A HOLY LIFE 7

A HOLY LIFE: the Beauty of Christianity

a treatise by John Bunyan
edited in modern English by Jon Cardwell

SECOND, THE EXTENSION OF THE EXHORTATION:
TO EVERY ONE THAT NAMES THE NAME OF CHRIST (b)

[continued from yesterday’s installment]

Third, to those upon whom His name is called, they should depart from iniquity. I say those whom God has so far dignified, as to put the name of Christ upon them (Acts 15:17); I will also add, that apply that name to themselves. The reason for this is because God is now concerned (Acts 11:26). God has changed your name from Pagan to Christian, and you choose to call yourself by that name, saying, “I belong to Christ.” Now you must depart from iniquity, for that notice is taken of you, both by heaven and earth, that you have become a disciple, and “let everyone that” so “names the name of Christ,” or that names it, being himself by God and himself put under such circumstances as these, “depart from iniquity” (1 Peter 4:16).

Fourthly, it is spoken to those that name the name of Christ either in the public or private worship of God, being themselves professed worshippers of Him; and the reason is that the ordinances, as well as the name of God, is holy, and “Among those who are near [Him][He] will be sanctified” (Leviticus10:3). Therefore, He that approaches the presence of Christ in prayer, or any other divine appointment, must take heed of regarding “iniquity in [his] heart” (Psalms 66:18). Otherwise, the Lord will stop His ears to his prayers, and will shut His eyes, and not take notice of such kind of worship or worshippers.

Fifthly, those that the apostle exhorts to depart from iniquity from this text are such as have taken unto themselves the boldness to say, that they are in Him, abide in hHim, and consequently are made partakers of the benefits that are in Him. “Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked” (1 John 2:6); the reason is because Christ is a fruitful root and a free conveyer of sap into the branches; that’s why it is written that “the trees of the Lord are full of sap” (Psalms 104:16, KJV). So then, he that names the name of Christ by way of applying to himself His benefits, and as counting that he is found of God in Him, and so abides, ought himself to walk even as He walked, that he may give proof of what he says to be true, by bearing forth before men that likeness of righteousness that is in Christ’s root and stem: for as the trunk or tree is, so let the branches be, but that cannot be known but by the fruit: “You will recognize them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:16). So then, let him depart from iniquity that will name the name of Christ: yes, let every such man do so.

Sixthly, this exhortation is spoken to them that name Christ as their Sovereign Lord and King: let them “depart from iniquity.” “For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver; the LORD is our King; He will save us” (Isaiah 33:22). These are great words; and as they cannot be spoken by everyone, so they should not be spoken lightly of by them that can. He that claims so high a privilege may be nothing but obedient, submissive, apt to learn, conscientiously to put in practice what he has learned of his Judge, his Lawgiver, and his King. For fear that when some shall hear him say that Christ, by name, is his Lawgiver and his King, yet shall observe him doing evil things, and walking in ways that are not good, they shall think evil and speak evil of his King; saying, “Did you learn this of Christ your King? or does your King tolerate you in ways that are so bad? or, do you by this and that submit to the laws of your king?” Yes, your King, His name and gospel shall bear the burden of the evil, together with the shame thereof, if you that name the name of Christ will not depart from iniquity.

Lastly, whatever man there is that, by his naming of the name of Christ, suggests that he has any reverence of love to or delight in Christ, whose name he names, that man should depart from iniquity, not only for the reasons that are mentioned above, but for those that may be named afterwards.

But having this far opened the word, and shown who and what manner of man the apostle had in mind in his exhortation, I shall come to our next point: to make some observations upon the text. As… [to be continued next week in “FIRST OBSERVATION”]

[“Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible. The King James Version is in the Public Domain.]