I John 5
Victory is promised to those who believe correctlyverses 1-5
Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God
and every one that loves HIM that begat loves HIM also
that is begotten of HIM
By this we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and keep HIS commandments
for this is the love of God
that we keep HIS commandments
and HIS commandments are not grievous
For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world
and this is the VICTORY that overcomes the world
even our FAITH
Who is he that overcomes the world
but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Witness of God proves Jesus is HIS Sonverses 6-10
This is HE that came by water and blood – even Jesus Christ
not by water only – BUT by water and blood
And it is the Spirit that bears witness
because the Spirit is truth
FOR there are three that bear record in heaven
The Father – Word – Holy Ghost – and these three are one
and there are three that bear witness in earth
the Spirit – water – blood
and these three agree in one
IF we receive the witness of men – the witness of God is greater
for this is the witness of God which HE has testified of HIS Son
He that believes on the Son of God has the witness in himself
he that believes not God has made HIM a liar
BECAUSE he believes not the record that
God gave of HIS Son
Eternal life promised to those who believeverses 11-12
And this is the record – that God has given to us eternal life
and this life is in HIS Son
he that has the Son has life
and he that has NOT the Son of God
has NOT life
Answered prayer promised to those who believeverses 13-15
These things have I written to you that believe on the
name of the Son of God
that you may KNOW that you have eternal life
and that you may believe on the name of the
Son of God
And this is the CONFIDENCE that we have in HIM
that – IF we ask any thing according to HIS will
HE hears us – and IF we know that HE hears us
whatsoever we ask – we KNOW that we have
the petitions that we desired of HIM
Sin unto death possible for a belieververses 16-19
IF any man see his brother sin a sin which in NOT to death
he shall ask – and HE shall give him life for them that sin
NOT to death
THERE is a sin unto death – I do not say that he shall pray for it
ALL unrighteousness is sin – and there is a sin NOT to death
We know that whosoever is born of God sins not
BUT he that is begotten of God keeps himself
and that wicked one touches him not
AND we know that we are of God
and that the whole world lies in wickedness
Understanding truth importantverses 20-21
AND we know that the Son of God is come
and has given us an understanding
that we may know HIM that is true
and we are in HIM that is true
even in HIS Son Jesus Christ
This is the true God – and eternal life
LITTLE CHILDREN -keep yourselves from idols
AMEN
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (926 “grievous” [barus] means weighty, burdensome, cruel, savage, grave, unsparing or heavy)
DEVOTION: God showed his love toward the world by sending HIS Son to die on the cross for their sins. Each individual has a choice to make regarding Jesus Christ. Those who choose to believe in HIM are promised eternal life. Also there is the promise of answered prayer. There are many other promises that are giving to those who are followers of Christ. All of these promises manifest the love of God. HE wants us to know that HE treats HIS children well. We are HIS children once we put our confidence in HIM through Jesus Christ.
Moses was given the Ten Commandments in the wilderness on his way to Canaan. The children of Israel didn’t want to hear God say the Ten Commandments, so HE gave them to them in written form. The two tablets were kept in the mercy seat until the temple was destroyed.
The destruction of the temple didn’t end the law. The Ten Commandments are still in effect. These commandments show everyone that they are sinners in need of a Savior. There are still people who think that they have kept all of the Ten Commandments.
Jesus met some in HIS ministry. We will meet some in our ministry. The LORD repeated the commandments with some added interpretation. HE told people that if they hated a brother they were committing murder and therefore breaking one of the commandments. If they looked at a woman with lust, they had committed adultery.
John says that those who are followers of God will keep HIS commandments. The one command that John repeats throughout this book is that it is necessary for all believers to “love one another.” If we say we love God and hate our brother, we make God a liar. HE is not a liar, we are.
This verse says that the commandments are not burdensome. Today we find that our society thinks of them as cruel. They don’t want them in their courts or schools. They don’t want them anywhere in public. Christians realize that they can’t keep the commandments perfectly. Christ kept them perfectly while HE was on this earth.
Our responsibility is to live by the commands Christ has given us. They were not to be burdensome but to help us understand how to live a life that is pleasing to the LORD.
God gives us an understanding. We understand that our lives are to bring glory to HIM. If we fail this book tells us that we need to confess our sins to HIM and HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. The reason for the confession is so that we can be back in fellowship with HIM.
The fellowship give us the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives, so that, we can be available for service to HIM. Are we available for service to HIM? Are we praying for our fellow believers who are struggling? Are we praying for our leadership? Remember that the only one we are to look up to is the LORD. The rest of us are fellow servants. Follow HIM!!!
CHALLENGE: Do you tend to think that God has too many commandments for us to follow? Do we tend to think that some of them are too hard to keep? We have to change our thinking.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. (3529 “victory” [nike] means conquest, the means of success, or advantage)
DEVOTION: John stated in his gospel that Jesus told Nicodemus that he had to be born again. HE thought that Nicodemus should understand the concept. He didn’t. Jesus explained that there has to be a natural birth and a spiritual birth.
Every individual coming into the world is born with a sin nature. Every individual is headed to the lake of fire for eternity unless there is a second birth.
This birth is spiritual. It is to happen within the lifetime of the individual. There is no second chance after death. So a spiritual birth had to happen to Nicodemus and every individual that wanted to be followers of Jesus Christ.
Now John is informing all those who received his letter that they are part of the group that overcomes the world because of their faith in Jesus Christ. It is a faith that is expressed by those loving follow believers and keeping Christ’s commandments. The commandments are not grievous. It takes the help of the Holy Spirit to keep them.
Success is given to those who serve the LORD in this way. Those individuals have not given in to living in sin. They are individuals who keep short accounts with God.
CHALLENGE: Living a successful life in Christ is guaranteed to those who are living in obedience. The world is no match against the strength of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life.
: 10 He that believes on the Son of God has the witness in himself: he that believes not God has made HIM a liar; because he believes not the record that God gave of HIS Son. (5583 “liar” [pseustes] means a person who has lied or who lies repeatedly, one who breaks faith, a false and faithless man, what is untrue, to deceive, falsifier or cheat)
DEVOTION: We are to believe the testimony of the Word of God. The Bible tells us that all three persons of the Godhead are working together for our salvation. We have their witness. Their witness is greater than any witness a human being can give to what is happening in this world.
What is important to John? It is the fact that our hearts reveal if we are genuine believers in Jesus Christ. We have this witness in ourselves because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our life.
Those who don’t believe the truth of the Bible are calling God a liar. They either don’t believe that there is life after death or they believe there are many ways to get into heaven. Both beliefs are false. They believe a lie made up by the devil and not the LORD.
God promises eternal life to all those who genuinely believe in HIS Son Jesus Christ. So we have the witness of God and the witness of our heart through the ministry of the Holy.
CHALLENGE: Spirit that can give us confidence that we will spend eternity with HIM.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 14 And this is the confidence that we have in HIM, that, if we ask any thing according to HIS will, HE hears us. (3954 “confidence” [parrhesia] means boldness, courage, the trait of being willing to undertake activities that involve risk or danger, freedom of action, outspokenness, or frankness)
DEVOTION: Throughout my ministry I have met individuals who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ that don’t believe in prayer. They have stated that God knows everything and therefore they don’t need to talk to HIM on a regular basis in prayer.
This has proved true even in the devotional family as many have needs in their life that they will not share with other believers and many times not even with the LORD. They just think that everything is going to work out in the end so why bother to go to the LORD in prayer.
The Bible states something very different. It tells us to pray. It is not to inform God as to what we need but to show our dependence on the LORD for everything we need. HE has instructed us to come to HIM with confidence because we are one of HIS children.
We are to ask everything according to HIS will. HE has a plan for our life and HE wants us to be a part of that plan by communicating with HIM regarding our felt needs. HE has promised to hear our prayers.
HE will grant our request if it is for our good. Sometimes we can ask for things that will hurt our growth in the LORD. HE knows the perfect timing for answering our request. We are going to get an answer to all of our prayers in HIS timing.
Remember the first prayer that the LORD hears is one of repentance from sin. HE doesn’t hear the prayers of the saints who are trying to live without HIM. HE doesn’t hear the prayers of those who have never made a commitment to Christ in a Biblical manner. Only those who are obedient servants will receive answers to prayers.
CHALLENGE: Are you one of those individuals? Am I?
:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (1497 “idols” [eidolon] means 1 an image, likeness. 1a i.e. whatever represents the form of an object, either real or imaginary. 1b used of the shades of the departed, apparitions, spectres, phantoms of the mind, etc. 2 the image of an heathen god. 3 a false god. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship].)
DEVOTION: What is an idol? We think of idols only as statues which serve as representations of false deities or demons, especially when we think of other (more foreign) cultures. But we have forgotten what our American Idol is. When our sons were young, they would walk into a Chinese restaurant, for example, and would see the statues of Buddha or other Chinese gods, and would ask me if it was okay to “smash the idols.” So, when the Bible tells us to resist idolatry, it is repeating the same idea as the First Commandment, to have no other gods besides the LORD.
We may even think that we are free from the worship of other things in our lives, but we must confront the fact that the things we worship are not necessarily material (power, prestige, or authority). The truth is that mankind has struggled with idolatry ever since Genesis 3 and the Fall. We are constantly putting things in our lives ahead of God (especially ourselves and our own agendas). We define peace and happiness in our own terms, rather than in God’s economy. That is what makes being a true follower of Jesus Christ so difficult! Our sin nature continues to drag us back to our old habit patterns of disobedience and self-worship. We want what we want, and we want it now!
How do we overcome this? We need to be honest about anything else in our lives that takes the place of God. Very often the things that Satan uses to tempt us with in this regard are good things, just not God’s best for us. It could be a job opportunity that pays more but involves more hours away from the family. It may be marriage to a person whom we like but not one who is placing his or her walk with God above all else. It can even be the refusal to undergo suffering for the name of Jesus Christ. The temptations of Jesus were about things that were not evil in and of themselves, but represented compromises that Satan tried to get Him to make.
So idolatry is putting anything ahead of God in your life. God calls us to a life of being willing to follow Him no matter what the cost.
CHALLENGE: Would you say that there is anything that you are placing ahead of God in your life today? If so, then you need to turn that area of your life over to God and refuse to continue to worship the idol of your own desires. (MW)
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Writtenverse 13
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Prayer for will of Godverses 14-15
Askverses 14-16
God hears usverses 14, 15
Know we have the petitionsverse 15
Prayer for sinning brotherverses 16-17
Pray for someone not committing sin unto deathverse 16
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Commandmentsverses 2, 3
Writtenverse 13
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 1-5, 9-13, 18, 19, 20
Born of Godverses 1, 4, 18
Begotten of Godverses 1, 18
Children of Godverse 2
Love of Godverse 3
Fatherverse 7
Witness of Godverse 9
Testified of HIS Sonverse 9
Record that God gaveverses 10, 11
God will give sinning believer lifeverse 16
HIS Sonverse 20
True Godverse 20
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Jesus verses 1, 5, 6, 20
Christ verses 1, 6, 20
Born of Godverse 1
Sonverses 5, 9-13, 20
Son of Godverses 5, 10, 12, 13, 20
Jesus is the Son of Godverse 5
Jesus Christverses 6, 20
Wordverse 7
Eternal life is in HIS Sonverse 11
Name of the Son of Godverse 13
Son Jesus Christverse 20
Trueverse 20
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spiritverses 6, 8
Spirit bears witnessverse 6
Spirit is truthverse 6
Holy Ghostverse 7
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
These three are oneverse 7
Father
Word
Holy Ghost
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Wicked oneverse 18
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Worldverses 4, 5, 19
Waterverses 6, 8
Bloodverses 6, 8
Earthverse 8
Menverse 9
Whole world lies in wickednessverse 19
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Grievous commandmentsverse 3
Believe notverse 10
Liarverse 10
Hath not the Sonverse 12
Sinverses 16-18
Sin not unto deathverses 16, 17
Sin unto deathverse 16
Unrighteousnessverse 17
Wickednessverse 19
Idolsverse 21
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Believe that Jesus is the Christverses 1, 5, 10, 13
Born of Godverses 1, 4, 18
Loveverses 1, 2
Loves fellow believersverse 1
Love Godverse 2
Keep commandmentsverses 2, 3
Commandments not grievousverse 3
Overcomes the worldverses 4, 5
Victoryverse 4
Faithverse 4
Witness in himselfverse 10
Know you have eternal lifeverses 11, 13
Lifeverses 12, 16
Confidenceverse 14
Petitions answeredverses 14, 15
Sin a sin not unto deathverse 16
Sins notverses 17, 18
Begotten of Godverse 18
Satan doesn’t touchverse 18
Know we are of Godverse 19
Understandingverse 20
Know HIM that is trueverse 20
In HIM that is trueverse 20
Keep yourself from idolsverse 21
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Children of Godverse 2
Brotherverse 16
Little childrenverse 21
Keep yourselves from idols
Last Things (Future Events)
Eternal lifeverses 11, 13, 20
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QUOTES regarding passage
18 John concludes by stating three certainties that characterize his own position and that of his followers over against the false teachers: (1) We know that anyone born of God does not continue in sin (v. 18). (2) We know that we are the children of God (v. 19). (3) We know that the Son of God has come and has given us certain, definite knowledge about himself (v. 20). Never has John wavered from the priority of the ethical requirement, nor does he do so now. Christians must not walk in darkness (1:7). They must not hate their fellow believers (2:10). They must not live of a sin (3:6).
However noble the sentiments expressed by the false teachers, the test of the truth of God is conduct. A sinful life is totally incompatible with the life received from God. John is not unaware of the difficulties involved in living the new life nor of the quality of the opposition from the evil one. John knows the wiles of the evil one and expects them. Nonetheless, the author has been adamant in his confidence that the evil one need not prevail. It is not the quality of strength in the life of the believer that gives him hope of prevailing but the presence of the power of God.
Already John has shown that if he who lives in him will not sin (3:6), no one born of God possessing the divine life of God will fall victim to the life of sin (3:9). To this he now adds that the Son of God himself will keep him safe from the evil one. NIV renders the article ho as an indefinite pronoun—“the one who”—but NEB supplies the subject and RSV capitalizes “he” to make clear that the reference is to Christ. John may first have used “born of God” for believers generally and then also for Christ to emphasize the relation between the two somewhat after the pattern of the Epistle to the Hebrews.
The phrase “keeps him safe” recalls Jesus’ words in John’s Gospel: “While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe.… None has been lost.… My prayer is … that you protect them from the evil one” (John 17:12, 15). (For the evil one, see comment on 2:13b.) The phrase “touch him” obviously means “harm.” (Barker, G. W. (1981). 1 John. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews through Revelation (Vol. 12, p. 356). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
We know (οἰδαμεν [oidamen]). As in 3:2, 14; 5:15, 19, 20. He has “ye know” in 2:20; 3:5, 15. Sinneth not (οὐχ ἁμαρτανει [ouch hamartanei]). Lineal present active indicative, “does not keep on sinning,” as he has already shown in 3:4–10. He that was begotten of God (ὁ γεννηθεις ἐκ του θεου [ho gennētheis ek tou theou]). First aorist passive articular participle referring to Christ, if the reading of A B is correct (τηρει αὐτον [tērei auton], not τηρει ἑαυτον [tērei heauton]). It is Christ who keeps the one begotten of God (γεγεννημενος ἐκ του θεου [gegennēmenos ek tou theou] as in 3:9 and so different from ὁ γεννηθεις [ho gennētheis] here). It is a difficult phrase, but this is probably the idea. Jesus (John 18:37) uses γεγεννημαι [gegennēmai] of himself and uses also τηρεω [tēreō] of keeping the disciples (John 17:12, 15; Rev. 3:10). The evil one (ὁ πονηρος [ho ponēros]). Masculine and personal as in 2:13, not neuter, and probably Satan as in Matt. 6:13, not just any evil man. Touchest him not (οὐχ ἁπτεται αὐτου [ouch haptetai autou]). Present middle indicative of ἁπτω [haptō], elsewhere in John only John 20:17. It means to lay hold of or to grasp rather than a mere superficial touch (θιγγανω [thigganō], both in Col. 2:21). Here the idea is to touch to harm. The devil cannot snatch such a man from Christ (John 6:38f.). (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (1 Jn 5:18). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
5:18. As in 3:6, 9 (see comments there) the words continue to are not justified by the original. John was affirming that anyone born of God is a person whose true, inward nature is inherently sinless. (Cf. “born of God” in 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4.)
The additional statement about the one who was born of God is not, as often suggested, a reference to Christ. John nowhere else referred to Christ in this way; and he was still writing about regenerate people. On this view, the word “himself” should be read in place of him. John thus affirmed that “the one who has been born of God keeps himself” (there is no word for safe in the original). This restates the truth of 3:9 in a slightly different form. A believer’s new man (or “new self”; Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10) is fundamentally impervious to sin and hence the evil one (cf. 1 John 2:13–14; 3:12), Satan, does not touch him. (Walvoord, J. F., & Zuck, R. B., Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 903). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
First John 5:18 gives the answer: Jesus Christ keeps the believer so that the enemy cannot get his hands on him. “He [Christ] who was born of God keeps him [the believer] and the evil one does not touch him” (nasb). The Authorized Version here gives the impression that a believer keeps himself from sin, but this is not what the verse says. Of course, it is true that a Christian must keep himself in the love of God (Jude 21); but it is not true that a Christian must depend on himself to overcome Satan.
Peter’s experience with Satan helps us to understand this truth.
“Simon, Simon,” said Jesus, “behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31–32, nasb).
To begin with, Satan cannot touch any believer without God’s permission. Satan wanted to sift all the disciples, and Jesus gave him permission. But Jesus prayed especially for Peter, and His prayer was answered. Peter’s faith did not ultimately fail, even though his courage failed. Peter was restored and became a mighty and effective soul-winner.
Whenever Satan attacks us, we can be sure that God gave him permission. And if God gave him permission He will also give us power to overcome, because God will never permit us to be tested above our strength (1 Cor. 10:13).
One of the characteristics of “spiritual young men” is their ability to overcome the evil one (1 John 2:13–14). Their secret? “The word of God abides in you” (1 John 2:14, nasb). Part of the armor of God is the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17), and this sword overcomes Satan.
When a believer sins, he can confess his sin and be forgiven (1 John 1:9). But a believer dare not play with sin, because sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4, where “transgression of the Law” means “lawlessness”). A person who practices sin proves that he belongs to Satan (1 John 3:7–10). Furthermore, God warns that sin can lead to physical death!
“All unrighteousness is sin,” but some sin is worse than other sin. All sin is hateful to God, and should be hateful to a believer; but some sin is punished with death. John tells us (1 John 5:16–17) about the case of a brother (a believer) whose life was taken because of sin.
The Bible mentions people who died because of their sin. Nadab and Abihu, the two sons of Aaron the priest, died because they deliberately disobeyed God (Lev. 10:1–7). Korah and his clan opposed God and died (Num. 16). Achan was stoned because he disobeyed Joshua’s orders from God at Jericho (Josh. 6–7). A man named Uzzah touched the ark and God killed him (2 Sam. 6).
“But those are Old Testament examples!” someone may argue. “John is writing to New Testament believers who live under grace!”
To whom much is given, much shall be required. A believer today has a far greater responsibility to obey God than did the Old Testament saints. We have a complete Bible, we have the full revelation of God’s grace, and we have the Holy Spirit living within us to help us obey God. But there are cases in the New Testament of believers who lost their lives because they disobeyed God.
Ananias and Sapphira lied to God about their offering, and they both died (Acts 5:1–11). Some believers at Corinth died because of the way they had acted at the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:30). And 1 Corinthians 5:1–5 suggests that a certain offender would have died had he not repented and confessed his sin (2 Cor. 2:6–8).
If a believer does not judge, confess, and forsake sin, God must chasten him. This process is described in Hebrews 12:1–13, which suggests that a person who does not subject himself to the Father will not live (Heb. 12:9). In other words, first God “spanks” his rebellious children, and if they do not yield to His will, He may remove them from the world lest their disobedience lead others astray and bring further disgrace to His name.
“The sin unto death” is not some one specific sin. Rather, it is a kind of sin—it is the sort of sin that leads to death. With Nadab and Abihu, it was their presumption in taking the priest’s office and entering the holy of holies. In the case of Achan it was covetousness. Ananias and Sapphira were guilty of hypocrisy and even of lying to the Holy Spirit.
If a Christian sees a brother committing sin, he should pray for him (1 John 5:16), asking that he confess his sin and return to fellowship with the Father. But if in his praying, he does not sense that he is asking in God’s will (as instructed in 1 John 5:14–15), then he should not pray for the brother. “Therefore, pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to Me; for I will not hear thee” (Jer. 7:16).
James 5:14–20 somewhat parallels 1 John 5:16–17. James describes a believer who is sick, possibly because of his sin. He sends for the elders, who come to him and pray for him. The prayer of faith heals him and if he has sinned his sins are forgiven. “The prayer of faith” is prayer in the will of God, as described in 1 John 5:14–15. It is “praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 20).
Christians do not deliberately practice sin. They have the divine nature within; Jesus Christ guards them, and they do not want God’s discipline. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 530–531). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
5:18 Victory over sin and Satan is the third Christian certainty (3:9; Ro 6:15–22). keeps him. This refers to the fact that God protects the believer. evil one. This is a reference to Satan. does not touch him. John uses this word only here and in Jn 20:17. The word suggests “to lay hold of” or “to grasp” in order to harm. Because the believer belongs to God, Satan must operate within God’s sovereignty and cannot function beyond what God allows, as in the example of Job (Job 2:5; Ro 16:20). While Satan may persecute, tempt, test, and accuse the believer, God protects His children and places definite limits on Satan’s influence or power (2:13; Jn 10:28; 17:12–15). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Jn 5:18). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Ver. 18. We know that whosoever is born of God, &c.] 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 the power and dominion of it, though he does not live without it; see the note on ch. 3:9. but he that is begotten of God; the Vulgate Latin version reads, the generation of God keeps or preserves him; that is, that which is born in him, the new man, the principle of grace, or seed of God in him, keeps him from notorious crimes, particularly from sinning the sin unto death, and from the governing power of all other sins; but all other versions, as well as copies, read as we do, and as follows: keepeth himself; not that any man can keep himself by his own power and strength; otherwise what mean the petitions of the saints to God that he would keep them, and even of Christ himself to God for them on the same account? God only is the keeper of his people, and they are only kept in safety whom he keeps, and it is by his power they are kept; but the sense is, that a believer defends himself by taking to him the whole armour of God, and especially the shield of faith, against the corruptions of his own heart, the snares of the world, and particularly the temptations of Satan: and that wicked one toucheth him not; he can’t come at him so as to wound him to the heart, or destroy that principle of life that is in him, or so as to overcome and devour him; he may tempt him, and sift him, and buffet him, and greatly afflict and grieve him, but he can’t touch his life, or hurt him with the second death; nay, sometimes the believer is so enabled to wield the shield of faith, or to hold up Christ the shield by faith, and turn it every way in such a manner, that Satan, who is here meant by the wicked one, because he is notoriously so, can’t come near him, nor in with him; can’t work upon him at all with his temptations, nor in the least hurt his peace, joy, and comfort: the saints know their perseverance from the promises of God and declarations of Christ; Psal. 125:1, 2; Jer. 32:40; Matt. 16:18; John 10:28. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 658). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
It is possible to read Scripture without being “washed by the Word.” Scripture itself speaks of just such a condition. Jesus addressed religious leaders who prided themselves on how well they knew the sacred writings. “You search the Scriptures,” Jesus said, “because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf. Yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” The religious leaders thought their great knowledge of Scripture was proof of their spiritual greatness. But they never allowed the Bible’s teachings on humility to cleanse their mind of pride, never allowed its teachings on love to purge their judgmentalism, so they did not recognize the truth of Jesus’ teaching. (p. 186, The Life You’ve Always Wanted by John Ortberg)
Quote from “Who am I to Judge”: …. In other words, the Pope was not talking about those who are involved in homosexual acts or homosexual relationships. He was seeking to speak with compassion about people made in the image of God who are struggling with faithfulness against a homosexual inclination. This explains his criticism of a “gay lobby” within his church. He acknowledged the fact that persons struggling with a homosexual inclination are in his church and in the priesthood. So long as they obey Catholic teaching and live in faithfulness, “who am I to judge that person?” he asked.
Evangelical Christians may be rightly impressed by the depth and consistency of Roman Catholic moral teachings on sexuality, but our authority is the Bible. And the Bible’s clear declaration of the sinfulness of homosexuality and the inviolate nature of marriage as a union of a man and a woman puts evangelicals in the same public predicament. We also must respect the humanity of those who struggle with homosexuality and accept them with “respect, compassion, and sensitivity.” At the same time, we must remain faithful to the clear teachings of Scripture on the nature of sin. Nothing less than the Gospel is at stake. ….. (Albert Mohler)
SPIRITUS EXTERNUS AND SPIRITUS INTERNUS
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
1 John 5:10
Here is a matter of accepting testimony and witness. God has said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him (Matthew 17:5). Am I to refuse Him? Well, the terrifying thing is that if I do, I am saying that God’s pronouncement is not true.
In addition to the external evidence, there is also the subjective or internal evidence. John puts it in this way: He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself. So we are dealing here with these two different stands the external and the internal. I am not at all sure but that this is not the most vital of all parts of the subject. It was a great matter to the minds of the Reformers. They clearly defined this matter. The believer is confronted by two great sources of certainty, one outside and one inside spiritus externus and spiritus internus.
But perhaps the best way to understand this is to ask ourselves, “How may I know that the Bible is the Word of God?” There are two main ways. There is the Word itself the testimony of the Holy Spirit, and the agreement of the books written within it. This general consensus, the internal unity of the Bible, and various other arguments this is the spiritus externus the outside testimony. But according to the Reformers, that is not enough to give people certainty. They need something inside as well, and the Holy Spirit also gives them that internal certitude the spiritus internus.
Let me put this personally. There was a time when I read the Bible and thought it was a wonderful book; I felt it was a unique book. Later I was confronted with the great evidence given to me in the Gospels and the Old and New Testaments, and I had a feeling within me that this was the Word of God. That is what it means this internal evidence.
A Thought to Ponder
The believer is confronted by two great sources of certainty, one outside and one inside.
From Life in God by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, pp. 86-87)
UNBELIEF
If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
Let us consider what our Lord has to say about the terrible condition of unbelief. The ?rst thing He tells us is that it is a definite mentality, a definite spirit. Unbelief is not a negative but an active thing. Of course, our tendency is to think of unbelief as just a negative condition in which a man does not believe, but according to the Bible that is an utter fallacy. Unbelief is terribly positive and active, a state and condition of the soul, with a very definite mentality. The Bible, indeed, does not hesitate to put it essentially like this: “Unbelief is one of the manifestations of sin; it is one of the symptoms of that foul disease.” Or as the apostle Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, “If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.”
It is a terrible state and condition. Let me put it like this. It is not just a refusal to believe. That is how the devil foils us. He persuades modern unbelievers into thinking that they are unbelievers because of their great intelligence, their wonderful intellect and understanding. They think that people who are Christians are fools who have either not read or have not understood what they have read. The unbeliever thinks that he is in that state because of his scientific knowledge, and that it is in the light of these things that he refuses to believe. They rejoice in their great emancipation, that they have been delivered from the shackles of the Bible, and that they have been emancipated from this drug, this dope of the people that we call the gospel. Poor things! They are unconscious slaves, and they do not know that they are victims.
A Thought to Ponder: They are unconscious slaves, and they do not know that they are victims. (From The Heart of the Gospel, pp. 85-86, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
The Israelites begin worshipping Baal, a god of Canaan.
INSIGHT
There is a distinct pattern of events that begins to unfold in Judges. The children of Israel fall into sin and begin worshiping other gods. Sin is followed by servitude. The Lord causes other nations to rise up in judgment and enslave Israel.
Israel cries out to God for deliverance, and the Lord delivers them by raising up a judge to lead them to victory. Then the land has rest until that judge dies and the cycle begins again: sin, servitude, supplication, salvation, and silence. Sin is always followed by bondage. Repentance frees. (Quiet Walk)
The result is that Scripture is no longer the sole and authoritative source of truth; it remains one source among many. This has infiltrated the church in itsview of the importance of theology as the foundation of belief. Thus the focus is no longer upon “belief” before “belonging,” but first “belonging” and then “believing.” In other words, traditionally foundational to our faith was what we believed, which then determined how we lived. In the contemporary view of truth, what we believe is not nearly as important as what we experience. Instead of our doctrine governing our experience, now experience governs our doctrine.
(p. 100, Developing Leaders for the Small Church by Glenn C. Daman)
The Christian’s Calling
“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” (Ephesians 4:1)
The Christian’s calling in Christ is a high calling. Since we are encouraged to walk in a manner worthy of this calling, it behooves us to make careful study of it, lest our lifestyle bring reproach to the One who has called us. Consider the following sampling of the uses of this important word.
First, the calling is “of God” and irrevocable (Romans 11:29). We are called “by his grace” (Galatians 1:15) and “into the grace of Christ” (Galatians 1:6). We are called “out of darkness” and “into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9). Furthermore, we are “called to be saints” (Romans 1:7). He has “called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace” (2 Timothy 1:9). We are “partakers of the heavenly calling” (Hebrews 3:1), and in response, we should “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
The New Testament writers as well mention many things to which we are called. We are “called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9). We are “called unto liberty” (Galatians 5:13) and are now free to “serve one another,” even though it means accepting the call to suffering. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). The “eternal life, whereunto thou art also called” may not come easily, for it involves the “good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). We are called “to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3), even “his eternal glory by Christ Jesus” (1 Peter 5:10), for we are “called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1). “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10).
(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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