The Amazing Richard Sibbes

 The Amazing Richard Sibbes


The Puritan pastor Rev. Richard Sibbes (1577-1635), was very-appropriately referred to as, "the heavenly Doctor."  Sometimes his books and sermons seem to lift the souls of the church's saints right into glory, (even while we are still down here on Earth).

 

A sermon Sibbes preached on Song of Solomon 5:2 & 3, in a series entitled, "The Love of Christ," will prove the point.  Check out these remarkable words, as I quote him, (and all the italics are my emphases): "Thus [Christ] looks on us, and thus faith looks upon Him too, and together with the sight and sense of sin, at the same time it apprehends righteousness, perfect righteousness, and so is undefiled. This is the main point in religion, and the comfort of Christians, to see their perfection in Christ Jesus, and to be lost in themselves, as it were, and to be only 'found in Him, not having their own righteousness, but the righteousness of God in Him,' (Php. 3:9). This is a mystery which none knows but a believing soul. They have an inward sight to see corruption, and an inward faith to see God not take advantage of it. And surely there can be no greater honor than this. In the sense of sin, of wants, imperfections, stains, and blemishes, yet to wrap ourselves in the righteousness of Christ, the God/Man; and by faith, being thus covered with that absolute righteousness of Christ, with boldness to go, clothed in the garments of this our Elder Brother, to the throne of grace. This is an honor to Christ, to attribute so much to His righteousness, that being clothed therewith, we can boldly break through the fire of God's justice, and all those terrible [fearful] attributes [of God], when we see them all, as it were, satisfied fully in Christ. For Christ, with His righteousness, could go through the justice of God, having satisfied it to the full for us. And we being clothed with this His righteousness and satisfaction may go through too."

 

. . . Pastor Sibbes goes on to explain how the regenerate Christian churchman grows in one's love for God in Christ; and how we are to view the "already" of being "dead in Christ," with the "not yet" of being fully-glorified in Him.  Sibbes "bridges" this very practical "gap" in a most wonderful way.  He would have us, by faith, to understand who we (currently) are in Jesus--as being the impetus for all our sanctifying progress in Christlikeness.  Love becomes the great motivator for Pastor Sibbes: both God's love for His elect church in Christ; and our love for God in Christ.  The "heavenly Doctor" knew, from much experience, that the loss of the sight and sense of God's love is the principal defeater of God's children.  Sibbes does all he can, to try to convince us of the undying, unfailing, indestructible, and unconquerable love God has for His elect/redeemed churched children.  He understood that we have a hard time believing this--but he (Sibbes) drives the point home, over and over again, largely through the gospel and historical facts of the incarnation and cross atonement of Jesus on our behalf.

 

If you avail yourself of "the heavenly Doctor's" gospel antidotes, cures, and miraculous graces, you will find yourself benefitting a lot.  Sibbes does not mess around with the ordinary, futile, human, religious remedies--that all always fail.  Instead, he directs us right to the heart of God, through faith in and love for the Son of God.

 

Rev. Mark J. Henninger

Treatise #93

2 May 2026

 

https://theologicaltreatisesinretirement.blogspot.com

https://henningerdevotions.blogspot.com

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