The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 116

Vers. 15, 16.-Divine love a home for the soul, and a force within it. Connecting link: There is a connection between the several verses on which we are now dwelling (vers, 7 -19). But it is not 1<0 much a connection of thoughts that follow consecutively one from another, as a connection such as exists between glowing sparks that follow one after another, from the same mass, when struck upon the same anvil, by the same l1ammer, wielded by the same arm. The apostle gives us here a startlingly beautiful succession of truths concerning love-Divine love-revealed in Christ, and laying hold of men. Obviously, in vers. 15, 16 there are two statements concerning believers generally-" Whosoever shall confess," etc.; "He that dwelleth in love,'' etc. There is also one statement concerning the apostle and his fellow-workers-" We have known," etc. Let us take these in their order.1 L HERE ARE TWO GENERAL STATEMENTS, CONCERNING A BLESSED CONDITION AND THOSE TO WHOM IT BELONGS. 1. Here is a supremely happy condition. It is twofold. (1) 'l'he soul full of God. "God dwelleth in him" (cf. John vi. 56; xiv. 23; Col. i. 27; Gal ii. 20; 2 Cor. xiiL 5; Rom, viii. 9; Eph. ii. 22; v. 18; Rev. iii. 20). In some passage the Dweller in the heart is spoken of as " Christ," sometimes as "the Spirit," sometimes as "the Father with the Son," sometimes as "God by the Spirit." lu all cases the meaning is that there is a Divine Energy within the rnnn, quickening, inspiring, and controlling him-a new directing and strengthening force, leading on to all holy action, to patient endurance, to final victory. Man moves not upward and heavenward by a self-elicited force, but soars thither by a Divine power imparted and sustain~d from above I (2) The soul at home in God. "He dwelleth in God." God is not only a new life in him, but a new home for him, in which he abides, and from which he cannot be dislodged. His wanderings are over. He has a settled rest, an everlasting home. It is in the Father's house, nay, in the Father's heart, the heart of boundless love. He is seated now in "the heavenly places in Christ Jesus," Happy, happy home! It is heaven. It will never break up. No foe can invade it. Sin shall not mar it. Death cannot disturb it. Oh, to have found already a home like this I It is well worth our while to ask to whom it belongs, (Note: 'l'he two indwellings complete i,ach other. God dwelling in the soul ensures the soul continuously dwelling in its true home; and the soul, being always at home, has entire repose, leaving all its force free for happy, holy service.) 2. To whom does this twofold blessedness "t-elong 1 1 See footnote to homily on eh. iii. -i-12. CH, 1v. 1-21.] THE I<'IRS'r EPISTLE GENERAL OF JOHN. 113