This epistle is a discourse upon the principles of Christianity, in doctrine and practice. The design appears to be, to refute and guard against erroneous and unholy tenets, principles, and practices, especially such as would lower the Godhead of Christ, and the reality and power of his sufferings and death, as an atoning sacrifice; and against the assertion that believers being saved by grace, are not required to obey the commandments. This epistle also stirs up all who profess to know God, to have communion with him, and to believe in him, and that they walk in holiness, not in sin, showing that a mere outward profession is nothing, without the evidence of a holy life and conduct. It also helps forward and excites real Christians to communion with God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to constancy in the true faith, and to purity of life.
The apostle prefaces his epistle to believers in general, with evident testimonies to Christ, for promoting their happiness and joy. (1-4) The necessity of a life of holiness, in order to communion with God, is shown. (5-10)
@Verses 1-4 That essential Good, that uncreated Excellence, which had been from the beginning, from eternity, as equal with the Father, and which at length appeared in human nature for the salvation of sinners, was the great subject concerning which the apostle wrote to his brethren. The apostles had seen Him while they witnessed his wisdom and holiness, his miracles, and love and mercy, during some years, till they saw him crucified for sinners, and afterwards risen from the dead. They touched him, so as to have full proof of his resurrection. This Divine Person, the Word of life, the Word of God, appeared in human nature, that he might be the Author and Giver of eternal life to mankind, through the redemption of his blood, and the influence of his new-creating Spirit. The apostles declared what they had seen and heard, that believers might share their comforts and everlasting advantages. They had free access to God the Father. They had a happy experience of the truth in their souls, and showed its excellence in their lives. This communion of believers with the Father and the Son, is begun and kept up by the influences of the Holy Spirit. The benefits Christ bestows, are not like the scanty possessions of the world, causing jealousies in others; but the joy and happiness of communion with God is all-sufficient, so that any number may partake of it; and all who are warranted to say, that truly their fellowship is with the Father, will desire to lead others to partake of the same blessedness.
@Verses 5-10
A message from the Lord Jesus, the Word of life, the
eternal Word, we should all gladly receive. The great God should
be represented to this dark world, as pure and perfect light. As
this is the nature of God, his doctrines and precepts must be
such. And as his perfect happiness cannot be separated from his
perfect holiness, so our happiness will be in proportion to our
being made holy. To walk in darkness, is to live and act against
religion. God holds no heavenly fellowship or intercourse with
unholy souls. There is no truth in their profession; their
practice shows its folly and falsehood. The eternal Life, the
eternal Son, put on flesh and blood, and died to wash us from
our sins in his own blood, and procures for us the sacred
influences by which sin is to be subdued more and more, till it
is quite done away. While the necessity of a holy walk is
insisted upon, as the effect and evidence of the knowledge of
God in Christ Jesus, the opposite error of self-righteous pride
is guarded against with equal care. All who walk near to God, in
holiness and righteousness, are sensible that their best days
and duties are mixed with sin. God has given testimony to the
sinfulness of the world, by providing a sufficient, effectual
Sacrifice for sin, needed in all ages; and the sinfulness of
believers themselves is shown, by requiring them continually to
confess their sins, and to apply by faith to the blood of that
Sacrifice. Let us plead guilty before God, be humble, and
willing to know the worst of our case. Let us honestly confess
all our sins in their full extent, relying wholly on his mercy
and truth through the righteousness of Christ, for a free and
full forgiveness, and our deliverance from the power and
practice of sin.
The apostle directs to the atonement of Christ for help
against sinful infirmities. (1,2) The effects of saving
knowledge in producing obedience, and love to the brethren.
(3-11) Christians addressed as little children, young men, and
fathers. (12-14) All are cautioned against the love of this
world, and against errors. (15-23) They are encouraged to stand
fast in faith and holiness. (24-29)
@Verses 1-2
When have an Advocate with the Father; one who has
undertaken, and is fully able, to plead in behalf of every one
who applies for pardon and salvation in his name, depending on
his pleading for them. He is "Jesus," the Saviour, and "Christ,"
the Messiah, the Anointed. He alone is "the Righteous One," who
received his nature pure from sin, and as our Surety perfectly
obeyed the law of God, and so fulfilled all righteousness. All
men, in every land, and through successive generations, are
invited to come to God through this all-sufficient atonement,
and by this new and living way. The gospel, when rightly
understood and received, sets the heart against all sin, and
stops the allowed practice of it; at the same time it gives
blessed relief to the wounded consciences of those who have
sinned.
@Verses 3-11
What knowledge of Christ can that be, which sees not that
he is most worthy of our entire obedience? And a disobedient
life shows there is neither religion nor honesty in the
professor. The love of God is perfected in him that keeps his
commandments. God's grace in him attains its true mark, and
produces its sovereign effect as far as may be in this world,
and this is man's regeneration; though never absolutely perfect
here. Yet this observing Christ's commands, has holiness and
excellency which, if universal, would make the earth resemble
heaven itself. The command to love one another had been in force
from the beginning of the world; but it might be called a new
command as given to Christians. It was new in them, as their
situation was new in respect of its motives, rules, and
obligations. And those who walk in hatred and enmity to
believers, remain in a dark state. Christian love teaches us to
value our brother's soul, and to dread every thing hurtful to
his purity and peace. Where spiritual darkness dwells, in mind,
the judgment, and the conscience will be darkened, and will
mistake the way to heavenly life. These things demand serious
self-examination; and earnest prayer, that God would show us
what we are, and whither we are going.
@Verses 12-14
As Christians have their peculiar states, so they have
peculiar duties; but there are precepts and obedience common to
all, particularly mutual love, and contempt of the world. The
youngest sincere disciple is pardoned: the communion of saints
is attended with the forgiveness of sins. Those of the longest
standing in Christ's school need further advice and instruction.
Even fathers must be written unto, and preached unto; none are
too old to learn. But especially young men in Christ Jesus,
though they are arrived at strength of spirit and sound sense,
and have successfully resisted first trials and temptations,
breaking off bad habits and connexions, and entered in at the
strait gate of true conversion. The different descriptions of
Christians are again addressed. Children in Christ know that God
is their Father; it is wisdom. Those advanced believers, who
know Him that was from the beginning, before this world was
made, may well be led thereby to give up this world. It will be
the glory of young persons to be strong in Christ, and his
grace. By the word of God they overcome the wicked one.
@Verses 15-17
The things of the world may be desired and possessed for
the uses and purposes which God intended, and they are to be
used by his grace, and to his glory; but believers must not seek
or value them for those purposes to which sin abuses them. The
world draws the heart from God; and the more the love of the
world prevails, the more the love of God decays. The things of
the world are classed according to the three ruling inclinations
of depraved nature. 1. The lust of the flesh, of the body: wrong
desires of the heart, the appetite of indulging all things that
excite and inflame sensual pleasures. 2. The lust of the eyes:
the eyes are delighted with riches and rich possessions; this is
the lust of covetousness. 3. The pride of life: a vain man
craves the grandeur and pomp of a vain-glorious life; this
includes thirst after honour and applause. The things of the
world quickly fade and die away; desire itself will ere long
fail and cease, but holy affection is not like the lust that
passes away. The love of God shall never fail. Many vain efforts
have been made to evade the force of this passage by
limitations, distinctions, or exceptions. Many have tried to
show how far we may be carnally-minded, and love the world; but
the plain meaning of these verses cannot easily be mistaken.
Unless this victory over the world is begun in the heart, a man
has no root in himself, but will fall away, or at most remain an
unfruitful professor. Yet these vanities are so alluring to the
corruption in our hearts, that without constant watching and
prayer, we cannot escape the world, or obtain victory over the
god and prince of it.
@Verses 18-23
Every man is an antichrist, who denies the Person, or any
of the offices of Christ; and in denying the Son, he denies the
Father also, and has no part in his favour while he rejects his
great salvation. Let this prophecy that seducers would rise in
the Christian world, keep us from being seduced. The church
knows not well who are its true members, and who are not, but
thus true Christians were proved, and rendered more watchful and
humble. True Christians are anointed ones; their names expresses
this: they are anointed with grace, with gifts and spiritual
privileges, by the Holy Spirit of grace. The great and most
hurtful lies that the father of lies spreads in the world,
usually are falsehoods and errors relating to the person of
Christ. The unction from the Holy One, alone can keep us from
delusions. While we judge favourably of all who trust in Christ
as the Divine Saviour, and obey his word, and seek to live in
union with them, let us pity and pray for those who deny the
Godhead of Christ, or his atonement, and the new-creating work
of the Holy Ghost. Let us protest against such antichristian
doctrine, and keep from them as much as we may.
@Verses 24-29
The truth of Christ, abiding in us, is a means to sever
from sin, and unites us to the Son of God,
@john 15:3,4
. What
value should we put upon gospel truth! Thereby the promise of
eternal life is made sure. The promise God makes, is suitable to
his own greatness, power, and goodness; it is eternal life. The
Spirit of truth will not lie; and he teaches all things in the
present dispensation, all things necessary to our knowledge of
God in Christ, and their glory in the gospel. The apostle
repeats the kind words, "little children;" which denotes his
affection. He would persuade by love. Gospel privileges oblige
to gospel duties; and those anointed by the Lord Jesus abide
with him. The new spiritual nature is from the Lord Christ. He
that is constant to the practice of religion in trying times,
shows that he is born from above, from the Lord Christ. Then,
let us beware of holding the truth in unrighteousness,
remembering that those only are born of God, who bear his holy
image, and walk in his most righteous ways.
The apostle admires the love of God in making believers his
children. (1,2) The purifying influence of the hope of seeing
Christ, and the danger of pretending to this, and living in sin.
(3-10) Love to the brethren is the character of real Christians.
(11-15) That love described by its actings. (16-21) The
advantage of faith, love, and obedience. (22-24)
@Verses 1-2
Little does the world know of the happiness of the real
followers of Christ. Little does the world think that these
poor, humble, despised ones, are favourites of God, and will
dwell in heaven. Let the followers of Christ be content with
hard fare here, since they are in a land of strangers, where
their Lord was so badly treated before them. The sons of God
must walk by faith, and live by hope. They may well wait in
faith, hope, and earnest desire, for the revelation of the Lord
Jesus. The sons of God will be known, and be made manifest by
likeness to their Head. They shall be transformed into the same
image, by their view of him.
@Verses 3-10
The sons of God know that their Lord is of purer eyes than
to allow any thing unholy and impure to dwell with him. It is
the hope of hypocrites, not of the sons of God, that makes
allowance for gratifying impure desires and lusts. May we be
followers of him as his dear children, thus show our sense of
his unspeakable mercy, and express that obedient, grateful,
humble mind which becomes us. Sin is the rejecting the Divine
law. In him, that is, in Christ, was no sin. All the sinless
weaknesses that were consequences of the fall, he took; that is,
all those infirmities of mind or body which subject man to
suffering, and expose him to temptation. But our moral
infirmities, our proneness to sin, he had not. He that abides in
Christ, continues not in the practice of sin. Renouncing sin is
the great proof of spiritual union with, continuance in, and
saving knowledge of the Lord Christ. Beware of self-deceit. He
that doeth righteousness is righteous, and to be a follower of
Christ, shows an interest by faith in his obedience and
sufferings. But a man cannot act like the devil, and at the same
time be a disciple of Christ Jesus. Let us not serve or indulge
what the Son of God came to destroy. To be born of God is to be
inwardly renewed by the power of the Spirit of God. Renewing
grace is an abiding principle. Religion is not an art, a matter
of dexterity and skill, but a new nature. And the regenerate
person cannot sin as he did before he was born of God, and as
others do who are not born again. There is that light in his
mind, which shows him the evil and malignity of sin. There is
that bias upon his heart, which disposes him to loathe and hate
sin. There is the spiritual principle that opposes sinful acts.
And there is repentance for sin, if committed. It goes against
him to sin with forethought. The children of God and the
children of the devil have their distinct characters. The seed
of the serpent are known by neglect of religion, and by their
hating real Christians. He only is righteous before God, as a
justified believer, who is taught and disposed to righteousness
by the Holy Spirit. In this the children of God are manifest,
and the children of the devil. May all professors of the gospel
lay these truths to heart, and try themselves by them.
@Verses 11-15
We should love the Lord Jesus, value his love, and
therefore love all our brethren in Christ. This love is the
special fruit of our faith, and a certain sign of our being born
again. But none who rightly know the heart of man, can wonder at
the contempt and enmity of ungodly people against the children
of God. We know that we are passed from death to life: we may
know it by the evidences of our faith in Christ, of which love
to our brethren is one. It is not zeal for a party in the common
religion, or affection for those who are of the same name and
sentiments with ourselves. The life of grace in the heart of a
regenerate person, is the beginning and first principle of a
life of glory, whereof they must be destitute who hate their
brother in their hearts.
@Verses 16-21
Here is the condescension, the miracle, the mystery of
Divine love, that God would redeem the church with his own
blood. Surely we should love those whom God has loved, and so
loved. The Holy Spirit, grieved at selfishness, will leave the
selfish heart without comfort, and full of darkness and terror.
By what can it be known that a man has a true sense of the love
of Christ for perishing sinners, or that the love of God has
been planted in his heart by the Holy Spirit, if the love of the
world and its good overcomes the feelings of compassion to a
perishing brother? Every instance of this selfishness must
weaken the evidences of a man's conversion; when habitual and
allowed, it must decide against him. If conscience condemn us in
known sin, or the neglect of known duty, God does so too. Let
conscience therefore be well-informed, be heard, and diligently
attended to.
@Verses 22-24
When believers had confidence towards God, through the
Spirit of adoption, and by faith in the great High Priest, they
might ask what they would of their reconciled Father. They would
receive it, if good for them. And as good-will to men was
proclaimed from heaven, so good-will to men, particularly to the
brethren, must be in the hearts of those who go to God and
heaven. He who thus follows Christ, dwells in Him as his ark,
refuge, and rest, and in the Father through him. This union
between Christ and the souls of believers, is by the Spirit he
has given them. A man may believe that God is gracious before he
knows it; yet when faith has laid hold on the promises, it sets
reason to work. This Spirit of God works a change; in all true
Christians it changes from the power of Satan to the power of
God. Consider, believer, how it changes thy heart. Dost not thou
long for peace with God? Wouldst thou not forego all the world
for it? No profit, pleasure, or preferment shall hinder thee
from following Christ. This salvation is built upon Divine
testimony, even the Spirit of God.
Believers cautioned against giving heed to every one that
pretends to the Spirit. (1-6) Brotherly love enforced. (7-21)
@Verses 1-6
Christians who are well acquainted with the Scriptures,
may, in humble dependence on Divine teaching, discern those who
set forth doctrines according to the apostles, and those who
contradict them. The sum of revealed religion is in the doctrine
concerning Christ, his person and office. The false teachers
spake of the world according to its maxims and tastes, so as not
to offend carnal men. The world approved them, they made rapid
progress, and had many followers such as themselves; the world
will love its own, and its own will love it. The true doctrine
as to the Saviour's person, as leading men from the world to
God, is a mark of the spirit of truth in opposition to the
spirit of error. The more pure and holy any doctrine is, the
more likely to be of God; nor can we by any other rules try the
spirits whether they are of God or not. And what wonder is it,
that people of a worldly spirit should cleave to those who are
like themselves, and suit their schemes and discourses to their
corrupt taste?
@Verses 7-13
The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love. He that does not
love the image of God in his people, has no saving knowledge of
God. For it is God's nature to be kind, and to give happiness.
The law of God is love; and all would have been perfectly happy,
had all obeyed it. The provision of the gospel, for the
forgiveness of sin, and the salvation of sinners, consistently
with God's glory and justice, shows that God is love. Mystery
and darkness rest upon many things yet. God has so shown himself
to be love, that we cannot come short of eternal happiness,
unless through unbelief and impenitence, although strict justice
would condemn us to hopeless misery, because we break our
Creator's laws. None of our words or thoughts can do justice to
the free, astonishing love of a holy God towards sinners, who
could not profit or harm him, whom he might justly crush in a
moment, and whose deserving of his vengeance was shown in the
method by which they were saved, though he could by his almighty
Word have created other worlds, with more perfect beings, if he
had seen fit. Search we the whole universe for love in its most
glorious displays? It is to be found in the person and the cross
of Christ. Does love exist between God and sinners? Here was the
origin, not that we loved God, but that he freely loved us. His
love could not be designed to be fruitless upon us, and when its
proper end and issue are gained and produced, it may be said to
be perfected. So faith is perfected by its works. Thus it will
appear that God dwells in us by his new-creating Spirit. A
loving Christian is a perfect Christian; set him to any good
duty, and he is perfect to it, he is expert at it. Love oils the
wheels of his affections, and sets him on that which is helpful
to his brethren. A man that goes about a business with ill will,
always does it badly. That God dwells in us and we in him, were
words too high for mortals to use, had not God put them before
us. But how may it be known whether the testimony to this does
proceed from the Holy Ghost? Those who are truly persuaded that
they are the sons of God, cannot but call him Abba, Father. From
love to him, they hate sin, and whatever disagrees with his
will, and they have a sound and hearty desire to do his will.
Such testimony is the testimony of the Holy Ghost.
@Verses 14-21
The Father sent the Son, he willed his coming into this
world. The apostle attests this. And whosoever shall confess
that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in
God. This confession includes faith in the heart as the
foundation; makes acknowledgment with the mouth to the glory of
God and Christ, and profession in the life and conduct, against
the flatteries and frowns of the world. There must be a day of
universal judgment. Happy those who shall have holy boldness
before the Judge at that day; knowing he is their Friend and
Advocate! Happy those who have holy boldness in the prospect of
that day, who look and wait for it, and for the Judge's
appearance! True love to God assures believers of God's love to
them. Love teaches us to suffer for him and with him; therefore
we may trust that we shall also be glorified with him, 2Ti
2:12. We must distinguish between the fear of God and being
afraid of him; the fear of God imports high regard and
veneration for God. Obedience and good works, done from the
principle of love, are not like the servile toil of one who
unwillingly labours from dread of a master's anger. They are
like that of a dutiful child, who does services to a beloved
father, which benefit his brethren, and are done willingly. It
is a sign that our love is far from perfect, when our doubts,
fears, and apprehensions of God, are many. Let heaven and earth
stand amazed at his love. He sent his word to invite sinners to
partake of this great salvation. Let them take the comfort of
the happy change wrought in them, while they give him the glory.
The love of God in Christ, in the hearts of Christians from the
Spirit of adoption, is the great proof of conversion. This must
be tried by its effects on their temper, and their conduct to
their brethren. If a man professes to love God, and yet indulges
anger or revenge, or shows a selfish disposition, he gives his
profession the lie. But if it is plain that our natural enmity
is changed into affection and gratitude, let us bless the name
of our God for this seal and earnest of eternal happiness. Then
we differ from the false professors, who pretend to love God,
whom they have not seen, yet hate their brethren, whom they have
seen.
Brotherly love is the effect of the new birth, which makes
obedience to all God's commandments pleasant. (1-5) Reference to
witnesses agreeing to prove that Jesus, the Son of God, is the
true Messiah. (6-8) The satisfaction the believer has about
Christ, and eternal life through him. (9-12) The assurance of
God's hearing and answering prayer. (13-17) The happy condition
of true believers, and a charge to renounce all idolatry.
(18-21)
@Verses 1-5
True love for the people of God, may be distinguished from
natural kindness or party attachments, by its being united with
the love of God, and obedience to his commands. The same Holy
Spirit that taught the love, will have taught obedience also;
and that man cannot truly love the children of God, who, by
habit, commits sin or neglects known duty. As God's commands are
holy, just, and good rules of liberty and happiness, so those
who are born of God and love him, do not count them grievous,
but lament that they cannot serve him more perfectly.
Self-denial is required, but true Christians have a principle
which carries them above all hinderances. Though the conflict
often is sharp, and the regenerate may be cast down, yet he will
rise up and renew his combat with resolution. But all, except
believers in Christ, are enslaved in some respect or other, to
the customs, opinions, or interests of the world. Faith is the
cause of victory, the means, the instrument, the spiritual
armour by which we overcome. In and by faith we cleave to
Christ, in contempt of, and in opposition to the world. Faith
sanctifies the heart, and purifies it from those sensual lusts
by which the world obtains sway and dominion over souls. It has
the indwelling Spirit of grace, which is greater than he who
dwells in the world. The real Christian overcomes the world by
faith; he sees, in and by the life and conduct of the Lord Jesus
on earth, that this world is to be renounced and overcome. He
cannot be satisfied with this world, but looks beyond it, and is
still tending, striving, and pressing toward heaven. We must
all, after Christ's example, overcome the world, or it will
overcome us to our ruin.
@Verses 6-8
We are inwardly and outwardly defiled; inwardly, by the
power and pollution of sin in our nature. For our cleansing
there is in and by Christ Jesus, the washing of regeneration and
the renewing of the Holy Ghost. Some think that the two
sacraments are here meant: baptism with water, as the outward
sign of regeneration, and purifying from the pollution of sin by
the Holy Spirit; and the Lord's supper, as the outward sign of
the shedding Christ's blood, and the receiving him by faith for
pardon and justification. Both these ways of cleansing were
represented in the old ceremonial sacrifices and cleansings.
This water and blood include all that is necessary to our
salvation. By the water, our souls are washed and purified for
heaven and the habitation of saints in light. By the blood, we
are justified, reconciled, and presented righteous to God. By
the blood, the curse of the law being satisfied, the purifying
Spirit is obtained for the internal cleansing of our natures.
The water, as well as the blood, came out of the side of the
sacrificed Redeemer. He loved the church, and gave himself for
it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of
water by the word; that he might present it to himself a
glorious church,
@ephesians 5:25-27
. This was done in and by the
Spirit of God, according to the Saviour's declaration. He is the
Spirit of God, and cannot lie. Three had borne witness to these
doctrines concerning the person and the salvation of Christ. The
Father, repeatedly, by a voice from heaven declared that Jesus
was his beloved Son. The Word declared that He and the Father
were One, and that whoever had seen him had seen the Father. And
the Holy Ghost, who descended from heaven and rested on Christ
at his baptism; who had borne witness to Him by all the
prophets; and gave testimony to his resurrection and mediatorial
office, by the gift of miraculous powers to the apostles. But
whether this passage be cited or not, the doctrine of the
Trinity in Unity stands equally firm and certain. To the
doctrine taught by the apostles, respecting the person and
salvation of Christ, there were three testimonies. 1. The Holy
Spirit. We come into the world with a corrupt, carnal
disposition, which is enmity to God. This being done away by the
regeneration and new-creating of souls by the Holy Spirit, is a
testimony to the Saviour. 2. The water: this sets forth the
Saviour's purity and purifying power. The actual and active
purity and holiness of his disciples are represented by baptism.
3. The blood which he shed: and this was our ransom, this
testifies for Jesus Christ; it sealed up and finished the
sacrifices of the Old Testament. The benefits procured by his
blood, prove that he is the Saviour of the world. No wonder if
he that rejects this evidence is judged a blasphemer of the
Spirit of God. These three witnesses are for one and the same
purpose; they agree in one and the same thing.
@Verses 9-12
Nothing can be more absurd than the conduct of those who
doubt as to the truth of Christianity, while in the common
affairs of life they do not hesitate to proceed on human
testimony, and would deem any one out of his senses who declined
to do so. The real Christian has seen his guilt and misery, and
his need of such a Saviour. He has seen the suitableness of such
a Saviour to all his spiritual wants and circumstances. He has
found and felt the power of the word and doctrine of Christ,
humbling, healing, quickening, and comforting his soul. He has a
new disposition, and new delights, and is not the man that he
formerly was. Yet he finds still a conflict with himself, with
sin, with the flesh, the world, and wicked powers. But he finds
such strength from faith in Christ, that he can overcome the
world, and travel on towards a better. Such assurance has the
gospel believer: he has a witness in himself, which puts the
matter out of doubt with him, except in hours of darkness or
conflict; but he cannot be argued out of his belief in the
leading truths of the gospel. Here is what makes the
unbeliever's sin so awful; the sin of unbelief. He gives God the
lie; because he believes not the record that God gave of his
Son. It is in vain for a man to plead that he believes the
testimony of God in other things, while he rejects it in this.
He that refuses to trust and honour Christ as the Son of God,
who disdains to submit to his teaching as Prophet, to rely on
his atonement and intercession as High Priest, or to obey him as
King, is dead in sin, under condemnation; nor will any outward
morality, learning, forms, notions, or confidences avail him.
@Verses 13-17
Upon all this evidence, it is but right that we believe
on the name of the Son of God. Believers have eternal life in
the covenant of the gospel. Then let us thankfully receive the
record of Scripture. Always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that our labour is not in vain in the Lord. The Lord
Christ invites us to come to him in all circumstances, with our
supplications and requests, notwithstanding the sin that besets
us. Our prayers must always be offered in submission to the will
of God. In some things they are speedily answered; in others
they are granted in the best manner, though not as requested. We
ought to pray for others, as well as for ourselves. There are
sins that war against spiritual life in the soul, and the life
above. We cannot pray that the sins of the impenitent and
unbelieving should, while they are such, be forgiven them; or
that mercy, which supposes the forgiveness of sins, should be
granted to them, while they wilfully continue such. But we may
pray for their repentance, for their being enriched with faith
in Christ, and thereupon for all other saving mercies. We should
pray for others, as well as for ourselves, beseeching the Lord
to pardon and recover the fallen, as well as to relieve the
tempted and afflicted. And let us be truly thankful that no sin,
of which any one truly repents, is unto death.
@Verses 18-21
All mankind are divided into two parties or dominions;
that which belongs to God, and that which belongs to the wicked
one. True believers belong to God: they are of God, and from
him, and to him, and for him; while the rest, by far the greater
number, are in the power of the wicked one; they do his works,
and support his cause. This general declaration includes all
unbelievers, whatever their profession, station, or situation,
or by whatever name they may be called. The Son leads believers
to the Father, and they are in the love and favour of both; in
union with both, by the indwelling and working of the Holy
Spirit. Happy are those to whom it is given to know that the Son
of God is come, and to have a heart to trust in and rely on him
that is true! May this be our privilege; we shall thus be kept
from all idols and false doctrines, and from the idolatrous love
of worldly objects, and be kept by the power of God, through
faith, unto eternal salvation. To this living and true God, be
glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
This document (last modified July 17, 1997) from Believerscafe.com
Sister Projects: Wikichristian | WikiMD
BelieversCafe is a large collection of christian articles with over 40,000 pages
Our sponsors: