Wherefore, beloved, seeing ye look for these
things
For the burning of the heavens and the earth, for the coming of
Christ, and for the new heavens and new earth,
be diligent that ye may be found of him;
Christ, or (autw) , "in
him", as in ( Philippians
3:9 ) ; for such as are in Christ will have an undoubted
right to the new heavens and the new earth, and will certainly
dwell in them, because they will be found not in their own
righteousness, but in the righteousness of Christ: or "before
him", as the Arabic version renders it; before him the Judge of
all, at whose tribunal they must stand; but being clothed with
his righteousness, and so without spot and blemish, they will not
be ashamed before him: or "by him"; Christ first finds his in
redemption, and next in the effectual calling, and last of all at
his coming, when all the elect will be looked up, gathered in,
and presented first to himself, and then to his Father, complete
and perfect, not one wanting: and thus to be found in him, and
before him, and by him, should be the concern of all that look
for the glorious things here spoken of, and particularly that
they be found in the following situation and circumstances: in
peace; interested in that peace Christ has made by the blood of
his cross; for such as are reconciled to God by his death, shall
be saved by his life, and live with him in the new heavens and
new earth, and for ever in the ultimate glory; and in enjoying
that peace of conscience which he himself gives, and which flows
from his blood, righteousness, and atonement; so that the day of
his coming by death, or at judgment, will not be terrifying to
them, but they will look for these things with great delight and
satisfaction: or
in peace
one with another; for peace makers and keepers are called the
children of God, and so heirs of God, and joint-heirs with
Christ; or in happiness and glory, expressed by peace, which is
the end of the righteous man, which he enters into at death, and
will rest in to all eternity:
without spot and blemish;
no man is so in himself, sanctification is imperfect, and many
are the slips and falls of the saints, though their desire is to
be harmless and inoffensive, and to give no just occasion for
blame or scandal; but the saints are so in Christ Jesus, being
washed in his blood, and clothed with his righteousness, and will
be found so by him when he comes again, when he will present them
to himself a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle, and also
before the presence of his Father's glory, as faultless, with
exceeding joy; and so will they be fit and meet to be the
inhabitants of the new heavens and new earth, and reign with him
therein, and be with him to all eternity.