F.E. Marsh :: 498. Wonderful Gems for Setting

References for 1Co 12:21 —  1   2 

1. Three things we are to keep from.
   1. Severance. From idols (1 John 5:21).
   2. Separation. From the world (James 1:27).
   3. Safety. From the path of the destroyer (Psalm 17:4).
2. Three things the Lord uses to purify or refine.
   1. Pruning. The knife (John 15:2).
   2. Purifying. The furnace (Malachi 3:2-3).
   3. Punishing. The rod (1 Corinthians 4:21).
3. Three Persons to whom the believer belongs.
   1. His by Purpose. To the Father (Ephesians 1:4).
   2. His by Purchase. To the Son (1 Corinthians 6:20).
   3. His by Possession. To the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 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 (John 12:38).
   3. His Warning. The glory of the Holy Spirit (Acts 28:25-27).
5. Three witnesses in 1 John 5:8.
   1. Atonement made. The blood (John 6:50-53).
   2. Assurance given. The Word (John 20:31).
   3. Accepted Saviour. The Spirit (Acts 5:32).
6. Three things that are “needful.”
   1. Work. Needful supplies for the work of God (Ezra 7:20).
   2. Worship. Needful to stir us up to our privileges (Luke 10:42).
   3. Word. Needful to remind us of our responsibilities (Jude 3).
7. Three uncomely and comely persons.
   1. Corruption. An uncomely sinner (Daniel 10:8).
   2. Compassion. An uncomely Saviour (Isaiah 53:2).
   3. Covering. A comely saint (Ezekiel 16:14).
8. Three illustrations of faith—taking God at His word.
   1. Unknown. Noah (Hebrews 11:7). Noah did it about a thing unknown.
   2. Unlikely. Abraham (Hebrews 11:17-19). Abraham, about a thing unlikely.
   3. Untried. Moses (Hebrews 11:28). Moses, about a thing untried.
9. Three classes; or trembling saints, sinners, and devils.
   1. Work. Trembling saints (Mark 16:8; 1 Cor. 2:3).
   2. Wondering. Trembling sinners (Acts 24:25; Acts 16:29).
   3. Wrath. Trembling devils (James 2:19).
10. An acrostic in one verse.
    1. A—“Ask.” Interceding Abraham (Gen. 18:17-33).
    2. S—“Seek.” Importunate widow (Luke 18:1-8).
    3. K—“Knock.” Indefatigable friend (Luke 11:5-10).
11. Threefold walk.
    1. Uprightly. In the house (Psalm 101:2).
    2. Unitedly. In the Church (Ephesians 5:1-2).
    3. Undefiled. In the world (Colossians 4:5).
12. Three things we are to obtain.
    1. Furnished. Mercy, as we come to the throne of grace (Hebrews 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 (1 Thess. 5:9).
    2. Association with Christ. Glory (2 Thess. 2:14).
    3. Acknowledged by Christ. Eternal glory (2 Tim. 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 (Deut. 34:6).
15. Three things God cannot do.
    1. Foundation. He cannot lie (Titus 1:2).
    2. Faithfulness. He cannot deny Himself (2 Tim. 2:13).
    3. Firmness. His word cannot be broken (John 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 (1 Cor. 12:21).
17. Threefold meetness.
    1. Participation. God rejoicing over returning prodigals (Luke 15:32).
    2. Position. Believers made meet for God’s presence (Colossians 1:12).
    3. Purification. Servants made meet to be used (2 Tim. 2:21).
18. Three impossibilities in connection with the sinner.
    1. Bondage. Cannot please God (Romans 8:8).
    2. Barrenness. Cannot bring forth fruit (Matt. 7:18).
    3. Banishment. Cannot enter the kingdom (John 3:5).
19. Three impossibilities in connection with the believer.
    1. Separation. Cannot serve God and Mammon (Luke 16:13).
    2. Shining. As a light he cannot be hid (Matt. 5:14).
    3. Suffering. He cannot escape cross-bearing (Luke 14:26-27).
20. Three things we are to strive to obtain.
    1. Winning. An incorruptible (victor’s) crown (1 Cor. 9:24-25).
    2. Warring. A good report (Hebrews 11:39).
    3. Walking. Joy and gladness (Isaiah 35:10).
21. Three things we have obtained.
    1. Righteousness. Precious faith (2 Peter 1:1).
    2. Redemption. Redemption (Hebrews 9:12).
    3. Riches. An inheritance in Christ (Ephesians 1:11).
22. Three things the believer cannot do.
    1. Implantation. Cannot sin (1 John 3:9).
    2. Indwelling. Cannot bring forth fruit of himself (John 15:4).
    3. Identification. Cannot do without fellow-saints (1 Corinthians 12:21).
23. Three things marred.
    1. Sin. The potter’s vessel—sinner marred by sin (Jeremiah 18:4).
    2. Substitute. The Saviour marred for us (Isaiah 52:14)
    3. Service. The girdle marred by neglect—slothful servant (Jeremiah 13:7).
24. Threefold proving.
    1. Obedience. Obedience, the proof of love (2 Cor. 2:9; 8:24).
    2. Overcoming. Faithfulness, the proof of being God’s (Philippians 2:22).
    3. Obtaining. Endurance in life and doctrine the proof of faithfulness (2 Timothy 4:5).
25. Threefold transfiguration.
    1. Glory. Christ transfigured* on the mount (Matt. 17:2).
    2. Grace. Moral transformation (Romans 12:2).
    3. Gazing. Spiritual transformation, as we gaze on the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18).
26. Three things we “need not,” as believers in Christ.
    1. Translation. We need not be washed again (John 13:10).
    2. Teaching. We need not any man to teach us (1 John 2:27).
    3. Testimony. We need not be ashamed (2 Tim. 2:15).
27. Three things we are not to neglect.
    1. Attention. Not neglecting to stimulate believers to add to their faith (2 Peter 1:12).
    2. Activity. Neglect not any gift of grace (1 Tim. 4:14).
    3. Apprehension. Neglect not the great salvation (Hebrews 2:3).
28. Threefold quietness.
    1. Peace. Quietness of conscience (Isaiah 32:17).
    2. Power. Quietness of heart (Isaiah 30:15).
    3. Plenty. Quietness of soul, led by the Lord (Psalm 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 (Proverbs 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 (John 10:9).
    2. Rest. Rest, as we take the yoke of Christ (Matt. 11:29).
    3. Reward. Grace, to help in time of need (Heb. 4:16).

* Same word in Greek—metamorphoomai—translated “transfigured,” “transformed,” and “changed,” in the three Scriptures.