ANALYSIS. Reasoning further on the last idea in the former chapter, it must be plain to you, that in believing that Jesus is the Christ, you are thereby begotten of God, and in that case, if you love him that begat you, you will naturally and necessarily love all those likewise so begotten. This is... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 1. WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST. The history of apostolic preaching given by the sacred penmen shows that the burden of their message was to induce belief in God's Son. The belief that Jesus is the Christ, accepted whole-heartedly, confessed with the mouth, followed by obedien... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 2. BY THIS WE KNOW THAT WE LOVE. To test the question whether we love our brethren or not, and to know the truth of the same, we can ask this question of ourselves do we love God and keep his commandments, one of which is that we love the brethren? If we are assured that we do love God and ke... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 3. FOR THIS IS THE LOVE OF GOD. The natural expression of our love of God that is to say, its outward expression is in obedience. We obey the commands; this shows our love. By this standard we can measure our love of God. This is the sure test. NOT GRIEVOUS. His commandments are not burdens... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 4. FOR WHATSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD OVERCOMETH THE WORLD. The Syriac has: "Because whoever is born of God," in the place of "For whatsoever is born of God." The allusion is to persons, so no mistake need be made. Persons born of God overcome the world in the sense that they do not obey the dicta... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 5. WHO IS HE THAT OVERCOMETH THE WORLD. Here a question is asked and the answer given. The victor was a man of faith faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son.... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 6. THIS IS HE THAT CAME BY WATER AND BLOOD. He, through whom the victory over the world was achieved, the Son of God he came by water. He was first announced by the Father as his Son, at his baptism. As he came up out of the water, then it was that the heavens were opened, and God spake from... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 7. FOR THERE ARE THREE THAT BEAR RECORD IN HEAVEN. This verse is omitted in the Revised Version, by Rotherham, and by the Syriac. Dr. Macknight contends for its authenticity, and after a long citation of proofs, he decided to retain it, as being contained in St. John's autograph letter. At al... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 8. AND THERE ARE THREE THAT BEAR WITNESS IN EARTH. That the Spirit, and the water, and the blood testify here on earth, we endeavored to show in our exposition of verse 6. They all bear testimony that Jesus of Nazareth is God's beloved Son. Their testimony fully agreeing, being just alike, th... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 9.-1F WE RECEIVE THE WITNESS OF MEN. As reasonable creatures we receive, trust and fully rely upon our fellowmen. This, for a distinction, we call human testimony. Now, if this kind of testimony is accepted, is there not less ground for questioning divine testimony? Divine testimony is the gr... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 10. HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON OF GOD. Every man who is brought to believe on the Son of God has the witness in himself. In this he knows that a change occasioned by that belief has taken place in his own heart, life and conduct. One who disbelieves what God has declared concerning his Son,... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 11. AND THIS IS THE RECORD, THAT GOD HATH GIVEN. The important part of God's testimony, the most important to man, is that God bestowed upon us eternal life through his Son. We know that we possess this, because we know that we possess a new life; one entirely dissimilar to the one possessed... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 12. HE THAT HATH THE SON HATH LIFE. Life is bestowed when we believe on and accept the Son. It is then begun in us, and it is made sure to us by the practice of those virtues which he enjoins. One not accepting the Son, has no reason to expect eternal life.... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 13. THESE THINGS HAVE I WRITTEN. The object the apostle had in writing these things to the believers in Christ is to make them fully understand how they may know of a certainty that they have eternal life. In this letter he gives them many infallible tests and examples by which they can, with... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 14. AND THIS IS THE CONFIDENCE. Whether the word should be confidence or boldness, will make but little difference, as I view it, for if we be God's children and ask for blessings, the petition being according to God's will, we have the word of the Father, that none should doubt, that he will... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 15. AND IF WE KNOW THAT HE HEAR US. That is, if we know that he hears us as with open ears, then we know that he will grant our petitions; the things that we asked will be by us received.... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 16. IF ANY MAN SEE HIS BROTHER SIN A SIN. Along this line there has been much speculation. We will give our exposition in numerical order. 1._ Brother sin._ This shows that a Christian is liable to sin; liable to be overtaken by sin, notwithstanding the idea of some, that no child of God can... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 17. ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IS SIN. All wrongdoing is sin; every coming short of that which is right is sin, and, of course, if persisted in, must result in death. Where one steels his heart against the right, against Christ, who alone can bestow life, such an one can never attain eternal life; a... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 18. WE KNOW THAT WHOSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD. One born of God sinneth not; that is, does not sin habitually, does not live a life of sin. He will not sin the sin which is unto death because overtaken in a fault. Being begotten, he guards himself, and the wicked one can not lay hold upon him, so... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 19. AND WE KNOW THAT WE ARE OF GOD. By keeping ourselves from sin, we know that we are of God, that we are God's children, belong to his family, the church of Christ. While this is true, the world, those who refuse to confess Christ, and accept, obey and follow him, are under the dominion of... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 20. AND WE KNOW THAT THE SON OF GOD IS COME. That Christ is come in the flesh we know, not only from the testimony of men, but by the testimony God has fur- nished us, by himself, his Son, and the Holy Spirit. Thus we have the witness of ourselves that we have life in Christ, and that Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 21. LITTLE CHILDREN, KEEP YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS. AMEN. Keep yourselves from worshiping idols is the thought. Flee from it ! There have been idols in every age of the world's history; there are idols now; these, the Christian must shun. Whatever leads us away from the true worship of God is an... [ Continue Reading ]