498. WONDERFUL GEMS FOR SETTING

1. Three things we are to keep from.

• 1. Severance. From idols (1Jo 5:21).
• 2. Separation. From the world (Jam 1:27).
• 3. Safety. From the path of the destroyer (Psa 17:4).

2. Three things the Lord uses to purify or refine.

• 1. Pruning. The knife (Jhn 15:2).
• 2. Purifying. The furnace (Mal 3:2-3).
• 3. Punishing. The rod (1Co 4:21).

3. Three Persons to whom the believer belongs.

• 1. His by Purpose. To the Father (Eph 1:4).
• 2. His by Purchase. To the Son (1Co 6:20).
• 3. His by Possession. To the Holy Spirit (1Co 3:16).

4. Threefold glory, or the Trinity in unity.

• 1. His Worship. The glory of the Father (Isa 6:1-4).
• 2. His Word. The glory of the Son (Jhn 12:38).
• 3. His Warning. The glory of the Holy Spirit (Act 28:25-27).

5. Three witnesses in 1Jo 5:8.

• 1. Atonement made. The blood (Jhn 6:50-53).
• 2. Assurance given. The Word (Jhn 20:31).
• 3. Accepted Saviour. The Spirit (Act 5:32).

6. Three things that are "needful."

• 1. Work. Needful supplies for the work of God (Ezr 7:20).
• 2. Worship. Needful to stir us up to our privileges (Luk 10:42).
• 3. Word. Needful to remind us of our responsibilities (Jde 1:3).

7. Three uncomely and comely persons.

• 1. Corruption. An uncomely sinner (Dan 10:8).
• 2. Compassion. An uncomely Saviour (Isa 53:2).
• 3. Covering. A comely saint (Eze 16:14).

8. Three illustrations of faith-taking God at His word.

• 1. Unknown. Noah (Heb 11:7). Noah did it about a thing unknown.
• 2. Unlikely. Abraham (Heb 11:17-19). Abraham, about a thing unlikely.
• 3. Untried. Moses (Heb 11:28). Moses, about a thing untried.

9. Three classes; or trembling saints, sinners, and devils.

• 1. Work. Trembling saints (Mar 16:8; 1Co 2:3).
• 2. Wondering. Trembling sinners (Act 24:25; Act 16:29).
• 3. Wrath. Trembling devils (Jas 2:19).

10. An acrostic in one verse.

• 1. A—"Ask." Interceding Abraham (Gen 18:17-33).
• 2. S—"Seek." Importunate widow (Luk 18:1-8).
• 3. K—"Knock." Indefatigable friend (Luk 11:5-10).

11. Threefold walk.

• 1. Uprightly. In the house (Psa 101:2).
• 2. Unitedly. In the Church (Eph 5:1-2).
• 3. Undefiled. In the world (Col 4:5).

12. Three things we are to obtain.

• 1. Furnished. Mercy, as we come to the throne of grace (Heb 4:16).
• 2. Faith. Promises, as we trust in the Lord (Heb 11:33).
• 3. Faithfulness. Participation, as we endure (Heb 11:35).

13. Three things we shall obtain.

• 1. Appointed to full salvation. Salvation (1Th 5:9).
• 2. Association with Christ. Glory (2Th 2:14).
• 3. Acknowledged by Christ. Eternal glory (2Ti 2:10).

14. Three things which cannot be found.

• 1. Blotted out. The sins of the believer (Jer 50:20).
• 2. Blessed in Christ. The life of the saint (Col 3:3).
• 3. Buried by God. The body of Moses (Deu 34:6).

15. Three things God cannot do.

• 1. Foundation. He cannot lie (Tit 1:2).
• 2. Faithfulness. He cannot deny Himself (2Ti 2:13).
• 3. Firmness. His word cannot be broken (Jhn 10:35).

16. Three things we have need of.

• 1. Empowered. We need grace to help us (Heb 4:16).
• 2. Endurance. We need patience to endure (Heb 10:36).
• 3. Enabling. We need one another (1Co 12:21).

17. Threefold meetness.

• 1. Participation. God rejoicing over returning prodigals (Luk 15:32).
• 2. Position. Believer made meet for God's presence (Col 1:12).
• 3. Purification. Servant made meet to be used (2Ti 2:21).

18. Three impossibilities in connection with the sinner.

• 1. Bondage. Cannot please God (Rom 8:8).
• 2. Barrenness. Cannot bring forth fruit (Mat 7:18).
• 3. Banishment. Cannot enter the kingdom (Jhn 3:5).

19. Three impossibilities in connection with the believer.

• 1. Separation. Cannot serve God and Mammon (Luk 16:13).
• 2. Shining. As a light he cannot be hid (Mat 5:14).
• 3. Suffering. He cannot escape cross-bearing (Luk 14:26-27).

20. Three things we are to strive to obtain.

• 1. Winning. An incorruptible (victor's) crown (1Co 9:24-25).
• 2. Warring. A good report (Heb 11:39).
• 3. Walking. Joy and gladness (Isa 35:10).

21. Three things we have obtained.

• 1. Righteousness. Precious faith (2Pe 1:1).
• 2. Redemption. Redemption (Heb 9:12).
• 3. Riches. An inheritance in Christ (Eph 1:11).

22. Three things the believer cannot do.

• 1. Implantation. Cannot sin (1Jo 3:9).
• 2. Indwelling. Cannot bring forth fruit of himself (Jhn 15:4).
• 3. Identification. Cannot do without fellow-saints (1Co 12:21).

23. Three things marred.

• 1. Sin. The potter's vessel—sinner marred by sin (Jer 18:4).
• 2. Substitute. The Saviour marred for us (Isa 52:14)
• 3. Service. The girdle marred by neglect—slothful servant (Jer 13:7).

24. Threefold proving.

• 1. Obedience. Obedience, the proof of love (2Co 2:9; 1Co 8:24).
• 2. Overcoming. Faithfulness, the proof of being God's (Phl 2:22).
• 3. Obtaining. Endurance in life and doctrine the proof of faithfulness (2Ti 4:5).

25. Threefold transfiguration.

• 1. Glory. Christ transfigured^* on the mount (Mat 17:2).
• 2. Grace. Moral transformation (Rom 12:2).
• 3. Gazing. Spiritual transformation, as we gaze on the Lord (2Co 3:18).

26. Three things we "need not," as believers in Christ.

• 1. Translation. We need not be washed again (Jhn 13:10).
• 2. Teaching. We need not any man to teach us (1Jo 2:27).
• 3. Testimony. We need not be ashamed (2Ti 2:15).

27. Three things we are not to neglect.

• 1. Attention. Not neglecting to stimulate believers to add to their faith (2Pe 5:12).
• 2. Activity. Neglect: not any gift of grace (1Ti 4:14).
• 3. Apprehension. Neglect: not the great salvation (Heb 2:3).

28. Threefold quietness.

• 1. Peace. Quietness of conscience (Isa 32:17).
• 2. Power. Quietness of heart (Isa 30:15).
• 3. Plenty. Quietness of soul, led by the Lord (Psa 23:2, margin).

29. Three things we are to buy.

• 1. Salvation. The wine and milk of the Gospel (Isa 55:1).
• 2. Security. The truth of God, by obedience (Pro 23:23).
• 3. Separation. The gold tried in the fire (Rev 3:18).

30. Three things we are to find.

• 1. Refreshment. Pasture, as we go in to the Lord's presence for communion, and out in service (Jhn 10:9).
• 2. Rest. Rest, as we take the yoke of Christ (Mat 11:29).
• 3. Reward. Grace, to help in time of need (Heb 4:16).