MY LITTLE CHILDREN; believers; an endearing appellation from an aged
apostle.
THESE THINGS; what he has just said of God's readiness to forgive the
sins of those who confess them. 1 John 1:7; 1 John 1:9.
THAT YE SIN NOT; the offer of forgiveness is made to us that we may be
encouraged to forsake s... [ Continue Reading ]
PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS-ALSO FOR SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD; by making
propitiation for the sins of the whole world, he has opened a way in
which all who believe in him shall be saved. One great object of all
true ministers of the gospel is to keep Christians from the commission
of sin; and the most... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WE KNOW HIM; to know God, in the scriptural sense of the words,
is to have experimental acquaintance and communion with him as our
Father and Friend. Such knowledge and fellowship are always connected
with sincere obedience. Where this is wanting the profession of
knowing God is vain and false.... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVE-PERFECTED; by bringing forth its proper fruits, and thus showing
that it is genuine and saving.
HEREBY; by keeping his commandments.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT SAITH HE ABIDETH IN HIM; he who professes to be in union with
Christ, must show the reality of his profession by walking as Christ
walked. Union with Christ is the good tree, and this is known by its
fruits. Obedience to God is sure evidence of a saving knowledge of
him.... [ Continue Reading ]
NO NEW COMMANDMENT; no commandment now revealed to you by me for the
first time.
FROM THE BEGINNING; from the time when the gospel was first preached
to you. The apostle has special reference to the commandment of love,
which is "the fulfilling of the law." This they had from the
beginning, chap 1 J... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAIN, A NEW COMMANDMENT; as much as to say, I have called it an old
commandment; but there is a sense in which it is new.
WHICH THING IS TRUE; it is true that it is a new commandment.
IN HIM AND IN YOU; in the case of Christ who has given it, and in the
case of you who have received it.
BECAUSE... [ Continue Reading ]
IS IN DARKNESS; having neither understood nor received this new
commandment.... [ Continue Reading ]
NONE OCCASION OF STUMBLING IN HIM; his soul is illuminated with the
light of love: he sees the right way, and walks safely in it without
danger of stumbling.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS IN DARKNESS; being blinded by hatred, he walks on in darkness, and
stumbles into perdition.... [ Continue Reading ]
For the right understanding of these verses it is important to
observe, first, that in them the apostle represents himself as
appealing to Christians on the ground of the experience and knowledge
which they already possess; compare verse 1 John 2:21; secondly, that
the repetitions of the words, "I w... [ Continue Reading ]
HIM THAT IS FROM THE BEGINNING; Christ, who is from the beginning. A
mature knowledge of Christ in his divine character is appropriate to
fathers.
YOUNG MEN; to whom strength is especially becoming, verse 1 John 2:14.
LITTLE CHILDREN-KNOWN THE FATHER; known God the Father as your father,
and thus... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE STRONG-ABIDETH IN YOU; the apostle mentions not simply their
strength, but the means also by which it is maintained-by God's word
abiding in them.
THE WICKED ONE; the devil. The gospel is suited to persons at every
period and in all relations of life. None who can understand are too
young to em... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVE NOT THE WORLD; to love the world, and the things that are in the
world, is to make them our treasure, and put our trust in them,
instead of in God. Compare Matthew 6:19-24.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS NOT OF THE FATHER; does not come from him, and is not on his side,
but stands in opposition to him. He created the world, and gave it to
men to be used in his service, not to be abused as the minister of
fleshly lust.
IS OF THE WORLD; comes from the world as the nourisher of earthly
lust, and is... [ Continue Reading ]
PASSETH AWAY; and should not therefore be made the object of our love.
THAT DOETH THE WILL OF GOD; in opposition to loving the world and its
lusts.
ABIDETH FOR EVER; is blessed union with God, who is an imperishable
portion. That love of worldly enjoyment which leads men supremely to
seek it, is i... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAST TIME; the same last time as that spoken of in 1 Timothy 4:1;
2 Timothy 3:1; 2 PETER 3:3. It agrees with the time foretold by our
Lord when iniquity should abound, and false Christs and false prophets
should arise. Matthew 24:10-12; MARK 13:22; LUKE 21:8. It had a
fulfilment in the last days... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WENT OUT; apostatized.
FROM US; from the church or company of Christians.
NOT OF US; not real Christians.
THAT THEY WERE NOT ALL OF US; or, that all are not of us; that some
who belong to our body are not really of us, but Christians only in
name. When professors of religion apostatize, embr... [ Continue Reading ]
YE; real Christians.
AN UNCTION; anointing, or the enlightening and sanctifying influences
of the Holy Spirit.
ALL THINGS; all things essential to your preservation from fatal
error, and your perseverance in the faith and practice of the gospel.... [ Continue Reading ]
NO LIE; error or false doctrine.... [ Continue Reading ]
A LIAR; an asserter of false doctrines.
DENIETH THE FATHER AND THE SON; that is, denies the Father in denying
the Son, as he goes on to state in the next verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH NOT THE FATHER; not right views of him, no supreme regard to him,
and no interest in his favor. Such is the union between the Father and
the Son, that men who reject and oppose the Son, reject and oppose the
Father; while all who love and obey the Son, love and obey the Father
also.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THAT-REMAIN; if you continue to believe and obey the truths you
first embraced.
IN THE SON, AND IN THE FATHER; in holy union and fellowship with them,
the foundation of which is the true knowledge of them joined with
love.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANOINTING; see notes to verse 1 John 2:20. This anointing teaches
us not without, but through the revealed word of God; and whoever lays
claim to it must be tried by this word.
SHALL ABIDE IN HIM; being kept from the seductions of the wicked. The
reason why real Christians persevere in holiness... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR; when Christ shall appear in glory to judge the
world.... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY ONE THAT DOETH RIGHTEOUSNESS IS BORN OF HIM; as much as to say,
He that doeth righteousness, and no other; since they who are born of
God must be like God in character.... [ Continue Reading ]