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by
Howard Watson
We begin chapter three with the reminder of the great love (agape)
of God the Father for each one of His redeemed children. This amazing
love brings us from sin's condemnation into a state of living under
the power of God's Holy Spirit. Now the wonderful knowledge of His
expression in our lives, as God's called/redeemed children, abides
with us. Yet the world does not know ("ginoskei" from
"ginosko" to know, discern, understand) us because the
world does not know God the Father. In verse one we have God's great,
marvelous manifestation of His love by freely, without cost or works
on our part, giving spiritual sonship to each of us who have received
Christ as our Savior and Lord.
In verse two John says we are to be like Christ Jesus when he appears
("epahnerothe" from "phanerothe" to make clear,
to reveal). This manifestation of Christ's glory becomes our glory
as well for we shall see Him. This glorification of Christ Jesus
with all the redeemed will be our final state as the children of
God the Father for all eternity. Now by faith in our standing and
calling as children of God, we must make it our aim to abide in
the Holy Spirit's molding by purifying ("hagnizei" from
"hagnos" meaning pure, chaste, innocent, blameless, purify
morally) ourselves even as Christ Jesus was pure in His commitment
to the will of His Father God.
Verse four continues with the factor of sin's denial of God's rule
in the life lived in sin. Since God's law is broken by sin then
there must be satisfaction and justice meet to pay sin's penalty.
This is what Christ Jesus has done by freely giving His life on
Calvary's cross for sin's just payment as remembered by John in
verse five.
Verses 6-11
John continues his call for abiding in Christ Jesus, the Son of
God, Who gives to us new life of walking in the Spirit and Who leads
us into His righteousness ("dikaiosunen" from "dikaiosune"/"dike"
meaning justice, right, virtue, godliness, means for justification).
Those who abide ("menon" which is present active meaning
to continue remaining) in Christ will not sin ("ouk hamartanvei"
which is present active). Here John says plainly that the true child
of God is not to sin. It is contradictory for a Christian to walk/remain/abide
in Christ and sin. Jesus never sinned and we who live under the
power of the Holy Spirit's control are NOT led into sin or the practice
of sinning. We were practicing sinners when we lived/abided in our
Adamic carnal, worldly, selfish nature and ways. Now we must put
the "old man" away to death and become dead to the appeals
of the old fleshly, carnal nature as further described by the Apostle
Paul in Romans 6:6, Ephesians 4:22 and Colossians 3:9.
The carnal living person is not abiding in Christ, under the Holy
Spirit's control. Verses seven and eight affirm the one living and
practicing righteousness is righteous even as Christ Jesus is righteous,
while the one living in sin is of the Devil ("diabolou"
from "diaballo" to throw, convey over, to defame, inform
against, to slander, a traitor). In the life of a Christian/Saint,
the truth of God's pure righteousness is a contrast against the
works of unrighteousness and sin of those under the control/direction
of the Devil/Slander "diabolos".
Verse nine states that everyone born again ("gegennemenos",
perfect passive meaning to be borne from "gennao" meaning
to bear) of God, in contrast to being of the Devil, does not practice
sin ("hamartian ou poiei", which is present active).
The born from above person does not go on practicing sin. Since
in the new birth from above, the seed of God's word is planted in
the heart/life of the believer and continues to abide there for
growth into the likeness of Christ Jesus, known sin will not be
practiced by the saint/believer. In this way the children of God
are seen as differing in their righteous character from those who
are abiding in sin.
Therefore, in verse eleven it is love ("agape" from "agapao"
meaning to love, value, esteem, to delight in, to set in store upon,
devotedness), which guides us in Christ to love one another, and
we will practice acts of righteousness and kindness/mercy in loving
fellowship with all saints and others as noted in verse eleven.
We are commanded to love and we are empowered to love when we abide
in Christ and His Spirit abides in us.
Verse twelve gives the example of Cain's murder of his brother Abel
in raging jealousy over the good work of faith found in Abel's offering
of the firstling of his flock in contrast to Cain's offering of
the fruit of the farmed ground. God did not accept with blessing
the offering of Cain. God further counseled/challenged Cain about
sin and his need to resist sin (Gen.4). Hatred and sin go hand in
hand. Faith and righteousness also go hand in hand in pleasing and
serving God.
Verse thirteen carries the comparison of Cain's jealousy of Abel
to the point of murdering Abel and the world's hatred of true followers
of Christ Jesus. Worldly unbelievers have no great appreciation
of true Christian values and love for God in Jesus Christ. Christians
are mocked, persecuted, and murdered by the rage of those who love
the world and make their commitment to this dark world's promises
of wicked gain.
Verses 14-15 explain that we cannot abide in Christ as the children
of God and hate one another Hating your brother is equated to murder
even as Cain murdered Abel. Also we show our love of our brother
by our new life ("zoen aionion" life eternal) in Christ
which is a life of sacrificial love. Do not those who possess eternal
life in Christ also love life and love sharing that rich wonderful
life with those around them?
Verses 16-18 reflect upon the sacrifice of Christ for us in His
dying on the cross to redeem us from our sins. And so we are filled
with the same spirit of love for one another and give our life's
(bios) goods in ministry to the brotherhood and family of God in
Christ as we find them in need. Our love is more than words of expression,
in that it gives to help meet the need of our brother.
Verses 19-24 tell that we should truly love in life's opportunities
toward each other in Christian service. In these verses John again
uses two of his favorite words: love and truth (agape and aletheia).
It is the new, but old, commandment that we love each other in truth,
not in desertion and neglect but in faithfulness and in fidelity:
"And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the
name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another...."(verse
23). Dwelling in Christ is constantly abiding/walking in love towards
each other in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit as the body of Christ
(all Christian believers).
Verse 24 indicates that the one who abides (memei) in Christ, is
in constant communion with Christ Jesus through the presence of
the Holy Spirit abiding within his heart and life. The true saltiness
of Christ's presence reaches out to the world of people and ministers
the love of God to all. This one truly keeps and demonstrates faithful
obedience to the will of God the Father, and each one knows ("ginoskomen"
from "ginosko" to know, discern, understand) individually
that Christ dwells in his/her heart and life.
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