Our apostle begins this chapter with wonder and admiration at the astonishing goodness and condescension of Alighty God towards believers, in taking them into his family, and adopting them into the number of his children; that strangers and enemies should be dignified with the honourable and amiable... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "Although the world knows us not, affects us not, esteems us not, because of the weakness of our grace and the strength of our corruptions, yet notwithstanding both these, we are now the sons of God; this is the happiness of our present condition, we are as children in th... [ Continue Reading ]
Every one that hath this hope, that is, the hope of seeing and enjoying Christ in glory, he now endeavours to purify himself, according to the pattern and copy which Christ hath set before him, labouring to imitate it, though he cannot reach it. Observe here, 1. The character of. Christian by this... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER COMMITTETH SIN, that is, whosoever lives in the allowed commission of it, lives in rebellion against, and in. flat opposition to, the law of God, sin being. transgression of God's law; and such. person as thus commits sin, not only violates the law of God, but also frustrates the death of... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, "Whoever lives in sin, and goes on in. course and trade of sinning, is the servant and slave of sin; and although his reason condemns him, his conscience boggles at it, and his will is something averse to it, yet if he yields his members instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, he is the se... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "Let no man deceive you by making you believe that. right faith may consist with an unrighteous life, for only HE THAT DOETH RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RIGHTEOUS. " Note here, 1. That there is. twofold doing of righteousness. 1. In. legal sense, which stands in an exact obeying a... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, "So far as. man sinneth, so far he is of the devil, and like unto him, in whom sin is predominant: he having been an old sinner, soon after the beginning of the creation, and. bold tempter to sin all his days." Learn, 1. That Satan has kept in. constant and continued course of sinning agai... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The character of. true Christian, HE IS BORN OF GOD; he has in the work of regeneration passed under. blessed change by the operation of the Holy Spirit, renewing his nature, and reforming his life; yet this denotes not. single transient act of regeneration, but rather. continued co... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle in these words give us the distinguishing character of. good and bad man; those who in their dispositions and actions, in the temper of their minds, and in the actions of their lives, do imitate God, are his children; and those who addict themselves to sin and impiety are of another race... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle comes now to enforce his exhortation unto brotherly love, by many weighty arguments: 1.He assures them, that this precept concerning brotherly love was given them by Christ and his apostles, from the beginning of the preaching of the gospel: THIS IS THE MESSAGE YE HEARD OF HIM FROM THE... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. Our apostle's description of. carnal unregenerate state; it is. state of spiritual death. 2. Of. Christian's renewed state by the Spirit of Christ, it is. state of spiritual life; WE ARE PASSED FROM DEATH TO LIFE. 3. Here is the mark and token by which this translation from death... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The nature of the sin condemned, it is. secret sin of the heart, not an open sin of the life; he that HATETH HIS BROTHER, that is, in his heart, IS. MURDERER, though he doth not smite him either with his tongue, or with his hand. Learn hence, That sins of the heart are damning, as... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our apostle presses brotherly love from another argument, namely, from the example of Jesus Christ, who being God, as well as man, laid down his life, AS MAN, for us. Where note, That the intimate union betwixt the divine and human nature in Christ, gives ground for the calling Christ's life,... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle here draws an argument from the greater to the less, after this manner: "If, says he, we ought to be ready in some cases to part with our lives for the brethren, surely we much more ought to impart and communicate our worldly goods to them in the time of their necessity, and he that refu... [ Continue Reading ]
Having laid down several motives to brotherly love before, by way of excitation, as an help to their affections, he comes now to propound some directions to them as an help to their endeavours. And the first is this, to take special care that their love be sincere, and not hypocritical. LET US NOT... [ Continue Reading ]
By heart here is undoubtedly meant CONSCIENCE: and it is as much as if the apostle had said, "If our consciences tells us that our love is barren and fruitless, and so condemn us for hypocrisy, God is greater than our consciences, both in holiness to condemn, and in knowledge to perceive the evil of... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. An extraordinary favour and privilege insured, WHATSOEVER WE ASK, WE RECEIVE OF HIM; that is, whatsoever we ask according to his will, we are sure to receive, either in kind or in equivalency. It shall either be given in mercy, or denied in love; for verily God is as kind in denying... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. What is the sum of the Christian's duty, FAITH and LOVE, to believe on the name of Jesus Christ; that is, to rely upon him as our Redeemer, our Teacher, our King, our Intercessor, and to obey his great command of loving one another with. pure heart fervently. Observe, 2. What. migh... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The benefit of obedience to God's command. God dwelleth in us, and we in him. God's dwelling in us implies, 1. Right and property; what. man dwells in is his own. 2. Command and authority; the master and owner is the commander and disposer of the house. It also, 3. Implies reside... [ Continue Reading ]