Christ. But through him' the believer has a glorious hope ;
1. That he is a child of God —
[Christ, having purchased us with his own blood, has reconciled us to God, and made us his children. He teaches his followers to consider themselves as standing in this relation to God, not merely like the angels who are his sons by creation, but in a more exalted manner by regeneration and adoption: and he teaches them to expect from him throughout their whole
lives the blessing suited to that high dignity b
Now the true Christian hopes that he is brought into this happy state, and that he shall receive from God all those endearing tokens of affection which the relation of sonship emboldens him to expect. This hope of his is founded partly on the merits of his Saviour, and partly on the internal evidence which he has, that he is interested in the Saviour. The mere circumstance of Christ having laid down his life for him, would not be a sufficient ground for him to number himself among the family of God : but when he has the testimony of his own conscience that he has sought acceptance with God through the death of Christ, then he is enabled to indulge a hope that the privileges annexed to such a state belong to him.]
2. That he shall be with God, and like him, for ever —
[The blessings which the saints enjoy are not confined to this life: "Being sons of God, they are also heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ0." " Though they know not yet what they shall be, they know that, when they shall see him, they shall be like him ; for they shall see him as he isd." The time is coming, when they shall all be introduced into bis immediate presence, and be with him and like him for
ever. This also is an object of the Christian's hope
He believes that this is the heritage of the saints; and that " what God hath promised, he is able, and willing, to fulfil."]
That this is no barren hope, will appear from, II. The effect it produces in him —
Every Christian will endeavour to purify himself
to the uttermost —
[The Christian cannot wilfully live in any known sin : he will search out his corruptions, in order to subdue them ; and
a The text does not say, iv iav-M, in himself, but Ik au-w, in him, that is, in Christ.
b vet. 1. John i. 12, 13. Matt. vi. G, 8, 9, 31—33. c Rom. viii. 15 — 17. d ver. 2.