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I. THE BENEFIT SPOKEN OF — Justification. In this there is —

1. The forgiveness of sins. "The remission of sins."

2. A restoration to God's favour.

3. A treatment of the pardoned and accepted person as righteous.

II. Its ORIGINAL SPRING, or first moving cause, and the free grace of God (Romans 11:6).

1. By God's grace, which excludes all merit.

2. Freely, which excludes all conceit.

III. Its MERITORIOUS OR PROCURING CAUSE. "The redemption that is in Jesus Christ."

IV. THE ORDINATION OF GOD ABOUT IT. He hath "set Christ forth to be a propitiation." The word "set forth" signifies that —

1. God hath purposed in Himself that Christ should be a propitiation for sin (Ephesians 1:9; 1 Peter 1:18-20).

2. God has exhibited and proposed Christ to us to be a propitiation.

(1) He set Him forth beforehand, in the promises, types, and prophecies (ver. 21; John 5:46; Acts 10:43).

(2) And when the fulness of time was come, God actually exhibited Him in the flesh (Galatians 4:4, 5).

(3) Then the great decree broke forth, and the promised Saviour came to take away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

(4) He is now set forth as a propitiation in the clear discoveries which are made of Him in the gospel (1 Peter 1:20; Romans 3:21; Galatians 3:1).

(5) And this is proposed to our faith for the remission of our sins and acceptance with God (Romans 1:17).

3. God has preferred Christ as a propitiation to all things else. The sacrifices under the law could not possibly take away sin. God did not take any pleasure in them for that purpose; but in Christ His soul is well pleased, and His offering is of a sweet-smelling savour to God (Ephesians 5:2).

V. THE WAY IN WHICH WE ARE MADE PARTAKERS OF THIS BENEFIT — "through faith in His blood." Conclusion:

1. This gives us a lively view of the great evil of sin and the exceeding riches of God's grace.

2. Here is no room for any to encourage themselves with hopes of pardon and acceptance with God while they go on in sin.

3. Here is a blessed ground of relief for poor convinced sinners who are discouraged with fears, as if there could be no pardon for their sins.

4. Here are the richest consolations and the highest obligations to those who have obtained this blessing.

(J. Guyse, D. D.)

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KJV: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

WEB: being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;