In this verse the apostle presents his exhortation to the saints in view of their condition which he is going to treat of in the epistle. The beauty of the exhortation is that it directs their hearts at once to the Lord Himself. It proceeds from the blessings in Him mentioned in vers. 4-9. Their distinctive features are :

1. The grace of God given in Christ Jesus.

2. Enriched in Him.

3. The testimony of Christ confirmed in you.

4. Awaiting the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

5. Confirm you unimpeachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

6. Called into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

With these precious things set before the saints, the apostle thus proceeds :"I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"-the One in whom you have the abounding riches of God's grace, and through whom all comes to you. What a blessed basis for exhortation! How, in a word, it sweeps away all thoughts of man, and sets the soul in the presence of God to be exercised in the light and truth there revealed.

Here we have authority (the Lord's), from the recognition of which proceeds unity of mind and action. In the power and blessing of that Name, the apostle exhorts that we "all say the same thing."

In the name of "Jesus," love is expressed ; the heart's apprehension of which will effectually prevent all breaking apart among the saints. So, in the power and blessing of that Name he exhorts, "that there be not among you divisions."

"In "Christ" we have power, as the Head of the assembly. The truth as to His Lordship, in His relation to the assembly (Eph. 4), will induce that unity to which the apostle so earnestly exhorts :"Be perfectly united (as members of one body), in the same mind and in the same opinion."

The sufficiency for all this is found in Him by whom the apostle exhorts the saints-the Name unto which we are gathered (Matt. 18), and which we are not to deny (Rev. 3). "Hold fast what thou hast, that no one take thy crown."

The Lord Himself is the authoritative, loving, and unifying power of His people's testimony, unity and fellowship with one another, with ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit. May the full blessing which flows from giving Him the supreme place be ours ; to this end the Spirit ever seeks to lead. J. Bloore.

(Quotations are from J. N. D.’s Trans.)