Christ, the second Adam
In this state we were, even all mankind, when God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, to the end that we might not perish but have everlasting life. In the fullness of time he was made man, another common head of mankind, a second general parent and representative of the whole human race. And as such he bore our griefs, the Lord laying upon him the iniquities of us all. Then was he wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities. He made his soul an offering for sin.
He poured out his blood for the transgressors. He bore our sins in his own body on the tree, so that by his stripes we might be healed. And by that one oblation of himself, once offered, he has redeemed me and all mankind, having thereby made a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world.
In consideration of this, that the Son of God has tasted death for every man, God has now reconciled the world to himself, not imputing to them their former trespasses. And thus, as by the offense of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men to justification. So that, for the sake of his well-beloved Son, of what he has done and suffered for us, God now grants, on one condition only, which he himself also enables us to perform, both to remit the punishment due to our sins, to reinstate us in his favor, and to restore our dead souls to spiritual life, as the earnest of life eternal.
This, therefore, is the general ground of the whole doctrine of justification. By the sin of the first Adam, who was not only the father but likewise the representative of us all, we all fell short of the favor of God. We all became children of wrath. Or, as the apostle expresses it, judgment came upon all men to condemnation. Even so, by the sacrifice for sin made by the second Adam, as the representative of us all, God is so far reconciled to all the world that he has given them a new covenant. The plain condition of it being once fulfilled, there is no more condemnation for us, but we are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.
1771 text
7. In this state we were, even all mankind, when God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, to the end we might not perish but have everlasting life. In the fulness of time, he was made man, another common head of mankind, a second general parent and representative of the whole human race. And as such it was that he bore our griefs, the Lord laying upon him the iniquities of us all. Then was he wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. He made his soul an offering for sin: he poured out his blood for the transgressors: he bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that by his stripes we might be healed: and by that one oblation of himself once offered, he hath redeemed me and all mankind; having thereby made a full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world.
8. In consideration of this, that the Son of God hath tasted death for every man, God hath now reconciled the world to himself, not imputing to them their former trespasses. And thus, as by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification. So that for the sake of his well-beloved Son, of what he hath done and suffered for us, God now vouchsafes on one only condition (which himself also enables us to perform) both to remit the punishment due to our sins, to reinstate us in his favour, and to restore our dead souls to spiritual life, as the earnest of life eternal.
9. This therefore is the general ground, of the whole doctrine of justification. By the sin of the first Adam, who was not only the father, but likewise the representative of us all, we all fell short of the |favour| of God: we all became children of wrath: or, as the apostle expresses it, judgment came upon all men to condemnation. Even so, by the sacrifice for sin made by the second Adam, as the representative of us all, God is so far reconciled to all the world, that he hath given them a new covenant. The plain condition whereof being once fulfilled, there is no more condemnation for us, but we are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 5 in the 1771 Works. Romans 4:5.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.