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I. THE GOSPEL MEETS THE GENERAL NECESSITIES OF MAN, AND BY THE FACT OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION THIS MAY BE PROVED.

1. Man is ignorant, and needs authoritative instruction. Not of arts, government, and sciences; they affect not the eternal welfare of man. That only is true wisdom which is suited to our highest nature and eternal destiny. Man, by nature, knows not, nor enjoys God. "The world by wisdom knew not God." But the gospel meets the case. Jesus Christ taught every truth necessary to enlighten the understanding, and direct the conscience, and God raised Him from the dead as His great confirmatory seal to the truth of His doctrines.

2. Man is guilty and needs an acceptable propitiation. Now Christ was raised from the dead; therefore His death is an available atonement.

3. Man is depraved, and needs entire renewal. The gospel meets this case. Christ declares that man must be the subject of a supernatural change, and promises to send forth the Spirit for this purpose. But the Promiser died, but rose again; and "therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, He received of the Father the promise of the Spirit."

4. Man is supine, and needs powerful motives. And the gospel presents motives to rouse the most supine — motives fetched from eternity. Christ declares, "he that believeth not, shall be damned" — "he that believeth not, is condemned already." His strongest motives are derived from His doctrine of the day of judgment. But all His doctrines are founded on the Resurrection, as the grand proof of His Messiahship. And "God now commandeth all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30, 31).

5. Man is unbelieving, and needs strong evidence. And what evidence can be stronger than that He rose from the dead according to His own prediction.

II. THE GOSPEL HAS A SPECIAL PROVISION FOR A SINNER'S JUSTIFICATION, AND THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST IS A GRAND OBJECT OF HIS FAITH. Let us notice —

1. The pre-requisites of faith. "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus" — that is, acknowledge Jesus Christ as thy only Saviour. This is one of the most difficult tasks to human nature. We cleave to our own performances and attach merit to them. "I must first reform — weep more — bring a softer heart — pray more," is not "confessing the Lord Jesus."

2. The object of faith. "That God hath raised Jesus Christ from the dead." In Scripture a part is often put for the whole: so here, the resurrection of Christ is put for the whole of His mediatorial work, because by that miracle God gave assurance that Christ was His Son — that His sacrifice was acceptable and efficacious; and that His laws were binding, His doctrines true, and His promises sure.

3. The exercise of faith. "Believe with thine heart." We sometimes use the term, "faith in the head"; by which we mean an instinctive, rational conviction. This is not shut out; but it is only the casket of the jewel — a shell of the fruit. The righteousness of faith is by the heart. The affections have now more to do than the intellect. In this exercise of faith thou art called upon cordially to approve of God's way of saving sinners; not to understand how the death of Christ avails for thee!

4. The encouragement of faith (vers. 12, 13).

(J. A. West.)

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KJV: For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

WEB: For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, "The one who does them will live by them."