V. As grace and peace are joined we learn that peace without grace is no peace.—Perkins.
Vers. 4, 5. The Unselfishness of Jesus.
- Prompting self-surrender.—“Who gave Himself.”
- His self-surrender was an unmerited and unlooked-for expiation.—“For our sins.”
- Creates the hope and possibility of immediate salvation.—“That He might deliver us from this present evil world.”
- Was a suggestive revelation of the Divine character.—“According to the will of God and our Father.”
- Should evoke the spirit of grateful praise.—“To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Ver. 4. Christ our Sacrifice.
I. Whereas Christ is the giver of Himself it follows that His death and sacrifice were voluntary.
II. Therefore, all merit and satisfaction for sin are reduced to the person of Christ, and there are no human satisfactions for sin, nor meritorious works done by us.
III. Christ our sacrifice works love in us.—We must in mind and meditation come to the cross of Christ. 1. The consideration of His endless pains for our sins must breed in us a godly sorrow. If He sorrowed for them, much more must we. 2. This knowledge is the beginning of amendment of life. 3. Is the foundation of comfort in them that truly turn to Christ.
IV. Christ gave Himself that He might deliver us from this evil world.—1. We must be grieved at the wickedness of the world. 2. We must not fashion ourselves to the wicked lives of the men of this world. 3. Seeing we are taken out of this world, our dwelling must be in heaven.—Perkins.
The Gift of Christ.
I. The gift.—“He gave Himself.” Regard Christ: 1. As the object of every prophecy. 2. The substance of every type and shadow. 3. The subject of every promise. 4. He was qualified for the work of redemption. Divine, human, spotless.