Originally Posted by hisalone
Bridge's way of putting it is almost as though to imply we are "equal" with Christ, at least that is how I read it.
Methinks you are misreading Bridges. In the forensic (legal) sense, we ARE "equal with Christ"... the believer is declared to be righteous and ever shall be righteous on the basis of Christ's imputed righteousness. Since Christ's righteousness is 'covering' the believer, he is therefore "equal with Christ" in that sense. This is the doctrine of justification.

And those who have been truly justified will infallibly go on in sanctification whereby they are made holy and are partakers of Christ's divine nature, albeit in part in this life. In sanctification our disposition towards holiness is increased, having been changed in regeneration, which thus produces the good works which in themselves are decidedly imperfect yet accepted by our Father as we are united in Christ.

Quote
LUTHERAN THEOLOGIAN MARTIN CHEMNITZ (1522-1586)
ON JUSTIFICATION:

This unique doctrine in a special way
distinguishes the church from all other
nations and religions....[Justification] is the
pinnacle and chief bulwark of all teaching
and of the Christian religion itself; if this is
obscured, adulterated, or subverted, it is
impossible to retain purity of doctrine in
other loci. On the other hand, if this locus
is securely retained, all idolatrous ravings,
superstitions and other corruptions are
thereby destroyed (Loci Theologici II, p. 443)

In His grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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