Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 3 · Verse 9
1 JOHN 3.9.
Whoſoever is born of God, doth not commit ſin; for his ſeed remaineth in him, and he cannot ſin, becauſe he is born of God.
THE third argument whereby St. John proveth that he that committeth ſin is of the Devill, is taken from the common practice of Gods children, who are ſo far from gratifying the Devill by commiſſion of ſin, that whoſoever is born of God ſinneth not.
In the Verſe there are three things.
1. The courſe of a childe of God, He doth not commit ſin.
2. The cauſe of it, The ſeed of God is in him.
3. This is amplified from an impoſſibility of ſinning, which is in regard of his new birth.
Doct. The ſeed of God in the hearts of Gods children, preſerves them not onelyonly from ſin, but from poſſibility to ſin.
To be born of God, is the ſame with the ſeed of God.
What is this ſeed of God? 1 Pet. 1.23. The Word of God is an immortall ſeed, and that not in the letter, but in the ſpirit.
To be born again, is when the Word and Spirit hath framed a man to the image of God. A man is then born again, when the Word and Spirit hath done the work of ſeed. For many a man knows the Word is true, the Devill knows the Word well enough; but the Word is then ſeed, when the ſoule of a man doth not onelyonly receive the Word, but conceives of it, and is framed to the will of God, and being born of God, he is alwayes his childe. When a man is transformed into the image of God, his judgement and heart ſtampt with the image of God, he delights in God and his wayes, and children, his judgement and heart are carryed that way, they are all for God: repentance is called foreign, his minde is then changed, Prov. 23.26. My Son give me thy heart, his heart is given to God. The ſeed of Gods Word was not in Herod, John 2.24. Pſal. 119.11. 1 John 2.27. The ſeed of God remains in the children of God both Word and Spirit.
Reaſ. 1. From the mighty power the Word hath had in his ſoule, when he was firſt begotten and born of God. It was ſuch as did ſo affect and terrifie, as no earthly comfort was able to ſatisfie his heart, he hath been ſo overwhelmed with fears and doubts, as that he will be afraid to ſin as long as he lives.
2. From the ſtrong poſſeſſion that the Word and Spirit have in the heart, as they doe abide in the whole man, ſo eſpecially in the conſcience and will. I doe not allow what I doe, but what I hate, that doe I; which ſhews, that the Word hath taken ſuch faſt hold of his judgement and will, that both are for God, Jer. 32.40. Pſal. 119.161.
3. From the great change this ſeed makes in the heart of a childe of God. It makes him from a wilde olive, to be a ſweet olive. A good tree (Mat.18.) cannot bring forth evill fruit. Every thing brings forth fruit according to the ſeed.
Obj. There is a ſeed of corruption, cannot a man bring forth according to that?
Anſw. There is an old man, but he is crucified, if we ſin, we doe not trade in ſin, our judgements and hearts are againſt it. When ſome lawleſſe luſts have carryed us captive, and we complain of them to God, and deſire that they were caſt out, God looks at them, not as ours, Rom. 6.14. Pſal. 110.28.
Ʋſe 1. To refute all ſuch doctrines as teach the apoſtaſie of Saints. They ſay ſuch as are born of God may come to ſin totally and finally. This errour fights againſt a double doctrine of the Apoſtle. He ſaith, Whoſoever is born of God, the ſeed remaineth in him. If a man can ſhake out the Spirit, how doth it remain? 2. The Text ſaith, there is no poſſibility of ſinning; they ſay, he may ſin.
Obj. They ſay, Whileſt he is a childe of God he cannot ſin, but he may ceaſe to be a childe of God.
Anſw. 1. He cannot ſin, whereby he ſhould be made no childe of God.
2. There is a doctrine of the Papiſts and their Divines, that teach, liberty of will cannot be niſi ad oppoſita, that a man may will a thing or not.
I ask whether a childe of God forbears a ſin willingly or not. We ſay, willingly. If a childe of God walk in innocency from ſin, he can doe no otherwiſe. Whereas their doctrine is, a mans will is not free, unleſſe a man may doe a thing or not to doe it. What doe they think of Saints and Angells in Heaven, or God himſelfe? whether have they free-will or no? I hope none of them can ſin, yet doe they good moſt freely. Wherein ſtands liberty? Not onelyonly that a man doth a thing without conſtraint, but that he follows the counſell of his own will, he follows his own judgement and reaſon.
2. For tryall of our own hearts, whether we be born of God or no. If we be, our ordinary courſe is good, we dare not ſin, know not how to go about it, that ſeed which is in us, ſets our hearts and judgements aright, Gen. 39.9. Other men may think it ſtrange, that we cannot doe as they doe. This is a good evidence that thou art born of God.
3. See what to judge of thoſe that have made a profeſſion, and yet fall away. They were never born of God▪ for then they could not have ſinned.
4. This may be a ground of much comfort to every childe of God. He will preſerve us ſpotleſſe and blameleſſe. Here is a double comfort,
1. He looks not at thy courſe as ſin, if thou be humbled for it, and he will take a courſe to mortifie it.
2. You can never loſe the favour of God, becauſe if you be once begotten, you can never be unbegotten. You are begotten of an immortall ſeed, and therefore cannot die.
Obj. This may ſeem to be a doctrine of preſumption, for then a man may live as he liſt.
Anſw. Suppoſe a Phyſitian could give us the apple of the tree of life, that ſo we ſhould never die, but yet bids us take heed to a diet, for although we could not die, yet we ſhould have ſuch pangs, ſtone, gout, ſtrangury, as that we would wiſh death rather then life. So God will make the beſt of his ſervants know what it is to wax wanton againſt him, and make them curſe all the occaſions that lead them to ſin.
5. This ſhould teach us that have received any ſeed of God, to take heed that we ſin not, and therefore inform the judgement aright, out of the Word of God, 2 Tim. 1.3. that ſo you may come to ſound judgement and wiſdome. One errour of judgement will ſhake you much in your way, 1 John 5.18.