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Here our apostle seems to resume the exhortation which he began to press before, namely, to love and concord, to unity and peace, among themselves; he exhorts them, as to do all things without contention, so without murmurings, and hot disputings, in which usually the laws of charity are violated, and the peace of the church, and quietness among christians, interrupted.
And, to provoke them thereunto, he discovers to them the many great and blessed advantages which would redound unto them by their unity and concord.
1. Hereby they should be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, that is, very inoffensive persons, or, as the Greek word renders it, that ye may be the spotless sons of God; not absolutely spotless, pure, and perfect, but without such spots as are inconsistent with your sonship: there is a spot which is, and a spot which is not, the spot of God's children, Deu_32:4. Sins of infirmity are spots found upon the best of his children: sins of presumption, if at any time found upon you, they are not the spots of his children.
2. Hereby they should shine as lights in the world, that is, in the Pagan world, and in the christian church. This imports both the high dignity and special duty of christians, to do as so many suns, to arise and shine like mighty luminaries in the firmament of the world, casting out their rays and beams in a holy and heavenly conversation.
3. Hereby they would hold forth the word of life; not only hold it fast for their own comfort, but hold it forth for others' benefit, that is, in their christian practice and profession; the lives of christians should publish the word of life in practice, as by holding it forth from the pulpit; an holy life is the loudest proclamation, and the best way of holding forth the word of life.
4. Hereby he should have joy and rejoicing, as well as they reap benefit and advantage: That I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain; that is, that I have not preached the gospel unprofitably amongst you.
Here note, That the work of the ministry is a laborious work, a spending work; the apostle here sets it forth by running a race, which is a wasting and strength-consuming exercise; I have run, I have laboured.
Note, 2. That the labour and pains of the most faithful and indefatigable ministers of Christ may be, and too often are, lost upon, and in vain unto, the people that are constantly made partakers of them; they may run in vain, and labour in vain, as to their people, but blessed be God, it shall not be in vain as to themselves, Isa_49:5 Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall they be glorious.
Note, 3. That the glory which shall be upon our people in the day of Judgment, who were converted to God by our ministerial endeavours, will add to our joy as ministers, and be our crown of rejoicing in that day: That I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, nor laboured in vain.