John 15:3

Followeth the second thing in this part of the chapter, wherein application is made of this general doctrine to the disciples case, in a declaration, and an exhortation. In this verse is contained a declaration what sort of branches they were; Namely, not fruitlesse, but clean ones, that is, who by being purged and cleansed from their superfluities, (as is promised, v. 2.) are assured that they are fruitful branches, really and internally engraffed in Christ; and so were they regenerate, justified, and sanctified, in part. This their purity is amplified from the instrumental cause or meane thereof, which is the Word he had spoken to them. Whereby we are to understand, partly, that the Word preached by him, and beleeved by them, and the mean which wrought on them to come to him to be cleansed; and partly, and more particularly, because by the general sentences already pronounced by him concerning beleevers in him, (such as that, John 3.36.) and more especially, by that sentence passed in their favours, applying that general to them, ch. 13.10. they might be confirmed and assured that they were already clean and justified. Hence learn, 1. It is the duty of all Professours to make sure what interest they have in Christ; and for that end, to finde some difference betwixt them and formal and external professours; Therefore, Christ speaking of divers sorts of branches, findes it needful to assure them that they were not of the worst, but best sort, Now ye are clean, to learn them and all others to make that sure. 2. Albeit it be the duty of Professours, who are doubtful of their state, to studie after fruitfulnesse in Gods way, whereby at last they will come to have their interest cleared; yet it is a notable encouragement to fruitfulnesse, if first they be assured of an interest, and they are to make much use of faith for that end; Therefore doth Christ premit this, Ye are clean, that hereby he may make way for the following exhortation to fruitfulnesse. 3. Such as are indeed ingraffed in Christ, are also indeed clean, not only by imputation of his righteousnesse, hiding all their impurity, but by sanctification also, whereby they are clean in part, in respect of what they were, and others still in nature are, and a purification of them is begun, which will constantly be carried on, till it be perfected in the day of Christ; Therefore is a branch in him, v. 2. declared here to be a clean branch, Ye are clean. And thus doth he graciously account of them, notwithstanding their many spots, whereas he would look otherwise upon a painted Pharisee. 4 As it is the work of the Spirit, and of faith, to apply Christs merit and efficacie for cleansing of sinners; so his Word is also instrumental therein; as being the glasse wherein to see our corruption; that which sets us on work to seek purging, which discovers our remedy; and, which being hid in the heart by faith, will keep us from sin; for, Ye are clean through the Word that I have spoken unto you. So that where the Word is not operative on men, it is no evidence they are purged, or that what they seem to be, is real. 5. Such, as by faith have fled to Christ for righteousnesse, and are set on work by the Word to study sanctification, are (by vertue of Christs sentence pronounced in the Gospel, that beleevers shall not be condemned, but have eternal life) actually justified and absolved from sin in Gods sight, albeit as yet they have not attained to reflect upon themselves, and to know that they have beleeved, nor yet to partake sensibly of the seal of the Holy Spirit of promise, which useth to follow after beleeving; for, so much also is imported in this, Ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken to you, or, the general sentences past in favour of beleevers in his doctrine to them, are theirs, and do absolve them, albeit both before and now they need to have it told to them by him.