The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 170

rejects the only Being through whom he can obtain eternal life, what rcmainR for hirn but to nbide in the dark night of death? For such persons St. John does not encourage us to pray, Ho neither prohibits nor commands us to pray for them. The negation belongs to the" I say," not to the "he should make request." "Not concernin" this do I say that he should make request." The encouragement to offer prayer for°those whose sin is not unto death is withheld in respect to prayer for those who have committed the sin unto death. CoNOLUSION, 1. Let the fact that it is possible to commit a sin which is unto death lead us to watchfulness and prayer against every sin and all sin. Beware of beginning~ in evil. 2. Let this gracious assurance as to the result of prayer for those wlio have sinned lead us to be often at the throne of grace on behalf of our brethren.-W. J. Vera, 18-20.-The sublimest lcnowledge. "We know that whosoever fa born of God tiinneth not," etc. There are certain things of which St. John writes without even the faintest tone of hesitation or doubt, with the calmest and firmest assurance, and with the accent of deep conviction. And the things of which he writes with so much certainty are of the greatest and most important. So in. the paragraph before us he utters his triple "we know" concerning some of the most vital and weighty questions. Let us notice each of these in the order in which they here stand. I. THE KNOWLEDGE OF TIIE CHARACTER AND CONDITION OF THE CHILDREN OF Goo. " We know that whosoever is begotten of God sinneth not; but he that was begotten of God keepeth himself, and the wicked one toucbeth him not." Here are three points for consideration concerning true Christians. 1. Their origination from God. They are "begotten of God.'' They are "called children of God," and are such. 1 2. Their abstention from sin. "Whosoever is begotten of God sinneth not." He will not com- mit the "sin unto death;" and in proportion as he participates in the Divine life ho will shun sin in any form (cf. eh. iii. 6-9; and see our remarks on eh. iii. 6). 3. Their preservation from the evil one. "He that was begotten of God keepeth himself, and the wicked one toucheth him not." Danger is clearly implied here. "Be sober, be vigilant; your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour : whom resist steadfast in the faith." "Put on the whole armour oi God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil," etc. (Eph. vi. 11-18). "Satan transformeth himself into an angel of light." Hence the danger. But notice: (1) The means of preservation. "He that was begotten of God keepeth himself." He is sober and watchful and prayerful in order that he may not be surprised by temptation and seduced into sin. It has been well said by John Howe, "He that is begotten of God keepeth himself from those deadly mortal touches which woulJ. endanger his precious life; that is, he is his own underkeeper. We are every one to be our brother's keeper, much more our own; but still in a subordinate sense, subservient to, and dependent upon, the Supreme One. Indeed, it were a kind of monstrous thing in the creation, that there should be so noble a life planted in us, but destitute of the self-preserving faculty or disposition; whereas every life, how mean soever, even that of a worm, a gnat, or a fly, hath a disposition to preserve itself." Christians are "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." (2) The nature of the preservation. "'l'he wicked one toucheth him not." This does not signify exemption from temptation, but victory over it. The great adversary shall not touch" the true-born child of God" eo as to destroy his spiritual life or effect his overthrow. II. THE KNOWLEDGE OF PERSONAL FILIAL RELATI0NSHP TO Goo. "We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the wicked one." The assurance with which the apostle writes is remarkable. Not, "we are probably of God;" not, "we hope we are of God," etc.; but "we know that we are of God," etc. 'vVe may know this: 1. By our consciousness of our Christian character. The genuine Christian can say of his spiritual condition, "One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see." He ie conscious of his faith in Christ. "I know whom I have believed," etc. (2 Tim. i. 12). He feels that the Saviour is precious unto him (1 Pet. ii. 7). He knows that he loves the Christian brotherhood ; and "we know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren." He is conscious of his sincere desire and ondeovour to follow Christ as his great Exemplar, and to obey him as his Divine Lord, , a See our homily on eh, iii. 1, ms TlIE FrnsT EPISTtt GENERAL OF' JORN. ten. v. 1-21.