But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
But, х Gar (G1063)] - 'For.' Confirming the need of these graces (2 Peter 1:5-8) by the fatal consequences of wanting them.
He that lacketh - Greek, 'he to whom these are not present.' Blind - as to unseen spiritual realities. And cannot see afar off - explaining "blind." He closes his eyes х muoopazoon (G3467)], unable to see distant objects-namely, heavenly things-and fixes his gaze on present earthly things, which alone he can see. Wilfulness in the blindness is implied in 'closing the eyes,' which constitutes its culpability: rebelling against the light shining around him.
Forgotten, х leetheen (G3024) laboon (G2983)] - 'contracted forgetfulness:' willful obliviousness. That he was purged. The present sense of one's sins having been once for all forgiven, is the stimulus to every grace (Psalms 130:4). This once for all cleansing of believers at their new birth is taught symbolically by Christ (John 13:10) х Leloumenos (G3068) - nipsasthai (G3538)], 'He that has been bathed (once for all) needeth not save to wash his feet (of the soils contracted in the daily walk), but is clean every whit (in Christ our righteousness).' 'Once purged (with Christ's blood), we should have no more consciousness of sin' (as condemning us, Hebrews 10:2; Hebrews 10:17), because of God's promise. Baptism sacramentally seals this.