“For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins”
Verse 8 sets forth two characteristics of a mature Christian in a positive way: “if these things be in you.” In verse nine he conveys the idea negatively: “he who lacks these things.”
For he who lacks these things
A Christian who does not manifest the character qualities of verses 5-7 is spiritually blind.
The word “lack” means is not present. We can translate this phrase literally, “to whom these things are not present.” Idiomatically this means that the “these things” of verses 5-7 are not “ours.” These character qualities are not present in his life. Are the character qualities of verses 5-7 near your heart?
If we possess these things God endows us with spiritual sight.
Principle:
God expects that the seven character qualities of verses 5-7 be present in our lives.
Application:
With each character quality that we add, we grow spiritually. This is like a telescope where lens after lens extends allowing us to see further into space. When a believer “adds” to his faith these character qualities, he gains the capacity to see further spiritually.
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