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Revealed religion is that obligation to love and obey GOD, which results from the total dependence of men, as sinners, upon GOD
considered as their REDEEMER. The relation produced by this dependence obliges them to be devoted to the service and glory of him
who has atoned for their sins, and is become the Lord their Righteousness. In this religion GOD the REDEEMER is all and in all.
The Apostle adopts this very principle, and confirms it in the text by terms the most comprehensive and unequivocal. - "There is neither
Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but CHRIST is all and in all."
Believers are risen with CHRIST. They are therefore to place their affections upon things
above - to mortify their members which are upon earth - to put off the old man - and put on the new. - From
these duties, no exemption can be pleaded; for the omission of them, no excuse admitted. The learned
and the ignorant, the civilized and the savage, the Greek and the Jew, who all believe, without distinction
of nation, name or condition, are brought into the same relation to GOD, renewed into the same image,
and bound to universal obedience and holiness by the same principle - for CHRIST is all and in all.
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The phrase expresses in a summary manner every thing that can be predicated of the subject. It is applied
in the passage before us and in Ephef. i. 23, to the divine REDEEMER, and in 1 Cor. xv. 28, to GOD in the most
extensive view, comprehending every relation he sustains to his intelligent creatures.
CHRIST is all, he is every thing essential in the salvation of sinners; he is this to all and in all,
the happy objects of his love. There are no local or personal discriminations. No exclusive privileges or
monopoly of benefits. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is non eother name under heaven given
among men, whereby we must be saved." He is the same LORD, and his power and grace the same for all, and to all who call upon him.
The fulness of the REDEEMER is frequently inculcated, in similar comprehensive sentences.
David says of him, "all my springs are in thee" [Psal. lxxxvii. 7.] -
"the LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliver, my GOD, my strength" [Psal. xviii. 2.] -
"the LORD is my light and my salvation - the LORD is the strength of my life." [Psal. xxvii. 1.]
Paul calls him "the captain of salvation" [Heb. ii. 10.] -
"the author and finisher of our faith." [Heb. xii. 2.]
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