Christ Is All and in All

    CHRIST IS ALL AND IN ALL

    "Where there is neither Greek, nor Jew, circumcision, nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond, nor free; but Christ is All, and in all," Col 3:11.

    Now to conclude with the second head of metaphors, similes, types, parables, and other borrowed terms, concerning the Lord Jesus, I may well infer from the whole of what hath been said, "That Christ is All and in all." The words are a proposition, in which

    you have,

    1. The subject, but Christ.

    2. The predicate, "He is All and in all."

    Christ is All, in all things that are necessary to salvation, and that to all persons that do believe on him. Christ is a believer's All; and he esteems him so to be: not to exclude the persons of the Father, and of the Holy Ghost; for what Christ is as God, they all are, being but one and the same eternal Being: so that he that honoureth the one, honoureth the other also; he that honoureth the Son, honoureth the Father, and the Holy Ghost.

    I. Christ is All in all in the first creation, (though this I do not say is directly intended in this place.)

    1. He was before all things.

    2. He is the Original of all creatures, the Founder, or, to use the scripture phrase, "the Beginning of the creation of God," Re 3:14. "He made all things, all things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made," Heb 1:2-3.

    3. "He upholded all things by the word of his power, &c., and by him all things do consist," Col 1:16-17.

    4. As he was before all, the Original the first Former of all things, and as he upholdeth them; so likewise for him all things are and were created.

    5. He hath the disposing of all things: "By him kings reign, and princes decree justice," Pr 8:15. "All power is given unto him in heaven and earth," Mt 28:18. "He hath the keys of hell and death. He sets up, and pulleth down, kills and makes alive at his pleasure."

    6. "He is heir of all things." He hath universal Lordship over angels, saints, wicked men, and devils. See Christ the Heir.

    II. But more directly, "Christ is All in All in the second creation.

    1. He is the Substance of all shadows: "Which are shadows of good things to come, but the body is of Christ," Col 2:17.

    2. He is the Antitype of all types, the All which Moses and the prophets pointed to.

    3. He is All in all in pacification, and reconciliation of God to man, and of man to God: "He hath abolished in his flesh the law of commandments, contained in ordinances,

    for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace," Eph 2:15.

    4. Christ is All in all in sanctification, and payment of our debts: "He was made sin

    for us, that knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." "The Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all," 2Co 5:21; Isa 53:6.

    5. Christ is All in all in justification: "He is the Lord our righteousness," Jer 33:16. It is in him all the families of the earth and every believing soul is justified: "In the Lord, shall one say, have I righteousness and strength," Isa 45:24.

    6. Christ is All in all in election, he is the Root of it, the first of election, the sum

    of our election; we are chosen in him, for him, and given to him: none shall be saved

    but such as are elected; but had it not been for Christ, none had been elected; had not

    Christ been found as the fruit of the wisdom of God, what would have signified election, the fruit of the grace of God?

    7. Christ is All in all in vocation; he it is that hath called us, and that makes that calling effectual to us: "Who hath saved us, and called us, not according to our works,

    but according to his purpose and grace," 2Ti 1:9.

    8. Christ is All in all in sanctification: "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of

    God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption," 1Co 1:30. "He hath loved us, and washed us from our sins with his own blood," Re 1:5.

    9. Christ is All in all in acceptation: "He hath made us accepted in the Beloved," Eph 1:6.

    10. Christ is All in all in respect of salvation, he is the Author of salvation; "I looked, and there was none to uphold, therefore mine own arm brought salvation." "He

    hath no partner or competitor: "His name shall be called Jesus, because he shall save

    his people from their sins." "Neither is there salvation in any other," Ac 4:12.

    11. He is All in all in conversion. (1.) It is he that shows the soul the need and

    necessity of it. (2.) He it is that quickeneth us: "You hath he quickened, who were

    dead in trespasses and sins," Eph 2:1. (3.) He it is that hath begotten us by his word

    and Spirit, and hath given a new heart to us, and hath planted a new principle of life in us.

    12. He is All in all in the pardon of sin. (1.) He purchased pardon for us. (2.) He gives us a broken heart in order to it, and a heart to ask it, and a hand to receive

    it. (3.) Pardon is given for his name's sake.

    13. Christ is All in all in every grace. (1.) He gives faith: "To you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake," Php 1:29. (2.) It is he that hath "shed abroad the love of God in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost," Ro 5:3,6. All grace is treasured up in him: "Of his fulness have we all received, and grace for grace," Joh 1:16. He is the Author, Increaser, and Finisher of our faith, and all other graces in us, Heb 12:2.

    14. Christ is All in all in the ministry of the word. (1.) It is Christ that is preached: ""We preach Christ crucified," 1Co 1:23. (2.) It is Christ that gives grace and gifts to preach: "To me is the grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ," Eph 3:8. (3.) It is he that ordains and appoints men to this work, and puts all true preachers into the ministry. (4.) It is he that opens the mouth to speak, and the ear and heart to hear and receive the word. Take Christ away, and what Gospel can be preached? &c. What is Paul? and what is Apollos? I am nothing. Gospel ministry and ministers are nothing without Christ. "So neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase," 1Co 3:7.

    15. He is All in all in every ordinance.

    First, in baptism.

    1. This ordinance shows forth Christ's death.

    2. It holds forth his burial: "We are buried with Christ in baptism," Ro 4:3. It holds forth his resurrection; take Christ away, and what signifies baptism?

    Secondly, In the Lord's supper, Christ is All in all.

    1. It holds forth that his body was broken, and his blood was shed.

    2. It shows his love to us, and his suffering for us.

    Thirdly, In prayer Christ is All in all.

    1. We must ask in his name.

    2. By the help of his Spirit.

    3. It is he that presents and makes our prayers acceptable to God.

    4. What is prayer, or any duty saints can perform, if they meet not with him in it, and if it be not done to his glory? An ordinance without Christ, is but as a cabinet without a jewel, or a shell without a kernel.

    16. Again, Christ is (as one saith) all from the Father, All to the Father, and All with the Father.

    (1.) All from the Father: "I am come that they may have life, (life here and life hereafter,) and that they might have it more abundantly," Joh 10:10. The life of grace

    and of glory, are by Christ.

    (2.) Christ is All to the Father: "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." Every

    word here hath its article in the Greek: "No man cometh to the Father, but by me,"

    Joh 14:6. Christ is the Way wherein, the Truth whereby, and the Life whereunto

    we walk: Christ is the Way without error, the Truth without falsehood, and the Life

    without death. Truth lies between the way and life, as if the way to life were through truth.

    (3.) Christ is All with the Father: "I know thou hearest me always." Christ hath God's ear at all times. He is the object of the Father's delight: "This is my beloved Son

    in whom I acquiesce;" so the Greek:[1] it is an emphatical word, and signifieth an infinite affection, Mt 3:17.

    [1] En w eudokhsa.