OLBGrk; 1 JOHN CHAPTER 1 1 JOHN 1:1 The apostle professeth to declare what he had formerly seen and known of the Word of life, to the end that others might have fellowship with him. 1 JOHN 1:5 The substance of his doctrine is: That to have fellowship with God, we must be holy as he is holy; a... [ Continue Reading ]
He interrupts the stream of his discourse by this seasonable parenthesis, while he therein gives an account how _the Word of life, the life, that eternal life, _ (already noted to be here all one, and chiefly to mean the Son of God), which being WITH THE FATHER must be to us invisible, came to be so... [ Continue Reading ]
He now proceeds with what he intended, not only professing to testify most certainly known things, (which he further with great earnestness inculcates), but declaring also the end of this testimony; viz. not merely that they to whom he writes might know them too, (as if the being a Christian did onl... [ Continue Reading ]
Not insipid, spiritless, empty, as carnal joy is, apt through the deficiency of its cause to admit of intermingled qualms; but lively and vigorous, 3 JOHN 1:12, well grounded, 1 THESSALONIANS 16:24, such as is of the right kind, and will grow up into the perfect plenitude and fulness of joy, PSALMS... [ Continue Reading ]
It being the professed scope and design of his writing, to draw men to a final participation and communion with God in his own blessedness, he reckons nothing more necessary to it, than to settle in their minds a right notion of God. Which, that it might be the more regarded, he introduces with a so... [ Continue Reading ]
Light and darkness are frequently put for holiness and wickedness, LUKE 16:8 ROMANS 13:12 EPHESIANS 5:8 1 THESSALONIANS 5:5. The sum then is: That if any pretend to friendship with God, or to have received holy and gracious influences from him, and do yet lead wicked lives, they are liars, even guil... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk; BUT IF WE WALK; which is a continued and progressive motion, i.e. do persevere and improve in holiness. IN THE LIGHT; being transformed into the holy image and likeness of God, and showing themselves _the children of light, _ as he is _light, _ and _the Father of lights. We have fellowship o... [ Continue Reading ]
In pursance of which scope, he fitly adds: IF WE should SAY, i.e. either profess it as a principle, or think in our minds, or not bear in our hearts a penitential, remorseful sense, correspondent to the contrary apprehension; such as is implied in confessing, 1 JOHN 1:9; for saying usually signifies... [ Continue Reading ]
But on the contrary, IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, if we apply ourselves to him suitably to the condition of sinners, confessing ourselves such, with that self-abasing sense of sin which may dispose us to accept and apply his offered remedy, (upon which it is implied we will do it), HE IS FAITHFUL, so tru... [ Continue Reading ]
IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT SINNED: see 1 JOHN 1:8,9. WE MAKE HIM A LIAR; which they make him that believe not his word, 1 JOHN 5:10, expressly charging all men with sin, ROMANS 3:19,23. AND, consequently, HIS WORD, or TRUTH, as 1 JOHN 1:8, which we contradict, IS NOT IN US. The sum is: That we are n... [ Continue Reading ]