1 john for anyone

8/21/2019 1 John for anyone

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Introduction to the Epistles of

John

THE AUTHORJohn the disciple was a fisherman. He was the son of Zebedee and his elderbrother was James, son of Zebedee, who was another of the Twelve Apostles.

He was one of Jesus inner circle. He had an older brother, James, and they weredisciples of John the Baptist before following Jesus.

The nickname of him and his brother was Sons of thunder because of theirstorming personality; most of the time they were clam but in certain circumstancethey will abrupt just as a storm. In the book of Luke, there is the story that tells usthat he and his brothers wanted to call for fire from heaven to destroy aSamaritan town for their unbelief, but Jesus kindly rebuke them.

John was sentenced to the mines on the prison island of Patmos. Then, he wasfreed and returned to what is now modern-day Turkey. He died as an old man,the only apostle to die peacefully in Ephesus sometime after 98 AD. He was theonly one not to die a martyr's death.

Early Christian tradition and the great majority of modern scholars have agreedon the common authorship of the Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John and 3 John.

DATESome scholars date the epistles right after the Gospel of John published before70 AD; however other group of scholars dates the epistle after the completion of

the book of Revelation in the late years of the first century.

PLACE OF WRITINGThese books were written in Asia Minor, likely Ephesus.

ADDRESSEES/AUDIENCEThese letters have been a circular letter to a group of people possible of anAsiatic community where the author had has certain relationship. This people

apparently had been infiltrated with false teachers. The audience of these books

is very likely that were Gentile Christians because it contains a few quotes form

the Old Testament.

OCCASION/PURPOSEAccording to 1 John 2:19, false teaching had crept into and some of the membershad believed and now they were harassing the church. Johns possible intentionswere to assure his audience about the truth of the Gospel, by affirming that hewas an eyewitness of Jesus Christ (1 John 1:13) and that the Spirit bore witnessto their spirit that all this things were the truth (1 John 2:20; 27).


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John's stated in this book his purposes in writing this book:1.

Fellowship with God and with His children

2.

Joy

3.

Assurance

4.

To equip the believers against the false theology of the Gnostic teachers

BACKGROUNDThese books were addressing a group of believers, probably Gentiles Christiansthat were familiar to John. It apparent from the epistle, that false teachers were

causing some struggles to the Christian community. The author refers of them asAntichrists, because of the seriousness of their departure from the apostolicteaching about Jesus.

During the time when these letters were written, there was a belief system

prevalent called Gnosticism. Gnostics believed that matter is evil and the spiritualcannot mix. Therefore, Gnosticism rejected the idea of God becoming incarnate(God becoming a man), dying and rising bodily. Most Gnostics believe thatwhoever entered Jesus at his baptism left him before he died on the cross.

Apparently, Gnosticism had influenced some members of the Christiancommunity and this false teaching has been pounding the church.


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I. Prologue: the reality of Jesus incarnation (1:1-4)

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard,which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon andhave touched with our hands, concerning the word of life.

II.

Fellowship with God (1:5-2:17)

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we havefellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Soncleanses us from all sin.

III.

The Antichrist; False teachers harassing the church (2:18-27)

22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

IV.

Children of God (2:28-3:10)

1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that weshould be called children of God; and so we are.

V.

Love one another (3:11-24)

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and

we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

VI.

Test the Spirit (4:1-6)

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits tosee whether they are from God, for many false prophets havegone out into the world.

VII.

God is love (4:7-21)

9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, thatGod sent his only Son into the world, so that we might livethrough him.

VIII. Our faith; helps us over comes the world (5:1-12)


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4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes theworld. And this is the victory that has overcome the world

our faith.

IX.

Conclusion and last advice (5:13-21)

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of theSon of God that you may know that you have eternal life.


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1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which

we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and havetouched with our hands, concerning the word of life 2 the life wasmade manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim toyou the eternal life, which was with the Father and was mademanifest to us 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaimalso to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeedour fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

The pre-existence of Jesus (vss 1-4)

1. John begins the book by asserting Jesus preexistence; ergo, he wasaffirming and proclaiming Jesus Deity. He declares that Jesus was in thebeginning before creation and this always was Gods plan of redemption.

However, he highlights that he was not the only one who has heard, saw,

looked and touch Him but he used the pronoun we implying that this wascollective testimony.

The word of life, logosin Greek, was use to catch the attention of thefalse teachers. John is using this term to refer to both the content of theGospel and the person of the Gospel.

2. The life was manifest implies that it was brought to light; however it wasalready present. In this verse, John made an emphasis on the incarnation ofJesus because the false teachers were trying to deny.

He also highlight once more that he is testifying of something that he haspersonally experience. Therefore, there is a need to proclaim and revealedhis own experience with the rest of us.

He concluded this verse remarking the fact that Jesus was with the Fatherand to know Jesus is to know God.

3. In this verse, John keep mention the fact that his teaching is not just adoctrinal thing, instead this proclamation is based in a real thing because hehad seen and heard personally. This is not just his personal testimony butalso a collective testimony of those who were with him. This in order tocounteract the errors and the false teaching that had emerged.

John also emphasizes and explains that in order to fully know God; we arerequired to have fellowship with His children.


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This verse also teaches us that it is impossible to have fellowship or have theFather without the Son Jesus Christ. This was one of the multiple falseteachings of the time.

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4. This verse is very similar to John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you,

that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full probably this quote fromJesus stuck on to his mind.

The sense here is, that full and clear image of the Lord Jesus, and the fellowshipwith him and the Father, and with each other would be a source of deep

happiness found in our Savior. This was an important truth to highlight becauseof the misguidance of the false teachers.

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you,that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we havefellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do notpractice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, wehave fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Soncleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceiveourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he isfaithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all

unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him aliar, and his word is not in us.

Fellowship with the Father (vss 1:5-2:17)

5. John continues his explanation that this was not just his only experiencebut of John and other eyewitness (we) that heard and followed Jesus.

John has a great announcement, an especial message (!"#$$%&'#epangelia) for all of us, his readers, which it was delivered by Him, Jesus.

This is the message of the Gospels: God is light; this signifies purity, truth,knowledge, prosperity, and happiness, and in Him is no darkness at all.Therefore, He is himself all light, and is the source and fountain of light to the

worlds. He is perfectly pure, without a mixture of sin. He has all knowledge,with no mixture of ignorance on any subject. He is infinitely happy, with

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nothing to make him miserable. He is infinitely true, never stating orcountenancing error; he is blessed in all his ways, never knowing thedarkness of disappointment and adversity.

Light implies every essential excellence, especially wisdom, holiness,

and happiness.

Darkness implies all imperfection, and principally ignorance,sinfulness, and misery.

God is to human soul, what the light is to the world; without the latter all would

be miserable and uncomfortable, and terror and death would universallyprevail.

John affirms that God is absolutely perfect without anything in him in any wayimperfect, or which would diminish His pure splendor of his character. This is anassertion of the unchanging holy character of God. Probably, John was trying toguard the mind from an error that of charging God with being the Author of the

sin and misery which exist on the earth.

6. John stresses that Christians must live a Christ-like live. Therefore, if a personconfesses that he has communion with God, but walk in the darkness (living a

sinful life), this person is a liar and does not live in the truth. In other words, there

is an irreconcilable contradiction between a life of sin and fellowship with

God.

One of the Gnostics claim was that fellowship with God was based just on

knowledge. Knowledge was the highest degrees of the Divine illumination,

and the nearest communion with the fountain of holiness, while theirbehavior and live was excessively corrupt.2This is the influence of Greekphilosophy from Plato.3

7. We are suppose to live a life that reflects Him, the light. Therefore, we supposeto live a life in holiness and purity. We need to live in the truth and this is not justsomething we know!

As result of living in the light, it is possible to have fellowship with each other,because we have a something in common. Therefore, the lack of love toward oneanother is an evident sign of a problem with our relationship with God.

One of the practices of the Gnostics was their tendency toward

exclusivism.

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This portion of the verse echoes the formal way to cleanse us from sin. Accordingto the Law prescribed by Moses, on the Day of Atonement only the blood ofbulls and goats was offered in order to remove sin and purify us before God.However, the power of the blood of Jesus is able to forgive all past, present and

future sin and ultimately purify us from all transgression; as a consequence, itmakes us holy. Therefore Jesus Christ is not a partial Savior, He saves to the

uttermost, and he cleanses from ALLsin. There is not any sin or transgressionthat His blood cannot remove and make it pure. This was a provision made byGod, so that we can be able to have fellowship with Him.

Probably, John remarks this point, because the early Gnostics denied

Jesus humanity.

8. We live in a fallen world where sin is a spiritual reality for everyone, includingthe believers. Consequently, if we denied that we are sinners, we deceivedourselves.

In other words, if we believe that we have no guilt or sinfulness; we have no needof the blood of Christ as an atoning sacrifice.

Then, if we have this kind of believe, we have no knowledge of the Gospel. This

was the main reason for Jesus Christ should become incarnated, and

suffer and die to bring men to God.

This verse rejects all ancient and modern claims that deny individual moral

responsibility.4

Gnostics denied the suffering of Christ. According to them, the Aeon, or

Divine Being that dwelt in the man Christ Jesus left him when the Jewstook him; and he, being but a common man, his sufferings and death hadneither merit nor efficacy.5

9. John gives the formula for us to be forgiven. This is fundamental andirreplaceable.

In order to obtain forgiveness, we must acknowledge our guilt, our iniquity andhumble ourselves before God. Then and only then is when the Holy God will

come and cleanses of all sin as He had promise (Psalm 32.5; Proverbs 28:13).

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This is just possible because Jesus Christ has died for us making atonement tothe Divine justice; so that the justice of God can be apply on us.

God the Father is faithful because He is unchangeable, merciful and this is ourassure hope. God takes our sins seriously; however He has provided the means

for our forgiveness through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross.

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1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you maynot sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father,

Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, andnot for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may notsin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, JesusChrist the righteous.

John uses a term of endurance by addressing the church as children, probably todemonstrate his affection for them and that what was sharing in the previouschapter was very valuable and important to believe and to live.

In this verse, he expresses that because of our sinful nature, we have thetendency for sin. We should have to live a lifestyle free of sin and withoutpracticing.

However, if for any reason we succumb into sin, we have somebody who willadvocate on our behalf. Jesus is in ongoing intercessions as our heavenlyAdvocate.

WARNING!

This does not give us a green light to sin freely

Apparently, there was a group of Gnostics that taught that salvation

was an intellectual matter; it did not matter how one lived because

the body was evil. Another group believed that the body was evil;therefore had to be limited in its desires.

2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for

the sins of the whole world.

The word propitiationis translated from the Greek word: Hilasmos.Hilasmos was used in the Septuagint as the word used to describe the lid

of the Ark of the Covenant. In this case, the lid of the Ark of covenant istranslated into English as the mercy seat or the place of the atonement.

According to the law, the high priest will enter in the tabernacle to sprinkleblood of the mercy seat or the place of atonement in order for the sin ofthe high priest and the congregation to be cleanse.


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In the same way, Jesus became the sin offering demanded on the Law in orderto remove and cleanse the sins of the congregation of the children of Israel an

the sins of the people of all the world from the past, present and future (1 John4:14; John 1:29; 3:16,17; 12:47; Rom. 5:18; 1 Tim. 4:10; Titus 2:11; Heb. 2:9;7:25).

The Greco-Romans worldview of this word conveys the concept of restoration of

fellowship with an estranged deity by means of a price being paid. Moreover, thisconcept does not lessen God understanding of sin; rather it express his positiveredemptive attitude towards sinners.

Therefore, the term propitiation implies that Jesus satisfied the wrath of Godtoward mankinds sin. The only thing that keeps the whole world from beingsaved is not sin, but unbelief. However, humans must respond and continue torespond by faith, repentance, obedience, and perseverance!6

3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keephis commandments. 4 Whoever says I know him but does not keephis commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 butwhoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. Bythis we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides inhim ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep hiscommandments.

In Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus gave an important lesson that John carried alongthis concept on his epistle. Jesus says: you will recognize them by their

fruit; similarly, John instructs us that the only way that we can prove that weare His followers is by obeying and putting on practice His commandments

daily. This means that our lifestyle will show if we are real Christians or justreligious people.

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4 Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is aliar, and the truth is not in him,

John emphasizes strongly that we are liars and there is not truth in us if wechoose not to follow His commandments. Therefore, our lifestyle reveals our

spiritual condition.

John also is clarifying this point because of the false teachers that claimed toknow God, while trying to separate salvation from godly living. In theirconcept, there was a separation between justification and sanctification. Theyexpressed their superior knowledge of God; however, their lifestyle wasdespicable.

5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.By this we may know that we are in him:

The person who truly knows God cannot reject the living Word of God and thewritten Word of God by his/her sinful lifestyle. The love of God is in his/her heartand it fills up by his obedience to the will of God.

6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which hewalked.

If our lifestyle remains in Him, our belief and practice will reflect it. This willexpress our communion with Him by walking as Christ walked.

7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an oldcommandment that you had from the beginning. The oldcommandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, itis a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in himand in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true lightis already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates hisbrother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides inthe light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoeverhates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and

does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blindedhis eyes.

7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an oldcommandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment isthe word that you have heard.

John clarifies that this was not a new revelation or that this (the Gospel) wasnothing that he had originated, rather that it was in fact the same system of


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doctrines established in the beginning.

8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you,which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away andthe true light is already shining.

John indicates that this was not new but the whole concept is new and

revolutionary. Jesus is the fulfillment of the previous commandments

Therefore, the former system of error of hatred against each other has

finished and that we have brought into the light. Now, the light of theGospel shines around us.

9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.

John introduces a WARNINGfor us. If hatred is still in our heart, we livein the darkness without God.

10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is nocause for stumbling.

Love is the clear indication of believers salvation and his/her personalrelationship with God without stumble.

11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the

darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness hasblinded his eyes.

In this verse, hatred is the same as living in the darkness without God. As inphysical darkness, this person will wander about knowing truth or ignorant ofthe truth. Therefore, if this person has not proper knowledge of God or eternalthings the most probable is that darkness has blinded his eyes.

12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven

for his name's sake. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you

know him who is from the beginning.I am writing to you, youngmen, because you have overcome the evil one.I write to you,children, because you know the Father. 14 I write to you,fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.I write toyou, young men, because you are strong, and the word of Godabides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his


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name's sake.

John is addressing probably those people who were his own converts andmembers of his church. However, this is applicable to every believe in everygeneration that their and our sins are forgiven in the account of Jesus,

because He has died on our behalf and He is our Mediator at the right handof the Father.

13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from thebeginning.I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome theevil one.I write to you, children, because you know the Father.

He is emphasizing that this message is for everyone. Johns messagecontinues expressing Jesus pre-existence and therefore He is God. This isthe true doctrine of the Gospel.

John is addressing by fathers to those who are mature in the faith and byyoung men to those who are babies or immature in the faith.

He also states the reality of every believer of all ages that we all are victorsover Satan. It is true that we still struggle with sin, temptation, persecutionand death, but the final battle has been determined.

14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from thebeginning.I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the wordof God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

There is a relationship between been strong or mature in the faith andabiding in the Word of God; and because of this we can overcome the evilone.

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone lovesthe world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in theworldthe desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and prideof lifeis not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And theworld is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does thewill of God abides forever.

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves theworld, the love of the Father is not in him.

John exhorts us to stop aiming to follow the patterns of the world. John refersby the using of the word world her to the human society organized andfunction apart from God.


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In other words, John seems to refer to a love to material things that the worldhas to offer like power, prestige, influence, etc. The fallen world systemattempts to meet all of our needs apart from God and it structures our life insuch a way that we appear to be independent from God.

Therefore, if our priority is in the world, we never will be able to completely

love God.

16 For all that is in the worldthe desires of the flesh and the desires ofthe eyes and pride of lifeis not from the Father but is from the world.

John describes the meaning of the world

The desires or lust of the flesh: this refers the pleasures of life; this

includes but not limited to sensual and impure desires that looks forself-gratification.

The desires or lust of the eyes: our eyes are the windows of our

soul. Sin begins in our thought; therefore, when we yield to thatthought and act on it; this becomes sin.

The boastful pride of life: this is human reaction when their trust is

only in their own resources.

And this does not come from God the father, as we have read before there isnot darkness on Him. Therefore, this solely originates in the fallen world andmature Christians shouldnt practice them.

17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever doesthe will of God abides forever.

The system of the world, the vain pursuits, pleasures, etc., eventually will passaway and disappear; however, those things that come from God will remain foreternity.

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18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichristis coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know

that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were notof us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not ofus. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all


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have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know thetruth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This isthe antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one whodenies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the

Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you.If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you toowill abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promisethat he made to useternal life.

18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is

coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it isthe last hour.

John was alerting us that the last hour has arrived long ago because of the

presence of false teacher, prophets, doctrines, etc.,

John uses the term the last hour to describe the closeness of the SecondComing of Jesus. The Bible tells us that no one knows the time for Jesusreturn but we must need to be eager and expectant to this. Basically, the

last hour began at the incarnation and will last until the day that Goddetermines.

The antichristor antichristsdescribes the person or people, thing orthings, doctrine or doctrines, etc., that is opposed or against Jesus Christ

or the Gospel message.

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been ofus, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it mightbecome plain that they all are not of us.

John denounces that this false teachers come from the church; however theynever were born again believers. They never learned the sound doctrine or thehealthy teaching of the Gospel. They werent children of God.

These false teachers probably drew many sincere souls away with them; and tothis it is probable the apostle alludes when he says, they were not All of us.

Some were; others were not.7

20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all haveknowledge.

KClarke, Adam. "Commentary on 1 John 2:19 ". "The Adam Clarke Commentary".http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/view.cgi?bk=61&ch=2. 1832.


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John asserts that they have been set apart by God and that they have every truthof God necessary for salvation and the salvation of man in general.

21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because youknow it, and because no lie is of the truth.

John explains to then the reason of this epistle and this was not because

they were ignorant of these things, but because they know them (false

teachers), and can by these judge their doctrines, and clearly perceive that

they are liars; for they contradict the truth that they have already received,

and consequently their doctrine is a lie, and no lie can be of the truth.

22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is theantichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

John finally describes who is a liar, or in this context, a false teacher that deniesthe deity of Jesus Christ and His relationship with God the Father.

Based on the writings of the Gnostics from the second century, the

comments within the New Testament, and the early church fathers, thefollowing beliefs emerge:

1. The Gnostics tried to mix Christianity to Greek philosophy (Plato) andthe eastern mystery religions.

2. They taught that Jesus was divine but not human because spirit was

good, but matter (flesh) was evil. Therefore, there was no possibility ofa physical incarnation of deity.

3. They taught two things about salvation

a. One group asserted that a special knowledge of angelic spheres(aeon) brought a salvation of the spirit unrelated to the actions ofthe body on the physical plain.

b. Another group accentuated physical asceticism (cf. Col. 2:20-23).They asserted that a total denial of bodily wants and needs wascrucial to a true salvation.

23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Sonhas the Father also.

He who denies Jesus to be the Son of God, and consequently the Christ orMessiah, he does not have the Father. Therefore, he is not a born again believeror a children of God. This is because He is the only way to the Father (John 5:23;


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14:6; Luke 10:16).

24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heardfrom the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and inthe Father.

John exhorts us to continue in the doctrines concerning the incarnation, passion,

death, resurrection, ascension, and intercession of the Lord Jesus. As aconsequence, we will have fellowship with the Son and with the Father.

25 And this is the promise that he made to useternal life.

John explains us that God has promised eternal life to all who believe on ChristJesus. Therefore, they who receive this doctrine, and continue in communionwith the Father and the Son, will have eternal life.

26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceiveyou. 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you,and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as hisanointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie

just as it has taught you, abide in him.

26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.

John explains his reasoning for writing to them, and to us; this was because he

wanted to alert them respecting their character of the false teachers, and in

order to guard us against their trickery. He refers to the fact that there wasdanger that they might deceive us.

27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and youhave no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teachesyou about everything, and is true, and is no liejust as it has taught you,abide in him.

John continue encouraging them by explaining that the influence on your heartand life, that is the results from the fact that you are anointed of God,

permanently abides with you, and will keep you from dangerous error.

28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when heappears we may have confidence and not shrink from him inshame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you

may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness hasbeen born of him.


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28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we mayhave confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.

John explains that it is necessary to continually abide in him, and havecommunion with the Father and the Son. By having all our hopes taken away; by

being held up to the universe as guilty and condemned. We feel ashamed whenour hopes are disappointed; when it is shown that we have a character different

from what we professed to have; when our pretensions to goodness are strippedoff, and the heart is made bare. Many will thus be ashamed in the last day, but itis one of the promises made to those who truly believe on the Savior, that theyshall never be ashamed or confounded.

29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone whopractices righteousness has been born of him.

Everyone who has any true acquaintance with God must have the fullest

conviction that He is a righteous Being. But, if this be so, John says, then it mustfollow that only those who are truly righteous can regard themselves as begotten

of Him.


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1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that weshould be called children of God; and so we are. The reason

why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be hasnot yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shallbe like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyonewho thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

1. It is impossible to describe the immeasurable love of God for us. There is no

length, breadth, depth, or height that can describe it. Through this immeasurablelove of God, we are able to claim to be called His sons and daughters.

The word agape has a deeper meaning than just plain love. This actuallymeans: unconditional love or an abiding love. This term is often used inthe epistle in connection with believers loving believers.

As consequence of this, the world does not have pleasure in or with us;therefore, persecution and rejection by the world will be a consequence and an

evidence of our position in Christ. John explains that the reason for the worlddoes not know us is because the world does not know Him.

2. John reaffirms our honorific role as Gods children. Every person that hasplaced his or her faith in Jesus Christ and has born of the Spirit has become achild of God. It does not matter his/her ethnicity, age, etc.

Before our conversion, we were children of the wicked one and mere

creatures. In other words, the un-descriptive and immeasurable love(agape) of God bought us from such of depth of misery into a place ofhonor as His children.

He continues this verse trying to describe our future reality and what will be thefull result of being regarded as the children of God. The only thing that is clear isthat we will be like the Son of God; but what is fully involved in this is not made

known (2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:21; and Col. 3:4).

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And when finally He reappears in His Second Coming, we will see Him as Hereally is in all His splendor and His infinite majesty.

The book Romans (8:28-30) describes this process as glorification; this is the

end process of our salvation to be restored to Gods image. We were created into

His likeness (Genesis 1:26; 5:1,3; 9:6).

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3.Every person that has placed his/her trust or hope in Jesus Christ will abstainand refrain of the practice of evil in the world. This is a purification process thatbegan by the Father; however John is not saying that man is involve in thisprocess because it is impossible to do it. The only responsibility that we have is

to persevere and keep his/her purity. This is the goal for all believers to remainand to live a pure life as Him.

4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practiceslawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appearedin order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No onewho abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps onsinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let

no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness isrighteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice ofsinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the

beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was todestroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes apractice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and hecannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.

10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and whoare the children of the devil: whoever does not practicerighteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not lovehis brother.

4.Anyone that his/her style of life characterizes in sinning practicelawlessness that in context is describes as the attitude of rebellion against

not just the Law given by Moses but all sort of regulations.

The true nature of sin is lawlessness or transgression of the law. It isimportant to understand that God gave the Law to regulate or guide theirconduct and the transgression is considered sin.

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A few things that we should consider as believers:

1.

All sin is a violation of the law of God

2.

The main purpose of Jesus First Coming was to deliver us from the

power of sin

3.

Born again believers do not practice sin4.

Those who practice sin are under the control of Satan

5.In Gods plans, the incarnation of Jesus was with the purpose to removesin. This was possible because of His atonement sacrifice on the cross onour behalf and He did once for all. As it was prescribed, the penalty for sinis death and because of His sinless nature this payment was possible.

Notices that in the first portion of the verse the word sin is in plural;however it is singular at the end of the verse. The first one refers to theacts of sin, but the second one is of His righteous nature. In Christ, the

believer share both positions sanctification and progressivesanctification.

6. To abide means to remain, to continue. John uses abide to describe

quality and intentionality of the relation between a believer and the Lord. Inother words, to being united or being with Him in heart, mind and will. Thisis a lifestyle that every born again believer should life.

Therefore, if any person practices sin, this reveals the lack of knowledgeof Jesus. He or she never has met Him.

7. John begins this verse with a clear warning; righteousness is theoutward mark of a born again believer, because we reflect therighteousness of God with our lifestyle.

Apparently, the false teachers were claiming that:

o You can not be saved from sin in this life

o If you have been adopted into Gods family, sin will do youno harm and cannot alter this state. Basically, your adoptioncannot be nullified.

We need to clarify:

o

God offers us salvation as result of Jesus work on the crosso Our efforts do not bring us to God or to salvation

We are not save by good works, but unto good works. 9

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8.There are two groups of people: the children of God and the children ofSatan or the devil. You are able to recognize each of them for theirlifestyle. This does not imply that Christians are perfect; however for thosewho has the habitual and willfully practice of sin belongs to the devil.

John describes the devil; he was in the beginning and introducedsin into the world, and it is in his nature to continually commit sin.

Lucifer, according to Job 1-2; Zechariah 3 and 1 King 22:19-23,was a servant of God that chose to rebelled against God. For thecontext of Isaiah 14:13-14 and Ezek. 28:12-16, we can understandthat in a specific time he was full of pride, ambition and arrogance,

and a consequence he rebelled. Jesus explains in Luke 10:18 thatHe saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven

John concludes this verse expressing the purpose of Jesus manifestation

or became incarnate. He explains that Jesus was manifested to destroythe bonds and dissolve the power, influence, and connection of sin. Fromthat moment in Calvary, the work of the devil was destroyed; therefore aperson cannot be a true believer, if this person lives in sin.

It is necessary clarify that the devil has been defeated; however, he

is and will be in control of the world until the full implementation ofthe Kingdom of God.

9. It is clear from this verse that a born again believer does not have thehabitual and willingness to practice sin, but to practice righteousness. With

this in mind, it is important to clarify that John does not imply that thechildren of God are perfect. We will achieve perfection in that day whenwe get into His presence with a new body (Philippians 3:20-21; 1Corinthians 15:49).

This is in contrast to the doctrine from the false teachers that reduce

salvation to just an intellectual concept or exercise without the needof a radical change of lifestyle.

John continues by explaining that there is something abiding in the heartof a born again believer that help the believer to prevent and to stopsinning. All of this is because he or she has born of God; God has giventhe believer the new birth and this spiritual life cannot be extinct.

There are several possibilities of what is the seed:

o According to Augustine and Luther, it refers to Gods Word(Luke 8:11; John 5:38; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23)

o According to Calvin, it refers to the Holy Spirit (John 3:5,6,8; 1


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John 3:24; 4:4,13)

o Others argue, it is refers to the Divine Nature or new self (2Peter 1:4; Ephesian 4:24)

o

Or, it refers to Christ Himself as the seed of Abraham (Luke1:55; John 8:33,37; Galatians 3:16)

Another possibility is that John just used the word seed to refute

the teaching of the false teachers. The Gnostics believe in thedivine spark at is in all human.

10. John finishes this portion by summarizing the true reality of men. Forthose who have born from God do not have the habitual practice of sin;and those who choose to have a habitual practice of sin belong and arethe children of the devil. Therefore, those who practice unrighteousness

do not belong to God and this includes those who hate his/her brother.

11 For this is the message that you have heard from thebeginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should notbe like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his

brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deedswere evil and his brother's righteous.

11. John amplifies the last portion of verse 10. From the beginning of time,

the Lord had commanded that we should love one another. We all are

dependent upon each other, all upon each other, and each other

upon all.10This is the true evidence of a born again believer.

12.John recalls Cain, the first murderer. He was an unrighteous personthat chooses to murder his brother and therefore he was a child of thedevil.

Cain chose to act under the influence of envy. He was dissatisfied that hisown offering was not accepted by God as his brothers was.

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25/43

13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.14 We know that we have passed out of death into life,

because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abidesin death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, andyou know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

13.As we have seen before, the devil is in control of the world and hehates the Lord and anyone that belong to Him. Therefore, the worldsystem does not like our lifestyle. But this should not be a surprise. Weshould expect neither justice nor mercy from anyone that does not belongto God. People that belong to the devil are either full of malice, envy,hatefulness, false and deceitful.

14. As a consequence of our change of mind and heart, from spiritualdeath to spiritual life, we are able to love one another.

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16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, andwe ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if

anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need,yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide inhim? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in

deed and in truth.

16. The greatest expression of love is what Jesus did on the cross. Love in itself,its true reality and nature, power, sacrifice, influence, was seen in its highest formwhen Jesus Christ gave Himself to die as the atonement sacrifice in our behalf.

Therefore, we should be imitators of His example. We should be willing to laydown our lives if it is necessary for our brothers.

However, this does not only signify that we should give our own life on behalf ofour brothers and sisters but to die to our self-centeredness.

17. John gives us a clear example of laying down ones life for others. He exhortsus that if we are in the condition to help our brothers and sisters, we should helphim/her. Therefore, if we choose to ignore this need, this will be evidence that thelove of God is not in us.

18. As a born again believers, we are ought to walk the talk. Therefore, ourlifestyle needs to show our belief.

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure

our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us,God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we haveconfidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receivefrom him, because we keep his commandments and do whatpleases him.

19 - 20. In these verses, John encourages us to stop our doubts ortroubles in our mind and to remain in peace by the evidence that we are ofthe truth.

For time to time, our consciences become restless in view of our past guilt.This is quite normal; however it can become unhealthy in our spiritual

growth. We should pacify the accusation of our minds and conciliate ourown hearts by remind ourselves our true reality as children of God andthat we will not be condemned. We need to remain and reminisce in theevidence that we are children of God and therefore everything will beokay.


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Another thing that we need to keep in considerations is that Satan is theaccuser of the brethren (Revelations 12:10) and came to steal and kill anddestroy (John 10:10). Therefore, we need to be alert, because the devilprowls around, seeking for someone to devour. He will come to try to inflictdoubt or trouble in our mind, at that time we should stand firm believing in

the changes that the Lord has began a good work in us (Philippians 1:6).We need to choose to live by the standard of love, even though we still

struggling with sin.

God knows all the sins that we are conscious and He is able to see all ourguilt. In addition, He also knows the sins that we have forgotten. If wehave sin in our life hidden or not, He is able to confront us so that we canrepent from them. Therefore, we should calm our hearts with the evidencethat we are of the truth and that our sins have been forgiven and this is apresent and future condition.

21. If we live a lifestyle of righteousness, without practicing sin, we shouldhave the confidence or boldness to access the presence of His throne of

grace to obtain mercy and find grace in time of need. This confidence issolely on the evidence when graciously He accepts us as His children.This is not based on our own merits or because we deserve His favor.

It is very important that as part of our daily routing to search our hearts forsin with the help of the Holy Spirit. Sin is like a big and thick wall thatblocks our access to God. This will obstruct our communication and ourrelationship with Him.

22. Therefore, if our lives are according to His will, we are able to requestanything, according to His will, and we can believe that He will give to us(Matt. 7:7; 18:19, John 9:31; 14:13-14; 15:7,16; 16:23; Mark 11:24; Luke11:9-10).

John explains that the main reason for this is because we keep Hisordinances and He is pleased with our lives.

! We need to be aware of an important truth: God is not our genie. Godknows our needs, our desires, etc.; however, He knows what is

convenience for us. Therefore, this verse does not say that we can askanything contrary to His will and He is obligated to give it to us.

It is important to highlight two important requirements for answered prayer:1.

Obedience2.

Practice the things that pleases God


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23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name

of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he hascommanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abidesin God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in

us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

23.John finalizes this chapter by giving us Gods commandment. We arecommanded to:

1.

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ: that for the sake of his passionand death we may be justified from all things from which we couldnot be justified by the law of Moses; and being through himredeemed from the guilt of sin, restored to the Divine favor, andmade partakers of the Holy Ghost, and therefore we able

2.

Love one another

It is important to notice that the term commandment is in singular; however it is atwofold one. Therefore, the first aspect is personal faith and the second is anethical aspect. The Gospel needs to be believed and to act into this believe witha renewed lifestyle.

24.John teaches us that there is a deep relationship between keeping Hiscommandment or obedience in order to remain or abide in Him. Our Love is theevidence that we are in God and that He is in us.

The presence of the Holy Spirit in our life is the evidence that we are truebelievers. Jesus Christ, just before his ascension, promised that He will sendanother Helper to be with us forever (John 14:15, 23). The Holy Spirit is now ourHelper; He helps us in times of trouble, instructs when we read the word of God,help us to improve our temper, etc. Therefore, whenever these exist in our lives,we need to be certain that the Spirit of God is living in us


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1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits tosee whether they are from God, for many false prophets have

gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God:every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in theflesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confessJesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, whichyou heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Littlechildren, you are from God and have overcome them, for hewho is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They arefrom the world; therefore they speak from the world, and theworld listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God

listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us.

By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

1. John begins this chapter with another warning and exhortation. There is manypeople that they are very attractive to us: maybe because of their strongpersonalities, logical arguments, or miraculous events. Sometimes, we believethat these people come from God. However, it is our responsibility to test andchallenge everything and everyone.

Energetically, John says, do not believe, this is not just an advice but a direct

order to us. Apparently, his readers were listening and accepting some of thedoctrines and arguments of the false teachers. They were clamming their alliance

with God or that they speaking for God or that they have a special revelation fromGod.

He teaches us that there are different two different spiritual sources from: Godand Satan. Therefore, it is our own responsibility and necessity for every believerto test the spiritual sources with the view toward approval. We must be alert at allthe time, because there are many false teachers all over the world claiming thatthey are speaking on behalf of God, when they are alone. This is not an

exhortation just of this time when John wrote the epistle, but it is a problem fromall ages Jeremiah 14:14; 23:21; 29:8; Matthew 7:15; 24:11,24; Acts 20:28-30; 2Peter 2:1; 1 John 2:18-19,24; 3:7; 2 John 7).

2. According to John, there is own high requirement to believe to accept and tolisten the teachings of anyone. This requirement is the acknowledgement that theSon of God, Jesus Christ, came to earth and become a man; to live a righteouslife and to die on the cross on our behalf. There is not other gospel or messageapart from this, because the Spirit of God testifies and exult the name of Jesus (1Corinthians 12:3).


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3. However, if anyone does not exult and/or testify that Jesus is the Son of Godwho came to earth, this person is has been influence by the spirit of theantichrist.

The spirit of the antichrist refers to anyone who is against, a mayor doctrine in

Christianity, the incarnation of Jesus Christ and therefore His passion, death,resurrection.

At end of this verse, there is the possibility that John were talking about theprophecy that Daniel spoke where predicted. According to Daniel 7:8, 20, in thelast time there will be the antichrist or the antichristian. These are evil men withevil teachings; however these are his (the Antichrist) forerunners. This Antichristis the man of sin, the son of perdition (2 Thessalonians 2:3); the beast

ascending out of the bottomless pit (Revelations 11:7; 17:8) or rather the falseprophet the same as the second beast coming up of the earth (Revelations13:11-18; 16:13).12

4.John encourage his readers emphasizing that the One who lives inside of us

has overcome the power of darkness and death. Therefore, we are able to live avictorious Christian life.

We must keep in mind that because the One who live in us, we are able to havevictory over sin and the devil. In other words, the indwelling presence of ourFather (John 14:23; 2 Corinthians 6:16); the indwelling presence of the Son(Matthew 28:20; Colossians 1:27); and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit

(Romans 8:9; 1 John 4:13) are the One who is greater and had overcome theworld system and its master, Satan.

5. John reveals that the false teachers are part of the world system where theyare trying to achieve all their goals or needs apart from God. There messageappeal the people of the world and the world system gladly embrace them.

6. John remarks that we all belong to the Lord and those who are willing to listenour message lifting up the name of Jesus, they also belong to Him. However,those who choose not to listen our message, they do not belong to the Lord.

Therefore, it is easy differentiate by discerning the source of the message. Onewill proclaim the truth that does not contradict the message of the Gospel. Theone will lift up Jesus name, the other will lift up the human way to achieve things.

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, andwhoever loves has been born of God and knows God.8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God

is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us,

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that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might livethrough him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but

that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for oursins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love oneanother. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another,

God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 13 By this weknow that we abide in him and he in us, because he has givenus of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that theFather has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

7.John exhort all the believers love each other, because love is the commondenominator of all believers. However, John highlights that the main source ofLove is God. Love is not primary an emotion or a feeling, but a purposefulaction (John 3:16).

Therefore, anyone who is a born again believer or has born of God knows God.

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consequence of a sexual relationship. John uses this term to express Jesusuniqueness (John 1:14, 18; 3:16; 1 John 4:9).

10.John is making a clear statement that the Love of God was demonstratedwhen He sent Jesus to die on the cross on our behalf. In other words, the love of

God was manifested to us as a willful act toward us; this love always hasexisted, but now it has been demonstrated it.

God was not expecting humanity to make the first move by trying to seek for Godfirst; rather God chose to seek for fallen humanity. This is the uniqueness ofChristianity and a great reality. The glorious truth of Christianity is that God lovesfallen mankind and has initiated and maintained a life-changing contact.13

11. John highlight that because of the great magnitude of the love of God for us,we must love one another. Basically, this is an attack to the teachings of the false

teachers.

12.The idea of this verse is that He has never been seen by anyone. We are

not, then, to expect to become familiar with what He is in that way. But there is amethod by which we may be assured that we have a true knowledge of him, andthat is, by evidence that we love another. Obviously, this is as a consequence ofour new nature in Him and by the presence of his Spirit in our hearts. We cannotbecome acquainted with him by sight, but we may by love.14

In addition, this love toward others is the proper reflection of our love toward him.Therefore, if we claim that the love of God is in our hearts, we must love our

Christian brothers and sisters. This verse proves that love to God is notcomplete, or fully developed, unless it leads those who profess to have it to loveeach other.

13. The best testimony or witness of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spiritand His transforming influence are evident in our expression of love, joy, peace,longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23). This is the

clearest evidence that shows that we are children of God.

14. John clearly declares that the other apostles and he bear witness to us of thisgreat truth, that God has sent His Son to die on our behalf on the cross for the

forgiveness of our sins and therefore this is a true reality, a real fact. He is thereal Savior of the world.

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The false teachers believe in supposed dualism between the spirit (good)and matter (evil). They also believe that salvation is obtain throughspecial, secret knowledge related to the angelic levels or realms ofangelical authority between the high God and the lesser god who formedthe world out of preexisting matter.

In addition, John uses the title Savior of the world for Jesus, because this

was that a tittle of the gods (Zeus, etc) and a common tittle for Caesar.15

.

15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God

abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to knowand to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, andwhoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may haveconfidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also

are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfectlove casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and

whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We lovebecause he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, I love God, andhates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love hisbrother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not

seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoeverloves God must also love his brother.

15. Anyone that acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God has anabiding relationship with God. As John mentioned before people without

the Spirit of God live a life of blindness, but soon after the indwellingpresent of the Holy Spirit come in peoples lives their blindness disappearand they are able to recognize the reality of the Gospel.

16. As a consequence of our encounter with God, we have assurance ofthe love of God. John delights to repeat this important truth that God islove! This is an important truth that we believers need to ponder everytime that we may feel a dark cloud hanging over us.

Therefore, we must love and abide in God and therefore to love oneanother. This will be the testimony that God remains with us.

17. As result of God abiding in us and we in him, love is perfected in us. In thisway love becomes what it should be, and will prepare us to appear withconfidence before the judgment-seat without fear of the wrath to come. In otherwords, the person who has true abiding love with God will have nothing to fear in

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the Day of Judgment. The person may even approach the tribunal where theperson is to receive the sentence that will determine the persons everlastingdestiny without alarm and this is because we are His reflection and we areresembling Him in the world.

18. Because of our new position as children of God, we come to know God asthe Father and no longer fear Him as judge; our fear for eternal punishment hasbeen defeated. At this point, love has been made perfected and fear does nothave any grip on us.

In other words, the born again believers have become confident in our assurance

of salvation and knowing that our final destination will be with Him.

" Something to keep in mind, this verse does not imply that the love of God

will take away all kind of fear. It only will remove the fear that torments us.

o

God created us with a specialized mechanism: fear and this will notbe removed by the love of God, because these are necessary toour well-being.

! Filial fear or reverent fear, this is consistent with the highest

degrees of love; and even necessary to the preservation of thatgrace. This is like our guardian; and, without this, love wouldsoon degenerate into listlessness, or presumptive boldness.

! Nor does it cast out that fear that is indispensable for our

survivable; this is the fear that makes us flee from danger.

! Nor does it cast out that fear that may be caused by a suddenlyalarm.

o However, it will destroy all the fears that bring torment andinconsistent with perfect love:

! The fear of want (Matthew 6:25-34)

! The fear of death

! The fear of eternal judgment

All these fears bring torment, and are inconsistent with thisperfect love.


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19.The only and may reason for us to love (agape) towards Him is because ofHis perfect love for us first. This is the basic ground, reason or foundation.Therefore, we love God because we have recognized His love for us when weunderstood that His love was manifest to us when He sent His Son to redeem us.

In other words:

# We love Him because we find He has loved us first.

# We love Him from a sense of obligation and gratitude.

#

We love Him from the influence of His own love.

20. John remarks again the importance of love towards others. It is impossible for

anyone to be a born again believer unless this person loves others. Therefore,those who hate others are liars, because the truth from God does not dwell in

them. This was the false behavior of the false prophets.

21. John concludes explaining one simple truth; in order to love God, we mustlove one another. If love is not evident in the live of a person, it is likely that this

person is not a child of God. Therefore, it is an obligation our love toward othersin the same way as we love God.


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1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has beenborn of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves

whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we lovethe children of God, when we love God and obey hiscommandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep hiscommandments. And his commandments are notburdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of Godovercomes the world. And this is the victory that hasovercome the worldour faith.

1. John begins this chapter with an objective pronoun that denotes that no one isexcluded. Therefore, anyone who has placed his/her trust, committed his/her life

and believe that Jesus is the appointed messiah has been born of the Spirit. Aswe have seen before, John explains that the only way for a person to get into the

realization that Jesus is the Christ is because this person is a child of God andhad borne from the Spirit.

In addition, John remarks his recurrent theme of Christians love for one another.It is clear for John that the only possible way for a person to love another is by

the power of the Holy Spirit. In other words, the person who is child of God loves

the children of God and they now can live in harmony and in the same wayforever.

2. As faith is express with actions, love similarly. Love (agape) is not a feelingthat is fuelled by our emotions or our mood but it is a reality that it isdemonstrated with the love that we have towards God and it is also manifestedevery time that we keep and obey His commandments.

The true love is evident in the believer when:

1.

Loves God

2.

Loves Gods son, Jesus (1 John 5:1)

3.

Loves Gods children (1 John 5:2)

4.

Obey His commandments (1 John 5:2, 3)

5.

Overcomes the world (1 John 5:4-5)

3. John continues the idea of previous verse, love is an action and it is notsentimental or emotional. One of the greatest manifestations of love is shown byobedience to His will; however, because of the Holy Spirit in us, this obedience toHis commands or His will are not oppressive and tedious. They become naturaland spontaneously.


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4. Anyone who has placed his/her trust in Jesus has been born of God;therefore, this person is a freeman without any attachment to the ruling andpower of the customs of the people of this world. As we have seen previously,there is a conflict between the ways that world behaves and the way that everytrue Christian lives his/her life.

Therefore, any person that has gone through the regeneration process given bythe power of the Holy Spirit in us has the victory and overcome the world. This is

just because the Lord Jesus Christ has already conquered the world and its waysand our faith on Him is the one that give us victory.

Our faith brings us the victory because:

1.

Our faith is related to Jesus victory

2.

Our faith is related to our new relationship with God

3.

Our faith is related to the power of the indwelling present of the Holy Spirit

5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one whobelieves that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he who cameby water and bloodJesus Christ; not by the water only butby the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one whotestifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three

that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and thesethree agree. 9 If we receive the testimony of men, thetestimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of Godthat he has borne concerning his Son. 10 Whoever believes inthe Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does

not believe God has made him a liar, because he has notbelieved in the testimony that God has borne concerning hisSon. 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life,and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life;whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

5.John uses this rhetorical question to assert that there is no one in this worldthat can pretend to have obtained the victory over world, but Jesus.

6. John begins to explain the previous verse by emphasizing the incarnation ofJesus and His death, probably because of the doctrines of the false teachers of

his time.

Apparently, one of the teachings of the false teachers is that Jesus just came bythe water, and John is refuting this charge by testifying that Jesus came fromwater and blood.

There are many speculations to the real meaning of waterand blood; however italmost impossible to assert the real meaning of them. We need to keep in mind


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that John was writing against the doctrines of the false teachers of his time.Therefore, it is impossible to arrive to a clear conclusion of the meaning of thistwo, because it is necessary to have the background knowledge and informationthat the actual readers would clearly have known to understand what John wastalking about.

Among the several interpretations we have:

There is the common interpretation that sees the water as reference toJesus baptism, while the blood is a reference to Jesus death on the cross. 16

There is a second interpretation that sees the water as a reference of

Jesus physical birth and that blood may refer to His physical death. 17

Another interpretation is that water and blood may refer to the outpouring

of blood and water that came form the side of Jesus after His death on thecross.16

In context, these interpretations have validation because the Gnostic rejectJesus true humanity. They also assert that the Spirit of the Christ came uponthe man Jesus at his baptism (water) and left before upon his arrest justbefore his death on the cross.

In addition to the water and the blood there is another witness and this is the HolySpirit. He is the greatest witness that confirms all other because the Spirit is truth.

7. The Father, who bears testimony to his Son; the Word or Logos, who bearstestimony to the Father; and the Holy Ghost, which bears testimony to the Fatherand the Son. And these three are one in essence, and agree in the one

testimony, that Jesus came to die for, and give life to, the world.

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Some say that this three are in reference to the power of Jesus to

make the believers alive (the Spirit), the power to cleanse thebeliever from sin (the water) and the power to atone or pay for our

sins (the blood). These are considered witnesses because of theeffects of the transformation of the lives in the believers.3H

9. John emphasis that fact that if we are able to accept the testimony of commonmen, how much we should receive the divine testimony. This may refer to thevocal manifestation and affirmation at Jesus baptism (Matthew 3:17) and/or atHis transfiguration (Matthew 17:5; John 5:32, 37; 8:18).

10. The best testimony of the transforming power of the Son of God is lifetransformed and regenerated of a born again believer. Our lives change as soonas we place our trust in Jesus, and soon after the fruits begin to been manifested.

Therefore, God has become the witness of the Lord Jesus was sent to save theworld and if anyone choose to doubt or deny it, he/she is liar. Lies is part of thecharacter of those who are not been regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit.

11. This is the great truth and testimony is that we have received eternal life fromthe Father in the moment when we meet the only criteria: place our trust in JesusCrist as the Son of God.

12. Therefore, if anyone has place his/her trust in the Son of God has life orsalvation and those who choose not to believe and have the Son of God does notlife.

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the

Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if

we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if weknow that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that wehave the requests that we have asked of him.

13. John declares the reason for writing this epistle remarking the testimony ofthe Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is addressing everyone who believes on hisname and on himself. He assures and remarks that the evidences about oureternal life has been provided in his letter and with that evidence we can examineourselves if we possess eternal life.

14. One of the many privileges that the children received after conversion is theassurance and confidence that our Dad in heaven listen and answer our prayers

according to His will. It is important to mention that because of the indwellingpresence of the Holy Spirit our wishes and will are harmony with His will.

15. We can have the confidence that the Lord hears and answer our prayers;however, it is important to understand that if our request is in agreement with His


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will, the answer may occur immediately or not. Gods timetable is muchdifference that ours, but in Him there is perfection.

16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading todeath, he shall ask, and God will give him lifeto those who

commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leadsto death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 17 Allwrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

16. Intersession for our brothers and sisters is the first line of defense against theattack of the enemy. Therefore, our duty is to pray for those who sin and to try toencourage and present an escape to those who have gone astray.

It important to mention that this verse is very difficult to interpreted. According toAdam Clarke commentary18, there are three main possibilities:

I.

According to the law of Moses there are two kind of sin:a.

A sin that the law has prescribe death as a punishment. This are:

Idolatry

Incest

Blasphemy

Break of the Sabbath

b.

A sin that is not punishable with death. For example:

Transgression of ignorance

Inadvertence

II. Transgressions of the civil law of an specific location, where thepunishment for this transgression is death; however the judge ormagistrate has the power to change the punishment that for reasons thatmight appear to him satisfactory, or at the intercession of powerful friendsand therefore, they must pray for it. Nevertheless, there are some caseswhere the law cannot be change; they do not have the need pray for it. Ifthis was the case, John is motivating believers to feel for each othersdistress and use their influence on behalf of the person in anguish and to

no leave anyone behind.

III.

There is another possibility that sin unto death may refer to a doctrinerelated to the false teachers.

IV.

There is another interpretation where the word brother is extended to

3JClarke, Adam. "Commentary on 1 John 5:16 ". "The Adam Clarke Commentary".http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/view.cgi?bk=61&ch=2. 1832.


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the realm of all humanity. In this case, our role is to intercede for ourfellow mankind. God is the giver of life and He is willing to give to anyonewho confesses that Jesus is the Lord. The ultimate sin leading to death oreternal damnation is the rejection of trust in Jesus Christ.

However, as I stated before there is not a straight interpretation of this verse.

17. John remind us that all unrighteousness is sin; in other words, sin is asanything that we do contrary to the will of God. We can assume because of thecontext that John is referring to sins committed by believers (sin that does notlead to death). Therefore, we can affirm that if any believer sins, the believer isable to repent, pray and ask for forgiveness.

18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does notkeep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him,

and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are

from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evilone. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and hasgiven us understanding, so that we may know him who is true;and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He isthe true God and eternal life.

18. John gives us a clear statement that believers do not have the habituallifestyle of sinning. This does not mean that we are or we need to be perfect; itmeans that because of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in us, our

tendency for our willingness to sin has diminish.

John also affirms that the wicked on (Satan) does not have power to influence orcontrol the born again believer.

19. John keeps assuring that if we have place our trust and faith in the LordJesus Christ, we belong to God. Therefore, this makes a distinction from the born

again believer and the rest of mankind. On the other hand, the evil one, Satanhas influence over the rest of the world and people.

Very important!

It is a reality that Satan or the evil one has influence and power over thewhole world but this does not take away the personal responsibility ofeach individuals actions.

20. Johns motto throughout the whole epistle is to declare that he and other has

been witness to the incarnation of Jesus, the Son of God. He was a hundredpercent man and He is a hundred percent God. Jesus has provided a newunderstanding of the person of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. He has


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reveled this by means of His life, His teachings, His actions, His death and Hisresurrection. This was the message of the Gospel that Jesus Christ is the Son ofGod and through this message we can obtain everlasting live.

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

21. John finishes this masterpiece with a strong warning; however, it is difficult to

try to determine the exact meaning of the word idols. We can assume thatJohn and his readers understood about this matter. Here are differentinterpretations of this warning from John:

1.

Many has approach this issue by looking into the literal meaning of theword. As we know the culture surrounding John was prompt to idolworshipping. Some scholar presume that there was a persecutionwhere some of the believers succumb to the demands to sacrifice to

idols in order to avoid martyrdom while other remained faithful until

death.

2. Others, including myself, understand this term idolsmetaphoricallyAccording to the context of the letter; John has been fighting the falseteachers because they have been harassing the Christian community.John use the word idols to identify their course of their pursue.Therefore, it seems best to conclude that when the author gives hisreaders a final warning to avoid idolatry, he is warning them once moreto avoid the false teachers with their heretical and dangerous falseteaching, as he has done previously.19

In summary, John provides a list of seven things (1 John 5:13-20) that allbelievers of all ages need to know. In order to remain firm, we must cling to ourfaith in Christ and the knowledge of the benefits of the Gospel, and this willprovide a clear assurance of our salvation.

1.

All believers have eternal life (1 John 5:13)

2.

God hears all believers prayer (1 John 5:15)

3.

God answer believers prayers according to His will (1 John 5:14)

4.

All believers are children of God and born of Him (1 John 5:18)

5.

All believers are of God (1 John 5:19)6.

All believers know that Jesus the Messiah has come and given them

understanding (1 John 5:20)

7.

All believers know the true one (1 John 5:20)

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