1 John 3:19-22 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.… I. Thoughts which our NATURAL MINDS TAKE FROM IT. 1. We know, in the sense of being impressed with, but a few of our own sins — only such as are somewhat aside from our ordinary habit, or diverse from our current taste. But God, the impartial and omniscient, sees them all numerically; every grain in the growing heap. 2. We see at best but detached portions of our lives; we easily forget the past; hence, our moral equanimity differs from day to day. But God sees us altogether in our general character, the drift and meaning of our lives. 3. We do not know the sin that lies within our own purposes. No wicked man lives out the full of the wickedness that is in him; he is hedged in by a thousand fears. But God looks on the heart. 4. We see our sin in the narrow scope of its immediate effect. God sees it in all the hideousness of sin's general work in the world, the diseases, poverty, crime, death, which deeds of the same kind as those that to us seem venial have accomplished. 5. We know almost nothing of the meaning of sin as seen in its consequences within the soul: blinding spiritual sight; corroding the finer sensibilities; paralysing the will: engendering eternal impotency and misery. God knows all this. 6. We have no high standard of judging our sins; conscience is generally depraved to near the level of the sinful habit. God sees our sin in contact with His infinite purity, our sins in the light of His countenance. 7. God sees all sin in the light of His purpose one day to rid the universe of it; the refiner sits at the fire, and our sin is there awaiting the process. II. Thoughts which Bible FAITH PUTS INTO THE TEXT for our consolation. 1. It is especially said to be for our assurance. 2. God knows what He, the Judge, is — "God is love." 3. God knows the meaning of His own infinite fatherhood. 4. God knows what He has already done for us. We do not begin to realise the meaning of the gift of the only begotten Son. 5. God knows what He has already done with our sins — blotted them out. 6. God knows what the Holy Spirit's mission to a sinful soul is; we but dimly conceive it, as the sanctifying process is manifest to our experience. 7. God knows how the light of heaven will put away all darkness from the soul that He has permitted to enter there, and looks upon us as candidates for that perfection which He has decreed and prepared for us. (J. M. Ludlow.) Parallel Verses KJV: And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.WEB: And by this we know that we are of the truth, and persuade our hearts before him, |
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