The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 153

nothing inconsistent with the claim,-then the proof of the validity of its testimony iB ~omplcte. Th~ oa,-rying out of this argument will prov~ that the Ch,·istian testimony ,sf,wn God, We ha'l'e a heavenly treasure, though put mto earthen vessels. 2. It is greater in its eonfents. It is a grand proclamation that "tho gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." 3. It is greater in the manifoldness and strength oj the evidence. Let all the tests suggested under the first division bo applied, e.g., to the testimony for the resurrection of Christ, and it will stand them all, while the evidence from the perfection of the moral character of the Christ is absolutely unique and suf- ficient. 4. It is greate1·, consequently, in its binding force. Well we know, alas I that ine,-itablc as_ this conclusion is, it is precisely the one many would evade and avoid; and, in fact, 1t may e'l'en be_ that, because they see this to be the issue of the inquiry, some decline to enter upon 1t. They do not like to be bound. Their spirit is Ps. ii. 3. And the ciearer the evidence, the gre.ater their wrath. But John vii.17 (Greek) shows us what th8 conclusion will be with a man who is" of God" (John viii. 47). III. IF Goo's TESTIMONY CONCERNING HIS SoN DE so GREAT AND so OLEAR, WHAT THEN? 1. The ~eliever ~s a~unda~tly /ustified in hisfa~th; so tha.t he is doubly happy, for the outer cndence Justifies his faith when he believes, and the inner evidence verifies the faith a.fter he believes. 2. ~l.'he unbeliever is condemned. The apostle makes a terrible charge against him-he maketh God a liar. How? Thus: he declares the greatest work which God has ever done in tbe world to have its basis in a delusion and a lie. The noblest life that the world has received has been grounded on the belief that J <'SUB is the Son of God. 'Ihe man denies that. In doing so he con- sequently declares that God builds up his noblest lives on an untruth. What is this but making God a liar? 3. ~ sinner has abundant warrant for saying- ,. Hence and for ever from my heart I bid my doubts and fears depe.rt, And to those hands my soul resign Th.at bee.r credentials so Divine." Ver. 13.1-0n bPlievers knowing that they have eternal life. <Jonnecting link: The statements which h.ave just been ma.de point out very clearly who have the eternal life and who have it not. But it is quite possible that such statements may exist, may be before a man's eye, may h.ave been read over again and again, and yet they may have been left unapplied to himself by him who reads them. But it is not enough to know what the eternal life is, and wh.at are the marks of its existence. It is all-important for the individual himself to possess the life, and to indicate it by its appropriate signs. Aud it is also important-though it cannot be said to be eqnally so-th.at, if a man has this lifo, he should know that he h.as it. Hence the apostle declares that the object of his writing thus has been that those who believe on the Na.me of the Son of God Hhould know, clearly and decisively, that they have life, and that the life they have is an eternal one. Topic-On believers knowing that they have eternal life. J. To EVERY ONE WHO BELIEVES IN CHRIST THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE BELONGS. This is the repeated and clear declaration of the Word of God (John v. 24; vi. 47; iii. 36 • ver. 12; Rom. vi 23; John i 12 compared with Rom. viii. 17, 38, 39). (For re~arks on the meaning and contents of eterna.l life, see homily on eh. ii. 25.) II. IT JS POBSIDLE FOR A TRUE BELIEVER TO BE UNAWARE OF BIB WEALTH. He may have the life eterna.1 and not know it. So, at any rate, the Apostle John declares, by implication, in this verse. We gather this : 1. From such Seri ptures as the one before us. 2. From observation. Have we not known many of the most devout believers in Christ "go mourning all their days" through the lack of the full assurance of faith and teaching is sufficient, well, be it so, and wait for further light on what you deem miracnlons, only remember: 3. That when we believe in one God and Father of all, we do in that one e.r1.i,·le of faith cover vastly more supernatural ground than all the recorded miracles put lo,,,:c tber. 4. Certainly there have been days when miracles were the very helps that men ncp1ired. Our Lord did not like its being so. He complained of it. Apostles put mirnolea in the fourth place. But if to some minds they were the most efficient helps, it was very ki1<1l of the Father thus to stoop to teach his children in their infancy. 1 The difference between the Authorized Version and Revised Vereion should be specie.Hy 110t0d here. ou, v. 1-21.J THE FIRS'r EPISTLE GENERAL OF JOHN. 151