Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 3 · Verse 24
1 JOHN 3.24.
And he that keepeth his commandements, dwelleth in him, and he in him: and hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
VErſ. 22. The Apoſtle hath taught us a notable priviledge of keeping Gods commandements, and that is the obtaining the grant of our petitions, verſ. 23. he tells us what commandements they be. In this verſe he lays down another benefit which we have by keeping Gods commandements; that is, fellowſhip with God, God dwels in us, and we in him.
This verſe conſiſts of two parts.
1 The benefit of obedience to Gods commandements, God dwels in us, and we in him.
2 The means by which we know that God dwels in us, and that is by himſelf, for a Chriſtian might elſe doubt of it.
Doct. That an obedient Chriſtian keeps mutual, entire, and conſtant fellowſhip with Chriſt.
He is an obedient Chriſtian that keeps the commandements of God as his way, 1 John 7, 8. As his jewels, Prov. 6.21. As the apple of his eye, Prov. 7.2 3, 4. As his life, Prov. 16.19. To keep them as commands implies obedience out of ſence of ſuperiority in the commander, inferiority in the perſon commanded. He that keeps the commandements in ſuch a manner hath true fellowſhip with God, God dwels in him, and he in God.
Reaſ. From the effect Our keeping of Gods commandements is a meanes to keep fellowſhip with God, John 14.23. God will come and keep houſe with us, and refreſh and comfort us. If a Chriſtian ſhall grow up in obedience to Chriſt, then Chriſt his Husband will lop off his ſuperfluous branches, that ſo he may bring forth more fruit then he did before; he will comfort us with the conſolations of his holy Spirit, he will come in and ſup with us, Neh. 8.10. The more comfort, the more ſtrength. Comfort comes from confortare, to ſtrengthen; the more ſtrong a Chriſtian is, the more cheerfully he performs Chriſtian duties; like as the Sun is ſaid to come forth like a gyant, rejoycing to run his race, Pſal. 19.4. A weak man ſoon faints, and is weary, but a ſtrong man goes through his buſineſſe cheerfully.
Ʋſe 1. It reproves a Popiſh clamour. They ſay Proteſtant Chriſtians can do no good works, becauſe we deny all merit in them; like as our Saviour teacheth us, when we have done all we can, we muſt ſay, we are unprofitable ſervants, we do not deſerve our daily bread; but as Jacob confeſſeth, we are leſſe then the leaſt of his mercies, Gen. 30.1. Is there no uſe of good works except they merit? Is there no uſe of gold becauſe it doth not juſtifie us? Is not thi… encouragement enough for us to be doing good works, ſeeing thereby we ſhall maintain mutual, entire, and conſtant fellowſhip with God? Yea, we ſay that God alſo will at the laſt day recompence us, though not for our works, yet according to our good works. We do not merit any thing at Gods hands by our good works, becauſe we do receive ſtrength from him for the performance of them.
2 This may ſhew every Chriſtian juſt ground of encouragement to keep himſelf cloſe to Gods commandements, in keeping of them is great reward. For we keep in Chriſt Jeſus, and we keep mutual, and entire, and conſtant fellowſhip with the Father, and ſo we ſhall finde him as an Husband-man taking pains with us, keeping us from evill, and cleanſing us from thoſe corruptions which will make us ſtink in his noſtrils; and this he will do, becauſe he ſees us taking pains, and employing that ſtock of graces which he hath beſtowed on us. By this means God will make our lives comfortable, and will multiply graces in us in a great meaſure, and give us more ſtrentgh to make us yeeld more obedience unto him. And whereas other Chriſtians lives are very obſcure, we ſhall ſhine forth as the Sun at noon day; therefore thoſe Chriſtians much wrong themſelves that think themſelves bound to no commandment, though they would do as God requires, yet they would do it freely, and not as commanded. But why then doth John bid us keep his commandments, and promiſe ſuch bleſſings to us, if we do keep them? A good man would be doing good duties, though God did not command him, but yet he muſt therefore do good duties, becauſe God commands him.
3 Thoſe Chriſtians are reproved that walk looſely with God, who keep not Gods commandements; as they would keep their way, their jewels, the apple of their eye, their life, ſuch Chriſtians fall ſhort of that great reward which God promiſeth. Whence is it that Chriſtians are wanton, proud, covetous? Is it not becauſe they do not keep Gods commandements? For elſe God would keep their hearts, and cleanſe their ſpirits.
4 This may be an uſe of comfort to ſuch Chriſtians as have regard to the commandements of God, and to walk more cloſe with God on Gods holy day, ſuch ſhall have God dwelling with them, and working all their works for them; God will play the good Husband-man about them, he will prune them from all looſe diſtempers that hang about their ſouls, he will give us more wiſdome then our Teachers, and by this means we ſhall come before him with Chriſtian boldneſſe and confidence, and we may expect to receive ſtrength of grace, whereby we may runne with cheerfulneſſe the way of his commandements.
Hereby we know he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
In the ſecond place we come to ſpeak of the means whereby we may diſcern that God dwels in us, and that is, by the Spirit which he bath given us.
Doct. That the Spirit of God beſtowed on us, is an evident ſigne of Jeſus Chriſt dwelling in u.
He doth not ſay, we believe, though this be a great word, for faith is the evidence of things not ſeen; but he ſaith, we know it; now ſcire is rem per cauſam cognoſcere.
What is that Spirit that being beſtowed on us is an evidence of Chriſts dwelling in us? Did not the Spirit of the Lord come upon Saul, and he propheſied? 1 Sam. 10. Yet it is not ſaid that Chriſt abode in him, for ch. 16. verſe 14. it is ſaid that the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evill Spirit from the Lord troubled him.
Anſw. There be ſundry degrees of Gods Spirit which may be given to a man, and yet be no evidence of Gods dwelling in him, or he in God.
1. There is a Spirit of illumination, whereby a man may propheſie, as Saul did, But a man may have this Spirit of God and yet fall away, ſo as to ſin againſt the holy Ghoſt, Heb. 6.4, 5, 6.
2. A Spirit of adminiſtration of Church or Common-wealth, 1 Sam. 11.6.
3. A Spirit of power, to do many wonders, Matth. 7.22, 23. And yet Chriſt acknowledgeth that he never knew them, they did never abide in Chriſt, nor he in them.
4. There is a Spirit of renewall of many affections, which may befall any man.
1. A Spirit of Zeal, as in Jehu, Come and ſee my zeal for the Lord, 2 Kings 10.15, 16. and yet he took no heed to walk in the Law of the Lord, verſe 31, 32.
2. Of Joy in Herod, Mark 6.20.
3. Humility in Ahab, 1 King. 21.29.
4. Fear in Felix, Act. 24.25.
What is then the Spirit whereby we know that we keep Gods commandements, and have fellowſhip with him?
Anſw. It is the Spirit of life which is in Jeſus which frees us from the law of ſin and death, Rom. 8.2. This is the Spirit of adoption, verſ. 15. of grace and ſupplication, Zac. 12.10.
What doth this differ from the former, for they were the Spirit of God?
Anſw. It exceeds in this: Becauſe the former Spirits of God did reſt only upon the outwards of a man, as his Tongue, Memory, Affection, but this bids defiance unto all the enemies of his ſalvation, the Heart, and Will, which are the Caſtle wherein Chriſt abides, are given up to Chriſt, Pro. 23.26. God requires the heart, if we give the heart to God we give all, Prov. 4.23. Life ſprings not from good affections, nor good actions, but from the heart.
Q. What doth this Spirit more in my heart then did the other? How ſhall I know that the holy Ghoſt hath gotten poſſeſſion of my heart?
Anſw. If the Spirit of God hath taken poſſeſſion of your hearts, it lifts up your hearts for to prize the Lord Jeſus above all other things in the world, it makes thee willing to do and ſuffer Gods will with patience, it will cauſe you to reſigne your ſelves and your deſires to the Lord Jeſus; now all your affections and whole heart is for the Lord. If Paul now ſin, he doth that which he would not, Rom. 7.16, 17. Having given us this Spirit, we dwell in Chriſt, and he in us, 1 John 4.13. Becauſe by this Spirit we keep his commandements. If we keep his commandements, it ſhall go well with us, and with our children after us for ever, Deut. 5.29.
Reaſ. From the free covenant of grace, by which he hath promiſed everlaſting fellowſhip to thoſe that keep his commandements, Jer. 32 40. Iſa. 55.2, 3.
Obj. This may make us believe, but not to know as we believe; Ʋnity in Trinity, and Trinity in Ʋnity, but we cannot know it. But you ſay here, We do not only believe but know.
Anſw. There is a difference between faith and knowledge: For a man may believe a thing is true, becauſe he doth not doubt of the authority of it, but yet we do not know all truths that are ſpoken, though we believe them, for ſtnowledge is of a certain concluſion; we know this to be ſo, partly by faith, partly by ſenſe and reaſon; for though faith believe things before we know them, it being the evidence of things not ſeen, and ſo a man may believe that God is gracious before we know it; yet when faith hath laid hold on the promiſes, it ſets reaſon on work. This Spirit of God works in us an evidence of our abode in Chriſt, for 1. this Spirit of God works peace of conſcience, Phil. 4.7. which paſſeth all underſtanding; though it doth not always abide, yet it keeps garriſon always, it bears witneſſe to a man that Chriſt is in him, and he in Chriſt.
2. It works a change in all Chriſtians, it changeth them from the power of Satan to the power of God, Gal. 5.19, 20, 21. And though the peace of conſcience and conſolation of the Spirit abide not always, yet the Spirit of regeneration and ſanctification doth always abide, and doth change the whole man, 2 Cor. 5.17. Before a carnal and fleſhly Spirit, but now the Spirit of glory and grace reſts upon us, which makes us reliſh Chriſtian communion, and Chriſtian ſociety. This Spirit doth alwayes abide, and ſo we know that Chriſt abides, Rom. 8.9.
Obj. I may think there is a through change, but yet it may be it's only of the outward man?
Anſw. Conſider how it changeth thy heart. Is thy heart with God, and wholly for God? Doſt thou long for peace with God? Wouldſt thou not forgoe it if thou hadſt it; for all the world? Is the Word of God more precious to thee then thine appointed food? No profit, pleaſure, or preferment, ſhall hinder thee from following of Chriſt. When a man hath horrour of conſcience, he would give his life for peace, but then a man doth not affect God ſo much as his own peace. Thus Cain, Gen. 4. When Saul had a ſpirit full of trouble, then David muſt play a fit of muſick. When wicked mens hearts are at reſt, then they never regard God, but then they cloſe with the world, and ſenſuall luſts. But when the Sun of righteouſneſſe doth ariſe in a mans heart, he will ſcatter abroad all thoſe diſtempers of ſpirit that hang about him, and frame his heart to an holy care of keeping Gods commandements.
Ʋſe 1. To reprove a Popiſh opinion, that no man can know whether Chriſt abide in him or no. But why doth St. John then ſay, Hereby we know? and he ſpeaks to old men, young men, and babes, to try themſelves. Theſe men condemn the whole generation of the juſt. Such a woman as cannot tell her child who is his Father, is a ſtrumpet, and ſo is the Church of Rome.
2. It reproves others that think it impoſſible. Some think it not worth the knowing, others think it not meet to know whether Chriſt abide in them or no; ſuch have no care to make their calling and election ſure. But St. John ſaith, 'tis poſſible, and a thing worthy the ſeeking after, and alſo very expedient.
3. This ſhould exhort all Chriſtians to try and examine themſelves, whether they are in the faith or no, 2 Cor. 13.5. Know ye not. He ſpeaks of ſuch as have lived long under a faithful Miniſtery. It is an evill ſigne; Either know that Chriſt is in you, or be not ſatisfied.
4. To exhort us to give up our hearts to God, that his fear and love may rule our hearts, that ſo thoſe outward things take not up your affections, Rom. 8.9. & 14.
5. Comfort to Gods ſervants, that give up their hearts and lives to God, which have laid their ſalvation not on a ſandy but ſound ground, which have built it upon divine teſtimony, even the Spirit of God, which is a divine Spirit.