Dwelleth in him,— That is, in God; and He, that is, God, in him. Neither this text, nor 1 Corinthians 6:17 will prove, (as some have absurdly averred,) that a good man is the Deity himself, or a part of God, or of the same essence or substance. The apostle intended only to say, "Whoever is brought to yield a conscientious obedience to all God's commandments, from a principle of faith as working by love, which counts none of them grievous,—he really does, and hereby makes it evident that he does, live in a state of vital union with Christ, and with the Father through him, and Christ dwells in his heart by faith, who is a habitation of God through the Spirit (Ephesians 2:22; Ephesians 3:17.). And we who stand in this near and happy relation to Christ, and to the Father through him, are assured that he lives with abiding influencein us, by the light, energy, and witness of his Holy Spirit, which he has freely given us, to produce, excite, and assist a constant exercise of faith and love, and every other grace in our souls." Comp. John 14:23.
Inferences.—How inestimable a privilege is it to be born of God! What infinite reason have those that possess it, to rejoice and be exceeding glad! With what astonishment should we reflect upon the Divine condescension, in admitting us to such an endearing relation! Let us behold with admiration and joy, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we sinful wretched mortals should be called the sons of God! Let us behold how high it rises, how wide it diffuses its effects! How glorious the inheritance, to which in consequence of this we are entitled! The world indeed knows it not; nor do we ourselves completely know it. Even John, the beloved disciple, who lay in the bosom of our Lord, and drank so deep out of the Fountain-head of knowledge and holiness, even he says, it doth not yet appear what we shall be. But let us, in sweet tranquillity of soul, depend on our heavenly Father, that he will do whatever is becoming his perfect wisdom and goodness, in respect to the advancement and felicity of his own faithful children. During our state of minority, let us be contented to be at his allowance, and rejoice, that we are in the general told, that when Christ, the first-born of the family, shall make his second triumphant appearance, we shall also appear with him in glory, yea, all his saints, new dressed from the grave, to adorn his train, and transformed into his illustrious image, not only with respect to the glories of the body, but the brighter glories of the immortal spirit. With him, if faithful, we shall have an abundant entrance into his everlasting kingdom, and for ever experience the efficacy of that near and intimate vision of him, which we shall there enjoy, to transform us into the same likeness from glory to glory. O, that, in the mean time, we may all feel the energy of this blessed hope to purify our soils, that our hearts and dispositions may correspond to our expectations! When Christ came in human flesh, it was with this important purpose, that he might take away sin, that he might destroy the works of the devil, and reduce to order and harmony that confusion and ruin, which Satan, by his malicious insinuations, had introduced into the world. Blessed Jesus! may this thy benevolent design be more and more effectual! May the empire of sin and corruption, which is the empire of hell, be entirely subdued, and thy celestial kingdom of grace and holiness advanced. And may none deceive themselves, nor forget, that he alone is righteous, who practiseth righteousness. By this let us judge of ourselves, whether we are the children of God, or of the devil. And instead of falsely flattering ourselves, that though we do commit sin with allowance, yet there may be some secret seed of God still concealed in our hearts; let us judge of our having received this regenerating seed, by its tendency to preserve us from sin, and the victories which it enables us to gain over its destructive wiles and insufferable tyranny.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, The apostle,
1. Breaks forth with admiration in the view of the love of God toward his believing people. Behold with wonder and amaze, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, in Jesus Christ, that we, who have been by nature and practice so vile, corrupt, and sinful, should, notwithstanding, be adopted into his family, and be called the sons of God, advanced to that dignity and honour: therefore the world, who have their minds wholly engrossed with sensible objects, and have no discernment of spiritual things, knoweth us not; far from esteeming and valuing us, they deride and persecute us for that image which we bear; because it knew him not, they are ignorant of God; and when his only-begotten Son appeared incarnate, they nailed him to the tree. Note; (1.) The meanest child of God has a dignity infinitely greater than the first-born of princes. (2.) If we be treated with derision and contempt by this wicked world, we should remember the cross which Jesus bore, and be ashamed to murmur.
2. He declares the high expectations of God's children. Beloved, now are we the sons of God; this is our present honour; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; greater blessedness is in store for the faithful, than eye hath seen, or ear heard, or it hath entered into the heart of man to conceive: but we know that when he shall appear, who is our Head, even Christ, we shall be like him, admitted to his presence, and partakers of all his glory, if faithful unto death; for we shall see him as he is, and our bodies as well as our souls shall be fashioned after his bright image. Note; The day of judgment will be a day of glorious triumph to every faithful soul.
3. Such a hope cannot but have the most powerful influence upon our conduct. And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure, setteth Christ's glorious pattern before him, and earnestly endeavours to obtain a holy conformity to him in all things. Note; The hope which does not lead us to holiness, is but the hope of the hypocrite, which perisheth.
2nd, Nothing can more strongly urge the believer to strive against sin, than the arguments which the apostle proceeds to press upon him.
1. Sin is the breach of God's holy law. Whosoever committeth sin, transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. Every deviation from that perfect rule, needs the atoning Blood; but where sin is the allowed practice, there all hope towards God must be delusion.
2. The very end of Christ's redemption was to cleanse us from all iniquity. And ye know that he was manifested in the flesh, on purpose to take away our sins, both the guilt of them from our conscience, and the power and nature of them from our hearts: and in him is no sin: all, therefore, who belong to him, must shew that the design of his incarnation is answered respecting them, in their deliverance from the bondage of corruption, and in their growing conformity to his blessed image.
3. An allowed course of sin is utterly contradictory to real union with Christ. Whosoever abideth in him, as the branch in the vine, deriving constant supplies of grace out of his fulness, sinneth not, does not wilfully commit any sin, but hateth sin as the greatest evil, and endeavours to keep at the greatest distance from it: whosoever sinneth, wilfully and determinately, hath not seen him, neither known him, but is an utter stranger to Christ, and his great salvation.
4. It is the most fatal deceit to imagine, that without the practice of righteousness, we can be ever like him or with him. Little children, let no man deceive you with any vain suggestions: he that doeth righteousness in the constant and habitual course of his temper and conduct, and conscientiously towards God and man endeavours to be found without offence, he is righteous, even as he is righteous, and thus resembles, in a measure, the Holy One of God.
5. The allowed practice of sin is a virtual compact with the devil, and renunciation of Jesus Christ. He that committeth sin, as his delight and choice, is of the devil, bears his image, and is completely under his influence; for the devil sinneth from the beginning, was the author of evil, and continues to spread the dreadful poison: having tempted angels from their allegiance, and seduced man in paradise, he persists with unrelenting malice in labouring for man's eternal ruin. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil, and rescue his faithful people from Satan's hateful power, breaking his yoke from off their neck, and destroying the very being of sin in them: all therefore who are his people, experience his power, and are delivered from the bonds of the wicked one, in respect at least to the dominion of sin.
6. Every regenerate person cannot but renounce his connection with iniquity. Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin, does not commit it wilfully; because it is contrary to that divine nature which he has received: for his seed remaineth in him; he has that principle of grace implanted in his heart, which makes sin odious and hateful to him: and he cannot sin; not that he is literally impeccable, but that the new nature he has received, is utterly averse to it, and successfully opposes the carnal mind, because he is born of God.
7. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil; their works always evidence what spirit is in them: whosoever doth not righteousness, is not of God, has no part or lot in his kingdom; neither he that loveth not his brother; these two things, neglect of godliness, and an uncharitable spirit, are the sure brands of Satan's slaves.
3rdly, The apostle, having mentioned the want of brotherly love as the sure evidence of exclusion from God's favour, enforces the practice of that most excellent of graces, Love. For,
1. This is the message that ye heard from the beginning, and one of the chief precepts of the Redeemer, that we should love one another.
2. He mentions the dire example of the wicked Cain, to shew the hatefulness of such a spirit as he possessed. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, a child of the devil, and slew his brother: And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous, and he could not bear the rebukes of his pious example, and the approbation which God testified of Abel's sacrifice, when his own was rejected. And if this was the case so early, and the enmity between the Seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent appeared then so malignant, marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you; the same diabolical nature will produce exactly similar effects. Note; (1.) Envy or hatred in heart, is murder begun. (2.) We need not wonder at the world's enmity: such is, more or less, the lot of all the saints.
3. Brotherly love is a proof of our spiritual life. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren; to love them as children of God, and for the sake of him whose image they bear, evidences the life of God in our own souls.
4. The contrary is a sure sign of the power of spiritual death over the soul. He that loveth not his brother, abideth in death, in a state of nature, and of wrath, under the curse of the law. For whosoever hateth his brother, is, in the eye of the law of God, a murderer: and ye know that no murderer, who continues under the power of this malignant spirit, hath eternal life abiding in him, nor the least prospect of attaining it: eternal death is the wages of his sin.
5. The love of Jesus to us, should engage our love to our brethren. Hereby perceive we the love of God the Son toward us, because he laid down his life for us on the accursed tree; an instance of love so stupendous, as passes all understanding: and we, animated by such an example, ought, if duty so require, to lay down our lives for the brethren; and if our lives must readily be offered for their service, how much more our substance, when their necessities call for our relief? But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? Such a conduct must necessarily shew the absence of that divine principle, and prove the hypocrisy of every pretension to the high relation of children of God. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, merely, but give the more substantial evidences thereof in deed, and in truth, acting according to our professions, with an open hand and open heart towards every Christian brother, for his sake whose love we in common share.
6. And hereby we know that we are of the truth; such a conversation demonstrates the reality of our interest in the redemption which is in Jesus Christ, and shall assure our hearts before him, bearing witness to our simplicity and godly sincerity, and giving us rejoicing in the testimony of our conscience. For if our heart condemn us of allowed hypocrisy, and we cannot stand before our own tribunal within, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things, and must therefore much more condemn us, as his piercing eye can discover hidden iniquities which we pass by unregarded. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, not the stupified hearts and seared consciences of the unregenerate, but the enlightened of the faithful, where, though many infirmities may be seen and lamented, allowed guile is not harboured, this consciousness of our simplicity gives a humble boldness to the soul; and then have we confidence toward God, a holy freedom and liberty of soul in our approaches to a throne of grace. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight, asking always according to his will, and aiming at his glory in all our conversation.
4thly, We have,
1. The great commandments of the gospel. And this is his commandment, (1.) That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, as the only and all-sufficient Saviour of lost sinners, renouncing every other hope or dependance, and, with satisfaction, resting our souls on him for pardon and acceptance with God; and, (2.) That we should, in consequence of faith in him, love one another, as he gave us commandment, exercising the most enlarged, unfeigned, and cordial affection towards all the members of his body mystical in particular, and shewing a general benevolence to mankind.
2. Great will be the blessedness resulting hence. And he that keepeth his commandments, from this principle of faith, which worketh by love, dwelleth in him, and he in him, abideth in a state of vital union with the exalted Jesus: and hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us, whose mighty energy effectually influences our hearts and conduct, and who bears witness to his own work to our increasing comfort and joy.