Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 3 · Verse 5
1 JOHN 3.5.
Chriſt was manifeſt to take away our ſins, and in him is no ſin.
THeſe words containe in them the ſecond and third reaſon, why every hopeful Chriſtian ſhould purge himſelfe as Chriſt is pure.
The ſecond reaſon is taken from the end of Chriſts coming into the world, and that was to take away our ſins.
The third argument is taken from the pattern of Chriſts righteouſneſſe, for in him is no ſin.
From the ſecond reaſon, which is the ends of Chriſts coming into the world.
Doct. That the end of Chriſt coming into the world, was to take away our ſins.
By the manifeſtation of Chriſt, we muſt underſtand the coming …f Chriſt in the fleſh. 1 Tim. 3.16. He came for this end, to take away our ſins, Joh. 1.29.
Q. But what did Christ for us to take away our ſins?
Anſw. He became our ſurety, he willingly took upon him the burthen of our ſins, 1 Pet. 2.24. Iſa. 5.44.
2. As Chriſt took the burthen upon him, ſo God laid it upon him.
3. Chriſt did take away our ſins by imputation, as in the old Law, every man was to lay his hand on the head of the burnt-offering and to confeſſe their ſins, and ſo by that means their ſins were taken away. So now in this time of the Goſpel, we muſt lay hold on Chriſt by a true and lively faith, challenging Chriſt to be our Saviour, Lev. 16.21.22. 2 Cor. 5. ult.
Thus Chriſt taketh away our ſins by juſtifying us from the guilt, and by ſanctification he cleanſeth us from the ſpot and ſtaine of them, Ezek. 36.25. 1 Joh. 1.8.
This he doth three wayes.
1. By his death he overcame the principall enemies of our ſalvation, as the Devil, Heb. 2.14. and he hath overcome the world, which was ſtrong to carry us captive by flattery and fear, Gal. 6.14. He hath crucified the body of ſin and corruption in us, Kom. 6.6,
2 By ſending ſuch ordinances into the Church as might cleanſe us, Epheſ. 5.36. Prov. 13.20. Iſa. 27.9. The fruit of afflictions is to purge away ſin.
3 He hath ſent his holy Spirit into our hearts to change us. A Spirit of faith purifying, Act. 15.9. and of hope and love, 1 Joh. 3.3. Gal. 3.14. We receive the Spirit of grace, which makes Gods ordinance effectuall to eleanſe us.
Ʋſe 1. Of inſtruction to every one that is afflicted in conſcience for ſin, and knowes not how to be eaſed and purged. It is not fair buildings, muſick, and merry company that will take away ſin. This courſe will make thee worſe. But this thou muſt doe, conſider to what end Chtiſt was manifeſted and ſent into the world, was it not to take away our ſins? But I finde not this wrought in me, I find the world and luſts of my heart prevaile againſt me; Chriſt takes away the burthen and debt of ſin, by undertaking to accept and bear them, 1 Joh. 2.2, Mat. 11.28. The Father hath laid on Chriſt the iniquity of every weary and broken ſoul, Now we muſt get to Chriſt, and confeſſe all our iniquities, and leave them upon him, calling upon him for grace and mercy.
2. To comfort thoſe that depend upon Chriſt for mercy, and have confeſſed their ſins to him. If he have taken away ſin, it is done effectually, Heb. 10.1, to 10.
3 To teach every ſoul that believes that Chriſt came to take away our ſins, to renounce and abhorre all ſin, and to cleanſe themſelves from all filthineſſe of ſleſh and ſpirit. Let us not take Chriſts coming into the world in vain, but give all diligence to purifie our ſelves as Chriſt is pure.
And in him is no fin.
This is the reaſon, which is taken from the ſpotleſſe innocency of Chriſt.
Doct. That Chriſt is ſpotleſſe and pure from ſin, Luk. 23.22, 41.
Pilate and the Centurion acknowledged him to be ſo, Heb. 4.15. Joh. 14.30. 1 Pet. 2.21, 22. & 1.19, 20.
Reaſ. 1. In regard of the purity of the divine nature. If there had been ſin in the humane nature of Chriſt, it might have been ſaid that God was a ſinner.
2. That he might fulfill all the legal types and ſacrifices, which were to be without blemiſh.
3. From our neceſſity to have ſuch a Saviour, Heb. 7.26, 27. If he had offered ſacrifice for himſelfe, he had needed a Saviour to have redeemed him; If he had not been without ſin, he had been ſwallowed up of death.
Obj. How could he be clean that was born of a woman? Job. 25.4.
Anſ. He was not born by carnal generation, after the manner of men.
Ʋſe 1 To ſhew a difference between the firſt and ſecond Adam. The firſt Adam was a ſinner, and propagated ſins. The ſecond Adam was without ſin, and propagated righteouſneſſe, Rom. 5.19. We muſt not reſt in a carnal generation, for our natural birth is polluted; untill we be born of him in whom is no ſin we cannot be bleſſed.
2. It is a ground of conſolation to ſuch as feel themſelves burthened and preſſed down with ſin; though we be ſinfull, and laden, and compaſſed about with it, yet in Chriſt is no ſin or ſpot in nature, heart, or life. He came to fulfill all righteouſneſſe, and paid all to God to the utmoſt farthing. Righteous is Chriſt both in life and death, what is wanting in us is ſupplyed in him.
3. Hence we muſt learn all, not to judge our ſelves more ſinfull and miſerable then others, becauſe we are evill intreated in the world, and afflicted of God. Thus it was with Chriſt, it is our happineſſe to doe well, though we ſuffer evill, 1 Pet. 2.21, 22.
Doct. The ſpotleſſe innocency of Chriſt, is and ought to be an effectual motive to every hopefull Chriſtian, to purge himſelfe as Chriſt is pure, 1 Pet. 1.16. Mat. 5. ult.
Reaſ. 1. From the ends of Gods predeſtinating us, Rom. 8.28, 29. and God worketh all things according to the counſell of his will, Epheſ. 1.11.
2 From the end of Chriſts ſpotleſſe life and death, leaving us an example to follow his ſteps, 1 Pet. 2.21, 22. To juſtifie us from the guilt, and to purge us from the blot and ſtaine of ſin. If we ſin, we ſin againſt Gods predeſtination. and the end of Chriſts coming.
3 From the neer fellowſhip between Chriſt and us, he is our head and huſband, we muſt labour therefore to be ſuitable and conformable unto him, Eph. 5.26.
4. Chriſt taketh paines to cleanſe and heale us, that ſo he might preſent us without blemiſh to God. This is the ſcope of all his holy ordinances, and of Chriſts ſhedding his blood.
Ʋſe 1. To reprove ſuch as take pleaſure in ſin, and being reproved, juſtifie themſelves, in ſaying, all are ſinners, we muſt purge our ſelves as Chriſt is pure, in whom is no ſin.
2. To ſtirre up all the children of God, to conforme themſelves to Chriſt in life and death, 2 Cor. 7.1. Let us not ſin againſt Gods predeſtination and Chriſts blood; Let us not be a diſhonour and griefe to our head, and take Gods ordinances in vain.
How ſhall we doe this?
1. Beleeve ſtedfaſtly in the Lord Chriſt for juſtification, and get his blood ſprinkled upon us to cleanſe us for ſanctification.
1. Set the pattern of Chriſt before thee, and wiſely behold it, and view it. This will be effectuall to mould and faſhion thee according thereunto, 1 Joh. 1.16. There is a ſupernaturall power in Chriſt, lookt upon by the eye of faith, to transfigure us into his likeneſſe, 2 Cor. 3.18. There is a power in the ſight of Chriſt to convey his Spirit to transforme us.
2. Deale effectually with thine own heart, and pray to God for grace, that thy ſoule may abhor, and diſallow, and condemn all ſin in thee, Rom. 7.12, 13. Let thy judgment diſallow it, and thy will abhor and hate it, and then it is not we that do it, but ſin that dwels in us. God looketh at ſin as thy enemy, and pityeth thee.