The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 157

from man t-0 God, the breath of life will bo unbreathed by God to man. 4. Who would not wish to spend and be spent in prayer, if we may receive, as God's blessed boon, ~ire for souls I Why are we not more unselfish in our prayers? Why is so large a portion of them for ourselves, so small & portion for others? And why are we not more specific in prayer? Let us call up before us some brother or brethren for whose return to God we long and yearn; for them let us plead, and never, never give up. And if by our pleading many are visited by Heaven's best gift of life, they may never know who prayed for them; but our prayers will go up for a memorial before God, and we shall find it true that "they that sow in tears shaU reap in joy." Vers. 18, 19.-The strong foe and the stronger Friend. Connecting link: It is not without reason that the apostle bad just written of life from God as the needed gift to those who are sinning, whether their state be that of sin unto death or no; for the fact is that whosoever is born of God is not sinning. By the fact or the new birth he has been delivered out of that state in which the evil one would fain have held him, as that evil one still holds the world. But now the evil one is powerless, for his power is neutralized by the watchful care of the only begotten Son of God. Note: According to the Authorized Version this verse seems to teach that the believer has and exercises an instinct of self-preservation. The Revised Version and the Revisers' Greek text should be studied. Instead of ic11rrlll', we now read 11ln-bv. And further, the 6 -y•v11718•ls plainly points to another than 6 'Y£'"f£11"'1/Jhos, even to him that was and is the Begotten One of God. He it is who so watches over the new-born child of God that the evil one has no power to t-Ouch him. Topic-The conquering and the conquered ones. I. THERE IS A GREAT FOE OF MAN. "The evil one." 'l'he personality of the evil one is clearly implied in such passages o.s these: Matt. iv. 1; xiii 39; xxv. 41; John viii. 44; x.iii. 2; Eph. iv. 27; 1 Tim. iii. 6; Jas. iv. 7; 1 Pet. v. 8;_ eh. iii. 8; Luke xx.ii. 31; Rom. xvi. 20; 1 Cor. v. 5; 2 Cor. iv. 4. It is not possible fairly to interpret all these passages as indica.ting only an all-pervasive, impersonal evil. If any demnr, let them consider these two points. 1. It is not possible for moral evil to exist apart from some personal being in whom it exists. 2. Whatever evil is in man is there whether there be a devil or no. If there be no devil, and all man's evil is self-origi• nated, then man's nature is a great deal worse than the Scriptures declare it to be. lL THOUGH MAN HAB A GREAT FOE, HE HAS A GREATER FRIEND. This Friend is the "Begotten One of God;" "the only begotten Son." He beheld this world usurped by the destroyer, and came to set it free. His work is fourfold. 1. He came and worsted the evil one in single combat. 2. He laid down his life for men, and claims the globe as bis. 3. He has assumed the sovereignty over all, and dethroned the evil one (John xii. 31, 32). 4. He is now engaged by his Word and Spirit in (1) snatchjng men from the power of darkness, and transferring them to his own kingdom (Col. i. 13) ; and (2) in guarding those thns rescued (Luke xxii. 31, 32). Note: The great mystery of evil has its origin elsewhere than here, and a vaster field than this globe, although it is only here that we can trace it. IIL 'I'HBouGH THIS FRIEND (the only begotten Son of God) THERE ABE THOSE WHO ESCAPE THE EVIL. L WM are these, Those who are born again (ver. 18). All of them. 2. How do they t!$cape the evil 1 Through the watchful ea.re of the Lord Jesus. He guards (T'TJp•i) them. The word "expresses a watchful regard from without, rather than safe custody" (so Westcott). This guardianship is exercised (1) by gracious inter- cession (Luke xxii. 31); (2) by providential care (Ps. cxxi.); (3) by sustaining the inw:ard lire (John xv.); (4) by bringing to nought the plans of the evil one (Rom. xvi. 20). 3. TI ?.at iB the effect, The wicked one does not touch them with a contaminating, poison- ino- haod. He would, but be cannot. This must be the issue. (1) 'l'he strong one is outwitted by the Stronger (Luke x.i. 21, 22); (2) has been, as matter of history (Rev. :r.ii. 10, 11); (3) is, as matter of observation (eh. iv. 4); (¾) we know it as matter of experience (ver. 19). 1 The life which is guarded without and sustained within by the Son of God is a perpetual proof that there are some whom evil cannot touch. They: move amid the evil, but it harms them not. Let the world get more and more corrupt, they do but become more and more like their Lord. ' Bee a most inBtructive notcJrom Mr. J. Taylor, qnoted in the 'Spea.ker's Commentary,' ,,, Zoe OH, v. 1-21.] 'rIIE FinST EPISTLE GENERAL OF JOHN. 15:,