And this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life.
Eternal life
I. Consider the blessing promised--“eternal life.” Life is used as the illustration, because of all blessings it is the most desired, and eternal is appended to it, because that is the highest and best form of life.
1. The first great element in eternal life is freedom from condemnation. So taught our Saviour Himself (Joh_5:24).
2. Another element of eternal life is the renewal of the heart in righteousness by the grace of the Divine Spirit. There is a double death of the sinner in this present life, and there is a double life corresponding to it. He is dead under the sentence of the law, and also under the power of sin. The former is removed when he is forgiven, the latter when he is renewed in the spirit of his mind.
3. It is in eternity, however, it shall be consummated. The principles by which it is now produced and maintained shall then be perfected.
II. What is implied in its being represented as a promise?
1. If eternal life be a promise, this implies that it is a free gift.
2. While a promise supposes a free gift on the part of God, it implies its acceptance on our part. If it be not accepted it can never be enjoyed.
3. If eternal life be the promise of God it is sure. “He is not a man that He should lie,” etc.
4. Finally, since eternal life is the promise of God, it ought to exercise a powerful influence over us, in engaging us wholly for Him who has so provided for us. (James Morgan, D. D.)
The promise of eternal life
I. God’s promise of salvation is the expression of His heart of love to the needy and to the lost. This is God’s promise, even eternal life.
II. The Promiser.
1. First, we must think of God’s purpose in the promise. He had a purpose in making the promise.
2. Then we must think of the Word of God, in which the promise is revealed as well as recorded; and the promise being in God’s Word, will never be repealed.
3. Then we must think of Christ, in whom all the promises of God are “Yea, and in Him Amen.” God says, “My covenant shall stand fast with Him.” There is no change in all this.
4. And then there is another point we have to think about, and that is the believer’s faith in order to realise the promise; and this is often very weak, and often fails.
III. The persons to whom the promise is made. “This is the promise which He hath promised us.” The “us” here means those who “had an unction from the Holy One,” and knew the truth, as distinguished from those who held the various errors the apostle had been speaking of. It refers to all the children of God, Christ’s Holy Church throughout the world; for, as the work was done for them, so the promise by which that work was made theirs is addressed to them. (J. W. Reeve, M. A.)
