The Father, the Son, the redeemed

Using an outline from the Puritan John Owen, we recognized that Paul’s keynote at this point is reconciliation. Verse 21 lays the foundation for the gospel declarations and entreaties and commands that Christ’s ambassadors issue.

Here we learn three things concerning the Father: his sovereignty, his justice, and his grace. We learn three things concerning the Son: his holiness, his sufferings, and his merit. We learn three things concerning ourselves: our sin and guilt, our deliverance, and our present condition. Here is the basis on which a sinner can approach God to be reconciled; here is the foundation for the joy of a reconciled sinner.