The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 125

reaeon of trcepaeeee and eins." There is e. resemblance between a dead body and the etnte into which the eoul is brought by sin. In both there is the absence of vision, of hearing, of sensibility, and of activity. 2. Th1 cor.dition into which the love of God aim& to bring man. "'!'hat we might live through him." His design is to quicker. men into spiritual life-the lifo of true thought, pure affection, righteous and unselfish activity, e.nd reverent worship. This life is "ternal in its n11ture. It is not perishable or decaying, but enduring and progre~sive. And it is blessed. Life in the text corn• prises salvation in all its glorious fulncss. How clear is the manifestation to us of the Divine love in this I IV. IN THE MEANB DY WIIICII THIS BLESSING IS OBTAINED FOR UB. "He Bent his Son to be the Propitiation for our sins." The best commentary on Christ the Propitiation that we know, is that found in the words of St. Paul, in Rom. iii. 24-26. Two remarks only do we offer concerning the propitiation. 1. It was not auything offered to God to render him willing to bless and save us. 2. It was designed to remove obstructions to tltefreejlowingforth of the mercy of God to man. 1 How splendi<l the expre8sion of the love of God in sending his Son, only and well-beloved, to be the Propitiation for our sins I V. IN THE EXAMPLE wmcII IT PRESENTS TO us. "Belove<l, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." The obligation to copy the Divine example in this respect is grounded upon our relation to him as his children. Because we are "begotten of God" (ver. 7) we should seek to resemble him. The argument of the Apostle Paul is similar: "Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love," etc. (Eph. v. 1, 2). If we are "partakers of the Divine nature," we should imitate the Divine example. 1. In relation to mankind in general. "I sa_y unto you, Love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you; that ye may be sons of your Father which is in heaven," etc. (Matt. v. 4-4, 15). He loved us with the love of compassion before he could love us with the love of complacency. Let us imitate him in this respect in our relation to those who are yet in their sins. 2. In relation to the Christian brotherhood in particular. (Cf. eh. iii. 10-18.) Let us evince our relation to the Father, who is infinite Love, by our unfeigned love to our Christian brethren. Let the supreme manifestation in regard to us of his love thus produce its appropriate effect in us.-W.J. Ver. 14.-The great mission of Christ. "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son," etc. The mission of Jesus Christ appears here in a threefold relation. I. lN ITS RELATION TO THE WORLD. "The Father sent the Son to be the Sa.viour of the world." Notice. 1. The world's need of a Saviour. It was in a morally lost anu undone condition. It was perishing by reason of its sins. Take the worl<l of St. John's day, or of our own day, in confirmation of this. 2. The world's inability to provide for itself a Saviow·. Many times and in various ways it has made the attempt, but it has always faile<l. Schemes of political organization, or liberal education, or s~cinl amelioration, or even moral reformation, do not reach the central depths of the need of our race. Man needs salvation, redemption. 3. The Son of God came to the world as its Saviour. "The Saviour of the world." The expression "the world" is to be understood in its plain, natural meaning (cf. eh. ii. 2; John iii. 16). He saves men frnm sin by the influence of his lifo and work upon earth, of his sacrificial death, his glorio'.ls resw·rection, and his effectual intercession. How benevolent is this mission! He might have come to judge, condemn, and destroy our rebellious race. But "God scmt not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world throu~h him might be saved." How stupendous is this mission! Creation is a. great and glorious work. The Divine agency in upholding the universe, and presiding over its vast and infiaitely diversified affairs, baffles our every attempt to comprehend it. The immensity of its extent, the minuteness of its attention, the infinity of its wisdom, the almighti- ness of its power, immeasurably tra.nscead our utmost thought. But the salvation of lost men is God's greatest and most glorious work. In the Divine Son accomplishing bis redemptive rnissior.. we ha'l'e the clearest and fullest manifestation of God. II. IN 1TB RELATION TO THE FATIIER. "The Father bath sent the Son to be the ~ For additional remi rks on these pcints, see our homily on eh. ii. 1, 2. 122 THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF JOHN. (orr. rv. 1-21.