1John:3

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* Verse 1 ,2 - Little does the world know of the happiness of the real followers of Christ . Little does the world think that these poor , humble , despised ones , are favourites of God , and will dwell in heaven . Let the followers of Christ be content with hard fare here , since they are in a land of strangers , where their Lord was so badly treated before them . The sons of God must walk by faith , and live by hope . They may well wait in faith , hope , and earnest desire , for the revelation of the Lord Jesus . The sons of God will be known , and be made manifest by likeness to their Head . They shall be transformed into the same image , by their view of him . * Verse 3-10 - The sons of God know that their Lord is of purer eyes than to allow any thing unholy and impure to dwell with him . It is the hope of hypocrites , not of the sons of God , that makes allowance for gratifying impure desires and lusts . May we be followers of him as his dear children , thus show our sense of his unspeakable mercy , and express that obedient , grateful , humble mind which becomes us . Sin is the rejecting the Divine law . In him , that is , in Christ , was no sin . All the sinless weaknesses that were consequences of the fall , he took ; that is , all those infirmities of mind or body which subject man to suffering , and expose him to temptation . But our moral infirmities , our proneness to sin , he had not . He that abides in Christ , continues not in the practice of sin . Renouncing sin is the great proof of spiritual union with , continuance in , and saving knowledge of the Lord Christ . Beware of self-deceit . He that doeth righteousness is righteous , and to be a follower of Christ , shows an interest by faith in his obedience and sufferings . But a man cannot act like the devil , and at the same time be a disciple of Christ Jesus . Let us not serve or indulge what the Son of God came to destroy . To be born of God is to be inwardly renewed by the power of the Spirit of God . Renewing grace is an abiding principle . Religion is not an art , a matter of dexterity and skill , but a new nature . And the regenerate person cannot sin as he did before he was born of God , and as others do who are not born again . There is that light in his mind , which shows him the evil and malignity of sin . There is that bias upon his heart , which disposes him to loathe and hate sin . There is the spiritual principle that opposes sinful acts . And there is repentance for sin , if committed . It goes against him to sin with forethought . The children of God and the children of the devil have their distinct characters . The seed of the serpent are known by neglect of religion , and by their hating real Christians . He only is righteous before God , as a justified believer , who is taught and disposed to righteousness by the Holy Spirit . In this the children of God are manifest , and the children of the devil . May all professors of the gospel lay these truths to heart , and try themselves by them . * Verse 11-15 - We should love the Lord Jesus , value his love , and therefore love all our brethren in Christ . This love is the special fruit of our faith , and a certain sign of our being born again . But none who rightly know the heart of man , can wonder at the contempt and enmity of ungodly people against the children of God . We know that we are passed from death to life : we may know it by the evidences of our faith in Christ , of which love to our brethren is one . It is not zeal for a party in the common religion , or affection for those who are of the same name and sentiments with ourselves . The life of grace in the heart of a regenerate person , is the beginning and first principle of a life of glory , whereof they must be destitute who hate their brother in their hearts . * Verse 16-21 - Here is the condescension , the miracle , the mystery of Divine love , that God would redeem the church with his own blood . Surely we should love those whom God has loved , and so loved . The Holy Spirit , grieved at selfishness , will leave the selfish heart without comfort , and full of darkness and terror . By what can it be known that a man has a true sense of the love of Christ for perishing sinners , or that the love of God has been planted in his heart by the Holy Spirit , if the love of the world and its good overcomes the feelings of compassion to a perishing brother ? Every instance of this selfishness must weaken the evidences of a man 's conversion ; when habitual and allowed , it must decide against him . If conscience condemn us in known sin , or the neglect of known duty , God does so too . Let conscience therefore be well-informed , be heard , and diligently attended to . * Verse 22-24 - When believers had confidence towards God , through the Spirit of adoption , and by faith in the great High Priest , they might ask what they would of their reconciled Father . They would receive it , if good for them . And as good-will to men was proclaimed from heaven , so good-will to men , particularly to the brethren , must be in the hearts of those who go to God and heaven . He who thus follows Christ , dwells in Him as his ark , refuge , and rest , and in the Father through him . This union between Christ and the souls of believers , is by the Spirit he has given them . A man may believe that God is gracious before he knows it ; yet when faith has laid hold on the promises , it sets reason to work . This Spirit of God works a change ; in all true Christians it changes from the power of Satan to the power of God . Consider , believer , how it changes thy heart . Dost not thou long for peace with God ? Wouldst thou not forego all the world for it ? No profit , pleasure , or preferment shall hinder thee from following Christ . This salvation is built upon Divine testimony , even the Spirit of God . Henry ' _1__4 **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary **** _

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