AN EXPOSITION

OF THE

FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF JOHN

IN A SERIES OF SERMONS.

1 JOHN 1: 7

 SERMON VII.

The two former verses, as connected with this, contain one entire subject. This is most easily perceived, and may be fully confirmed, by the first word in the present text ; which is the word But. Which knits it with the former verses. It will therefore be necessary they should be recited : seeing the true connection of these, will be one means, of seeing the harmony, dependence, and influence the one hath with and upon the other. The subject began thus. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. The whole contains a most important text and context. Such as is no where to be found, on the subject, which concerns that holy, blessed, and free communion, which the apostles had with the holy and ever blessed Trinity, and which is here expressed, by way of excitement to all saints. That they might look out for, and have their hearts going out after, with holy longing, to have, and hold, to expect, and to receive and enjoy in their own souls, fellowship with the divine Persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost., through his indwelling in them. As this blessed intercourse with the Three in Jehovah, according to the revelation which they bad been pleased to make of themselves, in the glorious gospel, was a part of their message of grace, which was delivered by Christ to John, to be delivered to the church, so he informs them of the same : one grand article of which was, the Essential, and Manifest active Light and Purity of God. This he expresses thus. "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." From this it most clearly follows, that such as have fellowship with Him, must be such as are pure : or, without it, an holy God could never converse with them : but none of Adam's posterity are in and of and from themselves, clean and pure in the sight of God ; where is there any purity to be found, in, or throughout any amongst them ? The reply is, in none out of Christ. But if such as are in Christ, are clean in the sight of God, why then did the apostle put in these words, as a remora ? " If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth." The answer is this-It is one thing to be pure in the sight of God from all sin, by the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is a distinct part of the same subject to know this, and to live in the belief of the same. And to live and act in the belief of this, is the effect and fruit of believing it. Such as are professors of Christ, and such as truly know Christ, are thus distinguished-The one walk in darkness, the other in light. Such as walk in darkness, are -such as are under the influence of sin, and under that sort of doctrine, which is not the same with the faith once delivered unto the saints. Such cannot have, and hold fellowship with the Lord. No. Nor believers either, if so be they step forth into any act of darkness. It is a saying attributed to what is commonly called the primitive church, " Holy things belong to holy persons." It might have been founded on our Lord's own words. He says, " Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." Matt. vii. 6. It is an immutable truth, God holds fellowship with his beloved people, as he brings them into a state of fellowship with himself. The apostle speaking to the saints at Corinth, says, " God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." I Cor. i. 9. And our apostle says, If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have, fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. These two verses are contrasted with each other : they are set in opposition with each other. " If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth." I have opened these already, in the former sermon. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. These words are now before me to explain. It may be fully and with the utmost confidence pronounced, these words contain as great a cordial for the spiritual mind, as is to be found in all the Book of God. I shall endeavour to open and explain my text, hoping thereby, to give a full and clear outline of the whole substance of it, as contained in the following particulars. I will propose

l. What we are to understand, by walking in the light. With the connection this hath with Him, before whom, and with whom we walk. If we walk  in the light, as he is in the light.

2. That which proceeds there from. We have fellowship one with another. By which I understand as included in the we, the apostles, and the rest of the saints : intimating hereby, that they had one, and the same holy and blessed fellowship, one with the other, in the same grace, and with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. Not it may be to the same extent and degree : but the same as to the reality of it. If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another. Even with Him of whom it hath been before asserted, that He is light, and in him is no darkness at all."

3. I would take notice of the blessed relief for our minds, to carry us above all our sinful infirmities, and all, and whatsoever we are the subjects of. The blood of Jesus Christ hid Son cleanseth us from all sin.

4. How we receive and enjoy the efficacy of this truth into our minds. These are the particulars I mean to pursue, which will bring me to these words, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. May the Lord most graciously guide me through the source. Amen. I am, beloved, as the

1st. Particular of my discourse, to shew you, what we are to understand, by walking in the light. With the connection this bath with Hun, before whom, and with whom, we walk. If we walk in the light as he is in the light.

To walk with God is an high privilege. It is an honour which is conferred by free grace, on some; not on all ; to walk with God is a progressive spiritual motion, which consists in going on in the ways of the Lord, and abounding therein. There is a twofold walk with God. The one is internal, the other is external. That we may walk with God inwardly and spiritually, we must be of one mind and will with God : we must know his truth : receive his truth : be well pleased with his truth and rest in the same, and walk before Him in the belief thereof. Two cannot walk together except they be agreed. The mind must be renewed by the Holy Ghost. He must also enlighten it into the knowledge of God, and his Son Jesus Christ, or we cannot have fellowship with them. I would here observe what we are to understand by walking in the light. It having been in the past Sermon what it is to walk in darkness, it will, I think, be very easy for us to conceive what it must be to walk in the light. If to walk in a course of sin, and error, is to walk in darkness, by the which we are disqualified to have fellowship with God who is light, and in whom there is no darkness at all : then it is such alone as walk in the light of grace and truth, can walk with him. " God is a Spirit; and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth." John iv. 23. Such only as walk agreeably with the doctrine of grace, and under the influences of the same, and in concert with the truths and doctrines of the everlasting gospel, are the persons who walk with God. And to walk in the true spiritual knowledge and acknowledgment of the doctrine of God, and of the Father, and of Christ, this must be to walk in the light. The apostle writing to the Colossians, speaks of their knowing the grace of God in truth. It is the knowledge of the grace of God in truth, fits us for walking with God in the true light of the same. As we walk in the true knowledge of the Father, and of his Son Jesus Christ, our minds are spiritualized, and raised up into communion with them, under the sacred influences and energy of the Lord the Spirit. It is as God shines into us, and upon us, in the Person of God-Man, Christ Jesus, our Head, Saviour, and Lord, that we approach him with holy pleasure and delight. It is as we have communion with Him, we walk before Him: we are made light in the Lord. We have a spiritual inherent faculty, suited to the apprehension of the nature and grace of God, so as to receive into our hearts the revelation He hath been pleased to give of the same in his holy word : we have therein, and thereby communion with Him. From this springs our walking with Him, and our walking before Him, unto all well pleasing. This is an everlasting truth, that "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." As we walk with God in the purity of his Truth, the lets in the true knowledge of Himself, in his Persons, and perfections, as he hath manifested the same in the Person of the God-Man, so as that our understandings are possessed with the truth of the same. As he gives us to know, how he stands related to us in Christ Jesus, we are led to apprehend the fixation of his love upon us. All this is internally, spiritually, and supernaturally. Our hearts and affections are influenced and drawn after the Lord hereby: so that as we go on to walk with God, and in the real light of faith, to behold the real blessedness of walking in the light, as he is in the light, we prove to others hereby, that we have communion with Him, " Who is light, and in whom is no darkness at all." Our Lord saith, " I am the light of the world : he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John viii. 12. Our walk with God, with Christ, with the Spirit, is wholly from the Lord alone. It is wholly from the Three in Jehovah. When the apostle is writing to the saints at Corinth concerning church communion, he asks the following questions. " What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness ? And what communion hath light with darkness ?" The answer must be, None. He adds, " Ye are the temple of the living God, as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them ; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." 2 Epis. vi. 14. 16. All which belongs to the Holy Spirit: who is the living God, equal with the Son, and with the Father, as one in the same infinite self-existing Essence. So that He is Light without darkness, as also the Son, and Father are : consequently such as have fellowship with Him, and such in whom lie dwells, and directs their hearts into the love of God, and into a patient waiting for Christ, cannot but be such as are children of the light and of the clay ; who have put off the works of darkness, and have put on the armour of light. If we walk in the light of faith, purity, and holiness, we give outward evidence that we are in the state of grace. This If is used, as it was in the former verse. To substantiate the truth contained in the assertion. Not by any means to weaken this most solemn and positive assertion, or make it doubtful, but to spew there can be no walking with. God, who is Light, but as we renounce and avoid every false way; and walk in the truth, in the light of it, and under the sacred energy of the same. This brings me to speak of that which proceeds from this -

2nd. Which is contained in the words following, if we walk in the light, as he is in the light-we have fellowship one with another. By which I understand, as included in the we, the apostles, and the rest of the saints. Or, if you will, all the saints : as intimating hereby, that they had one and the same holy fellowship, one and the same grace, and transcendent privilege: and with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ. Not it may be to the same degree and extent; but the same as to the reality of it. If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another. Even with Him, of whom it hath been before asserted, that " He is light, and in him is no darkness at all." This is the present particular which is now, if the Lord please, to be filled up. May it be so, to his praise, and our benefit. Amen.

Fellowship with God, and saints, is what proceeds from walking with God, and it is most truly enjoyed as we walk in the light of holiness and righteousness before him. The apostle puts himself into the number of those he writes unto here, in the word we, as he did before, even from the very beginning of this chapter. This you will easily perceive by looking back to the first four verses. All is expressed in the plural number : and it comprehends there the holy apostles of the Lord and Saviour, and them only. What they knew of God-Man, Christ Jesus in his Incarnate Person, and state, they declared and made known to saints, that these also might have fellowship with them, in all the mysteries of grace and salvation. '' That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." And these things, concerning our real fellowship with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ., which we are honoured with, we write to you ; that ye may have a fullness of joy, in the participation. Now let us bring down this to the subject here before us: we shall then see a glorious agreement and union in, and throughout the whole. If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another. We apostles, with you the brethren and followers of the Lord and Saviour. There is but one and the same way of access to, and communion with the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for us, and you: we have access by one and the same Holy Spirit, unto the Father, and the medium of that access is one and the same Lord Jesus Christ. If we as apostles say, we have fellowship with God our heavenly Father, and walk in darkness, we, as well as you, lie, by such an assertion, and do not the Truth. But if we, and you also, walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another : you with us, and we with you, in the knowledge and enjoyment of these eternal and divine realities, contained in the Person of GodMan, and the Father's immense, infinite, and everlasting love to Him, and to us in Him. I think I have so linked all this together, in a glorious coherency and connection, as may give complete satisfaction respecting the same: as also shew that the apostles, and primitive believers had a mutual union and communion with each other in the same truths. It is expressly said by the evangelist Luke, respecting saints on the day of Pentecost, or rather after it, (yet it begun on that day,) that "the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul." Acts iv. 32. It could not be otherwise, if they received the Lord Jesus Christ, by one and the same doctrine. The apostle knowing the great importance of this, addressed a whole church thus. " Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." 1 Cor. i. 10. A unity in the faith, is no small blessing: it is only from it there can be a communion of saints: and it consists in knowing the same truths, in receiving the same into their minds, and in walking and centering in the same. The apostles and the whole church were one in Christ: they were one and the same as the objects and subjects of the Father's everlasting love : they were one and the same as the subjects of the Holy Spirit: they had an equal right and title to all the blessings of grace and glory. The apostles were but in Christ, and the whole election of grace were equally in Him-beloved by Him. The apostles had the true knowledge of Christ ; so had the saints likewise. The apostles had fellowship with the Father and the Son, through the Spirit; so had the saints likewise. It might be, and most assuredly I conceive it must be so, that the knowledge the apostles had of Christ, and their personal communion with Him, must far exceed all other saints whatsoever, or whomsoever: it having been their case of receiving their knowledge of Christ from Himself;. and their communion with Him, was equal with their knowledge of Him. All other saints receive their knowledge of Him, and of the Father, mediately by the Word and by the Spirit. Whilst the reality of this knowledge is the same, yet it is not such an immediate knowledge, it not being received into the mind in the same way : nor can the communion be so free, intimate, and particular as theirs. As ours is by intuition, from the word, and in the use of ordinances. Here I conceive, we may, and ought to allow a difference between them and us. Yet in all the Truths, and ordinances of the gospel, in all the graces, benefits, and blessings of Salvation, there, they and we are all one. So also we are in the reality and personal blessedness of communion with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ. If we, and you, says the apostle, walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, in the same inestimable grace-with the same most divine and essentially blessed Persons, and in the enjoyment and comfort of the same blessings and blessedness. Out of the which consideration, an holy joy flows into our souls, and yours also. This is the fellowship of saints. And we have also fellowship with the Father, as God our Father. Who is light, and in whom there is no darkness at all. Of whom it hath been before said, "0 God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." Therefore if we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another. We with you, and you with us: and we and you also with God in the Person of the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ: in the which we enjoy all the true blessedness which we possibly can, out of heaven. This I conceive is the true and genuine sense and meaning of the words before us. I have been constrained to go over this again and again, to make it the more clear and easy to the spiritual mind, and of becoming thereby the more useful. These words then are to confirm the saints in right apprehensions of what the apostle had written, concerning the fellowship he, and the other apostles had with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ: so as they under right apprehensions of the subject, and knowing there was no obstruction to their full and free enjoyment of the same, might be thereby confirmed in it. If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have , fellowship one with another, in this same fellowship with the Father, and the Son ; and the blood of Jesus Christ is our everlasting purity before the Divine Majesty. Our fellowship with the Father, consists in clear apprehensions of his love to us, in the Person of Christ, and in a real sense and enjoyment of the same. Our distinct fellowship with Christ, consists in clear views of Him as God-Man-of him also as our Head-of our union to Him-interest in Him- of our complete salvation by Him. It should ever be remembered, the fellowship of the Holy Trinity with us, and our fellowship with them, are- distinct subjects, and should be treated as such. The former is the cause, the other the effect. It is a display of everlasting love and favour. The apostle Paul pronounces this benediction to the saints at Corinth. " The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen." Arid our apostle invokes grace and peace, on the seven churches in Asia, thus, Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come ; and from the seven spirits which are before his throne; and from Jesus Christ." Rev. i. 4, 5. Here all the Three in Jehovah are acknowledged, and that in their economy of grace. And thus I close the second particular of this Discourse. I therefore proceed,

3rd. To take notice of the blessed relief provided for our minds, to carry us above all our sinful infirmities, and all, and whatsoever we are the subjects of. The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us front all sin. This contains ineffable consolation. As the apostle had been before making a discrimination who had not, and who had, communion with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, and declared they only had, who walked in the light of truth and holiness, it might lead saints to question the reality of their being of the blessed number of such, seeing they could not but be fully persuaded, they were in themselves unworthy of such an unspeakable favour ; to come before the Lord in the character of sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty : to present themselves before his divine Majesty : to view themselves as clothed upon with the righteousness of Christ, and made clean from all their sin before Him, by the most precious blood and sacrifice of God-Man, Christ Jesus. It ought not to be so, that any one of the children of the most high God, should look on themselves, or to themselves, or within themselves, for any thing to recommend them to the divine Majesty. Such a thought, as not being worthy, or unworthy, ought never to come before them : because communion with God and them is wholly a matter of grace. There can be no such thing as worth or worthiness in saints, either oil earth, or in heaven : it is utterly impossible there should : yet we all find false thoughts are conceived by us these produce their miseries within us. Therefore we have such a most blessed cordial as this before us, provided for our use, The blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cleanseth us, from all sin. In our very walking with God, we have our sinful infirmities oppressing us. Such as walk in the closest fellowship with God, and with his Son Jesus Christ, cannot but be humbled at sights of their own inherent sinfulness, and coldness and deadness, which they have the inward sense, and experience of. Some saints lament how little their hearts are spiritually affected in prayer : others of the deadness and formality of their minds, when exercised therein ; others on account of their daily infirmities : and some on account of the sin. which most easily besets them : which frequently interrupts them in their fellowship with God as their heavenly Father, and his Son Jesus Christ; to whom they should continually fly and resort. Here is an antidote for such : exactly suited to all their case and complaints. And as these words stand here, and are considered in their proper place and connection, they do not concern sinners, but saints : the greatest as well as the least : we commonly take them up, I do myself, and in speaking to sinners concerning the everlasting efficacy of our Lord's most precious blood shedding, we inform them by quoting these words, that the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cleanseth from all sin. Beloved, observe and mark, and remember what I say: I am not to set aside the truth contained in these words, but to set them in their proper place, and spew the true and right connection of them : and that is in this present discourse absolutely necessary. The apostle is writing to saints : he includes himself, and all the other apostles, and speaks for them, saying, But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. The us are real saints such as had fellowship with the Father and the Son. These persons were the subjects of sin, or they could not have needed cleansing. It was the blood of Christ was their purity. It was his relation to the Father made his blood so efficacious. This is noticed. The whole emphasis of the text rests on it. The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Christ is, as one in the Godhead, personally and essentially, as distinct from the Father, his Son. He is the Son of the living God : He is God-Man, He having taken our nature into Personal union. He became Incarnate, and as God and man in one Christ, he gave himself for us. His blood hath all the virtue and perfection of his obedience unto death, even the death of the cross, contained therein. By it he hath washed, cleansed, purified and sanctified his whole church. They are without all sin in Him. They are presented by Him a glorious church, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. And the Father beholds them, in his Person, and finished work, complete in Him. And the blood of Christ maketh clean, and keepeth clean from all sin. The us, the Church, the whole mystic body of Christ, are washed in the blood of Christ: they are now, and evermore clean from all sin thereby : no sin is, in consequence of this, imputed unto them : and they are every. moment, pure and clean in the sight of their heavenly Father from all sin, because the blood of Jesus Christ his Son, is their perpetual purity. To express his, the word is used in the present tense, cleanseth. The blood of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanseth us front all sin. All that Christ is to his church, all he hath done for his church, was of the Father's own will and appointment. It must be, therefore, everlastingly well pleasing unto Him. He will have Him and it, in everlasting remembrance. Nor should it ever be overlooked by us, the vast extensive efficacy of our Lord's blood. It cleanseth us from All Sin-us who have fellowship with God the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ, have this most divine Truth declared to us, in the everlasting gospel- that "The blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father in Truth and love, cleanseth us from all sin." This is to encourage our minds in all our approaches to God ; in acts of fellowship with God. We cannot but desire it. One of old said, " one thing have I desired of the LORD." This one thing I prefer above and beyond all others. "That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty," or the delight, " of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple." The God-Man, Christ, is taken up into the mount of Personal communion with God. He is one Personally with a person in the Godhead though not Personally one, in the unity of the Godhead. His communion with the Three in Jehovah, is agreeable with his union to them, as God-Man. He is our Head, and we are his members. His communications to us, and our communion with Him, are according unto the union which subsists between Him, and us ; as lie is our Head, and we are members in Him our Head. It is by virtue of this that we have communion with the Father in Him. All which is manifested unto us, and we have the knowledge and the enjoyment of the same in our renewed spiritual, and enlightened minds, by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. The true and realizing knowledge of this most glorious subject, made one of old express himself on the same thus. " Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy court: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of by holy temple." Ps. 1xv. 4. For God as our own God, to open all his heart to us, and to admit us to open all our hearts to him, and before Him ; it is in this consists the whole of this blessed fellowship. Our communion with the blessed Trinity, is agreeable with our union to them, and interest with them, of which the God-Man is the sole foundation. We shall enjoy this communion in glory, to the very uttermost perfection thereof : it will consist in the uttermost manifestations of the Father's everlasting love, to our persons in Christ ; to us, so as for us to be swallowed up in the full enjoyment of the same. But whilst this fellowship is, and will be all the season here below, by some blessed visits and refreshings from the presence of the Lord, and many of these most suitable to our present case and circumstances, yet I am not disposed to enter into these, so much as I am to give some scriptural proof, there is such a communion between God and his saints : and that their sinful and natural infirmities should be no discouragements unto them, because the blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God, cleanseth us, now this moment, and every succeeding moment, from all sin. I proceed to my last particular, which is this ;

4. To shew, how we receive and enjoy this truth, which is declared here, in our minds-The blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God, cleanseth us from all sin. We must most certainly receive and enjoy the benefit of it, before we can rejoice and be glad in it. There can be no doubt, or dispute concerning this. It is amongst the first truths we receive into our minds, when we first are led to know the gospel-that Christ died for our sins, and was raised again for our justification. In the belief of this, the received Christ into our minds ; and this made way, by the light and teaching of the Holy Spirit, to receive the knowledge of the Father's everlasting love into our hearts. In the belief of which the Holy Ghost shed abroad the sense thereof: so as for us to have an actual enjoyment of the same, by the further light and teaching of the Holy Ghost. It was here from and hereby, He was pleased to lead us into fellowship with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ. And he opens our minds to receive this most important Truth, concerning our purification from all sin by the blood of Christ ; and in believing apprehensions of the same, he realizes it, in us, and unto us. Our receiving the atonement is by faith, or a spiritual and gospel apprehension, of the infinite worth, efficacy, and virtue of the same : with the Father's free acceptance of it, of his delight in it : and of his setting it forth, by the word of the gospel, to be the true propitiatory sacrifice for sin : as all-sufficient, and everlastingly acceptable able unto him : He himself on the immutable truth, saying, " I will be merciful to your unrighteousness, and your sins, and your iniquities will I remember no more." All which must be received into the believer's mind, before he can walk, and have communion with God. And it must be also maintained in the mind, so as that. the believer being brought into a manifestative communion with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ, may persevere therein. Our state of communion with the Father, and the Son, through the Spirit is immutable : but our present enjoyments of it are not. All our enjoyments of the same, are as we have the spiritual apprehensions thereof by faith. By which as the mean, it is, we receive and enjoy this most cordial and reviving Truth into our hearts, that the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cleanseth us from all sin. The true knowledge and right apprehension of this in our souls, is of the uttermost importance. I was once in company, where one asked, " Is there not. such a scripture, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin ?" I was answered, " Yes." Then it was asked, " How does the blood of Christ cleanse from all sin ?" The reply was, " By imputation." Then I thought if so ; we who are the Lord's, are everlastingly pure and blessed. It is by our believing this, we have blessed freedom in our accesses unto God, and in our communion with Him. The Lord bless his Truth to us. Amen.