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I. WHAT IS IT TO BE A CHRISTIAN? There are three characteristics in the text.

1. Belief of the truth.

(1) There are various kinds of truth. All truth is not "the truth." There is natural and religious truth. Christian truth is distinguished from all other by being "the truth as it is in Jesus" — truth touching God, the soul, eternity.

(2) So there are various kinds of belief. We believe things we see, results of reasoning, conclusions of argument, laws, things above reason, God and our own souls. The faith of our text, however, is(a) a faith of the heart — the verification of those truths which can be understood by the heart of man alone. This distinguishes it from mere intellectual effort.

(b) A supernatural faith. Observe the company in which it is put — side by side with. the power of the Spirit of God. And everywhere in Scripture it is so. It is by the supernatural operation of the Holy Ghost, and is supernatural in its origin, operations, and results.

2. Sanctification of the Spirit. There is a question whether this refers immediately to the objective work of the Holy Ghost, or the subjective work in man's own spirit. But it is immaterial; it amounts to the same in either case. Sanctification in its broadest, its Biblical as distinguished from its theological sense, is a triple work.

(1)  It is the purgation of the soul of him who believeth by the sprinkling of the blood of Christ.

(2)  It is the recreation of the moral nature by the Holy Spirit.

(3)  It is the dedication of the cleansed and renovated person to God.

3. Hope of everlasting life. Three things are connected with and result from sin: Disaster — "The soul that sinneth it shall die." Privation — of blessedness. Suffering — an accusing conscience and a dark outlook. Over against these in glorious and everlasting antithesis are

(1)  Eternal life.

(2)  Positive blessing.

(3)  Present and eternal joy and glory.This is our hope. It is a good hope, a hope assured to us by warrant beyond dispute.

II. WHAT IS THE DUTY OF A CHRISTIAN?

1. Goodness (ver. 17). To be good.

(1) Negatively, to put away that which is evil. This is a part of our duty of which we cannot afford to think lightly. Christ suffered for us that He might deliver us from the present evil world. Those who are born of God do not commit sin.

(2) But there is no such thing as a merely negative goodness. It is always also positive and practical, and finds expression in speech and action. It is a recognition of God in the family and daily life in reverence and worship, in the government of self and in charity towards man.

(3) This goodness must be as universal as it is practical. "Every good word and work." There is a goodness which is eclectic; and it is right that we should devote attention especially to forms of goodness for which we are most fitted, but not to the neglect of those which are common to all: e.g., Religious worship and carelessness about personal purity are often found together; so are personal devoutness and neglect of missionary effort and vice versa. Good words of every kind.

(4) This goodness is to be robust and energetic, not infantile and feeble. We love the heathen, but how much do we give them. We love our brother, but how often does a fault reduce that love to microscopic proportions.

2. Steadfastness. This goodness is to be practised consistently, not by fits and starts; through life, and not for an hour; not only when easy, but in the face of hardship and persecution.

III. WHAT ARE THE PRIVILEGES OF A CHRISTIAN? The characteristics and duties just mentioned. The three points are the same under different aspects. But specifically.

1. Consolation. This is needed at all times for the Church of God is now in its suffering state.

(1) Christian life begins in self-sacrifice. The Christian passes from death into life through a strait gate, which excludes many a habit, etc., long cherished.

(2) Christian life continues by sacrifice; the bearing of the daily cross, the conflict with sin, the evangelistic effort which is the very life of the Church, all involve loss and pain which need consolation. This consolation is abundant and abiding, consisting as it does of the love and presence of "Our Lord Jesus Christ," etc. (ver. 16).

2. Sanctity.

3. Good hope through grace.

4. Glory. Conclusion: How great the prospects, responsibility, dignity of a Christian.

(J. D. Geden, D. D.)

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KJV: But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

WEB: But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth;