Live in hope, then, in a lively hope, that since Christ is risen
from the dead he lives to make intercession for thee; and that thou
shalt reap the blessed benefit of this twofold salvation that is
wrought and that is working out for thee by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Every believer may say, Christ did not only die and rise again, but
he ascended into heaven to take possession thereof for me, to
prepare a place for me. He standeth there in the second part of his
suretyship to bring me safe thither, and to present me in a glorious
manner, "not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing." He is
therefore exercising his priestly office for me, pleading the
perfection of his own righteousness and the virtue of his blood.
He is there ready to answer the accusations of the law, the devil,
and sin, for me. Here a believer may through faith look the devil in
the face and rejoice, saying, "O Satan, I have a precious Jesus, a
soul-comforting Jesus, a sin-pardoning Jesus." Here he may listen to
the thunders of the law, and yet not be daunted. He may say, "O law,
thou mayest roar against sin, but thou canst not reach me; thou
mayest curse and condemn, but not my soul; for I have a righteous
Jesus, a holy Jesus, a soul-saving Jesus; and he hath delivered me
from thy threats, thy curses, and thy condemnation.
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