And just as through Christ's atonement sin is forgiven, so through the atonement the believer obtains God's favour and His love, and the light of life eternal shines upon him from on high. Thus, too, he is delivered from the bondage of sin and of Satan, and the crown of everlasting happiness and eternal glory is placed upon his head. It should be observed that, if these blessings were not attached to the remission of sins, then forgiveness of sins would not of itself be enough to secure salvation and eternal happiness. If a man be both a debtor and also sick, it is not enough that his debt should be paid for him; he needs also the healing of his sickness and complete restoration to health. Just in the same way it is not enough that a sinner should have his sins forgiven him; he needs also the healing of the disease of his inmost heart and spirit, to be made pure and holy, and to be given power and ability to love God with all his heart and to obey His commandments gladly and readily. And all these blessings are attached to the forgiveness which is granted through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. For, as the believer's sins are pardoned by means of the atonement of Christ, by the same means he obtains peace ¹ with God and spiritual grace and favour. Yes, although sin has defiled the man inwardly and thus rendered him subject to God's holy wrath ² against sin, yet through his living faith the believer has become inwardly so

closely united to Christ that he thus obtains mercy and forgiveness. Through his having now been brought into inward union with Christ, Christ's holiness and purity are more and more daily communicated to him, and thus he is justified in God's sight and made an heir of everlasting life. This is clearly taught in the word of God. For instance, it is written in the Epistle to the Romans 'What ¹ saith the scripture? And Abraham ² believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness . . . . To him that . . . believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.' And again: 'We ³ are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were intreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God. Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.' So also in another place it is said: 'Blessed ⁴ be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ: even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love: having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on