Qualified
„For him has God the Father sealed.”
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John 6:27
This imports Christ’s complete qualification, or instrumental fitness to serve the Father’s design and end of our recovery. Had not God known him to be every way fit, and qualified for the work, He would never have sealed Him a commission for it. Men may, but God will not seal an unfit, or incapable person, for his work.
And, indeed, whatever is desirable in a servant, was eminently found in Christ: for faithfulness, none like Him. Moses indeed was faithful to a pin, but still as a servant: but Christ as a Son (Heb. 3:2). He is the faithful and true witness (Rev. 1:5). For zeal, none like Him. The zeal of God’s house did eat Him up (John 2:16-17). He was so intent upon his Fathers works that He forgot to eat bread, counting His work His meat and drink (John 4:32). Yes, and love to His Father carried Him on through all His work, and made Him delight in the hardest piece of His service; for He served Him as a Son (Heb. 3:5-6). All that ever He did was done in love. For wisdom, none like Him. The Father knew Him to be most wise, and said of Him before He was employed: „Behold My servant shall deal prudently” (Isa. 52:13). To conclude, for self-denial, never any like Him; He sought not His own glory, but the glory of Him that sent Him (John 8:50). Had He not been thus faithful, zealous, full of love, prudent, and self-denying, He had never been employed in this great affair.
It implies Christ’s sole authority in the church, to appoint and enjoin what He pleases; and this is His peculiar prerogative. For, the commission God sealed Him in the text, is a single, not a joint commission; He has sealed Him, and none beside Him. Indeed there were some that pretended a call and commission from God; but all that were before Him were thieves and robbers, that came not in at the door, as He did (John 10:8). And He himself foretells, that after Him some should arise, and labor to deceive the world with a feigned commission, and a counterfeit seal (Matth. 24:24): „There shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders: insomuch, that if it were possible, they should deceive the very elect.” But God never commissioned any besides Him, neither is there any other name under heaven (Acts 4:12). Thus you see how the validity of His acts, His obligation to be faithful, His complete qualifications, and sole authority in the church, are imported in His sealing.
John Flavel (1628-1691), minister in Dartmouth, England
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