The Father promises to the Son a people innumerable, upon condition that the Son becomes like them in every way apart from their sin, and lays down His human life for them, to redeem them from the just punishment of their sins.
"The sum
of the Covenant of Redemption is this: God having freely chosen unto life a
certain number of lost mankind, for the glory of His rich grace, did give them,
before the world began, unto God the Son, appointed Redeemer, that, upon
condition He would humble himself so far as to assume the human nature, of a
soul and a body, unto personal union with His divine nature, and submit Himself
to the Law, as surety for them, and satisfy justice for them, by giving
obedience in their name, even unto the suffering of the cursed death of the
cross, He should ransom and redeem them all from sin and death, and purchase
unto them righteousness and eternal life, with all saving graces leading
thereunto, to be effectually, by means of His own appointment, applied in due
time to every one of them. This condition the Son of God (who is Jesus Christ our
Lord) did accept before the world began, and in the fullness of time came into
the world, was born of the Virgin Mary, subjected Himself to the Law, and
completely paid the ransom on the cross: But by virtue of the foresaid bargain,
made before the world began, He is in all ages, since the fall of Adam, still
upon the work of applying actually the purchased benefits unto the elect; and
that He does by way of entertaining a covenant of free grace and reconciliation
with them, through faith in Himself; by which covenant, He makes over to every
believer a right and interest to Himself, and to all His blessings."
Excerpted from "The Sum of Saving Knowledge, Head II."
Excerpted from "The Sum of Saving Knowledge, Head II."
