Meetness for the Inheritance of the Saints in Light.—Life for eternity is already begun. The business and the beatitude of heaven must consist in conformity of the will to the will of God: this is equally the law of earth.
- Faith is the realising power of this meetness.
- Hope is the consoling and fortifying power.
- Love is the uniting power, the consummation, and the perfection of all.—A. Butler.
The Inheritance of the Saints.
I. An interesting view of the future world as it is inherited by believers.—1. The saints are in light in respect to the place. 2. As it respects purity. 3. In respect of the permanency of their felicity. 4. As it respects knowledge.
II. The meetness which is wrought by God in the hearts of all who are raised to the enjoyment of this inheritance.—1. The relative meetness is expressed by the word “inheritance.” It is assigned to heirs. 2. The personal meetness is indicated by the term “saints.”
Lessons.—1. Give thanks to God for those who are made meet. 2. Give thanks to God if the work be begun in yourselves.—R. Watson.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Verses 13, 14.
The Great Moral Translation.
These words amplify the truth unfolded in the preceding verse, and describe the great change that must take place in order to obtain a meetness for the saintly inheritance—the translation of the soul from the powerful dominion of darkness into the glorious kingdom of the Son of God.
I. This translation involves our enfranchisement from a state of dark captivity.—“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness” (ver. 13).