such an expression, it feels the assurance given by God that one
5. It thinks of ETERNAL redemption (Heb. 9:12).—In thinking of such an expression, it feels the assurance given by God that one captivity shall be all that we shall have to taste. No second Egypt, or Babylon! no new "house of bondage," or land of exile! The one redemption is enough. It is a complete one, and it is an eternal one, for it is a righteous one. It did not bribe justice nor evade the law. It sought out the terms of justice, and complied with them. It took the law's claims in full, and met them all. It gave life for life—the life of the righteous for the life of the unrighteous. By death we are redeemed—the death of the Prince of Life. By blood we are bought— the blood of God (Acts 20:28). The life of Christ would have been nothing to a sinner without his death. The body of Christ would have been nothing to a guilty conscience without his shed blood; for sin claims a recompence, and until that recompence be seen to be actually paid, no guilty conscience can have rest. It is, then, by death and blood that we are redeemed, and thus our redemption is made secure. It is a buying back for ever—a redemption, the fruits of which shall never come to an end, and the joys of which shall spread out over the whole eternal day.
6. It thinks of ETERNAL salvation (Heb. 5:9).—In consenting to let the Saviour do his work in us, we became saved ones. He saved us. He reversed our lost estate. "He sent from above, he took us, he drew us out of many waters" (Ps. 18:16). The work which he thus effected was meant to be an abiding one. In its nature it was stable; and from the way in which it was done, it admitted of no reversal. He who began the good work in us gave clear tokens that he meant to "perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6). He saves us in such a way as to shut out the possibility of failure. Not only "until the day of Christ," but onwards throughout all ages that follow, shall the work remain; for the apostle, in the above words, evidently means to say, that having been carried on "till the day of Christ," it must be secure for ever; that we, being once landed on the shore of the kingdom, must be safe for eternity. He makes us feel that what we get is an "eternal salvation;" so that, whatever conflicts, or sorrows, or enemies, or snares, may here throw themselves across our path,