Observe here, 1. The grand proposition laid down as the object of our faith, namely, THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST; that is, that Jesus of Nazareth, who was born with, and lived amongst the Jews, was the Saviour of the world, the person whom Moses and the prophets foretold to be the Messiah. Observe, 2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, That the sincerity of our love to the children of God is best discovered by our love to God, and obedience to his commands. QUEST. 1. What kind of love is required towards the children of God? ANS.. love of esteen,. love of desire,. love of delight, and. love of service and beneficen... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle in these words gives. threefold description of. sincere Christian. He describes him, 1. By his inward affection to God and Christ, and that is love; this is shed abroad in his heart. 2. By the action which flows from this affection, namely, obedience to God in keeping his commandment.... [ Continue Reading ]
Two things are here observable, namely,. proposition, and the explication of that proposition. Observe, 1. The proposition, WHOSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD, OVERCOMETH THE WORLD. Every regenerate Christian is. victorious Christian, he is. conqueror, yea, the greatest of conquerors, he conquers the whole w... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having spoken of the usefulness of faith in the former verse, THAT IT OVERCOMETH THE WORLD, next discovers the object of this faith, which is this proposition, that JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? That fai... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, "There are three in heaven which do bear record to this truth here upon earth, namely, that Jesus IS THE CHRIST; that is to say, the three persons in the Holy Trinity, THE FATHER, THE WORD, AND THE HOLY GHOST; the Father bore witness both at Christ's baptism and transfiguration also, when w... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "As there are three in heaven who have given us their testimony to the divinity of Christ and his doctrine here on earth, so there are three witnesses here below testifying the same thing, namely, THE SPIRIT, in the preaching of the gospel, and in the souls of believers:... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostles's argument in these words is taken from the less to the greater, thus: "If, says he, for the believing of any thing it be ordinarily thought sufficient to have the testimony of two or three credible men, then surely the testimony of the faithful and infallible God, given from heaven, is... [ Continue Reading ]
As if our apostle had said, "The sum of God's testimony recorded in the gospel is this, concerning his Son Jesus Christ, namely, that God for his sake has made. free deed of gift, of pardon and salvation to the world, assuring them of grace here, and eternal life hereafter, upon condition of their b... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle entering now upon the conclusion of his excellent epistle, acquaints them with his design and end in the writing of it, namely, 1. That they might know they had eternal life, that is, both. right and title to eternal life, and might also attain to the knowledge and assurance of it. Lea... [ Continue Reading ]
To enforce the foregoing exhortation to believers, namely, to be confirmed and constant in the faith, he shews them here what. special advantage believers have above other persons, namely, confidence in all their approaches to God; and. full assurance, 1. In general, that whatever they ask in faith... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle informed us in the foregoing verse of the comfort which believers have in their prayers for themselves, all that is requested by them is granted by God: now in the verse before us he relates the benefit which others receive by their prayers as well as themselves, assuring them, that if a... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, we are all well assured that sincere Christians, who are begotten and born of God, do not commit this sin unto death, namely, apostacy from Christianity to the Heathen idolatry: BUT HE KEEPETH HIMSELF, AND THE WICKED ONE TOUCHETH HIM NOT: that is, he preserveth himself from the contagion of... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, the far greater part of the world are under the dominion of that wicked one, being sunk into idolatry, and become worshippers of the devil, continuing in the midst of their impurity and malignity, and wholly set upon mischief and wickednes. See here the darkness and horror of an unregenera... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "We Christians are better taught by our religion, to acknowledge and worship the only true God by his Son Jesus Christ our only Mediator, and therefore exhort you to keep from idols;" intimating hereby, that the worshipping of any other besides this only true God, and by... [ Continue Reading ]