“Hence also to be informed, that God the Father, and God the Son, do mutually rely and trust to one another in the business of our redemption. The Father relies upon the Son for the performance of his part; as it is, Isa. 42: 1, ” Behold my servant, whom I uphold.” And, to speak plain, the Father so far trusted Christ, that upon the credit of his promise to come into the world, and in the fulness of time to become a sacrifice for the elect, he saved all the Old Testament saints, whose faith also respected a Christ to come; with reference whereto, it is said, Heb. 11: 39, 40. “That they received not the promises, God having provided some better things for us, that they without us should not be made perfect,” i. e. without Jesus Christ manifested in the flesh, in our times, though believed on, as to come in the flesh, in their times.
And as the Father trusted Christ, so does Christ, in like manner, depend upon, and trust his Father. For, having performed his part, and left the world again, he now trusteth his Father for the accomplishment of that promise made him, Isa. 53: 10. “That he shall see his seed,” &c. He depends upon his Father for all the elect that are left behind, yet unregenerated, as well as those already called, that they shall be all preserved unto the heavenly kingdom, according to that, John 17: 11. “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world; and I come unto thee: holy Father, keep, through thine own name, those whom thou hast given me.” And can it be imagined, that the Father will fail in his trust, who every way acquitted himself so punctually to the Son? It cannot be.”
~ John Flavel
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Monday: "The Monday Mentor" - Summaries of Christian Topics
Come along with us on Mondays and be "mentored" as we examine various points of interest from book reviews to pertinent events in church history. We hope to challenge, stimulate, and encourage you as we share various facts about people, places, positions, and performances of interests.
Gregg,
ReplyDeleteYour post reminds me that there is so much about the Trinity that I don't consider or even begin to comprehend. What a marvelous mystery it is, and praise God for the understanding He does bring us through the light of His Word.
Happy Valentine's Day! May it be a blessed one with your lovely wife of 37 years!
I ditto Trisha's comment! I just finished reading Piper's Think and there is a whole section that addresses what Flavel did above. I think I read it 10 times...and still don't get it. Oh, how I long to understand the relationship between Father and Son and their reliance on One Another for the finished work!
ReplyDeleteI believe there are many things about our Triune God that we will never totally understand on earth or in heaven.
ReplyDeleteRomans 11:33 - Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!