(12) One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. (13) This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; (14) Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. (15) Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. (16) They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
The words of this first verse are a quotation from one of their Profane Writers; and the Apostle declares, that what is here said was correct. Lying is the common crime of all human nature. The scripture saith, the wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray, as soon as they be born, speaking lies. Psalms 58:3. Reader! it is our mercy to know it: and in that knowledge, to be looking to Jesus, for deliverance from this, and every other evil of our fallen nature, in his righteousness; who is the way, and the truth, and the life. John 14:6. And while Cretians, or Jews, or all other carnal, and unregenerated men, are giving heed, to mere fables and commandments of men: seeking in outward things, acceptance with God; how blessed is it, to mark the vast difference, arising from inward and renewing grace, in the soul, making all things pure, where God hath purified the heart, through faith. Oh! the blessedness of being born again. It is this which makes the whole state blessed. A child of God, renewed of God, from the Adam-nature of the fall, is brought at once into a state of justification before God, and this regeneration makes the new creature alive, in the spiritual enjoyment of union with Christ. All things, pertaining to life, and godliness, are pure to him, in Christ. Whereas to the unregenerate, defiled as they are in the old nature of sin; there can be nothing pure. Their persons, and their prayers, their sacraments, and their offerings are all alike offensive; and can never find acceptance with God. For all are offered without an eye to Christ, and consequently sin. They may, and perhaps do, profess, as the Jews of old did, to know God. Yea, they may acknowledge, as many nominal Christians do, in creeds and prayer books, their belief in the Persons of the Godhead. But all this, is but a profession, void of saving knowledge. Where no work of grace hath passed upon the soul; there no real knowledge of God in Christ is found. And the close of this Chapter awfully states the case of some wherefore they are in this unbelieving condition; being, saith the Apostle abominable and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate; or void of judgment, (as the margin of the Bible renders it;) that is, without understanding. See Job 28:28. compared with Isaiah 27:11. and Jude 1:4. Reader! do not pass away from this scripture, without pondering over the distinguishing mercy. Oh! what a work of God is that, which by quickening from a death in trespasses and sins, brings the child of God into a new and spiritual life, to the knowledge of God the Father's love, the Savior's grace, and the Spirit's fellowship? What a work is wrought, when the child of God is new born? Reader! hath the Lord wrought it in your instance? Can you say with Paul: God who is rich in mercy, for his great love, wherewith he loved us; even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ? Ephesians 2:4-5.