501. WHETSTONES TO SHARPEN

1. Threefold Finding.

• 1. Found by Him a sinner (Luk 15:5).
• 2. Found in Him a saint (Phl 3:9).
• 3. Found of Him a servant (2Pe 3:14).

2. Threefold salvation.

• 1. Saved from the punishment due to sin (Eph 2:8).
• 2. Being saved from the power of sin (Rom 5:10).
• 3. Shall be saved from the presence of sin (1Pe 1:5).

3. Threefold appearing.

• 1. Atonement by His past appearing (Hbr 9:26).
• 2. Advocacy by His present appearing (Hbr 9:24).
• 3. Appearing the second time (Hbr 9:28).

4. Threefold gain.

• 1. Gain of grace (Phl 3:7).
• 2. Gain of godliness (1Ti 6:6).
• 3. Gain of glory (Phl 1:21).

5. Three "Yet Not I's" of Paul.

• 1. "Yet not I" of walk (Gal 2:20).
• 2. "Yet not I" of word (1Cr 7:10).
• 3. "Yet not I" of work (1Cr 15:10).

6. Three "No differences."

• 1. "No difference" of salvation and sinnership (Rom 3:22).
• 2. "No difference" of standing as to place (Rom 10:12).
• 3. "No difference" of sanctification as to mode (Act 15:9).

7. Three handwritings of Scripture.

• 1. On stone (Exd 32:15-16). Justness of the law.
• 2. On the wall (Dan 5:5). Judgment on a sinner.
• 3. On the Cross (Jhn 19:19-20). Judgment of Man.

8. Three feasts.

• 1. Finished work of Christ. Feast provided (Luk 14:16).
• 2. Faith in Christ. Feast enjoyed (Luk 15:23).
• 3. Folly of sinner. Feast lost (Luk 16:19-25).

9. Three aspects of death and sin.

• 1. Dead in sin (Eph 2:1). Sinner.
• 2. Death for sin (1Pe 3:18). Saviour.
• 3. Dead to sin (Rom 6:2). Saint.

10. Threefold power against our threefold enemy.

• 1. The Father is opposed to the world (1Jo 2:15-17).
• 2. The Son is opposed to the devil (1Jo 3:8).
• 3. The Spirit is opposed to the flesh (Gal 5:17).

11. Threefold power for us.

• 1. The Father as our Protector (Rom 8:31-32).
• 2. The Son as our Pleader (Rom 8:34).
• 3. The Spirit as our Power (Rom 8:26).

12. Threefold name-Lord, Jesus, Christ.

• 1. Jesus. Saviour for me (Mat 1:21).
• 2. Christ. Sanctifier in me (Gal 2:20).
• 3. Lord. Sovereign over me (Jhn 13:13).

13. Threefold service of Christ.

• 1. Past. "He came to minister" (Mar 10:45).
• 2. Present. "He girded Himself" (illustration) (Jhn 13:4).
• 3. Future. "He will come forth" (Luk 12:37).

14. Three spiritual things of Ephesians.

• 1. Christ, the Depository. Spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3).
• 2. Christ, the Delight. Spiritual songs (Eph 5:19).
• 3. Christ, the Defender. Spiritual enemies (Eph 6:12).

15. Three persons with their mouths stopped.

• 1. The sinner (Rom 3:19).
• 2. The Lord Jesus (Isa 53:7).
• 3. The man without the wedding garment (Mat 22:12).

16. Thrice threefold contrast—Psa 22; Psa 23; Psa 24.

1. Cross.	1. Grace.	1. Wrath.	(Psa 22)
2. Crook.	2. Guidance.	2. Wealth.	(Psa 23)
3. Crown.	3. Glory.	3. Welcome.	(Psa 24)

17. Three perfect things.

• 1. God's work is perfect (Deu 32:4).
• 2. God's way is perfect (Psa 18:30).
• 3. God's will is perfect (Rom 12:2).

18. Threefold manifest union between the Father and Christ, as illustrating what our union is, and should manifestly be.

• 1. Union of will (Luk 22:42).
• 2. Union of work (Jhn 9:4).
• 3. Union of walk (Jhn 8:29).

19. Three aspects of eternal life.

• 1. Present possession (1Jo 5:11-13). Gift.
• 2. Present aim (1Ti 6:12). Growth.
• 3. Future manifestation (Col 3:4). Glory.

20. Three aspects of grace.

• 1. Saved by grace (Eph 2:8). Salvation.
• 2. Standing in grace (Rom 5:2). Standing.
• 3. Growth in grace (2Pe 3:18). Strength.

21. Three times Christ took Peter, James, and John with Him.

• 1. Saviour and death (Mar 5:37). Sympathy.
• 2. Saviour and disciples (Mar 9:2). Suffering.
• 3. Saviour and Divine glory (Mar 14:33). Splendour.

22. Three times the words, "Be it known unto you," occur in Acts.

• 1. Wholeness (Act 4:10). Power of His name.
• 2. Forgiveness (Act 13:38). Power of His blood.
• 3. Salvation (Act 28:28). Power of His grace.

23. Threefold singing of the angels.

• 1. At the Creation (Job 38:7).
• 2. At the coming of Christ (Luk 2:13).
• 3. At the coming of the sinner to Christ (Luk 15:10).

24. Threefold rest.

• 1. Rest of salvation (Mat 11:28).
• 2. Rest of service (Mat 11:29).
• 3. Rest in suffering (2Th 1:7).

25. Three aspects of faith.

• 1. Believing in the Word of God (1Jo 5:9).
• 2. Accepting the Person of Christ (Jhn 1:12).
• 3. Committing the soul to the Lord (2Ti 1:12).

26. Three precious facts in Colossians 3:3.

• 1. A treasure—"Life is hid with Christ."
• 2. The Treasurer—"Christ."
• 3. The treasury—"Hid with Christ in God."

27. Threefold choosing.

• 1. Chosen to salvation (2Th 2:13). Salvation.
• 2. Chosen to holiness (Eph 1:4). Separation.
• 3. Chosen to service (Eph 2:10). Service.

28. Threefold cleansing.

• 1. Our conscience by the blood (1Jo 1:7). Redemption.
• 2. Our ways by the ·Word and Spirit (Eph 5:26). Renewing.
• 3. Ourselves (2Cr 7:1). Responsibility.

29. Threefold aspect of God's mercy in Psalm 103.

• 1. Plenteous in supply (Psa 103:8).
• 2. Great in saving (Psa 103:11).
• 3. Everlasting in securing (Psa 103:17).

30. Threefold deliverance in 2Cr 1:10.

• 1. Who hath delivered (2Cr 1:10). Death.
• 2. Who doth deliver (2Pe 2:9). Danger.
• 3. Who will yet deliver (1Th 1:10). Destruction.

31. Twice threefold contrast in Psalm 1.

UNSAVED.	SAVED.
1. Separated from God.	1. Separated to God.
2. Sinning against God.	2. Serving only God.
3. Scorning at the truth of God.	3. Searching the truth.