Friendly Theology: Barclay’s Catechism – Chapter 3 (part 4)

CHAP. III. (cont.)

Of Jesus Christ being manifest in the Flesh, the Use and End of it.

Q. Is it needful then to believe that the Saints of old did partake of Christ, as then present with, and nourishing them?

A. Moreover, Brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our Fathers were under the Cloud, and all passed through the Sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea; and did all eat the same spiritual Meat, and did all drink the same spiritual Drink, (for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ) [1 Cor. 10:1-4].

Q. But whereas most of these Scriptures before mentioned do hold forth, that the Death and Sufferings of Christ were appointed for the destroying, removing and remitting of Sin? Did he so do it while he was outwardly upon Earth, as not to leave any thing for himself to do in us, nor for us to do in and by his Strength?

A. For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an Example, that ye should follow his Steps [1 Pet. 2:21].

Whereof I Paul am made a Minister, who now rejoice in my Sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the Afflictions of Christ in my Flesh for his Body’s sake, which is the Church [Col. 1:23-24].

Always bearing about in the Body the Dying of the Lord Jesus, that the Life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our Body. For we which live, are alway delivered unto Death for Jesus’s sake, that the Life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal Flesh [2 Cor. 4:10-11].

And that he dyed for all, that they which live should not hence-forth live unto themselves, but unto him that dyed for them, and also rose again [2 Cor. 5:15].

That I may know him, and the Power of his Resurrection, and the Fellowship of his Sufferings, being made conformable to his Death [Phil. 3:10].

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Barclay reemphasizes that Christ was the agent of salvation for even those who lived and died before Christ’s death. The central point in all of history has been the life of Christ. Everything that happened before and everything that has happened since was changed by Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

However, Christ’s conquering of sin did not remove sin from the world; rather, it gave us opportunity to remove ourselves from sin. We are to follow the sinless example of Jesus Christ in all we do on this earth. When we live our lives for Christ we are living in a place beyond the world of sin, when we live our lives for ourselves we are wallowing in the depths of sin.

The life of Christ was both the means of our salvation and the example which we are called to live out.

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