And this is the record Η μαρτυρια, the testimony; the sum of God's testimony concerning his Son, and salvation through him:
this is the thing testified by the six witnesses the three in heaven, and the three on earth; that God hath given to us Hath sincerely and freely offered to mankind in general, and hath actually conferred on true believers in particular; eternal life Namely, a title to it, in their justification and adoption, Titus 3:7; Romans 8:17; a meetness for it, in their new creation or sanctification, Colossians 1:12; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:22; Ephesians 4:24; and a foretaste or earnest of it, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in their hearts, Ephesians 1:14; giving them to enjoy communion with the Father and the Son, 1 John 1:3; and through that, as it were, to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, and have their conversation in heaven, Ephesians 2:6; Philippians 3:20. And this life is in his Son Whose doctrine hath revealed it; whose merits have procured it; whose Spirit hath imparted the beginning of it; and whose example will conduct us to the complete possession of it. In other words, by whom it is purchased, and in whom it is treasured up; so that he has all the springs, and the fulness of it, in himself, to communicate to his body, the church, first in grace and then in glory. “Though the apostle, in what goes before, has spoken particularly of the three in heaven, and of the three on earth, who bear witness continually, he deferred mentioning, till now, what it is they are witnessing; that by introducing it last of all, and after so much preparation, it might make the stronger impression on the minds of his readers.” He that hath the Son That hath the saving knowledge of him communicated by the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, Ephesians 1:17; Matthew 11:27; that hath living faith in him, working by love, Galatians 2:20; Galatians 5:6; and hereby hath a real interest in him, as a wife hath in her husband, Romans 7:4; and vital union with him, such as a branch hath with the tree in which it grows, John 15:4; or such as a member of the human body has with the head thereof, 1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 12:5; and who, in consequence of that interest in him, and union with him, hath a conformity to him; hath in him the mind that was in Christ, and walks as he walked, Philippians 2:5; or he, to whom Christ is made of God wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; see on 1 Corinthians 1:30; such a one in these respects having the Son, hath life Hath spiritual life here, and is entitled to, made in a degree meet for, and has an earnest of, eternal life hereafter. But he that hath not the Son of God Hath not that interest in his merits, that union with him through the Spirit, that conformity, more or less, to his image: he, whom Christ has not enlightened as his wisdom, justified as his righteousness, renewed as his sanctification; whatever he may profess, whatever orthodoxy of sentiment, regularity of conduct, or form of godliness; hath not life Hath neither spiritual life here, being still alienated from the life of God, Ephesians 4:18; nor is in the way to eternal life hereafter. He hath no part or lot therein.