1 John 2:29 - Exposition

Re-born!

This verse marks a transition. It is not, indeed, absolutely disconnected from the preceding ones, but yet it rather prepares the way for what is about to follow. One phrase therein contained—"born of him"—is much used by the Apostle John; as Bishop Alexander remarks (in 'Speaker's Commentary,' in loc. ), "it is one of the loops which connect this Epistle with the Fourth Gospel;" and it is also grandly developed in its meaning and bearing in the remaining chapters of this Epistle. Another feature of the verse is its recognition of different orders of knowledge, as indicated by the use of the two verbs εἰδῆτε and γινώσκετε —the one marking knowledge direct and absolute; the other, a knowledge gained by observation and inference. The latter verb may be either indicative or imperative. We may read, "If ye know… ye perceive," or, "If ye know… perceive ye." We adopt the latter, understanding the apostle to point it out as a duty to exercise rightly the spiritual faculties, and, so doing, to draw the conclusion, when they see a man practicing righteousness habitually, that that man has received his love of righteousness front the Righteous One. The ἐὰν here by no means marks an uncertainty as to whether Christ is righteous, but merely indicates concerning the two facts named in the text that, wherever a man knows the first, he ought to be equally assured of the second. Our text, therefore, suggests—

I. HERE IS A FACT PUT BEFORE US DIRECTLY IN THE CHRISTIAN REVELATION . There is a Righteous One (cf. verse 1; Acts 3:14 ; 1 Peter 3:18 ). Inasmuch, moreover, as he, the Son, is" the Image of the invisible God," then in the righteousness of the Son we see imaged that also of the Father. And thus we come to know it as the supreme declaration of revealed truth that righteousness is on the throne of the universe. The philosophy of today declares, "Amid the mysteries which become the more mysterious the more they are thought about, there will remain the one absolute certainty that he [the man of science] is ever in presence of an infinite and eternal energy from which all things proceed." £ To this "absolute certainty" of the man of science, revelation adds that that infinite and eternal energy is light without a speck of darkness ( John 1:4 ); love which changeth not; righteousness without a flaw. We know this.

II. HERE IS A SECOND FACT GATHERED INDIRECTLY FROM CHRISTIAN OBSERVATION . It is this: Supposing a man to be continuously living a righteous life, we can gather from thence that he is drawing his life from the Righteous One. Note: It is not a casual or occasional good deed which will manifest this. But the continuity of righteousness—always, everywhere, under all circumstances, and in spite of all temptations, ὁ ποιῶν . Given, then, this man, what are the inferences which we ought with certainty to draw? See him; his course is no uncertain, fickle one; be is in love with righteousness, and with nothing but righteousness; towards God his most devout, reverent love goes forth; towards man he is uniformly true and kind. As for himself; the soul regulates the body, the spirit governs the soul, and God governs all. Tell us what he ought to be and do at any moment, and we can tell you what he will be and do at that moment. Tell us where he ought to be at any instant, and we will tell you where at that instant you may be sure to find him. His path is as the light, brighter and brighter to the perfect day. Now, when we see such a man, what do we with certainty know about him?

1 . We know that he is alive. "Alive unto God." lie is a spiritual man. He has passed from death unto life.

2 . We know that such a life is from God. It is divinely originated and sustained. A stream can rise no higher than its source. Only a spiritual Being could originate such a spiritual life. The Divine Spirit has quickened the human ( Ephesians 1:1-6 ).

3 . We know that such a life is begotten, of the Divine nature. The physical world is God's handiwork. The social and moral worlds are called into being by his power. The order of the cosmos proclaims wisdom and skill. But not hero is there aught which is begotten of God, or which is the outcome of his very nature. Music, beauty, fragrance, are all of God: but they are not born of God. But here, here in this man whose whole nature is renewed to righteousness, there is one whom God has made in his own image and in the image of his Son.

4 . We know that such a life is a very special product. It is one which is a peculiar manifestation of God. You may learn what an architect is as an architect by seeing the buildings he has designed. But you may learn more of what he was as a man from one of his children than of all the products of his designing genius. So here, and. much more so. When the Spirit of God creates and sustains a nature in holiness, such a nature is, in its way, a manifestation of himself.

5 . We know that such a life sustains a peculiar relation to God. Being "born" of him, the man is in God's family—one of his sons. Not in the general sense alone, in which we all are the offspring of God, but in a higher sense; he is a member of "the household of God"—of one family in heaven and on earth. Of what in privilege and prospect accrues to those "born of God" we shall speak further as we follow the apostle in his thought. Here we take our stand and say," When we know that a man resembles God in nature," we are sure that he is a child of God by the second birth, even of the Holy Ghost.

III. TO RECOGNIZE ONE WHO RESEMBLES GOD , AS HAVING BEEN BORN OF HIM , IS A SACRED DUTY . "Know ye" (margin, Revised Version) is most in harmony with the context. But whether John means that we d know it, or that we ought to know it, either way the practical force is the same. For:

1 . In the band of holy God-moved men we see the very highest manifestation of God's nature which earth affords.

2 . In these we see the home of God's delight. He dwells with his own, and communes with them. They have fellowship with the Father. 3, In these we see those of mankind who are ripening for a higher destiny, and whose radiant faces shine in the light of a nobler state.

4 . This conclusion is not to be denied to any because they "follow not us," nor because they do not belong to this or that Church. Wherever there is a God-like man, there is a Heaven-born one.

5 . This conclusion is not to be drawn where there is no holiness of heart and life, however high the rank, or sound the creed, or rigid the Churchmanship, or constant the reception of sacraments. Without holiness "no man shall see the Lord."