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8.2 KiB
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4 lines
8.2 KiB
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<p>Here we have,</p>
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<p class="tab-1">I. A recapitulation of the privileges and advantages of sound Christian believers. 1. They are secured against sin, against the fulness of its dominion or the fulness of its guilt: <i>We know that whosoever is born of God</i> (and the believer in Christ is born of God, <a class="bibleref" title="1John.5.1" href="/passage/?search=1John.5.1">1 John 5:1</a>) <i>sinneth not</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="1John.5.18" href="/passage/?search=1John.5.18">1 John 5:18</a>), <i>sinneth not</i> with that fulness of heart and spirit that the unregenerate do (as was said <a class="bibleref" title="1John.3.6,1John.3.9" href="/passage/?search=1John.3.6,1John.3.9"><span class="bibleref" title="1John.3.6">1 John 3:6</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="1John.3.9">9</span></a>), and consequently not with that fulness of guilt that attends the sins of others; and so he is secured against that sin which is unavoidably unto death, or which infallibly binds the sinner over unto the wages of eternal death; the new nature, and the inhabitation of the divine Spirit thereby, prevent the admission of such unpardonable sin. 2. They are fortified against the devil’s destructive attempts: <i>He that is begotten of God keepeth himself</i>, that is, is enabled to guard himself, <i>and the wicked one toucheth him not</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="1John.5.18" href="/passage/?search=1John.5.18">1 John 5:18</a>), that is, that the wicked one may not touch him, namely, to death. It seems not to be barely a narration of the duty or the practice of the regenerate; but an indication of their power by virtue of their regeneration. They are thereby prepared and principled against the fatal touches, the sting, of the wicked one; he touches not their souls, to infuse his venom there a he does in others, or to expel that regenerative principle which is an antidote to his poison, or to induce them to that sin which by the gospel constitution conveys an indissoluble obligation to eternal death. He may prevail too far with them, to draw them to some acts of sin; but it seems to be the design of the apostle to assert that their regeneration secures them from such assaults of the devil as will bring them into the same case and actual condemnation with the devil. 3. They are on God’s side and interest, in opposition to the state of the world: <i>And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="1John.5.19" href="/passage/?search=1John.5.19">1 John 5:19</a>. Mankind are divided into two great parties of dominions, that which belongs to God and that which belongs to wickedness or to the wicked one. The Christian believers belong to God. They are of God, and from him, and to him, and for him. They succeed into the right and room of the ancient Israel of God, of whom it is said, <i>The Lord’s people is his portion</i>, his estate in this world; <i>Jacob is the lot of his inheritance</i>, the dividend that has fallen to him by the lot of his own determination (<a class="bibleref" title="Deut.32.9" href="/passage/?search=Deut.32.9">Deut. 32:9</a>); while, on the contrary, <i>the whole world</i>, the rest, being by far the major part, <i>lieth in wickedness</i>, in the jaws in the bowels of the wicked one. There are, indeed, were we to consider the individuals, many wicked ones, many wicked spirits, in the heavenly or the ethereal places; but they are united in wicked nature, policy, and principle, and they are united also in one head. There is the prince of the devils and of the diabolical kingdom. There is a head of the malignity and of the malignant world; and he has such sway here that he is called <i>the god of this world</i>. Strange that such a knowing spirit should be so implacably incensed against the Almighty and all his interests, when he cannot but know that it must end in his own overthrow and everlasting damnation! How tremendous is the judgment of God upon that wicked one! May the God of the Christian world continually demolish his dominion in this world, and translate souls into <i>
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<p class="tab-1">II. The apostle’s concluding monition: “<i>Little children</i>” (dear children, as it has been interpreted), “<i>keep yourselves from idols</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="1John.5.21" href="/passage/?search=1John.5.21">1 John 5:21</a>. Since you know the true God, and are in him, let your light and love guard you against all that is advanced in opposition to him, or competition with him. Flee from the false gods of the heathen world. They are not comparable to the God whose you are and whom you serve. Adore not your God by statues and images, which share in his worship. Your God is an incomprehensible Spirit, and is disgraced by such sordid representations. Hold no communion with your heathen neighbours in their idolatrous worship. Your God is jealous, and would have you come out, and be separated from among them; mortify the flesh, and be crucified to the world, that they may not usurp the throne of dominion in the heart, which is due only to God. The God whom you have known is he who made you, who redeemed you by his Son, who has sent his gospel to you, who has pardoned your sins, begotten you unto himself by his Spirit, and given you eternal life. Cleave to him in faith, and love, and constant obedience, in opposition to all things that would alienate your mind and heart from God. To this living and true God be glory and dominion for ever and ever. <i>Amen</i>.”</p>
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