Ternio sacrorum theorematum, de uno Deo, de uno mediatore, et de Iesu, qui est Christus (1587) - Page 18

Rev. 13:8, "The Lamb slaughtered from the foundations of the world."

John 8:56, "Abraham your father rejoiced that he might see this day of mine, and he saw it and rejoiced."

1 Cor. 10:3, 4, "And all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the following spiritual Rock; and the Rock was Christ."

And our Apostle affirms that Christ, who was present with the Israelites in the desert, was wickedly tested by them, in verse 9 of the same chapter.

But what, finally, is the cause of this

communion?

This single cause: that just as true faith is the hypostasis substance or underlying reality of things hoped for, and the elenchos conviction or proof of things not seen, so also is Jesus Christ the same today, yesterday, and forever. Heb. 11:1 and 13:8. Because in that one, ta panta all things, not only in the new but also in the old Covenant, it pleased the Father to anakephalaiōsasthai sum up or gather together under one head. Eph. 1:10.

So that these things may be illustrated, tell me, I pray, what we have in common with the Fathers?

That same JESUS CHRIST (formerly to be incarnate, now indeed incarnate) is common to us with the Fathers. Therefore, it is said of us:

1. That we were chosen in Christ before the foundations of the world were laid, that we might be holy and blameless before him through love. Eph. 1:4.

2. That we are the children of Abraham. Rom. 4:11.

3. That faith being imputed for righteousness, just as Abraham was long ago, we ourselves are also justified. Rom. 4:1 and following.