I John
Introduction
We can know all of the Bible and still sin. As heretical as it sounds, memorizing the Bible cover to cover will not make us holier or make us right with God and others. I Corinthians 13:2 tell us that “though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all knowledge… but have not love, I am nothing.” (NKJV) (Italics mine)
It is not knowledge that keeps us from sinning, it is love. Remember the two greatest commandments given to us in Matt. 22:37-38: the first is to love God and the second to love others. Jesus tells us that if we love Him we will keep His commandments (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3).
Love is what prevents us from sinning against God and others. Love is what causes us to want to learn more about God through His Word, and to live in obedience to Him. While Bible knowledge alone does not result in closer fellowship with God or a more committed life, it is the guide to knowing God and what pleases Him that He has provided. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
1 John is an excellent place to begin to lay a proper foundation for understanding what loving God looks like, and how it contrasts with loving the world. The Apostle John writes in stark terms (light vs. dark) to emphasize the contrast of being or not being in fellowship with the Father.
From John MacArthur’s Study Bible, p.1962: “The constant repetition of 3 sub-themes reinforces the overall theme regarding faithfulness to the basics of Christianity: happiness [joy] (1:4), holiness (2:1), and security (5:13). By faithfulness to the basics, his readers will experience these 3 results continually in their lives. These 3 factors also reveal the key cycle of true spirituality in 1 John: a proper belief in Jesus produces obedience to His commands; obedience issues in love for God and fellow believers (e.g. 3:23, 24). When these 3 (sound faith, obedience, love) operate in concert together, they result in happiness [joy], holiness, and assurance. They constitute the evidence, the litmus test, of a true Christian.”
Teacher’s Commentary: “John and his writings” p. 1047-48
I John 1:1-4
What does John declare to us? What or whom is described? Someone:
1) From the beginning – both from the very first beginning (at creation) and also what was preached to them from the beginning. John is proclaiming one who was at the Creation, and what he is declaring here is the same truth they heard when he first declared it to them. With so much false doctrine that was being taught, John was making sure that they understood that this was no strange doctrine being given to them, but the same truth which they first heard from him.
2) He has heard, seen, looked upon, and handled; the “Word of life”, “eternal life” (Jesus) was experienced personally by John. He presents himself as an eyewitness, giving first-hand account.
This tells us that Jesus is:
1) the Word of life; He is the source of life
2) eternal
3) both God and man; the “life was manifested” God came and dwelt with man
Why is this epistle being written? So that they would know that he has fellowship with the Father, and would accept him and what was being declared in this epistle as being from God and His Son Jesus. In so doing, facilitating fellowship with each other which comes from God: so that “you may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” (v.3-4) If our fellowship with each other is only that which we have with the Father, then John writes this with salvation in mind for those not in fellowship with God; also, to increase the fellowship of those who already know Him, and thereby their fellowship with each other.
Where does joy come from? Joy comes from our fellowship with the Father and His Son. This means that joy will only increase as we learn more about Him, experience walking with Him, and share Him with others.
What is fellowship? “’fellowship’ is the Greek word Koinonia. It is a word of intimacy and means ‘communion; close relationship; participation; sharing.’ John’s desire for us is what we ourselves yearn for: a warm, comfortable relationship with God in which we are aware of being close to Him in heart and mind.” (TC, p.1048) Fellowship with God is the basis for a love relationship with Him. God’s word also tells us that we love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Fellowship with God is possible because not only did He make it possible, He reached out to us first. The more we stay in fellowship with God, His Son and the Spirit, the more we will love Him, and the greater our joy will be.
How is fellowship with God manifested? What are the means of fellowship?
1) actions: prayer, Bible reading/meditation/memorization
2) response/attitude: obedience, humility, thankfulness, surrendered will
Is fellowship with God possible if we do not love Him?
What is the stated purpose of this epistle given in v.4?
How does this epistle produce that result?
1 John 1:5-7
What is the message that John heard from Jesus? “That God is light and in Him is no darkness at all”. (v.5)
What does this mean? What does light do? Illumine. Reveal. Provides the information we need to proceed, act. Psalm 119:105 tells us: “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”. Both God and His Word are referred to as light. God is also referred to as the Father of lights: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:17)
Both James and 1 John declare that there is no variation or shadow, no darkness; that God is completely light. Jesus is also described in terms of light, which is so intense and pure that it is described as being unapproachable in 1 Tim. 6:16 “who [Jesus] has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light…” “’Light’ and ‘darkness’ are moral terms in John’s writings. The character of God is expressed as light; the character of sinful man is expressed as darkness.” (TC, p.1049)
If light reveals, darkness hides, covers up, or hinders. If God has no darkness at all, it means that He will not and cannot ever be deceptive or misleading. If we do not know why, or don’t know what to do or where to go, it is entirely opposite of His nature to play guessing games with us. God has revealed already everything we need to know to do His will in His Word. If our question is not specifically addressed in Scripture, there are general guidelines such as doing all for His glory in making the decision.
After declaring God’s pure nature, John warns those who claim to be in fellowship with God yet do not declare or live His truth. John declares what is the implication of God being pure light: that if we are His children, we should be characterized by light as well. “Our values, our behavior, our attitudes, our commitments must be in harmony with God’s character rather than with the natural passions of fallen humanity.” (TC, p. 1049) If our “walk” (the habit and character of our life) is characterized by darkness, “we lie and do not practice the truth.” This gives us a further characterization of light: that it is truth; darkness is falsehood. It is important to note here that John uses the word “walk”. This emphasizes lifestyle. He is not saying that a child of God is going to be sinless; in fact, he is addressing those who are in the light, those who are children of God who need to acknowledge their sin. “Even those walking in the light need forgiveness and cleansing from the sins they commit.” (TC, p.1049)
If we are in fellowship with God it means that:
1) our sins are washed by Jesus Christ
2) we have fellowship with one another
1 John 1: 8-10
v.8 “If we say we have no sin” This is not just an outright denial, but can also refer to redefining what sin is so that we are not guilty of it. To claim that we do not sin is to deceive ourselves. Since light never deceives, but reveals, the only way we can claim not to have sin is if we are not one of God’s children. I have seen those who claim to be Christians be deceived by others; but self-deception is only possible if God’s truth is denied. For those that have been deceived by someone else, if they have the Spirit of God in them, they will eventually recognize the deception and turn away from it. We have a Spirit that will guide us into all truth (John 16:13). We should never take deception lightly; those who have been deceived should not be excused, but confronted with the truth. Their very life depends on it!
“What is at issue are our choices. While we can feel the old passions stirring, we also have a new appreciation for godliness. We want to be like Jesus! Now two sets of desires war within us, and we have been given the freedom to choose. We can walk in the light and live in the radiance shed by the Living Word. Or we can turn our backs and chase off into darkness after the illusive pleasures of sin. The choices we make, not the temptations we experience, are what move us into darkness or into light.” (TC, p.1049)
“The more we live in the light Jesus sheds, the more aware we become of how unlike God we are. Rather than feeling comfortable in His presence, we pull back in shame and hopelessness, deciding we are forever separated from Him. Or, unable to face the reality, we deceive ourselves and deny the blemishes that surface….
To have fellowship involves choosing a basic direction toward godliness; walking into the light, we can see God and reality. But we also become aware of our sins and failures. We will all become aware of all that God still has to do within us to make us truly godly. We cannot live in fellowship with God if we live a lie; to walk in the light means we must face and deal with the reality of our sin.” (TC, p.1050)
What is the solution? V.9. Confession and forgiveness. “The basis of our fellowship with God is not our sinlessness, but His forgiveness.” (TC, p.1050)
v.9 In answer to the warning given in v.8 is the precious mercy and grace that is available to all who will repent of their sin. Because God is faithful and just, He will forgive and cleanse us from our sins if we will confess them to Him. From John MacArthur’s Study Bible (p.1964-5): “Continual confession of sin is an indication of genuine salvation…The term ‘confess’ means to say the same thing about sin as God does; to acknowledge His perspective about sin.”
v.10 repeats the warning in v.8. For those that will not confess their sins, we make God a liar and His truth is not in us. This could not be any clearer: if we will not acknowledge the sin that we commit, we cannot be one of God’s children. So if we are justifying, ignoring, rationalizing, or denying our sin, we should be alarmed! We cannot continue in sin and know the Savior; we cannot deny our sin and be indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
1 John 2:1-2
v.1 That we are forgiven and will be forgiven when we confess our sins does not make sinning OK! John writes “so that you may not sin”.
Look at consequences for sin in the O.T.: How does God view sin? What should our view of sin be?
That this was written so that we will not sin indicates that we are not powerless against it. We have a choice. Not only do we have a choice, but we have the support and enablement of the Holy Spirit. (John 16:7)
If we do sin, we have an advocate, Jesus Christ. He not only intercedes for us, He acquits us of all charges against us, for justice has already been satisfied in His work on the cross.
v.2 He is the propitiation: means appeasement or satisfaction. His work on the cross satisfied the demands of God’s holiness. It is sufficient to satisfy the sins of anyone and everyone who will believe on Him.
1 John 2:3-6
If we keep His commandments, His Word, we:
1) Know Him
2) Love Him
3) Abide in Him
How do we know that we are saved, that we are a child of God? We do not need to go down to the altar, or sign a card; our salvation is shown to be real by our obedience to God and His Word. Obedience is the eternal, visible proof of salvation.
How is the life of obedience exemplified? In the life of Jesus Christ. We are to “walk just as He walked”.
What does it mean to “know” Him? The Greek word is ginosko means to grasp “the full reality and nature of an object under consideration. It is thus distinguished from mere opinion…” (TC p.1052)
“It is important to understand here John does not suggest that relationship with God is established by obedience; rather, that relationship is demonstrated by obedience.” (TC, p.1052)
1 John 2: 7-11
How is obedience to God manifested? In love for the brethren. Love for God is not legalism. It is not following a list of rules, as the Pharisees did. The first test we need to give ourselves if we are wondering if we are abiding in Jesus or not, is, are we loving our brothers and sisters in Christ?
v.9 hates: someone who habitually hates or has a lifestyle of hate. Hatred is a sign of spiritual darkness.
I John 2: 12-14
After describing the characteristics of a child of God versus those who are not, John emphasizes here who he is writing this letter to: those who are children of God. For those that question their salvation because of a lack of spiritual growth, or sin that is present in their lives, John further clarifies what a child of God will look like during three stages of growth, not only so that you can see what stage of growth that you are at and what you should be heading towards, but also to confirm that you are a child of God.
(The three age groups are not literal but representative).
1) Little children: those who have their sins forgiven and know the Father. They have a basic knowledge of God but need to grow.
2) Young men: have overcome the wicked one. They have learned to flee temptation and confront the lies of Satan with the truth of the Word. They are strong in the Lord because the Word of God abides in them. They have experienced victory over temptation and trial but are still in the process of growing.
3) Fathers: have known God. The most mature have a deep knowledge of the eternal God. The tense of knowing I have emphasized here is what describes their level of growth: they know God, and they have known Him in the past. A mature believer is one who has developed a deep knowledge of God over a period of time.
Regardless of the stage of growth, what is seen in common with all three is that a child of God knows God and has their sins forgiven (we cannot know Him unless they are). Because there are stages of growth we should not expect to live like someone who is mature just after being saved. There are also no time limits given here. It does not say that stage 1 lasts for a year, stage 2 for 15, stage 3 20+. There is no deadline that has to be met to avoid failing the Christian life. But that there are stages indicates that the Christian life is a process of developing an ever-increasing knowledge of God. If we are not, we are not growing. We cannot get from stage 1 to 2 to 3 unless we strive after a deeper knowledge of Him.
After clarifying who is being addressed (children of God), John gives this message:
1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
The world “Kosmos” can mean the universe, earth, or mankind. In a moral sense, it refers to the created universe and to mankind as fallen. (TC, p.1053)
v.15 Two loves are contrasted here: love for the world vs. love for God. The word for love in reference to the world is agapao, which is to love in a social or moral sense. The word for love as in the “love of God” is agape, which is affection, devotion, or benevolence.
We are not to care about what is in the world or what it teaches or can offer us. Not only are we not to love the world, to do so is in opposition to loving God. There is no middle ground given here; in what we see, do, hear, say – we are either showing a love for the world and what it offers or we demonstrating a love for and of God.
v.16 All that is in the world is what is going to appeal to the lust of our flesh, eyes, and pride. This definition will help us see what is of the Father and what is of the world. This is needed because the world will offer what seems to be good or feels good, or in the end will have a “good” result. But we can know if something appears to be good is good or not by whether it appeals to the lusts of our flesh or not.
Although what the lusts are may seem to be obvious, to gloss over this and not spell it out gives room for excuse and rationalization. Lusts of the flesh have to do with any physical desire or appetite. This can be sleep, eating, drinking, drugs, sex, thrill-seeking, fantasy, or amusement. It is anything our bodies want or crave. We can know what is of the world in that what is being offered will always be immediately gratifying and feel good for the moment. “For the moment” is the key phrase; for the world can only offer that which is temporary and falls short of the glory of God. What God offers is always eternal and satisfies completely.
The lust of the eyes is mentioned separately, for it is what we see that we remember far more than what we hear. It is what we see that most often tempts us. When Eve was offered the fruit, she saw that the tree was good to eat and was pleasant to the eyes. (Genesis 3:6) This description should be a warning to us that we need to be the most careful about what we see and watch. This includes where we go (beaches, bars, plays) as well as what we see at home on television and movies. If we are tempted by what we see, then why go somewhere where we know we will be tempted by what we see, or watch something we know will lead us into sin? To consciously choose to look at what appeals to the flesh is to love the world and not the Father.
The pride of life: self-ambition, self-protection, and self-promotion. What the world offers will always appeal to our pride. Humanistic philosophies are very popular today; Oprah Winfrey preaches on the importance of believing in ourselves, valuing ourselves, promoting ourselves. It is what those who belong to the world want to hear. It is a philosophy that sounds good; after all, doesn’t believing in these things make us a better Christian? But they don’t. God’s Word teaches us that nothing good dwells in our flesh (Rom. 7:18). That while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) We are told to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31), not in ourselves! We cannot save ourselves! While it is true that we do have value in that we are a creation of God, our value is based on what He has done, not in anything we can take credit for. If we have talent, abilities, a pleasing personality, etc. it has all been given to us by God. All honor and glory belong to Him! What we do with what we have been given will show whether we are depending on the love of God and living for Him or whether we love the world and the praise of men. Remember also that it is pride that caused Lucifer to fall. (Isaiah 14:12-15)
What the world offers is so appealing. But v.17 reminds us that not only are the pleasures that the world offers fleeting and temporary, the world itself is passing away. Why live for something that is decaying? Both our lusts and the world are temporary; only God is eternal. That means anything we have done or said for Him and in Him will last forever. Loving God and living for Him is the only thing that has real value, meaning and purpose to life! Everything else is lost and destroyed!
1 John 2:18-27
Context: Up to this point, John has described the contrast between children of God (light) and those of darkness; the necessity of recognition of sin and repentance; and has identified children of God as those who love and know Him and whose sin is forgiven. He then warns us of dangers that will prevent us from abiding in Christ and experiencing all that He provides. Verses 15-17 cover the first warning: love for the world and all it has to offer cannot co-exist with love for the Father. To love the world is not to love the Father, and vise versa. This second section gives us the second warning: beware of anti-christs.
What are anti-christs? What John refers to here are false teachers. Those who claim to speak the truth but do not, and led people astray.
False teachers are identified with the Antichrist. This is the first mention of him in the N.T. This is to convey the seriousness of the danger and evil that is present in those who teach false doctrine. False teachers tend to generate a following because they are likeable and what they are saying sounds good. Such people do not seem to be such a problem; if what they are teaching is off a little, what is the big deal? Yet it is a very big deal – so much so that they are identified with the Antichrist himself. What we believe, what is taught is extremely important; it does and will impact our lives here and now, as well as eternally.
What does the presence of false teachers indicate? That we are in the last hour. They are just a precursor to the Antichrist who is yet to come. How can we identify an antichrist when we met, hear, or see one?
Antichrists:
1) Will depart from the faithful. They arise from within the church and depart from true fellowship; in leaving they bring people with them.
2) Deny that Jesus is the Messiah. They deny the Father and the Son. This means they reject the deity and lordship of Jesus. (But the reject the Son is to reject the Father.)
3) Seek to deceive people and draw them away from following Jesus.
With such a threat, what assurance does John give to us? We can recognize deception, lies, and falsehood because we know the truth, for we have the Holy Spirit. We learn here that the Holy Spirit teaches us and guides us into all truth.
With this in mind, the very best way we can keep from being deceived is to be intimately acquainted with the One who is truth, and with God’s Word. “Abide in Him” (v.27)
To constantly turn away from a more intimate knowledge of God and fellowship with the Spirit will not only increase the likely hood of being deceived, it may indicate a total lack of relationship; hence no salvation.
1 John 2:28-3:3
Ironically, the key verse for this section is the last, not the first: “everyone who has this hope purifies himself”.
What is it that gets us through difficult times? What keeps us from giving up? Hope. What is this hope in? 1) Christ’s return; 2) That “we will be like Him” (it is heaven that is eternal, not our life here on earth!) What is our hope based on? Our hope is based on God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, His Word, and Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross.
There are five features of the believer’s hope. The first is given in 2:28: that hope results from abiding in Him. What motivates us to abide in Him? Love for God. Where does this love for God come from? How does it come about? “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) Those who are children of God will love Him; because we love Him, we long for and look forward to Christ’s return. “The hope of Christ’s return produces the effect of continual abiding in every true believer as they long for the glorious future prepared for them.” JMSB p.1969 Abiding in Him also results in a confidence and lack of shame when Jesus comes; we are ready and waiting for Him for we have been actively placing our hope in Him and His appearing.
The second feature is that the hope of Jesus’ return results in making righteousness a habit. If we are children of God, we should have characteristics in common with Him. Just as people who know our parents and then meet us may declare “You are just like your mother/father!” or “You did that just the way your mother/father would have!”, our life and behavior should be such that people see our heavenly Father in it. As He is righteous, we should be righteous.
The third feature is that our hope is strengthened by the love of God. Can the first part of 3:1 be said better than this? After John reminds us that we should be like our heavenly Father, he marvels that God has chosen us to be such. The more acutely aware we become of our sinfulness and unworthiness, the more incomprehensible it is that God should love us and make us His children.
But because we are His children, that distinguishes us from those who aren’t. See John 15:18. The world does not know us, because it does not know Him. The definition for “know” here includes understanding and perceiving. Those who do not know God are not going to understand us, why we believe they way we do, and why we act the way we do. They don’t “get” us. That is why they ridicule and attack us. That which cannot be understood by intellectual or emotional means (only spiritual) will always be scoffed at.
The fourth feature is what we look forward to: the day when “we shall be like Him”; the day when the believer shall experience ultimate conformity to His likeness. See Romans 8:18-25. Though we are children of God, only part of us has been made new to reflect this new identity: our heart and spirit. (Ezekiel 11:19; John 3:6, 4:23; Colossians 2:13) We still have the flesh (Romans 7, Galatians 5). Because we have this flesh, we can get overwhelmed with our failures and sins; but we have a hope! That hope is based on that which is sure: we will one day be like Him, and no longer be burdened with this flesh.
The fifth feature is the key verse: the hope of Christ’s return has a sanctifying, purifying effect on moral behavior. What is the hope of Jesus Christ’s return? That this knowing “in part” will culminate in fully knowing. (1 Corinthians 13:12) Since everyone that is God’s child loves Him, we long to know Him more fully and intimately. When Jesus returns, we know that whatever limitations this earthly flesh puts on our relationship with God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are going to be removed! There will be nothing to block our fellowship with the Trinity. Jesus Christ’s return is the hope of all who long for His appearing. If we do not long for his appearing, there is no relationship with Him, and therefore no hope; living the Christian life becomes pointless and meaningless.
But for those whose hope is in Christ’s return, we long to please God and not be ashamed when He comes. We want to be ready and looking for His return; not living for ourselves, but for His glory. How is this accomplished? We are ready to meet God and have complete fellowship when we are seeking fellowship with Him on a continual moment by moment, day by day practice. Verse 3 states “by keeping himself pure”. We stay in fellowship with God; we abide in Him by remaining pure from the world. This is accomplished by avoiding evil, confessing of known sin, and thinking about that which is good (Philippians 4:8). We are ready to meet Him because we have been abiding in Him all along.
1John 3:4-24
This next portion of Scripture addresses characteristics of a true believer. In verses 4-9, true believers are characterized as those who practice righteousness; in verses 10-24, they are characterized by love which is demonstrated to fellow believers.
But why does John go over this again? He has already given this information earlier in the book. If John was going over this again, it is because his readers needed to hear it again, and again. When we have been taught something that is not right, but are convinced that it is, we usually do not recognize the truth when we first hear it. So John restates these truths to emphasize the error of what they are being taught.
The false teaching that the Christians were facing at this time was Gnosticism. This taught that matter was inherently evil and spirit was good. One of the applications that this led to was that the body should be treated harshly; or that sin committed in the body had no connection or effect on one’s spirit. “This led some, especially John’s opponents, to conclude that sin committed in the physical body did not matter; absolute indulgence in immorality was permissible; one could deny that sin existed and disregard God’s law.” JMSB p.1962
While we are not facing the false teaching of Gnosticism today, the truths that are presented in this portion of Scripture correct any error that is being taught about what a true believer is characterized by or looks like. What are some of the false teachings that we are facing today? How does this passage address them?
Here are three approaches to Christian living that can be seen today:
1) The belief that Jesus came not only to save us, but to make us happier, healthier or wealthier. It results in the belief that anything that feels good is what He would want us to have; worship at church is expected to feel good, and if it doesn’t, it is failing us. It is a very self-centered, demanding belief system.
2) The belief that the way to be a good Christian is defined and seen in what we do. Following a code of conduct or system of rules is all that is required. This results in hypocrisy; for as long as the “rules” are kept, we can do what we want the rest of the time. This also results in a lack of love for God and others.
3) The belief that tolerance is how love should be seen and practiced. It will be argued that since we are in an age of grace, we should overlook or tolerate sin. That if we love others, we shouldn’t hurt or alienate them by confronting their sin or even preach or teach against it.
So what does John present in this passage that not only addresses the false teaching of Gnosticism, but these as well?
In verses 4-9 we are told that if we knowingly and habitually sin, we: 1) break God’s law; 2) do not abide in Jesus; 3) never became one of His children (He doesn’t know us). Contrary to what the Gnostics were teaching, sin does matter, and whether we sin habitually or not will indicate if we truly are saved.
In contrast to current false teaching #1, Jesus saved us to be holy, not to make us happy. Happy is a result of happenings, circumstances; God provides us with peace, joy and contentment despite whether what is going on feels good or not. Denying the flesh will never feel good! To not sin is to obey God, not our flesh. Since we all desire to feel good, this belief is very attractive; yet it is just as dangerous as Gnosticism, for it downplays the evil of sin which not only can ruin our walk with God, can prevent us from ever knowing Him in the first place.
In contrast to current false teaching #2, a true believer is one who is known by God and knows God (v.6) and one who is loved by God and loves God (v.17). Christianity is not just doing, it is a relationship. It is the relationship that results in practicing righteousness. Without the relationship, righteousness is redefined so that being righteous is manageable in the flesh. When works are emphasized, relationships will always be de-emphasized; those who don’t perform according to the rules are excluded and rejected. There is no relational love for others because there is no active love relationship with God.
In contrast to current false teaching #3, love cannot be defined as that which overlooks sin, for sin is of the devil (v.9). In verse 18, love is demonstrated in deed and in truth; it cannot be seen in a tolerance for error! If love does not tolerate what is wrong, the most loving thing we can do for each other is to bring them to the truth of God’s Word so that if they are in error, they can repent and have their relationship with Him restored! Although this false teaching appears to be altruistic and unselfish, it is in fact very self-centered; love is redefined so that we don’t have to do that which we find difficult to do. Also, if we tolerate sin in other people’s lives, we can tolerate sin in our own as well. But God’s grace was never meant to be license to sin! Grace does not lessen the evil of sin; the evil of our sin required grace that only God can provide.
If tolerating sin is not how love for each other is seen, what does John say that love for the brethren look like? Verses 16-17: “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?”
What is seen here is that love for each other is: 1) possible because God demonstrated His love for us first; 2) to be demonstrated in the same way He loves us; 3) from the heart and is seen in attitude and action. While we may not have many opportunities to literally lay down our life for someone else, this is a choice we can make in more practical ways each day, as we choose to put aside our way for someone else’s; to be inconvenienced for someone else’s benefit; to sacrifice our time, our fun, our prerogatives so that we can minister to others. To love others is to consider their needs before our own; it is to be gracious and generous with our time, not putting what we want as priority, but what demonstrates God to others as priority.
Relationships with others require time. We live in a fast-paced, hectic world. Whether we are single or married with children, there doesn’t seem to be enough time to do everything we know we should be doing. Using our time wisely requires self-denial and self-control. Practicing these two is the very definition of demonstrating love to others! By self-denial and self-control, I do not mean that our families should be denied what they need so that we can love other people. On the contrary, practicing love for others is something that our families can do together. What I do mean by self-denial and self-control is being willing to reevaluate how our time is spent, so that time is not wasted on selfish pursuits. It is to be willing to give up our comfort and convenience for the sake of others.
v.20-22 see TC, p.1056
John sums it up in verse 23-24: that true children of God “believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another…whoever keeps His commandments abides in Him”. This repeats the three features of this epistle – believing, loving, and obeying – which are evidence of true salvation. Verse 24 gives another evidence of salvation: we know that we abide in Him if His Spirit abides in us.
1 John 4:1-3
Don’t be gullible! While being critical or judgmental is often villainized, John commands it here: “test the spirits”. “The word ‘test’ is a metallurgist’s term used for assaying metals to determine their purity and value”. JMSB, p.1971 We are not to take people at their word, but compare their word with God’s Word.
How do we “test the spirits”? How do we recognize what is the Spirit from other spirits? John expands on chapter 2:20, 22 and tells us here about spirits that:
1) they do exist; we should not dismiss their existence or treat it lightly*
2) they are the cause for false prophets and teaching
3) they will not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh
4) they are the forerunners of the AntiChrist
*There is a spiritual gift of discerning/distinguishing between spirits, 1 Cor. 12:2.
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving (or seducing) spirits and things taught by demons.” (1 Tim. 4:1)
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eph. 6:12)
How do we respond to these evil spirits? First and foremost, know that we do not have to overcome them! They have already been defeated, for the power of sin and death was destroyed on the cross – and the very One who accomplished this lives in us! We do not need to walk around worried or depressed, or feel defeated because they are out there against us; neither do we need to fear them! John reminds us that “greater is He who is in you, than He who is in the world” (v.4)! While we do not have to fear what they can do to us, we should be concerned about the people who will be led astray by them. This is why we need to be carefully evaluating what is being taught to see what spirit is behind it.
What other characteristics of evil spirits can we be on the look-out for?
1) they are of the world and will think and act like those in the world (Gal. 5:19-20)
2) only those in the world will respond to and comprehend what they teach
3) they cannot relate to those who are of God and reject them
4) they do not know God, and therefore cannot hear Him
1 John 4:7-11
It’s all about love! John continues to expand on what the characteristics of a child of God are in contrast to the characteristics to a person of the world in this section. What characteristic should be the most evident in a child of God? Love. God is love. (v.8) If He is love, then His children ought to be loving; John goes as far as to say that everyone who knows God, loves. There is no ought; simply that if you know Him, you will love.
But the very fact that John begins with an entreaty to love one another means they were lacking in love for each other. What this tells us is that the degree to which we know God and abide in Him is the degree to which love for others is expressed. If we know we don’t love others as we could, then we are not abiding in Him as we should.
If God is love, then why don’t I feel it all the time? There are three reasons for this: our physical nature; God’s spiritual nature; and our understanding of what love is.
Because we have a physical body and God is a spirit (John 4:24), we cannot see Him, hear or touch Him. His love may not seem real because we cannot see the expression on His face, or hear it in the tone of His voice, or be comforted by His touch.
Part of having a physical body is also having a human nature. This means that we are limited in our understanding, knowledge, and ability, where God is not. We cannot see all that He is doing; even if we could, we couldn’t possibly comprehend it all. This affects the third reason: our understanding of what love is. If we define love as something which is only real if there is a physical experience of it visually, tacitly, etc. we won’t think that God loves us right now. Also, when we try to understand an infinite, omnipotent, omniscient, holy God with limited perception, we will misunderstand or misinterpret His actions and come to the conclusion that He does not love or is not love. Because our fallen sinful nature seeks comfort, pleasure, and convenience, we may define love as not ever being hurt, or having to do or experience difficult or hard things. When God does allow difficult and hurtful things to happen, we then wonder, “How can God be love?”
Before we can accept that God loves us, we need to have a proper understanding of what love is. This can only come from God’s Word; when it comes from our own perception it will be wrong and lead us away from God every time! The well-known description of love is found in 1 Cor. 13. Love is unselfish, sacrificial, always seeks what is good and hates evil and error. While going through trail and temptation may not feel like we are being loved, we know from God’s Word that if He is allowing it, it is for our good or will result in something good. (Romans 8:28) This is the very definition of love being demonstrated to us.
When we go through severe trial and testing, this may really be hard to believe; but if we cannot see or feel His love in our particular situation, we know He is love because He has already demonstrated it in such a fashion that wipes out any argument: He sent His Son to suffer and die on our behalf; He was willing to take our punishment for us so that we might live in Him! He did for us what we could not do; He loved us when we did not love Him; He sacrificially gave to us what we did not deserve. There is no greater demonstration of love than this! Because of what He did for us, we now are known by Him and can know Him and His love.
How then should we love one another? As He loves us: sacrificially. See TC, p.1057.
I John 4: 12-16
v.12 God cannot be seen, but He abides in His children, who can be seen! We are His representatives here on earth. How is God seen in us? By the love we demonstrate toward each other!
Love, more than anything else, is what identifies us as children of God to the world because God is love. How are they going to really see that unless we show them? More to the point: if God is love (v.8, 16), and we claim to abide in Him, that will be seen in love demonstrated for Him and for others. This is both assurance and conviction: for those that do practice love, they know they abide in Him; for those that do not, indication that they are not abiding, and may not even be a child of God.
Additional evidence that we are abiding in God is our confession of the deity of Jesus Christ. Those that abide in God, who are His children, believe that Jesus Christ, God’s son, was sent to earth to suffer and die for our sins. God came down to earth and took on human flesh!
4:17-21
Love has been perfected = mature love. Those who rest completely in God and fully abide in Him also fully abide in love (God is love). This results in boldness because there is no room for fear if you are filled with God’s love.
The implication of this is that you also are not filled with any other fleshly emotion or attitude like bitterness, resentment, envy, and so forth. We cannot be full of God and full of ourselves at the same time; we cannot walk by the Spirit and by the flesh at the same time.
This also means that we cannot say we love God and at the same time, do not love our brother (v.20). This would be like saying we walk by the spirit when we are depending on the flesh to do God’s will. The two are incompatible; they cannot happen at the same time. Abiding in Jesus Christ, walking by the Spirit, will always be consistent with God’s Word. We cannot say we love God (therefore abide in Him) and yet are not loving our brother as commanded in His Word.
1 John 5:1-5
This section continues with the teaching introduced in 4:20-21; if we love God, that will be seen in obedience to His Word, more specifically, His commandments. This is in keeping with what Jesus said in John 14:15, that if we loved Him, we will obey His commands.
John is in essence, reiterating for these believers what Jesus taught him; that to love God is to obey Him. John also emphasizes here that there is a difference between obeying God and obeying the rules of men: God’s commands are not burdensome. See Matthew 11:30.
From JMSB, p.1973, commentary on v.4: “John clearly defines who these overcomers are: they are all who believe that Jesus is God’s Son, and all that means. The overcomers are believers—all of them (cf.2:13). The word for ‘overcomer’ comes from a Gr. word meaning ‘to conquer’, to have victory, ‘to have superiority’ or ‘conquering power’. The word reflects a genuine superiority that leads to overwhelming success. The victory is demonstrable; it involves overthrowing an enemy so that the victory is seen by all. Jesus also used this word to describe himself (John 16:33). Because of believers’ union with Christ, they too partake in His victory (Rom. 8:37; 2 Cor. 2:14). The word ‘overcomes’ in the original language conveys the idea that the believer has continual victory over the world.”
1 John 5:6-13
v.6 Water: referring to Jesus’ baptism by John, at which time God testified that Jesus is His Son; blood: referring to Jesus’ shed blood on the cross. “John writes to show that God has given testimony to the deity of Jesus through both His baptism and His death.” (JMSB, p. 1973) John emphasizes the veracity and certainty of this witness by giving a third witness, who always is true: the Holy Spirit.
v.7 This verse gives direct reference to the trinity. “The Word”: see John 1. Jesus is the Word, for He is “the way, truth, and the life” (John 14:6) see note on the original texts on v.7-8 in JMSB.
v.9-11 To believe the false teachings of men about Jesus Christ is to make God a liar, for God has Himself testified to the deity of Christ (“this is my Son”).
v.12. This verse strips away all the arguments of Gnosticism with this truth: that to reject the deity of Jesus Christ is to not have the Son; to not have the Son is to not have eternal life. This false teaching literally will lead you to hell if you do not turn away from it.
v.14-21 The key phrase here: “if we ask anything according to His will”. God is not Santa Claus or a Genie; we won’t get want we want just because we ask for it or because we want it so very badly. God will only give us what is asked according to His will because He loves us. God’s way always leads to life, love, peace, joy, contentment, to all that is good! (James 1:17; Gal. 5: 22) “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (James 4:3)
v.16-17 are illustration of the prior two verses. John illustrates this by an example of praying for someone who is in sin; he contrasts one who is sinning unto death with one who is not. JMSB, p. 1974:
"Such a sin could be any premeditated and unconfessed sin that causes the Lord to determine to end a believer’s life. It is not one particular sin like homosexuality or lying, but whatever sin is the final one in the tolerance of God. Failure to repent of and forsake sin may eventually lead to physical death as a judgment of God (Acts 5:1-11; 1 Cor. 5:5; 11:30). No intercessory prayer will be effective for those who have committed such deliberate high-handed sin, i.e., God’s discipline with physical death is inevitable in such cases as He seeks to preserve the purity of the church…The contrast to the phrase “there is sin leading to death” with “there is sin not leading to death” signifies that the writer distinguishes between sins that may lead to physical death and those that do not. That is not to identify a certain kind of moral or non-moral sin, but to say not all sins are so judged by God."
v.18 All who are born of God are kept by God. See John 10:27-29. Satan cannot take away our salvation or our inheritance in Christ. Note that “himself” is better translated “him”. God keeps him; God protects the believer.
v.20. This verse sums up the whole letter. “The greatest certainty of all, the Incarnation, guarantees the certainty of the rest.” (JMSB, p.1974) Jesus is declared to be the true God (therefore part of the trinity) and eternal life.
v.21 Idols=false teachers or teaching. An idol being anything which takes worship away from the true God and Savior, and giving it to something or someone that is not.
Resources used:
The abbreviation "JMSB" or "NKJV" is for the John MacArthur Study Bible, New Kings James Version
Strong's Concordance
The abbreviation "TC" is The Teacher's Commentary by Larry Richards
