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We are —

I. To show who they are WHOM THE LORD CHARGES TO DEPART FROM INIQUITY. The text tells you it is everyone who names the name of Christ.

1. Baptized persons, capable to discern betwixt good and evil.

2. Who profess faith in Christ, and hope of salvation through Him.

3. Who pray to God through Christ.

4. Who profess faith in Christ, and holiness of life also.

5. Communicants who name the name of Christ in a most solemn manner, by sitting down at His table, before God, angels, and men.

II. To show WHAT IS IMPLIED IN THIS DEPARTING FROM INIQUITY which God chargeth us to aim at. Here let us inquire in what this departure, this happy apostasy, lies. There is —

1. A giving up with our rest in sin. God chargeth you to awake and bestir yourself, to spring to your feet, and prepare to make progress in the ways of holiness.

2. A going off from sin, and giving up with it: "If I have done iniquity, I will do no more" (Job 34:32).

3. A standing off from sin, as the word properly signifies: "Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away" (Proverbs 4:15).

4. A going off to the other side, namely, to Christ and holiness.

5. A going farther and farther from sin. Let us inquire what of iniquity God charges us to depart from. It is the accursed thing, with which we have nothing to do. We must depart from all sin, from the whole of it. We must depart —

(1)  From under the dominion of sin (Romans 6:12).

(2)  From the practice of sin (Isaiah 4:7).

(3)  From the devising and contriving of sin.

(4)  From the love of sin (Ezekiel 14:6).

(5)  From the enjoyment of the fruits of sin.

(6)  From the occasions of sin, and all temptations to it (Ezekiel 14:6).

(7)  From the workers of iniquity (2 Corinthians 6:17).We now proceed —

III. To EXPLAIN THE NATURE OF THIS CHARGE. You may know the nature of this charge given to them in the text, by these following properties. It is —

1. An universal charge, and this in two respects.

(1)  In respect of the persons naming. "Every one," says the text, "who nameth the name of Christ."

(2)  In respect of the sins which you are to depart from (Ezekiel 18:31).

2. A peremptory charge (Acts 17:30).

3. A charge for the present time (Psalm 95:7, 8).

4. A charge with certification, a charge upon your highest peril (Hebrews 12:25). We are now

IV. To show WHY THOSE PARTICULARLY WHO NAME THE NAME OF CHRIST ARE CHARGED TO DEPART FROM INIQUITY. All to whom the gospel comes are so charged, but those who profess Christ are in a special manner thus charged. For —

1. The practice of iniquity is a contradiction to their profession; so that they cannot have this practice, but they give the lie to their profession.

2. Whosoever partakes of Christ's salvation departs from iniquity; for salvation from sin is the leading and chief part of Christ's salvation.

3. The practice of iniquity is in a peculiar manner offensive to God, and grieving to His Spirit.

4. It reflects a peculiar dishonour upon God; such sins bring a scandal upon that holy name and religion which they profess (Romans 2:24). We are now —

V. TO MAKE SOME PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENT. This doctrine shows us —

1. That all and every one amongst us, by the authority of God who made us, and in whose name we were baptized, are obliged to depart from iniquity.

2. That for men to abstain from the sacrament of the supper, to this end that they may not be abridged of their liberty in sinful courses, is not only impious, but childish and foolish.

3. That they are bold adventurers, and run a dreadful risk, who come in their sins, unrepented of, and not sincerely resolved against, and sit down at the Lord's table.

4. Behold here how the Lord's table is fenced, by a fence of God's own making. Our text debars from this holy table whosoever will indulge themselves in, and will not part with, any known sin whatsoever; particularly —

(1) All neglecters of the duties of piety towards God.

(2) All who make not conscience of their duty towards men, righteousness, mercy, and charity.

(3) All those who are not sober in their lives (Titus 2:12).

(4) All those who suffer their tongues to go at random, and make no conscience of their words.

(5) All those who make no conscience of inward purity, the keeping of the heart.

(6) All those who entertain and indulge themselves in any known sin, or in the neglect of any known duty, or are not content to have their sin and duty discovered to them (Psalm 66:18).

5. Behold how the door of access to the Lord's table is opened to all true penitents, whose hearts are loosed from, and set against, all sin.

6. This shows us the necessity of self-searching, examining ourselves on this occasion (1 Corinthians 11:28). We exhort you to depart from iniquity, turn from your sins, since you name the name of Christ.

(T. Boston, D. D.)

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KJV: Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

WEB: However God's firm foundation stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness."