For we are made partakers of Christ
Being loved by him, given to him, and chosen in him before the
foundation of the world; and so participate of all spiritual
blessings in him; for this respects something past, and may be
rendered, "we have been made". The phrase is expressive of union
to Christ, which is not by faith on man's part, and by the Spirit
on Christ's part, but by his everlasting love, taking his people
into an oneness with himself; thereby becoming their head,
surety, and representative, which is the ground and foundation of
all the blessings of grace being imparted to them: hence arises
communion; as this is a conjugal union, there is communion of
names, of persons, of goods, of honour and dignity, and of
everlasting glory; as it is a federal or representative union,
hence a non-imputation of sin, justification, and freedom from
condemnation; and as it is an union of head and members; hence a
communication of life, and the security of it, and of all grace
and strength; hence holiness, fruitfulness, and perseverance, and
everlasting happiness both of soul and body:
if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence steadfast
unto the
end;
by "confidence" is meant faith, which is an hypostasis, or
subsistence, which is the word here used; and is so called,
because it gives a kind of subsistence, substance, or being, to
things it is concerned with, ( Hebrews 11:1
) and because it is a great support to believers, under their
various exercises; and is that by which they have an open,
spiritual, and comfortable subsistence, and abiding in Christ:
the "beginning" of it, which is to be held fast, is either Christ
himself, who is the (arch)
, "the beginning", the author, and finisher of faith; and so this
shows from whom, and in what way, this grace is distributed; and
is expressive of communion with Christ, and is an evidence of the
participation of him: or else the Gospel, which is the means of
implanting faith, and directs to that which is the ground and
foundation of it; and this is to be held fast, and never to be
departed from: or else the grace of faith itself, which is a
grace but begun, not yet finished, but shall continue, and is to
be held fast, and constantly exercised; and perseverance in
believing on Christ is an evidence of union to him.