Hebrews 5:9

Heb. 5:9. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

[142] Hebrews 5:9. "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." By obeying, here, is not meant believing, but obedience to the law and commands of God, as it is understood in the foregoing verse.

§83. The conditions of justification are, repentance and faith; and the freedom of grace appears in the forgiving of sin upon repentance, or only for our being willing to part with it, after the same manner as the bestowment of eternal life, only for accepting of it. For to make us an offer of freedom from a thing only for quitting of it, is equivalent to the offering the possession of a thing for the receiving of it. God makes us this offer, that if we will in our heart quit sin, we shall be freed from it, and all the evil that belongs to it, and flows from it; which is the same thing as the offering us freedom only for accepting it. Accepting, in this case, is quitting and parting with, in our wills and inclination. So that repentance is implied in faith; it is a part of our willing reception of the salvation of Jesus Christ; though faith with respect to sin implies something more in it, viz., a respect to Christ, as him by whom we have deliverance. Thus by faith we destroy sin, Galatians 2:18.

§84. As to that question, Whether closing with Christ in his kingly office be of the essence of justifying faith? I would say: 1. That accepting Christ in his kingly office, is doubtless the proper condition of having an interest in Christ's kingly office, and so the condition of that salvation which he bestows in the execution of that office; as much as accepting the forgiveness of sins, is the proper condition of the forgiveness of sin. Christ, in his kingly office, bestows salvation; and therefore, accepting him in his kingly office, by a disposition to sell all and suffer all in duty to Christ, and giving proper respect and honor to him, is the condition of salvation. This is manifest by Hebrews 5:9 "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him;" and by Romans 10:10, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." The apostle speaks of such a confessing of Christ, or outward and open testifying our respect to him, and adhering to our duty to him, as exposed to suffering, reproach and persecution. And that such a disposition and practice is of the essence of saving faith, is manifest by John 12:42; John 12:43: "Nevertheless, among the chief rulers also, many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God;" - compared with John 5:44, "How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?"

Heb. 5:10-11