The design of the incarnation
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"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh—but after the spirit." Romans 8:4
The incarnation of the Son of God was the greatest event in all time; and was intended to meet and remove the greatest difficulty that ever occurred in the government of God. That difficulty arose out of the demands of the law of God, which stood in the way of the salvation of man. Sin must be got rid of, the law must be honoured—or man cannot be saved; but man is weak and cannot obey the law, and to pay its penalty would be to suffer the wrath of God forever. To meet the case, God sent his Son, and made him a sacrifice for sin, "that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh—but after the spirit" (Romans 8:4).
The Design or Result of the Incarnation of the Son of God. That the right, or rights, of the law might be met, it required obedience, and it had a right to obedience; that obedience, therefore, must be rendered to it, that the just judgment of the law may be executed, which is punishment for sin, and that punishment must be endured. In obedience and punishment, the law found satisfaction, received honour, and answered its end.
Now Jesus came that the rights of the law might be met in us; that is, in our nature—the nature that sinned and deserved to suffer. In our nature, as our surety, Jesus rendered to the law all its due. In this way the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us, for we are in Christ—who represents us; and Christ is in us—who obeyed the law for us. Christ and his people are but one body; he is the head, and they are the several members: what the head did, therefore, for the body, the body may be said to do. Jesus was treated as a sinner, when he was found in the likeness of sinful flesh; that we might be treated as righteous, and at length be clothed with sinless flesh.
Thus we are freed from all legal obligation, and are delivered from the covenant of works. This is our justification; and out of this grows our sanctification. Christ for us secures the work of the Spirit within us. Under the Spirit's teaching—we discover and own the rights of the law; then we love the requirements of the law; then we desire to render the obedience it requires, and we do so imperfectly, yet hope to do so perfectly at length.
Here a Question arises—Can we fulfil the righteousness of the law? Not legally or fully; Jesus only could do this. But evangelically or sincerely we may. As a covenant of works, in order to our justification, we cannot keep it; but as a simple rule of conduct—we can observe it, and walk by it. As the effect of the love of God shed abroad in the heart, we love all about us, and "he who loves another has fulfilled the law. Love works no ill to his neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law" (Romans 13:8, 10). "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, You shall love your neighbour as yourself" (Galatians 5:14). When, therefore, all enmity, hatred, and malice are purged from us, and love, kindness, and benevolence rule us—the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us.
Christ came in order that we might be renewed—as well as redeemed; or that we might experience a change of nature—as well as a change of state. Hence we read, "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14). He died to have us peculiarly his own, and zealous in the performance of his law. Again: "God having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities" (Acts 3:26). Or, as another expresses it, "That we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies—might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life" (Luke 1:74, 75). Once more: "There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob" (Romans 11:26).
If ungodliness is turned from us, if we are turned everyone from his iniquities, if we serve God without fear in holiness and righteousness, and if we are zealous of good works—then, evangelically, the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us. Jesus came that we might obey as well as receive—and that we might receive in order that we might obey. The law, then, is still holy, just, and good, and we delight in it after the inward man (Romans 7:22).
But we could not be said to delight in it, if we did not wish to be conformed to it, and desire to walk in accordance with it. Where would be the proof of our sanctification, if we did not love that which is holy, just, and good? And what is the proof of our justification—but our sanctification? As a covenant, requiring obedience in order to life, and threatening disobedience with death, we are delivered from the law, and are dead to the law; but as a rule requiring love—love to God and man—it is incorporated in Christ's gospel, and we admire it, love it, and desire always and everywhere to live in accordance with it. Thus not only in our justification—but in our sanctification also, the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us.
The Proof. "Who walk not after the flesh—but after the Spirit." We walk not after the old covenant—but after the new; influenced, not by the law written and engraved on stones—but by the law put into the mind and written on the heart. The law, as such, did not, could not meet our case; and therefore the Son of God came in order to do it. He having obeyed the precepts, and endured the penalty of the law, procured for us the Holy Spirit, and that Spirit he imparts to us. By the Spirit he imparts—we are born again, receive a new nature; and henceforth there is both flesh and spirit in the same person, and both striving for the mastery. The flesh, as the old inhabitant, is determined not only to keep possession—but to rule; but the spirit, as taking part with God, is determined not only to subdue—but to expel it.
As Hagar and Sarah in the same household could not agree, and Hagar had to be expelled before there could be settled peace; so the flesh and the spirit will strive and struggle, and the flesh must be expelled before we can have settled tranquillity. As Esau and Jacob struggled in Rebekah's womb, so do these two natures in the believer's soul; we, therefore, who are in this tabernacle, do groan being burdened.
But the Christian will renounce the flesh, mortify it, and endeavour to crucify it, looking upon it as a determined, inveterate foe; and he will take part with the spirit, approving of its working, and endeavouring to obey its dictates.
The Holy Spirit also becomes our guide and leader, and we follow him, whoever leads us into the truth, sanctifies us through the truth, fills us with a love to holiness, and leads us into fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. As the sons of God, we are thus led by the Spirit of God; and yield to the holy inclinations and spiritual affections which he awakens within us. We put off the old man, which is corrupt, with his deeds; and we put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Satan, through the flesh, works powerfully within, stirring up our lusts, corruptions, and evil propensities; but we refuse to obey him, or allow the flesh to rule—we will not be guided by its lusts, appetites, and depraved inclinations; and whenever for a time it gets the sway, we mourn, condemn ourselves, confess our sin before God, ask his pardon, and seek for more grace. No gracious man can habitually let the flesh lead; for it leads always into folly, corruption, and sin; and if we were to follow it, it would certainly lead into hell. But the spirit thirsts for God, pants for holiness, and leads us to God's book, to God's house, to God's throne, and into all God's ways: its great object is to please God—and if we follow it, it will infallibly lead to heaven.
See God's respect for his law. He would rather part with his own Son, send him into our world in the likeness of sinful flesh, clothe him with the form of a servant, appoint him the most difficult and self-denying work, and even put him to the painful and shameful death of the cross—than allow his law to be dishonoured, or save a soul without showing it all due respect.
See how the claims of the law are met. Outside us, by Jesus living and dying for us. Within us, by the Holy Spirit new-creating us, imparting a spiritual and holy nature, which becomes the guide and ruler in the soul; so that the old nature is renounced, and the new one owned as the rightful possessor; so that if the flesh mislead, we say with Paul, "Now then it is no more I that do it—but sin that dwells in me." If hindered in doing good, and impelled to do evil, we say again, "Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it—but sin that dwells in me;" and with him conclude, "I thank God through Jesus Christ. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."
See what we shall be. We shall be all the law requires—perfectly righteous in state, perfectly holy in nature, and perfectly obedient in our lives. Yes, blessed be God, we shall be like Jesus, perfectly like him; "for we shall see him as he is!"
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