CONTENTS
This Chapter contains many earnest Exhortations, arising out of the foregoing. Paul adds several affectionate Observations, as expressive of his Good-will to the Church.
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
This verse seems to be unconnected with what follows, but rather as the inference, from what was said before, in the preceding Chapter. And, as a right apprehension of the doctrine contained in it, appears to me to be of great moment, I would beg to consider it separately.
The Apostle having laid down the certain truth, that God hath condescended to such a wonderful act of grace, as to dwell in his people, and walk in them; and to call himself their God, and they his people; Paul makes this conclusion, as the result of such unspeakable mercy: that the Church should cleanse herself from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. But what cleansing doth the Apostle mean? Not human cleansing surely. For cleansing-work, as much as creating-work, is the Lord's. And God's promise is to this amount: I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and, ye shall be clean from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, Ezekiel 36:25. And the cries of God's children, for the Lord to cleanse them, is a plain proof, they are conscious, they cannot cleanse themselves. But the cleansing themselves, both here, and in various other parts of Scripture, where the child of God is called upon to cleansing work, is, to act faith upon God's promises, on this ground, that in a daily, hourly, communion, with God in Christ, they may, by heart-felt experience, know that the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin. 1 John 1:7
In like manner, they are said to be perfecting holiness in the fear of God. What holiness? They have no holiness, but what is in Christ, and from Christ. He is made of God unto them, both wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30. And the Church is expressly, said to be perfect in Christ Jesus, Colossians 1:28. But the perfecting holiness in the fear of God, consists in the lively actings of faith, upon all God's promises in Christ, and which is instanced in this Scripture, in one feature of them, namely, God's fear; when he said: I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me, Jeremiah 32:40. So That the Apostle is not calling upon the Church, to cleanse themselves from their filth, which is God's work; neither to perfect holiness in their own attainments, which is God's glory: for he had told the Church of the Corinthians in a former Epistle, that they were washed, and were sanctified, and were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God, 1 Corinthians 6:11. But he is calling upon them to live by faith on God's promises; and by faith to enjoy their blessings, in seeing themselves in a justified state before God, and cleansed from everything of evil, in the Adam-fall of corruption, by the perfection of holiness which is in Christ Jesus.
And I take occasion from this sweet Scripture to observe, how much the comfort and happiness of the Church of God, depends upon a right apprehension, under divine teaching, of this grand truth. A regenerated child of God is regenerated only in spirit. It is the Spirit which quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing, John 6:63. The flesh of a child of God is neither quickened nor renewed. Its whole nature is carnal, sensual, and earthly-minded. And hence, the renewed souls of God's children from the opposition their sinful bodies are continually making, to their spiritual desires; groan from day to day. To look therefore for holiness, from an unholy body, is as absurd, as to expect an act of life from the dead. But to perfect holiness in the fear of God, by the soul's daily, hourly, act of faith, upon God's promises, that he will cleanse us, and we shall be clean; and that the Lord will, by his blessed Spirit, mortify the deeds of the body that we may live: Romans 8:13, this is scriptural, and the true life of faith. And the promises are to this amount: that the Lord will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on him. For all that are kept, are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, Isaiah 26:3; 1 Peter 1:5.