INTRODUCTION TO 1 JOHN 5 In this chapter the apostle treats of the nature of faith and love; of Christ the object of both, and of the witness that is bore to him; of the necessity of believing the testimony concerning him; of the confidence of prayer being heard, and concerning whom it should be ma... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST,.... Or the Messiah that was prophesied of old, was long promised to the Jews, and whom they expected; there was a person spoken of in the writings of the Old Testament under this character, Psalms 2:2; and the Jews looked for him; and Jesus of Nazareth i... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THIS WE KNOW THAT WE ARE THE CHILDREN GOD,.... The Ethiopic version reads, "by this know that we love God"; which, in connection with what follows, makes a tautology, and is a proving "idem per idem": whereas the apostle's view is to show when love to the saints is right; and that is, WHEN WE LO... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS IS THE LOVE OF GOD, THAT WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS,.... Keeping of the commandments of God is an evidence of love to God; this shows that love is not in word and tongue, in profession only, but in deed and in truth; and that such persons have a sense of the love of God upon their souls, unde... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHATSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD,.... Which may be understood either of persons born; of God; or of the new creature, or principle of grace wrought in them, particularly faith hereafter mentioned, which is an heaven born grace, the gift of God, and the operation of his Spirit: this OVERCOMETH THE WORL... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IS HE THAT OVERCOMETH THE WORLD,.... This question carries in it a strong affirmation, that no other person is the conqueror of the world: BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD? and this points out what that faith is which obtains the victory over the world; and shows that it is no... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS HE THAT CAME BY WATER AND BLOOD, [EVEN] JESUS CHRIST,.... By "water" is not meant the ablutions or washings of the ceremonial law; Christ came not by these, but to make an end of them; his blood, which cleanseth from all sin, being the antitype, and so the fulfilling end of them: nor the pur... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THERE ARE THREE THAT BEAR RECORD IN HEAVEN,.... That is, that Jesus is the Son of God. The genuineness of this text has been called in question by some, because it is wanting in the Syriac version, as it also is in the Arabic and Ethiopic versions; and because the old Latin interpreter has it no... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE ARE THREE THAT BEAR WITNESS ON EARTH,.... To the same truth of the sonship of Christ: THE SPIRIT, AND THE WATER, AND THE BLOOD; by the "Spirit" is not meant the human Spirit or soul of Christ; for however that may be a witness of the truth of his human nature, yet not of his divine sonshi... [ Continue Reading ]
IF WE RECEIVE THE WITNESS OF MEN,.... The witness of a sufficient number of credible men, of men of good character and report, is always admitted in any case, and in any court of judicature; it was allowed of in the law of Moses; everything was proved and established hereby; upon this men were justi... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON OF GOD,.... As a divine person who came in the flesh, and obeyed the law, and brought in everlasting righteousness, and obtained life and salvation for men: he that with the heart believes in him for righteousness, and eternal life, he being the Son of God, truly and pro... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS IS THE RECORD,.... The sum and substance of it, with respect to the person of Christ, and the security of salvation in him, who is the true God, and eternal life: THAT GOD HATH GIVEN TO US ETERNAL LIFE; which is a life of glory and happiness hereafter; in the present state is unseen, but w... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT HATH THE SON,.... Has a spiritual and experimental knowledge of him, true faith in him; who has him dwelling in his heart, and living in him: HATH LIFE: not only spiritual life, being quickened by him, and living by faith on him, but eternal life; the knowledge he has of him is eternal life... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE THINGS HAVE I WRITTEN UNTO YOU,.... Which are contained in the epistle in general, and particularly what is written in the context, concerning the victory of the world, being ascribed to him who believes that Christ is the Son of God; and concerning the six witnesses of his sonship, and the re... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS IS THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE IN HIM,.... Either in God, to whom prayer is made; or in the Son of God, through whose blood and righteousness believers in him have confidence with God at the throne of grace; they can come with boldness and intrepidity, and use freedom and liberty of speech,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF WE KNOW THAT HE HEAR US,.... As it may be assured he does hear and answer all such persons that ask according to his will: WHATSOEVER WE ASK, WE KNOW, or are assured, THAT WE HAVE THE PETITIONS THAT WE DESIRED OF HIM: for as it is the nature of that holy confidence, which believers have in... [ Continue Reading ]
IF ANYONE SEE HIS BROTHER SIN,.... Those who have such an interest at the throne of grace, and such boldness and freedom there, should make use of it for others, as well as themselves, and particularly for fallen believers; for a "brother"; not in a natural or civil sense, but in a spiritual sense,... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IS SIN,.... All unrighteousness against God or man is a sin against the law of God, and the wrath of God is revealed against it, and it is deserving of death; yet all unrighteousness is not unto death, as the sins of David, which were unrighteousness both to God and man, and yet... [ Continue Reading ]
WE KNOW THAT WHOSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD,.... Who is regenerated by his Spirit and grace, and quickened by his power; who has Christ formed in him, and is made a partaker of the divine nature, and has every grace implanted in him: SINNETH NOT; the sin unto death; nor does he live in sin, or is under t... [ Continue Reading ]
[AND] WE KNOW THAT WE ARE OF GOD,.... The sons of God, and regenerated by him; this is known by the Spirit of God, which witnesses to the spirits of the saints that they are the children of God; and by the fruits and effects of regenerating grace, as love to the brethren, and the like: AND THE WHOL... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WE KNOW THAT THE SON OF GOD IS COME,.... That the second Person in the Godhead, who is equal to the Father, and of the same nature with him, is come from the Father, from heaven into this world, not by local motion, but by assumption of nature; that he is come in the flesh, or is become incarnat... [ Continue Reading ]
LITTLE CHILDREN, KEEP YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS, AMEN. From Heathen idols and idolatry, into which the saints in those times might be liable to be drawn, by reason of their dwelling among Heathen idolaters, and being related to them, and by the too great freedom used in eating things sacrificed to idols... [ Continue Reading ]