The Infinite Merit of Christ: The Glory of Christ's Obedience in the Theology of Jonathan Edwards - Hardcover

Biehl, Craig

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0990666611 ISBN 13: 9780990666615

Publisher: Pilgrim's Rock, LLC, 2014

Synopsis

God is infinitely excellent, and that excellence is most profoundly displayed in the person and saving work of Jesus Christ. The heart of Edwards' theology radiates the glory of God as displayed in Christ's saving of unworthy sinners through perfect obedience to God's unchanging rule of righteousness. The whole of Edwards' theology stands on the beauty and redemptive work of Christ as revealing and communicating the marvelous perfections of the Trinity. Salvation of a single soul apart from perfect conformity to God's rule of righteousness would render God unrighteous and abolish His ultimate purpose to display and communicate His glory. Indeed, God could not be God. Revisionist interpretations of Edwards' soteriology as inclusive or Catholic, therefore, are untenable without an overthrow and rewrite of the entirety of Edwards' theology. Chapter One examines the ultimate Trinitarian purpose to display and communicate His glory through the Father's gift of a bride for His Son, and the Son's purchase of His bride by His perfect obedience to God's rule of righteousness. Indeed, all of creation serves as the stage of God's purpose and plan in Christ, leading to the ultimate goal of the saints' happiness in heaven as they enjoy the infinite blessings of Christ's exaltation and glory. Chapter Two probes the pre-temporal Trinitarian and covenantal foundation of Christ's obedience, highlighting the Father's love in His purpose to save a people, and the Son's love in freely undertaking to accomplish it. Initiated by the Father, and mutually accepted by Christ and the Father, the terms of the Covenant of Redemption provide for the purchase of Christ's bride without injury to God's perfections, most notably His righteous justice. And as Christ voluntarily accepted the terms of the covenant, the entirety of Christ's saving work earned infinite merit for those He represented and purchased. Chapter Three examines the command to Adam as representative of God's unchanging rule of righteousness that requires perfect obedience for the obtaining of eternal life. All of God's commands are comprehended in this one great and unchanging rule of righteousness, as it reflects the very character of God. Chapter Four probes the absolute need for Christ's perfect obedience in light of Adam's sin as the representative of mankind, the immutability of God's righteousness and law despite Adam's sin, the infinite guilt of sin and the need of an infinite remedy, God's requirement of a perfect positive righteousness and exclusion of an imperfect righteousness for justification, Christ's perfect satisfaction of God's unalterable rule of righteousness, and God's nature as a righteous judge to uphold eternally His rule of perfect righteousness. Considered apart from Christ, the best of our works are sinful and unable to satisfy God's requirement of righteousness. And as a righteous judge, God can never justify an imperfect righteousness. Chapter Five examines the basis and infinite extent of the merit Christ earned by His obedience, the obedience comprising the righteousness by which sinners are justified, the free act of Christ giving His life as His greatest meritorious act, the propitiatory and meritorious nature of all of Christ's incarnate acts, and the rewards earned on behalf of the elect. In these, Christ accomplished God's ultimate purpose to display and communicate His glory, consummated in heaven in the marriage of Christ to His bride, to the enjoyment of God's glory forever.

About this title

From the Author:

When I began this study, a friend and colleague told me that Edwards is at his best in his treatment of the merit of Christ. He was correct. Never have I undertaken a study so personally enriching and satisfying to the soul. Christ and His saving work are indeed infinitely excellent; and Edwards, as well as any mere mortal can do, has displayed and explained that excellence with great acumen, reverence, and clarity. My feeble hand cannot do justice to either his work or the sublime topic that is its focus. Nonetheless, to the glory of the person and work Christ this book is written.

From the Back Cover:

"While setting the record straight on Edwards's theology through leaning heavily on his own writings (800 quotes from Edwards!), Biehl's work is also a tour de force for the confirmation of Reformed orthodoxy in the midst of ongoing debates about justification today." -- Joel R. Beeke, President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

"With careful and detailed attention to original sources, Biehl demonstrates, in the face of numerous contrary efforts, past and present, that orthodox Reformed theology is at the heart of the imposing edifice of Edwards' thought as a whole and argues further that the animating center of his theology is the glory of the triune God purposed, revealed and maintained preeminently in and by the perfect obedience of Christ in his life and death. Among its other strengths this book is helpful in questioning the view that Edwards has compromised the Reformation doctrine of justification with legalistic accents and by basing it in part on the change that takes place within the believer. Biehl's love is as evident as Edwards' for the subject matter he considers in Edwards. A welcome read for anyone wanting to grow in understanding and appreciation of this remarkable thinker." -- Richard Gaffin, Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology, Emeritus, Westminster Theological Seminary

"Craig Biehl's work offers just what is needed today--a comprehensive treatment of Edwards' understanding of Christ and His saving work of redemption. Few of the leading Edwards scholars know Reformed theology well, or understand the significance of Edwards' soteriology. -- Douglass A. Sweeney, Professor and Chairman of Church History & History of Christian Thought, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Biehl's careful hand skillfully guides us through these writings, even leading us to offer words of praise for what Christ has done for us--a rare and admirable feat for a piece of scholarship." -- Stephen J. Nichols, Research Professor of Christianity and Culture, Lancaster Bible College

"Craig Biehl provides a thorough, detailed, and well written treatment of Edwards' view of divine merit. He places Edwards convincingly within the theocentric metaphysical tradition, emphasizing his trinitarianism and christocentrism, as well as his biblically based exclusivism, weighing in on the current interpretive struggle against those who wish to portray Edwards as inclusivistic, philosophical, and proto-transcendental. His reading of the role of Christ in Edwards's thought as the typological, experiential, and salvific hinge on which telos depends presents an important counterbalance." -- Ken Minkema, Director of the Jonathan Edwards Center, Yale University

About this edition

• Publisher: Pilgrim's Rock, LLC
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0990666611
• ISBN 13: 9780990666615
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 292