Observe here, 1. Our apostle compares the body of. believer to an house, to an earthly house, and to an house of tabernacle: to an house, because of its comely fabric and composure, as also in regard of the inhabitant that dwells in it, the never-dying soul; to an earthly house, in regard of the mea... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IN THIS, that is, in this ruinous earthly tabernacle. Observe here, The strength and vehemency of the saints' affection, WE GROAN; the word signifies such. groaning as of. man that has. load or burden lying upon him, which makes him fetch his wind from his very bowels: as there are groans which... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, if so be, at our passage hence, we shall have the happiness to be of the number of those who are found clothed with glory, or clothed with holiness and good works, to fit us for our clothing in glory; that we may not be FOUND NAKED, in our natural turpitude of sin and spiritual nakedness, w... [ Continue Reading ]
Note here, That this groaning desire again mentioned by the apostle in this verse, with respect to the burden of the body, to get rid of it, is not either an unnatural desire, or. discontented desire, or. desire of death as death, or. desire to be unhoused, and without clothing for the soul; but he... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, he that hath wrought and appointed us, he that hath prepared and fitted us, for this glorious change, and hath set our souls a-longing for this immortal state, is God; who hath also GIVEN US BY HIS SPIRIT those holy affections, fervent desires, and faithful endeavours, which are the earnest... [ Continue Reading ]
WE ARE CONFIDENT, that is, by the Holy Spirit comfortably assured of. better state. They who have the earnest of the Spirit may be confident of their future glorious state. Or, we are confident; that is, we are of good courage, fearing neither death nor danger in the way of our duty, KNOWING THAT W... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, our condition here in this world is such, that we cannot see God face to face, but by faith only; whilst we are in the body, we do not see and enjoy, but believe and expect. Faith is the thing in expectation: sight is the thing in fruition; faith is. cloudy discovery of things at. distance;... [ Continue Reading ]
The original words, for WE ARE CONFIDENT and WILLING, denote first, courage and undaunted boldness with respect to death, and complacency and satifaction in it. WE ARE WILLING; the translation is too flat; EVDOXDMEV, WE ARE WELL PLEASED. It is. grateful and desirable thing to us to leave the body: y... [ Continue Reading ]
The word signifies, TO LABOUR AMBITIOUSLY, as an ambitious courtier labours for his prince's favour. We labour, whether present in the body, or absent from the body, whether living or dying, that our persons and our services may be accepted with him whenever we appear before him. Learn, 1. That to... [ Continue Reading ]
These words are fully descriptive of. future judgment. In which observe, 1. The necessity of. future judgment, WE MUST, willing or unwilling. 2. The universality of this judgment, WE MUST ALL. 3. The person by whom, and before whom, we must be judged, Christ. 4. The manner of this judgment, ALL... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, knowing the terror and dread of that terrible and dreadful day in which Christ will judge the whole race of mankind; and being persuaded of the truth and certainty of it ourselves, we endeavour to persuade all men by all means to fly from the wrath to come, by repentance and faith, that the... [ Continue Reading ]
As if our apostle had said, "We commend not ourselves to you upon our own account, as if there were any need of it, with respect to us; but only to give you an occasion to vindicate us; and to glory to others on our behalf, when need requires, that you may have wherewith to answer the calumnies of t... [ Continue Reading ]
The holy apostle was sometimes so zealously transported and carried forth in his high actings for Jesus Christ, that the false apostles represented him as. frantic person, crazy, mad, and what not; "Be it so, (says the holy man,) it is unto God, in his cause, and to propagate his glory, and not my o... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, the infinite love of Christ in dying for us, constraineth us to live unto him, and do the utmost services for him. Some understand it passively, for the love that Christ beareth us; others take it actively, for that love which we bear to him. Now this love is said TO CONSTRAIN. Some think i... [ Continue Reading ]
IF ONE DIED FOR ALL, THEN WERE ALL DEAD. Some understand it of. death in sin; all were in. state of sin and death when Christ died for them. Others understand it mystically, when Christ died for all, all were then dead; that is, dead in Christ unto sin; intimating, that when Christ died, all believe... [ Continue Reading ]
These words probably were spoken by the apostle to rebuke the carnal boastings of some Jews, who gloried in their having seen Christ in the flesh before he died; the apostle directs them to. more spirtual knowledge of him, now since his resurrection, as more suitable to his gloried state: Q.D. "What... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "If any one amongst you pretend to be. Christian indeed, ingrafted into Christ, by baptism and regeneration, and is. member of his body; he is by regeneration made. new man, all the faculties of his soul are renewed: his principles, affections, and practices, are all new:... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, all those things forementioned belonging to this new spiritual creation, are of God, as the author and efficient cause of them. Learn, That God is the original author of the new creature, and of all things belonging thereunto. This appears partly from the nature of the work, 'tis. new crea... [ Continue Reading ]
In these words the apostle gives us. short but full account of the grand doctrine of. sinner's reconciliation unto God by the death of Christ, which is the principal subject and substantial part of the gospel. Where observe, 1. The privilege itself, RECONCILIATION; this is two-fold; FUNDAMENTAL, in... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The minister's office and employment declared: they ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST; ambassadors from God to man, and as ambassadors they have their mission, their commission, from. great Prince, about great concerns; they must be faithful to their instructions, they are inviolable by th... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The spotless innocency of our Lord Jesus Christ, as mediator, declared: HE KNEW NO SIN; that is, practically and experimentally, he knew it not so as to commit it in the least degree; he was. pure, innocent, and sinless, Person: but theoretically and speculatively he did know sin. H... [ Continue Reading ]