investigation. It suggests the idea of the discovery of the true
condition, character, or standing of a man which may have been hidden or
partially obscured before--and now, at last, is brought out clearly.
With the same suggestion of investigation and discovery, the same phrase
is employed in other places; as, for instance, when the Apostle Paul
speaks about being 'found naked,' or as when he speaks about being
'found in Him, not having mine own righteousness.' So, then, there is
some process of examination or investigation, resulting in the
discovery, possibly for the first time, of what a man really is.

Then note, 'Found _in Him_,' or as the Revised Version reads it, 'in His
sight.' Then Christ is the Investigator, and it is before 'those pure
eyes and perfect judgment' that they have to pass, who shall be admitted
into the new heavens and the new earth, 'wherein dwelleth
righteousness.'

Then mark what is the character which, discovered on investigation by
Jesus Christ, admits there: 'without spot and blameless.' There must be
the entire absence of every blemish, stain, or speck of impurity. The
purer the white the more conspicuous the black. Soot is never so foul as
when it lies on driven snow. They who enter there must have nothing in
them akin to evil. 'Blameless' is the consequence of 'spotless.' That
which in itself is pure attracts no censure, whether from the Judge or
from the assessors and onlookers in His court.

But, further, these two words, in almost the same identical form--one of
them absolutely the same, and the other almost so--are found in Peter's
other letter as a description of Jesus Christ Himself. He was a Lamb
'without blemish and without spot.' And thus the character that
qualifies for the new heavens is the copy of us in Jesus Christ.

Still further, only those who thus have attained to the condition of
absolute, speckless purity and conformity to Jesus Christ will meet His
searching eye in calm tranquillity and be 'found of Him _in peace_.'

The steward brings his books to his master. If he knows that there has
been trickery with the figures and embezzlement, how the wretch shakes
in his shoes, though he may stand apparently calm, as the master's keen
eye goes down the columns! If he knows that it is all right, how calmly
he waits the master's signature at the end, to pass the account! The
soldiers come back with victory on their helmets, and are glad to look
their captain in the face