1 Peter 2:11-12 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;… I. CONVERSION IS THE WORK OF GOD. 1. Let them which have felt this work acknowledge God in it, and give Him all the glory. 2. They that be yet without it, let them not defer it as a small matter to the last, as if they could convert themselves when they list, but humbly seek it of God in attending on His ordinances. II. IT IS GOD'S GREAT MERCY TO CONVERT A SINNER. This is the greatest mercy that can be bestowed: to be delivered from sickness into health, from prison into liberty, from poverty to riches, from death to life. Let those that have obtained it give glory to God. III. A MAN CAN NEVER GLORIFY GOD TILL GOD THUS VISIT AND CONVERT HIS SOUL. IV. WHEN A MAN IS CONVERTED HE WILL GLORIFY GOD; yea, he cannot choose but in heart admire God's goodness and love, and in his life seek to glorify Him. Then will he also do all he can to gain others (Luke 22:32). V. EVEN SUCH AS HAVE BEEN ILL-SPEAKERS OF THE TRUTH AND GOD'S SERVANTS MAY YET BE CONVERTED AND PROVE GOOD CHRISTIANS (Acts 2:13; Romans 6:17; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Titus 3:3). 1. Never despair of them that be very bad, but pray for them, and give them good counsel. 2. This may be an exceeding provocation to the worst, that they may prove good and be saved, as unlikely as it is. 3. Yet let none instead of good take hurt by this, and heart to go on in sin, seeing the worst may become converts. They shall find God a just and severe revenger of such proud despisers and presumptuous sinners. (John Rogers.) Parallel Verses KJV: Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; |
    |