Systematic Theology, by Louis Berkhof - New Leaven

1. THE FEDERAL UNION OF CHRIST WITH THOSE WHOM THE FATHER HAS GIVEN HIM, IN
THE COUNSEL OF REDEMPTION. In the counsel of peace Christ voluntarily took upon
Himself to be the Head and Surety of the elect, destined to constitute the new humanity,
and as such to establish their righteousness before God by paying the penalty for their
sin and by rendering perfect obedience to the law and thus securing their title to
everlasting life. In that eternal covenant the sin of His people was imputed to Christ,
and His righteousness was imputed to them. This imputation of the righteousness of
Christ to His people in the counsel of redemption is sometimes represented as a
justification from eternity. It is certainly the eternal basis of our justification by faith, and
is the ground on which we receive all spiritual blessings and the gift of life eternal. And
this being so, it is basic to the whole of soteriology, and even to the first stages in the
application of the work of redemption, such as regeneration and internal calling.
2. THE UNION OF LIFE IDEALLY ESTABLISHED IN THE COUNSEL OF REDEMPTION. In the case
of the first Adam there was not only a federal, but also a natural and organic union
between him and his descendants. There was the tie of a common life between him and
all his progeny, and this made it possible that the blessings of the covenant of works, if
these had eventuated, could have been passed on to the whole organism of mankind in
an organic way. A somewhat similar situation obtained in the case of the last Adam as
the representative Head of the covenant of redemption. Like the first Adam, He did not
represent a conglomeration of disjointed individuals, but a body of men and women
who were to derive their life from Him, to be united by spiritual ties, and thus to form a
spiritual organism. Ideally this body, which is the Church, was already formed in the
covenant of redemption, and formed in union with Christ, and this union made it
possible that all the blessings merited by Christ could be passed on to those whom He
represented in an organic way. They were conceived of as a glorious body, a new
humanity, sharing the life of Jesus Christ. It was in virtue of that union, as it was
realized in the course of history, that Christ could say: “Behold, I and the children
whom God hath given me,” Heb. 2:13.
3. THE UNION OF LIFE OBJECTIVELY REALIZED IN CHRIST. In virtue of the legal or
representative union established in the covenant of redemption Christ became incarnate
as the substitute for His people, to merit all the blessings of salvation for them. Since
His children were sharers in flesh and blood, “He also in like manner partook of the
same; that through death He might bring to nought him that had the power of death,
that is the devil; and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their
lifetime subject to bondage,” Heb. 2:14,15. He could merit salvation for them just
because He already stood in relation to them as their Surety and Mediator, their Head
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