Summary of Book 2 - Chapter 16

Christ's Execution of the Office of a Redeemer to Procure Our Salvation. His Death, Resurrection, and Ascension to Heaven.

Some of the highlights of this chapter are:

1. He (God) loved us, therefore, even when we were in the exercise of enmity against him, and engaged in the practice of iniquity. He quotes St. Augustine: " God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us". Wherefore, in a wonderful and Divine manner, He (God) both hated and loved us at the same time. He hated us, as being different from what he had made us; but as our iniquity had not entirely destroyed his work in us, he could at the same time in every one of us hate what we had done, and love what proceeded from himself.

2. He (God) abolishes all our guilt, by the expiation exhibited in the death of Christ.

3. The voluntary sacrifice of Christ on the cross is what secured us salvation. If Jesus had not freely submitted himself to God, we would be doomed.

4. The guilt which made us obnoxious to punishment is transferred to the person of the Son of God. For the Father destroyed the power of sin, when the curse of it was transferred to the body of Christ.
Because of this, we may no longer dread the Divine wrath.

5. By Jesus offering himself at the cross, he also mortified our members. When we unite with the risen Christ, sin will eventually die in us. Our longing for sin dwindles and dwindles. Not only are we forgiven our sins in Christ Jesus, but sins become less and less a part of our lives.

6. The death of Christ penetrated even to the dead. The faithful who had died before the advent of Jesus have a place in the body of Christ due to Christ's atoning sacrifice.

7. By descending into hell after his death, Jesus suffered and witnessed all the torments that unrepentant sinners undergo. So, Jesus knows full well the agonies and tortures of sin. Sin makes you a slave to sin.

8. Thus, when Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended to heaven, he understood everything about sin and humanity. He is our intercessor, fully a God and fully a man. This is the only kind of intercessor that we could have in heaven.

9. We are not only invited to walk in newness of life, after the example of Christ raised from the dead, but are taught that our regeneration to righteousness is effected by his power.