Two Conformities (2)

The reasons for this change are from Christ. By knowing Christ, we know the cursed state to be absent from him and see the glorious benefits by Christ’s redemption and glorification. These are set before the eye of the soul, and then the heart stirred by reason says: 'If Christ gave himself for me, will I not give myself to Christ?' Paul has this heavenly logic, 'Christ died for us, that we might live to him' (Rom. 6:10, 11).
Since Christ is the image to which we are changed, let us learn, if we would see anything excellent in ourselves, to see it in Christ first. If we would see the love of God, first see the love of God in Christ our head. If we would see the gifts that God has blessed us with, spiritual blessings, it is in Christ. We first have it from our head. God's favour was first in him: 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased' (Matt. 3:17). If we would see our evil done away, our sins removed, see it in Christ crucified and made a curse. See them all wiped away in the cross of Christ. If we would see glory upon the removal of our sins, see it in Christ first. He is first risen, and therefore we will rise. He is ascended and sits in heavenly places; therefore, we ascend and sit in heavenly places with him. All the good we have or look to have, see it first in the first pattern, in Christ.
The reason is clear: we are elected and predestined 'to be conformed to the image of his Son' (Rom. 8:29), to be conformed to Christ in all things, to be loved as he is, to be gracious as he is. To rise to be glorious, to be freed and justified afterward from all our sins. We are ordained to be conformed to him in every way. So, in all things we must look to Christ first and he must have the pre-eminence.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Glorious Freedom, pp. 122-24 [134-35]
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