten by the Word, doth lay hold on God through Christ the Mediatour, and resteth on God as the proper object; for, he beleeveth on him that sent me, where Christ doth not seclude himselfe from being the object of faith, as God, (which elsewhere he so clearly asserteth, John 1.12. and 3.16. and 14.1.) more then he denieth the Father to be the Author of his Doctrine, when he calleth it, my word. But he speaks thus, partly, with reference to the Jewes conception, who thought that he and his Doctrine had nothing to do with God; therefore he sheweth that as he was one with the Father, so his Doctrine tended to, and was a means of begetting faith in him; and partly, to shew the order of saving faith, that as it dare not fixe on God immediately, but in, and by the Mediatour, so it cannot rest till ultimately it rest on God in Christ his Son, equal, and the same essentially with him. See Acts 20.21. 2 Cor. 3.4. 1 Pet. 1.21. 8. Albeit all men by nature be lying dead in sinnes and trespasses, and be liable to bodily death and mortality, even albeit they come to Christ; Yet such as by hearing the Word, are drawn to beleeve on God through him, get spiritual life, and not onely shall they have, but they already have eternal life, by Covenant-right, in the bud and earnest of it, Ephes. 1, 13, 14. 1 John 5.11. and in their Head Christ, Ephes. 2.5.6. for, of such Christ saith, he hath everlasting life, as John 3.16. and he is passed from death unto life, or, translated from under the state and sentence of death, by a sentence of life passed in his favours in justification, and put in a living condition, by sanctification: And this is the reason why the beleever hath everlasting life. See the like forme of speech, 1 John 3.14. 9. The beleever in Christ hath eternal life on so sure termes, that he is out of perill of perishing, and is gifted with perseverance, till full fruition come; for, he hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life. 10, The sentence passed in the beleevers conscience, according to the Word, shall stand firme, and be ratified by God, in his judging of men; for, he that hath everlasting life, by beleeving, shall not come into condemnation, &c. importeth this also. See 1 John 3.21. 11. Albeit Christ, being God over all blessed for ever, doth not stand in need of man, nor any of his creatures; Yet such is his alsufficiencie and bounty, as he delights to give proofs of his Godhead in saving his people, and making them happy; Therefore doth he bring this proof to confirme his assertion, from his being able and willing to save them who beleeve in God through him.