1 Peter 1:3-5; Romans 8:29,30; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 1:6; 1 John 3:1,2
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
JOHN CALVIN (1509-1564): Among men, the testimony of “two or three witnesses,” Matthew 18:16, is sufficient to remove all doubt. God lays down, authoritatively, this law as applicable to all cases, that they shall be decided “by the mouth of two or three witnesses,” Deuteronomy 17:6.
THOMAS COKE (1747-1814): In Deuteronomy the rule given concerns only judicial trials; in Matthew it is a rule given for the management of persuasion.
THE EDITOR: Here we have the infallible inspired witness of three Apostles—Peter, Paul and John—to the predestination of believers chosen in Christ, and the inevitable certainty of their being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, by faith, through a process of sanctification that will not be finished in its fullness until the day of glory at the last day, when Jesus appears.
JOHN GILL (1697-1771): “Beloved, now are we the sons of God”—By adoption, secretly in God’s predestination, in the covenant of grace; and openly in regeneration, through faith in Christ, and by the testimony of the Spirit: “and it doth not yet appear what we shall be.” Though sons, they do not appear now as such, as they will do, when they shall be introduced into their Father’s house, and into the many mansions there prepared for them; when Christ shall publicly own them as the children given unto Him, and when they shall be put into the possession of the inheritance they are heirs of—they will then inherit the kingdom prepared for them, and will sit down on a throne of glory, and have a crown of righteousness, life, and glory, put upon them; and will appear not only perfectly justified, their sins being not to be found—but they will be perfectly holy and free from all sin, and perfectly knowing and glorious.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): “We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” We are changed into the same image “from glory to glory,”—from one degree of glorious grace unto another, till grace here be consummated in glory for ever…The work of grace is but begun in this life; it is not finished here; as long as we are in this imperfect state there is something more to be done. If the same God Who begins the good work did not undertake the carrying on and finishing of it, it would lie for ever unfinished. He must perform it who began it. We may be confident, or well persuaded, that God not only will not forsake, but that He will finish and crown the work of His own hands.
MATTHEW POOLE (1624-1679): His image shall then be perfected in us…Lest it should be objected, that though the inheritance be safe in heaven, yet the heirs are in danger here upon earth, by reason of the power and stratagems of enemies, and their own imprudence and weakness, Peter adds, that not only their inheritance is reserved for them, but they are preserved unto it, kept securely and carefully, as with a garrison—so the word signifies—against all the assaults, incursions, and devices of the devil and the world. “Who are kept, by the power of God,” which power is infinite and invincible, and therefore able to keep them.
ROBERT HAWKER (1753-1827): How fully doth it prove, our oneness with Christ, and our interest in Christ. How ought it to bear us up, against every temptation, every sorrow, trial, and affliction! And what a security against sickness, death, judgment, and all fears of the future.
C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892): “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life,” Romans 5:10. Paul argued that if the death of Christ reconciled God’s enemies to Himself, the life of Christ will certainly preserve safely those who are the friends of God! That was a good argument, was it not? Moreover, I doubt not that Paul remembered the doctrine of the union of believers with Christ, and he said to himself, “Shall Christ lose the members of His body? Shall a foot or an arm be lopped off from Him?” And he could not think that it could be so!
JAMES DURHAM (1622-1658): Is it not a comfortless doctrine, that founds their believing and perseverance on their own free will?
GEORGE WHITEFIELD (1714-1770): It has a natural tendency to keep the soul in darkness for ever; because the creature thereby is taught, that his being kept in a state of salvation, is owing to his own free will. And what a sandy foundation is that for a poor creature to build his hopes of perseverance upon? Every relapse into sin, every surprise by temptation, must throw him into doubts and fears, into horrible darkness, even darkness that might be felt.
JOHN CALVIN: But we, on the contrary, ought to feel confident, that He who has begun in us a good work, will carry it on until the day of the Lord Jesus—Christ is the bond; for He is the beloved Son, in Whom the Father is well pleased. If, then, we are through Him united to God, we may be assured of the immutable and unfailing kindness of God towards us.
C. H. SPURGEON: Somebody says, “That is Calvinistic doctrine.” If you like to call it so, you may, but I would rather that you made the mistake of the good old Christian woman who did not know much about these things and who said that she was “a high Calvarist.”—And it is “high Calvary” doctrine that I find in this passage. He who hung on high at Calvary was such a lover of the souls of men that, from that glorious fact, I am brought to this blessed persuasion, “I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord,” Romans 8:38,39.
ROBERT HAWKER: Yea, such astonishing love God hath shown, as passeth all understanding: He hath given us His own Son. He hath justified, Christ has died, the Holy Spirit hath witnessed. And therefore, Paul challenges the whole creation to separate us from Christ.
C. H. MACKINTOSH (1820-1896): We may feel convinced in our minds that the thing is true because affirmed by one in whom we have confidence; but God is wiser than we. It may be that the one witness is thoroughly upright and truthful; all this may be true, but we must adhere to the divine rule, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”
THE EDITOR: Very well then. If the testimony of two or three human witnesses is sufficient evidence to decide a matter among men, how much more so is the testimony of the Triune God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost?
ROBERT HAWKER: Brethren! the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
