case in the New Testament,--but
the individual rather partakes in it only as a part of the whole. But
there is an easy transition from the sonship as viewed in the Old
Testament, to the sonship as seen in the New. The former, in its
highest perfection, cannot exist at all without the latter. It is only
when its single members are born of God, that the Congregation can be
regarded and treated as the child of God in the full sense of the word,
and that the whole fulness of His love can be poured out upon it; for
this is the only way of attaining to likeness with God, which is the
condition of admission to the rights of children. Hence it appears that
the [Greek: huiothesia] under the Old Testament was an actual prophecy
of the times of the New Testament; and from it, it follows also that
the announcement under consideration has its ultimate reference to
these times. Earlier fulfilments--especially at the return from the
Babylonish captivity--are not to be excluded, inasmuch as the idea
comprehends in it everything in which it is, even in the least degree,
realized; but they can be considered [Pg 222] only as a slight prelude
to Its real fulfilment, which takes place only when the reality fully
coincides with the idea; so that we are not at liberty to limit
ourselves to the commencement of the Messianic time, but must include
the Messianic time in its last consummation.--Another question still
remains:--Why is God here called the "_living_?" Plainly, to point out
the antithesis of the true God to dead idols, which cannot love,
because they do not live; and thus to bring out the greatness of the
privilege of being the child of such a God. The same antithesis is
found in Deut. xxxii. 3 seqq.: "Where are now their gods, the rock in
whom they trusted, which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank
the wine of their drink-offerings? Let them rise up and help you; let
it be a covering to you. See now that I, I am He, and not is a God
beside Me. I kill and I make alive. I wound and I heal." This
antithesis still continues; the world has only changed its idols. It
still always seeks the life from the dead, from the gross idol of sin
up to the refined idol of a self-made abstract god, whether he be
formed from logical notions or from emotions and feelings. But how much
soever they may strive to give life to their idols, they remain dead,
although they should even attain to a semblance of life. The true
God, on the contrary, l