1 John

1John 1:1 ¶ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; They heard, saw, looked upon and handled the Word of life. Jn. 1:1-3, Jn. 15:27, Jn. 20:26-29, Ac. 4:20

1John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. We have fellowship with the saint and fellowship with the Father and Son. The first is important, the second is essential.

1John 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. Such things as Bible college, "full surrender," a "good IFB church," fellowship with the saints, a good offering, "fantastic music," or such things as the pleasures of life are not what we need that our joy might be full. The words of God are what we need for that. John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

1John 1:5 ¶ This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. God is light. Jn. 8:12, Jn. 12:35-36, Ezk. 1:27, Rev. 1:15, Mal. 4:2.

1John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Walking in the light and cleansing by Jesus' blood is basis for fellowship. Am. 3:3

1John 1:8 ¶ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. So much for the doctrine of "sinless perfection." This was written to Christians, not the lost. People that claim "sinless perfection" are probably not saved. How can they be according to this verse? Also see: 2 Thess. 2:13, Jn. 17:17.

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It is faithful and just for God to forgive and cleanse us. Jesus paid the penalty, so if we confess, in justice and faithfulness God forgives. It would be gross injustice and unfaithfulness to His own Son if God did not forgive us. Hence, there cannot be an "unpardonable" sin after the cross. There cannot be any sins that we must pay for ourselves. It's all or nothing. This verse puts no limitation upon the justice, faithfulness or forgiveness.

1John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Again, no such thing as "sinless perfection." Notice that verse 8 is in the present tense while 10 is in the past. We can't live in the future, so we can't be sinless till we have new bodies.

1John 2:1 ¶ My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: Again....no "sinless perfection." We are to strive not to sin (Heb. 12:4), but if we sin we are not hopeless. We have an advocate. (Remember the justice and faithfulness to forgive in 1:9 because the penalty is paid. This is a legal matter. It is not negotiable)

1John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Christ did for the sins of the whole world, not just "the elect!" That means that it is available to anyone who will accept it. 2Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-piano coversd, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. He has paid for all sins and wants all to repent. You can't get the application of the payment, the forgiveness, without repenting, confessing. What is so hard for Calvinists to understand here?

1John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. We are to follow Christ's walk. 1 Pt. 2:21. There are many today that would have people follow them, but they are not walking as Christ walked. We should not give them the recognition and satisfaction of our attention. They do not glory in the Lord, they glory in their Baptist heritage, their "alma mater" (nourishing mother), their busses, their Sunday School, their wonderful standards, their alleged understanding of prophecy, the Old Testament law, and many other things. 1Cor. 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. When someone wants us to glory in them or something other than the Lord, an obvious and appropriate answer would be, "You didn't die for me." (or "Independent Fundamental Baptists...church busses...Sunday School...Jack Hyles...that college...etc. didn't die for me.") Glory in the Lord! He is the only one that is worthy!!

1John 2:7-8 ¶ Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. The Old Testament things were a shadow of things to come. Heb. 10:1. The true light came with Jesus Christ. Jn. 1:9, 2Cor. 4:6.

1John 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. When we love our brother, we desire not to make him stumble. Rom. 14

1John 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. This is why it is sometimes called "blind hatred." People become so full of hate that they cannot even see what is blinding them. They can't see how it is destroying them. Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Bepiano coverse!

1John 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. Notice that it is the young men that are strong and have overcome the wicked one. The young men are usually the ones that are sent out to battle. This is how it should be in the Lord's church as well. The older men are full of good council and know Christ well from their years on the battlefield. But, they get tired, and should not be expected to lead the fight till they die. We find in Num. 8:24-26 that men were only allowed to serve in the tabernacle from age 25 to 50. After that they could minister in the tabernacle, but they were not called upon to serve (the hard work). This is not to say that a pastor or such must stop preaching or teaching at 50 today, but the principle is that after 50 there should be less of the heavy burden of the Lord's work laid upon these men. They in essence become the elders in the gate giving wise council and encouraging and instructing the saints. But, the younger men should be the ones overcoming the wicked one and doing the hard labor.

1John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. The love of God and the love of the world are exclusive. We can do one or the other, but we cannot do both. Matt. 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Friends of the world are enemies of God. James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. When we esteem what the world esteems, we are becoming the friends of the world. Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. It is both things and people of the world that we must keep ourselves unspotted from. James 1:27 Christ Jesus was the friend of sinners for the sake of their souls, but He was never the friend of the world. In fact, the world hated Him, John 15:19-25. It will hate us too for not loving them and their things and ways. (Prv. 13:20, Prv. 22:24-25) To be friends with the world is to give approval to those that are under the power of the god of this world - Satan (2 Cor. 4:4). Hence, to be a friend of the world must make us the enemies of God.

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