Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 3 · Verse 21
1 JOHN 3.21.
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God.
Doct. SƲch as have peace with their own conſciences, have boldneſſe with God.
If we have peace with our hearts, we have not onelyonly peace with God, but boldneſſe, Eph. 3.12. foreign is liberty of speech; hence comes liberty of carriage. When God hath been pleaſed to give us fellowſhip with him in Chriſt, that we have the Miniſtry of the Goſpel revealed to us, then we have boldneſſe, Phil. 1.20. He that hath this hope, ſhall never be aſhamed before God or men, Rom. 5.1, 2. This rejoycing is a companion of boldneſſe.
Wherein ſtands this boldneſſe?
Anſw. In three things.
1 In liberty of ſpirit, to ask thoſe things at Gods hands that are meet for us. This we may doe with ſome boldneſſe and liberty, Heb. 4.16. Let us go boldly to the throne of grace, he means in prayer. A Chriſtian that hath the Lord Jeſus Chriſt for his High Prieſt, who hath reconciled him to God, to him Gods throne is not a Judgement-ſeat, but a Mercy-ſeat and he begs mercy to help him in time of need; we may ſafely expect, God will not deny what we ask, Phil. 1.6. The Apoſtle tells us by his own example, he never prays for them, but his heart is warmed with joy, and he was confident God would grant what he prayed for. We come to a throne of grace; that is, we may ſpeak as favourites to God.
2 Boldneſſe in dangers that may befall in this world, or another. He walks fearleſſe and ſecurely againſt the fear of danger, Pſal. 23.4. ult. Doubtleſſe loving kindneſſe and mercy ſhall follow me all my days. Surely, or doubtleſſe. This is a bold ſpeech, to aſſure himſelfe that goodneſſe and mercy ſhall follow him whitherſoever he goes.
3 In expectation of all good things, whether we pray for them or not. God many times will have more care of us, then we of our ſelves. Paul was in a ſtraight, he knew it would be better for him to be diſſolved, and to be with Chriſt, yet better for the Church, if he ſhould in the fleſh, and he is confident he ſhall ſtay with them to their joyes, Phil. 1.24, 25. Acts 20.23, 24. There was a readineſſe of heart in him, ſo to carry all things, as that he might rejoyce in all, 1 Cor. 1.12.
Reaſ. 1 From the juſtification by faith, Rom. 5.1, to 5. We rejoyce in tribulation, hope never makes aſhamed. The ſoul is never at peace, till ſuch time as by faith it doth receive and apply Chriſts righteouſneſſe, Acts 14.5. A man that owes another man money, and knows not how to pay him, he is aſhamed to come into his ſight. He that knows he hath injured his Prince, and that he doth watch an occaſion to be revenged of him, he will be afraid and aſhamed.
2. The ſincerity of his ſanctification. Though a man hath aſſurance that his ſins are pardoned, and that he is a childe of God, yet if he walk crookedly and looſly in his own wayes, his conſcience will be ſo perplexed and diſtracted, as that he will think every hand of God comes as a judgement, 2 Cor. 1.12. Here is his boldneſſe, he hath walked in ſimplicity and pureneſſe. A man is fearfull and aſhamed when he hath dealt doubly either with God or man, or walked in ſome way of impurity of heart. Pſal. 51.8. Davids bones were broken, he could not ſtand upright, he could not look God in the face. When God gives a man to walk in ſimplicity without guile, and pureneſſe without uncleanneſſe, then a man may walk boldly, and with joy, otherwiſe he walks like a criple, and creeps up and down.
Ʋſe 1 It reproves an old cavill that hath been in the world, that Religion makes men Daſtards and Cowards; No, rather want of Religion: If men had but purity of heart and good conſcience towards men, they would fear no dangers, 2 Cor. 1.12.
2 Refutation of all Popery. They cannot be bold, becauſe they cannot know God to be their Father, they keep not a good conſcience. Where there is no good conſcience, there is no boldneſſe. Wicked men indeed may be bold through ignorance, or through abundance of natural ſpirits, mettle, courage, &c. This may be in Papiſts, and was found in Heathens.
3 A ground of tryall of a mans peace, Luke 11.21. Thou art at peace. D…ſt thou pray boldly? doſt thou look that God ſhould anſwer thee? How doſt thou look danger in the face? Prov. 28.1, 2. In danger thou knoweſt Chriſt hath born all; many things befall thee, thou art confident all ſhall be for thy good.
4 This teacheth us the true way of boldneſſe. St. Auſtin praiſeth God that he can think of his former evills without fear. If thou wouldſt doe thus, ſtrive with God that he would ſprinkle thy ſoule with the blood of Chriſt. If thou haſt found peace of juſtification with God, labour for peace of ſanctification. Let no rebellious luſts be in thy ſoule, but complain of it to the Lord, and fight againſt them.
5 Much conſolation to a childe of God, that walks in ſimplicity of a good conſcience. If God hath given thee an heart to loath all wickedneſſe, and abandon all occaſions of ſin, there is a boldneſſe ſpringing in thy heart. A childe of God hath boldneſſe, but he ſees it overclouded, he knows not wi…h what ſin; but God doth ſometimes pour out himſelfe more largely, ſometimes more ſtraightly, therefore a childe of God fears ſomething amiſſe in him, and he is diſcouraged, but he needs not, there is a cauſe of boldneſſe, it is our portion. If our heart condemn us not, we have boldneſſe towards God.