DO NOT BELIEVE. BUT TEST. In 1 John 3:24 John mentions the evidence of the Spirit. Because the false teachers all claimed to be inspired and to have received their (false) message from the Holy Spirit, John reminds the messianic community that they have among them some who can _tell the difference_... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS HOW. "Even you who do not have this _gift from the Spirit_ will be able to recognize which teachers do come from God." ANYONE WHO DECLARES. Two things are here: (1) Anyone who would use the name _Jesus Christ_ is by that identifying Jesus with the Logos. (2) To declare Jesus Christ came as a... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT ANYONE WHO DENIES THIS. "Anyone who says Jesus was human but not divine, or that says He was divine but not human, does not speak by means of God's Spirit!" ENEMY OF CHRIST. _MacKnight_ takes this as meaning The Devil, who is the ultimate source of all opposition to Christ. It was the Devil who... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YOU BELONG TO GOD. "You belong to God and allow Him to teach you!" AND HAVE DEFEATED. "You have discovered and defeated these false teachers, because you have God's Truth!" BECAUSE THE SPIRIT. "All false teachers have the spirit from the Enemy of Christ. You have the Holy Spirit from God!!! As G... [ Continue Reading ]
ABOUT MATTERS OF THE WORLD. Compare 1 John 3:12. "Do not be discouraged by the success of the false teachers. They tell the world what it wants to hear!" See 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; 2 Timothy 4:3-4.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WE BELONG TO GOD. "We have nothing to do with the world that follows the Enemy of Christ." WHOEVER KNOWS GOD. "The one who does in fact _know God_ listens to what we apostles say, and teaches the same things which we teach. The one who _does not know God_ rejects us and our message." THIS is THE... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE LOVE COMES FROM GOD. "The false teachers claim knowledge is all that is necessary to please God, and they do not love one another. Love grown cold is a sign of evil (Matthew 24:12). Therefore, because love comes from God, let us love one another!" WHOEVER LOVES. John uses a _continuous form_... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOEVER DOES NOT LOVE. "One who is a _stranger_ to love, is a _stranger_ to God also!" Compare 1 Corinthians 2:9 and note.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS HOW GOD. "God showed his love for us by ACTING IN HISTORY! See John 3:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS WHAT LOVE IS. "This is the example for us to follow. God did not wait for us to love him first (1 John 4:19), but while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8) God sent his Son to be the means (1 John 2:2) by which our sins are forgiven.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THIS IS HOW. "If God could set such an example (1 John 4:10), then we who belong to God must imitate Him by loving one another!!!" Christian love is treating others as God has treated us through Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN GOD. John 1:18. "Some may claim to have seen God in a vision or to have heard Him speak to them. But in fact, no one has ever seen God! But Jesus, the Son, has told us about Him. The only actual proof that God lives in us (Ephesians 2:22), or that his love is made perfect in us... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HAS GIVEN US HIS SPIRIT. John may be thinking of the miraculous gifts from the Spirit, but what he has been saying about _love_ connects this with Galatians 5:22-23. Every Christian is Spirit-filled (Acts 5:32). But one who does not _love,_ shows he does not have the Spirit!... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE FATHER SENT HIS SON. John speaks as an eye-witness! See John 15:27; 1 John 1:1-4.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOEVER DECLARES. Compare 1 John 4:2. Such faith implies fellowship with God! Compare 1 Timothy 6:12; Matthew 16:16; Romans 10:9-10. "God lives in the one who declares his faith in Jesus as the Christ incarnate.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WE OURSELVES KNOW. The apostles saw Christ-on-the-cross! They believe (see note on James 2:19) God's love! John's language points to a knowledge and belief that began in the past and continues up to the present (and will continue in the future). Unless you believe that the Logos came as a human... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PURPOSE. "Love is an official heavenly visitor who stays with us and claims our loyalty. Love has been made perfect in us' when we _are facsimiles_ of Jesus - His visible _portrait!"_ Compare Matthew 5:16; Galatians 2:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
NO FEAR IN LOVE. Note that John uses _fear_ as the opposite of _love._ One type of person lost eternally is the _coward_ (fearful), as we see in Revelation 21:8. [We _fear_ God in the sense of reverence and respect.] "Fear of punishment never goes along with love; but perfect love to God and man dri... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE GOD. God's unique love for us in Christ, fills us with love for Him and for our fellowman!... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HATES HIS BROTHER. "Hating his brother shows he was a liar when he said, I love God!'" Some thought it proper to show their love for God by hating and persecuting all who did not share their views in religious matters. See note on James 3:9_. We limit our love for God, by our love for our brothe... [ Continue Reading ]
IS THE COMMAND. It is God's will that he who loves the Father should love the children also! See John 13:34-35; John 15:12; 1 John 3:11_. You cannot obey the command to love God without loving your brother!!!_... [ Continue Reading ]