. . . how are all believers made one with Christ? Answer. By a donation on God’s part whereby Christ is given unto us and by a receiving on our part. The donation is whereby Christ is made ours for right, so as a man may say truly, Christ is mine with all His benefits. Of this donation four things are to be observed. The first is that Christ Himself and [the] whole Christ is given to us. For here we are said to put on Christ. Here a distinction must be observed. The Godhead of Christ is given to us, not in respect of substance which is incommunicable, but only in respect of operation. But the very flesh or manhood of Christ is really given to the believing heart (John 6:54, 56). By it we receive eternal life from the Godhead, and by it God is joined to man and man to God. The second is that Christ gives His merit and satisfaction to them that believe. And this satisfaction imputed is the cover whereby our sins are covered (Ps. 32:1), and the white robes dipped in the blood of Christ (Rev. 7:14). Thirdly, Christ gives the efficacy of His Spirit to make us conformable to Himself in holiness and newness of life. And thus He makes us “put off the old man, and put on the new man, created after God in righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:22, 24). The fourth is that the word preached and the sacraments are (as it were) the hand of God, whereby He exhibits and gives Christ unto us with all His benefits.

William Perkins | The Works of William Perkins, ed. Paul M. Smalley, Joel R. Beeke, and Derek W. H. Thomas, vol. 2 (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2015), 235.

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Post authored by:

• Tony Phelps

  

  Tony grew up in Rhode Island. He was educated at BA (University of Rhode Island) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He worked in the insurance industry for ten years. He planted a PCA church in Wakefield, RI where he served for eleven years. In 2015–18 he pastored Covenant Reformed Church (URCNA) in Colorado Springs. He is currently pastor of Living Hope (OPC). Tony is married to Donna and together they have three children.

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