Interpretive Study of 1John - Summary

Epistle theme: Jesus Christ is the Son of God

God's Way to Study His Word:

In 2Timothy 2:15 we read: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. The true definition of the word dividing is: 'a Mathematical function whereby we separate pre-defined units according to a precise procedure which produces a precise result'. However, while most people understand that 'there is one interpretation but many applications of the word of God', they fail to separate the procedures of each. And, as a result, they fail to separate the 'one interpretation of the word of God' from the 'many applications of the word of God'. This leads to many errors which people blame on the perfect word of God instead of their using the wrong procedure.

The result, of men using the wrong way, is that men claim that there are errors and conflicts in God's word. In Isaiah 28, God tells us how to understand His word. In addition, God preserved the message of His word; He preserves every word of His sentences; and God preserves every punctuation mark (jot and title) of His sentences. Therefore, God preserved what He wanted us to understand and God told us how to understand His word so that we have no errors and no conflicts. Unfortunately, for at least one hundred and fifty (150) yeare, men have been taught to use the wrong way to interpret God's word instead of using God's way.

In Isaiah 55:9 we are told For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Thus, God warns us that our ways are wrong and that using God's way produces better results, which have no errors and no conflicts.

In addition, 1Corinthians 2:14 tells us: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Therefore, we can not properly understand the spiritual word of God using man's way. We must use God's way to understand God's preserved word of God. And, the basics of God's way is to understand His preserved word of God using the sentence format and true Biblical definitions for Bible words.

This Study follows the Biblical Way to understand God's Word. It applies precepts ('truths that never change for any circumstance'). It then goes through the epistle sentence-upon-sentence (line upon line [Isaiah 28 ]). This is different from the ways of men which use verse-upon-verse or some other method which generates errors. God's sentence-upon-sentence method also pays attention to what 'the word of God' tells us that God preserved, which are the true Biblical meanings of words and the Biblical usage of punctuation. (These two are the components of sentences and do not give us verses.) the 'the word of God' tells us that God preserved punctuation (one jot or one tittle) in Matthew 5:18 and Luke 16:17. And 'the word of God' tells us that God preserved every word when he wrote: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4).

The summary of the epistle comes from the summary of each chapter and each chapter summary within that book. Every chapter summary comes from the summary of each sentence within that chapter. And, the sentence summaries come from analysis using the punctuation and true word definitions, as already explained. As a result, we have what God literally had written and see that there are no conflicts even when we consider the smallest part of a sentence compared to the entire Bible book. God is consistent from the start of a Bible book to the end and is consistent in His doctrines and word definitions across the entire Bible. What we have is an integrated whole (single) message, with no errors and no conflicts. This particular book Study is part of a detailed analysis of the entire New Testament which shows this truth.

Other than cults, all claims of errors and conflicts are based upon the New Testament. This Study is part of a series which interprets the preserved word of God using God's way and proving that there are no errors, nor any conflicts, if we obey God and use His way to interpret His word. And, this series concentrates on the New Testament, since that is the basis of these lies about the perfect word of God.

I have read, or at least skimmed, every book which has been written in the last hundred and fifty (150) years and which claims to teach people how to study and understand the word of God. In every case, they use a method which comes from man and do not use God's way (Isaiah 55:8) to study and understand the word of God. And, while there are variations from one man-written method to another man-written method, every one of them ends up with problems. The end result of those problems is that people blame God's perfect word for their own problems and either turn to a man-written 'bible' or skip verses. (By skipping the interpretation of certain verses, they can hide the conflict which their method has produced.)

Now, many people find that the Detail Studies to be overwhelming because they have everything required to prove that there are NO errors in the perfect word of God. This summary level is easier to understand for most people. At the same time, if someone has an argument with what is presented here, the matching Detail Study provides all of the proof required in order to show that what is here matches exactly what God wrote in His word. Again, this is not a matter of my opinion versus their opinion. I have over thirty (30) years’ experience as a professional Systems Analyst with an international reputation for accuracy in how to prove things. And, this series of books are the result of using recognized methods of analysis to prove what God actually wrote. This series does not present a religious opinion. Therefore, a religious opinion, which was arrived at from using wrong methods, is not superior to a true analysis of what God wrote.

People have looked for over twenty (20) years and failed to find any other work that covers everything this series cover. In addition, no one has found any other work which covers the level of detail found in the Detail Studies. Further, the Detail Studies literally have several million Bible references to support the interpretation provided and to show that the perfect word of God is consistent all across it for word definitions and doctrines. Again, no one has found any other work which has this quantity of Bible references supporting what is presented. I do not write this to brag but to inform the reader the depth of study which supports what is presented in this series.

Let any who disagree show their method and the results of their method and try to explain how their method, which produces errors, is greater that God's way which produces no errors and no conflicts.

Overview of 1John

Epistle theme: Jesus Christ is the Son of God

Click on the following links to jump to a chapter within this study: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, God, Word Studies.

Many people have written all kinds of commentaries on this epistle. You can find many disagreements between these commentaries. The commentaries that teach doctrinal error ignore the context as they try to justify their doctrine. Such action is motivated by devils and the resulting doctrinal error can bring the judgment of God upon His people instead of the blessings that God wants to give. 1John 4:1 tells us Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.. The commentaries which do base their comments upon what is actually written, with consideration of context and proper methods of interpretation, will agree on doctrine even while presenting different views of that doctrine.

Son / Son of God is used more than any other identifier for the Son of God in this epistle (18 times). Jesus Christ is used 10 times. Jesus is used twice and no other identifier is used. Also, we are called the sons of God twice because John is telling the saved that if they are truly saved then their lives will show the Spirit / character of Jesus Christ. Those statistics are only part of the reason why I write that the theme of this epistle is: 'Jesus Christ is the Son of God'.

1John can cause a lot of controversy but a lot of that can be cleared up if the reader realizes that in this epistle John is telling us about the relationship that a son has with God. Just as the Gospel of John is considerably different from the other gospels, so also are the epistles from John different from other epistles. In his gospel, John presented Jesus as the Son of God and we have a more spiritual view of the life of Jesus than we see in the other gospels. Likewise, we need to look at John's epistles from a more spiritual point of view and realize that it can only be properly understood from a spiritual perspective.

If we use the perspective, we get everything wrong, even if we are saved. For example, how many saved people look at the Book of Revelation as a book about future events? Yet, as pointed out in the study of Revelation, John clearly tells us in the first words that Revelation is about the person of Jesus Christ. After Jesus Christ is revealed to John the way He is, John concludes his Revelation that the Son of God is Lord Jesus Christ (emphasis upon Lord). Most people have a hard time with that book because they are looking at it as a book that tells future events when the emphasis of the book is really an account about the person who will do those events. In a same manner, many make mistakes when reading this epistle because people insist upon taking the wrong perspective.

In the first 4 verses, of this epistle, John tells us what the epistle is about. He tells us that he's taking an eternal view, not a practical earthly view, when he says That which was from the beginning. He also tells us That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. The fellowship with God the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ is spiritual in nature. That's why I pointed out that this book is written from a spiritual point of view and can not be properly interpreted unless it is interpreted from a spiritual point of view.

In the second sentence of this epistle, John adds, And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. Joy is often confused with happiness. As one preacher said, happiness is based upon happenings which are things of this world and of the flesh. However, we often find the Bible telling us to have joy while experiencing 'bad happenings'. Biblical joy is spiritual in nature. If we are going to have joy in our fellowship with a spiritual God, we have to see things from the spiritual point of view.

Our epistle tells us about God being the light. This is used symbolically and is contrasted to sin and things of the devil, which are symbolically called darkness in this epistle.

The word if is used by John 21 times in this epistle. And, the word if has a very exact meaning in abstract logic. In addition, most people have difficulty understanding the technical parts of abstract logic. Therefore, most people will find it easier to understand this epistle if they think of the word if as if it were the word 'since'. The word if is technically correct, but the technical explanation is something that most people will have a hard time understanding. Therefore, for this epistle only, I am skipping that explanation, which will cause a lot of confusion, and ask people to accept my explanations which treat the word if as if it were the word 'since'. If anyone has any objection to this, please use the email address at the bottom of all web pages and let me know. I will be happy to respond with the full technical explanation of the abstract logic which was truly involved.

The phrase of God occurs 31 times in this epistle. (The word of means: 'belongs to'). If the reader uses the link at the start of this Study, they can access the table which lists all of those things and provides links to where this epistle speaks about those things. In most cases, the things which this epistle tell us are of God are related to His character. Therefore, those references are ways to find specific verses which are related to what I wrote as the theme of this epistle.

In addition to the word of meaning 'belongs to', we also learn that what 'belongs to God' also 'came from God, reports back to God, and is controlled by God'. A lot of people 'claim' the blessings that are based upon being of God but are not 'controlled by' God and do not receive the blessings that they 'claim'.

For example, John tells us about several things that are of God and how we can have them if we have the type of fellowship with God which is now available but which was not available before the resurrection. The most popular non-prepositional word in 1John that I have found is God. The second most popular non-prepositional word is love and we know that God is love (1John 4:8; 1John 4:16). The third most popular non-prepositional word is know. If we truly love God and have His love, then we will know Him and He will know us.

Biblical knowledge is based upon having God work in our lives in a way that even the lost world can see. Genesis 4:1 and Genesis 4:25 tell us And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived When God puts His life in us and it is manifested (like the son of Eve was manifested) and the result is something that others can see. That is how we can (Biblically) say that we know that God worked in our life. However, the main thing that prevents God from working in our life this way is sin, which is our next most popular word in 1John. John wrote this epistle so that we can understand about sin, and get it out of our lives, so that it does not interfere with our fellowship with God and His true saints. When we have true Biblical fellowship with God and His true saints, we can know the things of God because His life is manifested in our life.

The Old Testament Jewish religion was all about works, at least on the surface. The Jews were required to make certain sacrifices, observe holy days, keep a certain diet and other things. When God promised blessings, they were physical and worldly blessings. When God promised punishment, the punishment also was physical and worldly. Yet, within this framework we find that David was a man after (God's ) own heart (1Samuel 13:14) while he was a murderer, adulterer and did many other sins. Therefore, even in the Old Testament we see God providing special blessings to those that He had a personal relationship with. Look at Abraham, Moses, the prophets and others that are heroes of the Old Testament and you will see that God consistently provided special blessings to those who maintained a personal relationship with Him.

Moving on, we find that the Old Testament prophets had much to say about righteousness. We also find that those who had righteousness received it through their personal relationship with God. Further, those people who received the greatest rewards from God (like Abraham) didn't receive those rewards for the religious actions that they did but because of the personal relationship that they had with God (Matthew 8:11-12, Romans 4, Hebrews 2:16; 11:17-19, etc.).

In the New Testament, God gave us a better covenant (Hebrews 6:9-10, 7:19-22, 8:6-13, etc. ) than what people had under the Old Testament. This covenant was based upon God put(ting) my laws into their mind, and writ(ing) them in their hearts (Hebrews 8:10). In the Old Testament, they did not have the indwelling Holy Spirit. While the Old Testament religion emphasized obedience in this world based upon religious law, the New Testament emphasizes attitudes of the heart and obedience in this world based upon an indwelling Holy Spirit. Actions are important, in the New Testament religion, but only because they reveal the condition of our hearts (beatitudes, Matthew 12:34, etc.). It is this relationship with the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the evidences of that relationship within this world, that 1John deals with.

With those things pointed out, it is hoped that the reader understands that the most important doctrine of this epistle is the character that God the Father and God the Son share. This character is what God wants all of His children to receive.

In the first chapter, John declares that God's basic nature is light and that we can have fellowship with God and His saints if we walk in the light as he is in the light. John goes on to explain If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie. After this, John explains some simple tests to find our if we truly have fellowship with God.
In the second chapter, we are told that John wrote with the authority of God and we are warned that there are liars who claim to represent God but who are actually antichrists. John also says that if we live our profession we will know the difference between the spirits of those who are in the light verses antichrists and that we are to trust the unction from the Holy One to show us which leaders to follow.
Then in the third chapter, John tells us that God changed the legal standing of the saved when He made us sons of God and that we can tell true sons of God from false because the true purifieth himself, even as he is pure and loves in deed and in truth, not in word, neither in tongue because the true sons of God have spirits which have been changed by God and God's changes enable them to purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Next, in the fourth chapter, John tells us to try the spirits whether they are of God and Hereby know we the spirits of Truth, and the spirits of error. The third chapter told us how to tell the difference between saved and lost people based upon the spirit that is manifested in their lives. The fourth chapter of 1John tells us how to tell the difference between spirits which try to get us to do things. John says that the main manifestation between the spirits of God and other spirits is love because God is love. Therefore, the saved should love one another and his (God's ) love is perfected in us.
In his final chapter, John tells us that the saved have the witness of God in their life and they stop their sinning. Liars claim otherwise and deny that Jesus Christ lived in the flesh, without sin, by the power of the Holy Spirit. John concludes (other than some 'wrap-up' comments) with, These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. In the Bible, believe is the basis of action. We trust God's Spirit and power to work through our lives and we do the things that will give God permission to act according to His Spirit through our lives. John teaches that people who claim to believe but don't have a matching lifestyle are liars.

With these chapter summaries in mind, we can summarize the entire epistle with the message that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. After we receive him, God gives us the power to become the sons of God (John 1:12). That is: God gives us the power to change and become like the Son of God. This epistle gives us the details on how to do that. Simply put, our spirit must display God's Holy Spirit and that only happens by maintaining a life of fellowship with God's Son whereby He cleanses us from all sin.

As a person obeys God's Son, he purifieth himself, even as he (the Son of God) is pure (3:3). That changed character shows that someone is a true son of God. As John says in Chapter 5, the saved have the witness of God in their life and they stop their sinning. Our changed life, which is witness of having God's life in us, makes it so that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. Thus, we see that John starts by telling us how to examine our own life to see if we have fellowship with him (God). He then tells us several different ways of telling the difference between the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. John finishes by telling us that that if we pass all of these tests then we can know that ye have eternal life. However, if we fail these tests, then we have followed a spirit of error and need to correct that. Simply put, Jesus Christ is the Son of God and our example on how to live like sons of God. Those people who live by His example can be sure of their salvation and those people who refuse to live by His example have followed a spirit of error and are probably lost.

Another way to sum up John's message is by simply saying that: people who allow God's Spirit to cause them to stop their sinning, to love like God loves, and to walk in the light as he is in the light are true sons of God. All others are liars. The true sons of God know that we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Please see the Doctrinal Studies called: False things according to the Bible; Fear of the Lord; Personal Application of God's Word; Relational Prepositions Study; Significant Gospel Events and Significant New Testament Events. These Studies all reference 1John is an important way. Also, the doctrines in them should be studied in order to completely understand the doctrine of this epistle and how it matches the doctrines found elsewhere in the word of God.

Please also see the Message called: Born of God. This phrase is used in this epistle five (5) times and the exact phrase is used only in this epistle. In addition, please also see the Messages called: Go Ye; Sin Unto Death and Two Reasons Why Jesus Came.

Another way to look at this epistle is according to the perspective of each chapter.

In the First Chapter, John is talking about things in this physical world.
In the Second Chapter, John is talking about the spiritual influence upon our lifestyle in this physical world. We are either following the Spirit of Christ or we are following the spirit of an antichrist. So the perspective of this chapter is about this physical world and how it is influenced by the spiritual. Notice that this chapter ends with If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. this sentence is conditional (If) and those people who are following the Spirit of Christ have this personal, experiential knowledge while those people who are following the spirit of an antichrist do not have it.
In the third Chapter, John is talking about the children of God, the children of the devil, the manifestation of each and the consequences of being each. This is the chapter which says that the children of God cannot sin and the context of that statement is the legal decision of God's court system. However, this is also the chapter which says that the children of God are manifest by living in God's love and the children of the devil are manifest by a life of hate. So, the perspective of this chapter is the spiritual reality and that the physical is considered only in how it reveals the spiritual. Please notice the progression from a physical perspective to the spiritual.
In the Fourth Chapter, John is talking about the differences between God's Spirit and devils. God's Spirit does not force us but does command us to love our brother. The spirit of devils deny any influence on the physical world by spirits. (They deny that Jesus Christ .) thus, we see the perspective turning back on this physical world. However, where the First Chapter looked at the physical world from the physical perspective, this Fourth Chapter looks at the physical world from the spiritual perspective.
In the Fifth Chapter John is talking about how God's Spirit changes the life of true believers. Thus, the perspective is our personal innermost life as it is influenced by the spiritual.

Hopefully, the reader can see the change in perspective and how the perspective progresses through this epistle. This change in perspective is critical to being able to answer the claims of a conflict over sin between the First Chapter and the third Chapter. Understanding the perspective in each chapter is also important to understanding what John is trying to share.

The key to understanding 1John is knowing that our attitudes are a critical emphasis in the New Testament. Many of the 'difficult passages' in 1John become clearer if you consider John's subject to be the condition of our heart (attitudes) as it reveals our true underlying spiritual condition. Add to that the realization John teaches that our lifestyle actions show the true condition of the heart. Fora more detailed example, please see the part on Sin in 1John (below).

Word Counts 1John:

'Book Counts': HIM (53), GOD (44), HAVE (37), LOVE (33), US (29), YOU (29), KNOW (27), BECAUSE (25), WORLD (22), IF (21), this (20), HATH (17), LIFE (15), FROM (14), SIN (14), FATHER (13), ONE (13), OUR (13), SON (12), BROTHER (11), CHILDREN (11), NO (11), SPIRIT (11), JESUS (10), TRUTH (10), WHICH (10), YE (10), ALSO (9), BEGINNING (9), EVEN (9), HEARD (9), LITTLE (9), LOVETH (9), WHOSOEVER (9), ABIDETH (8), ALL (8), HEREBY (8), MAN (8), SEEN (8), thINGS (8), BORN (7), Christ (7), COMMANDMENT (7), EVERY (7), MAY (7), ANOTHER (6), ANY (6), AS (6), DEATH (6), thERE (6).
'Chapter 1': HAVE (12), US (7), WHICH (7), IF (5), OUR (5), FELLOWSHIP (4), HIM (4).
'Chapter 2': YE (22), YOU (21), HAVE (18), HIM (16), BECAUSE (10), KNOW (10), FATHER (8).
'Chapter 3': HIM (17), GOD (11), US (9), LOVE (7), BECAUSE (6), HATH (6), KNOW (6).
'Chapter 4': GOD (29), LOVE (19), US (12), WORLD (9), SPIRIT (8), BECAUSE (7), HATH (6).
'Chapter 5': GOD (20), SON (11), HIM (10), HATH (9), this (9), KNOW (8), LIFE (7).

Word Studies in 1John:

Know : 38 times in 31 verses - 2:3, 4, 5, 11, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21, 29; 3:1, 3:2, 5, 6, 14, 15, 19, 20, 24; 4:2, 6, 7, 8, 13, 16; 5:2, 13, 15, 18, 19, 20.

Love : 33 times in 23 verses - 2:5, 15; 3:1, 11, 14, 16, 17, 18, 23; 4:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21; 5:2 3

Manifest / Seen / Heard : 27 times - 1:1, 2, 3, 5; 2:7, 18, 19, 24; 3 :2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11; 4 :3, 9, 12, 14, 20; 5:14, 15, 16.
Sin(s) : is used 16 times in 9 verses within 1John. Those translate to 13 sentences which are: 1:7, 8, 9; 2:1, 2, 12; 3:4, 5, 8, 9; 4:10; 5:16, 17.

World : 17 times - 2:2, 15, 16, 17; 3:1, 13, 17; 4:1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 14, 17; 5:4, 5, 19.

Life : 12 times - 1:1, 2; 2:16, 25, 3:14, 15, 16; 5:11, 12, 13, 16, 20.

Light and Darkness : 7 times - 1:5, 6, 7; 2:8, 2:9, 10, 11.

little children

John is writing to spiritual children who have trouble understanding spiritual truths

Word : 7 times - 1:1, 10; 2:5, 7, 14; 3:18; 5:7.

Summary of Chapter 1

The chapter theme 'Fellowship with God.'

In the first chapter John declares that God's basic nature is light and that we can have fellowship with God and His saints if we walk in the light as he is in the light. John goes on to explain that, If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie. After this John explains some simple tests to know if we truly have fellowship with God.

The summary of each sentence within this chapter is:

C1-S1 the Basis of authority which gives John the right to speak. John is a personal eyewitness of God in human flesh (God the Father's Son Jesus Christ).
1. The phrase That which was from the beginning means: 'John is speaking about eternal life which already existed before the creation of this physical reality'.
2. The phrase which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled means: 'John, and the other apostles, were personal eyewitnesses of God in human flesh. Our phrase names human senses which John used to verify that God in human flesh was physically in this physical reality'.
3. The phrase of the Word of life means: 'This is a nameans role of a person because it is capitalized.'. And, the Bible only capitalizes roles which belong to God. When the same role, such as lord, is fulfilled by a man then the Bible always uses lowercase.
4. The phrase (For the life was manifested means: 'The eternal life, which John started this sentence with, was revealed (manifested) in every way possible'. The section included in the parenthesis was added by the translators in order to convey the same message from the original language into English. Proper interpretation is not word-for-word and is not verse-for-verse and is not sentence-for-sentence but is message-for-message. Thus, the extra phrase is required in order to deliver the same message in English as was delivered in the original language.
5. The phrase and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life means: 'John, and others, used their physical senses to verify that God in human flesh was truly in this physical reality'.
6. The phrase which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us means: 'The eternal life / Jesus was with the Father, in Heaven, and then He became part of this physical reality (manifested unto us) in human form'.
7. The phrase That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you means: 'This is an eyewitness account. It is not some made-up story'.
8. The phrase that ye also may have fellowship with us means: 'tells us why John is writing this epistle'. You can not have fellowship with someone who is not a true human being like you. Yes, you can care and even love a pet but that is not true fellowship.
9. The phrase and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ means: 'We can have fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ because his Son Jesus Christ was / is a literal physical human being, as John explained in this sentence, and, as a literal physical human being, the Son of God showed us the character of God'. Because of that revelation, we can have fellowship with the Father.
C1-S2 Fellowship with the Father and with Jesus brings full joy.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase these things write we unto you references the prior sentence and the rest of this epistle.
3. The phrase that your joy may be full gives us the reason why John is writing this epistle. While happiness is based upon things which happen in the physical reality, true joy is based upon spiritual results.
C1-S3 the main subject of this chapter.
1. The phrase This then means: 'What follows is a result of the prior two sentences'. Our next phrase tells us that the message is about God's Son Jesus Christ and no one can deliver such a message unless they have fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ, as our first sentence said, and unless they are concentrating on receiving joy, as our second sentence said.
2. The phrase is the message which we have heard of him means: 'What John is writing in this epistle came from God and is about God's Son Jesus Christ'. John is not writing popular religious doctrine, which concentrates on this physical reality. This epistle is spiritual in nature and explains how Jesus Christ is the Son of God and shows us God's character.
3. The phrase and declare unto you means: 'John didn't just receive the message and use it for himself but, as a true servant of God, he is passing it on'. This is what God expects all of His servants to do when they receive a message from God.
4. The phrase that God is light means: 'This is the main characteristic of God that John is supposed to pass on in this epistle'. Obviously, God has other characteristics, but John is not writing about those other characteristics at this time. In the word of God, and especially in this epistle, light is used, symbolically for 'true spiritual understanding'. This is in opposition to the symbolic meaning of darkness, which is in our next phrase.
5. The phrase and in him is no darkness at all is given with the word darkness, used symbolically, to mean: 'spiritual error and misunderstanding'. Darkness is what comes from false prophets (1John 4:1) who preach doctrines of devils (1Timothy 4:1).
C1-S4 Walk your talk.
1. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and none who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
2. The phrase If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness tells us the condition that makes the next phrase true. Basically, John is writing that our everyday life (walk) must match our claims or we are a liar and serving a devil.
3. The phrase we lie, and do not the truth tells us how God judges our life if the prior phrase is true.
4. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
5. The phrase But if we walk in the light means: 'This is the opposite of walking in darkness. Anyone who fulfills this phrase is doing their part to maintain their ongoing relationship with God so that He can direct their life with His light'.
6. The phrase as he is in the light means: 'Our life must display the character of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ'.
7. The phrase we have fellowship one with another means: 'We will have true fellowship with God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ'. The word fellowship can be described as: 'Two fellows in one ship working together to achieve the same goal'. If we are not working with God to do the 'Great Commission' then we are not truly in fellowship with God.
8. The phrase and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin means: 'This is the advantage of our being in true fellowship with God'. Any saved people who do not meet this condition will have their sin revealed at the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10; 2Corinthians 5:10).
C1-S5 We still sin after getting saved.
1. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and none who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
2. The phrase we say that we have no sin is the condition which must be fulfilled in order to have the results of this sentence. Please notice that we only have to say this. And, the reality is that many people say this because they are using their own definition for sin and not the definition found in the word of God (Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law [1John 3:4 ]).
3. The phrase we deceive ourselves means we can not blame anyone else. When we deceive ourselves, it is almost impossible for someone else to convince us of the truth. And, those people who refuse correction will end up suffering the consequences of being a fool. One of the biggest ways that saved people deceive themselves is to believe that salvation prevents them from doing that. Remember that this epistle is written to saved people. Therefore, this sentence and chapter are to be applied to the saved.
4. The phrase and the truth is not in us means: 'Since Jesus is the Truth, this phrase tells us that we have walked away from our ongoing personal relationship with Jesus'.
C1-S6 True confession will cause us to 'Stop our Sinning'. Please realize that the judgment seat of Christ is a different legal system than the great white throne and the rules of judgment are different. The judgment seat of Christ is for children of God ('family court') while the great white throne is for sinners ('lost people'). In the great white throne legal system, people must call upon the name of the Lord ('accept Jesus as their personal Lord'). In the judgment seat of Christ legal system, the saved must confess our sins and let Jesus cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Any unrighteousness that saved hold onto is not forgiven and it will be brought up at the judgment seat of Christ.
1. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and none who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
2. The phrase we confess our sins means: 'we must do what the Bible truly means by ye word confess'. We must identify the actual sin, and all of the consequences of the sin, and personally claim responsibility for all of it. We know, and will know for all eternity, king David's sin with Bathsheba. While king David confessed that part of his sin, he did not confess the murder of Uriah. Likewise, sins which the saved fail to truly confess will be brought up at the judgment seat of Christ and all of Heaven will know about them for eternity.
3. The phrase he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins means: 'we can be sure that our Lord Jesus Christ will completely blot out the legal record of our sin, if we fulfill all of God's requirements, including the next phrase'.
4. The word and means that the next phrase is added to the prior phrase. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
5. The phrase to cleanse us from all unrighteousness means: 'Get all unrighteousness out of our life'. If we wash a garment but it still has a stain, then it is not truly clean. Likewise, as long as we still have the stain of sin in our life, Jesus has not truly cleansed us from our sin. He must completely remove the sin and unrighteousness from our life in order to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
C1-S7 Claiming that we do not sin is doing the work of the Devil.
1. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and none who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result. This sentence in one that most saved people reject.
2. The phrase we say that we have not sinned is, again, speaking about what people say. There are many reasons why people might make this claim, but our sentence and phrase does not consider any of them. If you make this claim, regardless of the reason why, you cause the next two phrases to be true.
3. The phrase we make him a liar means: 'You are claiming that Jesus is a Son of Satan and not the Son of God'. It is very important for the reader to consider the context of this sentence and phrase. In particular, this epistle is contrasting the character of God to the character of Satan and the Biblical definition of son is: 'a son receives the character of his father'. And, an earlier note showed that we must consider all of the consequences of our actions. This phrase, and note, explain one of the consequences of an action that most saved people think is not very important.
4. The phrase and his word is not in us means: 'We are not listening to, and obeying, the word of God'.

Summary of Chapter 2

The chapter theme is 'Beware of spiritual liars like antichrists'.

In the second chapter, we are told that John wrote with the authority of God and we are warned that there are liars who claim to represent God but who are actually antichrists. In addition, John writes that, if we live our profession, then we will know the difference between the Spirit of those who are in the light versus antichrists, Further, we are to trust the unction from the Holy One ('personal guidance from the Holy Spirit') to show us which leaders to follow.

This chapter has a lot of details which tell us that how the way that we live proves if we truly follow the example of Jesus Christ or if the way that we live proves that we are a liar and are truly following the example of Satan. Satan tells people to gloss over the details of what the Bible says and just assume that 'God will understand'. in this chapter, John makes it clear that God truly does understand and God always applies His never-changing law of 'Sowing and Reaping'. That is, we will reap results which are exactly matched with the details of how we live.

The summary of each sentence within this chapter is:

C2-S1 What John hopes to accomplish with this epistle.
1. The phrase My little children means: 'John is writing to spiritual children as a spiritual adult'. John was the last living Apostle and he understood spiritual things in a way that no other human being understood them. Anyone who claims to have the same level, or greater, of spiritual knowledge and authority as John had is deceived and is a liar. Only God had greater knowledge and authority.
2. The phrase these things write I unto you means: 'John put these things into writing so that they would be preserved and so that we could verify what John wrote'. Many people make many claims about things like wisdom but unless they put what they claim into writing, we can not verify their claims. God put the word of God into writing so that we could verify religious claims against it and so that we could verify claims that a given writing is truly from God (1Corinthians 2:12-14).
3. The phrase that ye sin not means: 'This is the true result that God wants from all of His children'. As our chapter warns, there are many religious liars who teach doctrinal errors (1John 4:1) and doctrines of devils (1Timothy 4:1). God put the word of God into writing so that we could verify religious claims ageist a never changing, God preserved word of God. And, when we truly study and obey the true word of God, God will enable us to 'stop our sinning'.
C2-S2 Jesus Christ is our advocate (legal representative) with the Father.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and none who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
3. The phrase if any man sin is the condition which must be fulfilled in order for this sentence to apply to a person's life. However, since we all keep on sinning, this sentence is applicable to all of us all of the time.
4. The phrase we have an advocate with the Father means: 'We have a legal representative with God the Father. He represents us before the judge of everyone because sin is a violation of God's law (1John 3:4)'.
5. The phrase Jesus Christ the righteous is only the advocate for the truly saved. Other people have no true advocate because God the Father does not allow any other being to have that position -- not Mary, not angels, not saints, nor any other being claimed by religious liars. And, John tells us that Jesus Christ is the righteous. (The word the means: 'there is only one and here it is'.) Only Jesus Christ is the righteous. Therefore, He is the only being allowed to be an advocate before a righteous God.
6. The phrase And he is the propitiation for our sins means: 'Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin'. No other being did, nor could, pay that penalty.
7. The phrase and not for ours only means: 'This payment was not limited to the saved'.
8. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
9. The phrase but also for the sins of the whole world means: 'Jesus Christ paid the penalty for the sins of the whole world'. This truth is the basis of doctrinal error taught by ministers of Satan who hide part of the truth and teach a half-truth lie. Now, consider reality. If the payment being made was sufficient alone, then no one would go to Hell because Jesus Christ paid the penalty for the sins of the whole world. No one could go to Hell unless getting that payment applied to the legal record was a separate legal transaction.
  
  Any time that we deal with government, a payment must be made first. Then the government does what the payment covered as a separate legal transaction. For example, if someone wants some type of license, they must pay the fee first then the legal record that they have been given the license is done in a separate transaction. Now, being judged for a violation of the law is dealing with the government. The penalty for violating the law must be paid before the record is marked as paid. The government will then check their record for any other violation before releasing the person.
  
  So, coming back to legal transactions in the judgment courts of God, we see that when a lost person accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Lord, the payment is applied to sins that are past (Romans 3:25). As explained in the prior chapter, saved people still sin after they become a child of God. Their sins are judged in a different court of God but those sins must still be dealt with. And, as our prior chapter explained, they must confess the sin and let Jesus Christ cleanse them from all unrighteousness or they will have to answer for the sin at the judgment seat of Christ.
  
  This truth is what ministers of Satan deny when they claim that all sins were paid for and, therefore, someone, who claims to be saved, can lead a life of sin with no consequences. They deny that the payment and the updating of the legal record are two separate legal transactions.
C2-S3 Here is our proof of maintaining our personal relationship.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The word hereby means 'we can have the result specified if we go the way (by) which is specified'.
3. The phrase we do know that we know him means 'We can know that we are saved (have assurance of salvation) if we go the way (by) which is specified in the next phrase'.
4. The phrase if we keep his commandments means: 'This is what is required in order for us to have assurance of salvation'. A lot of religions deny eternal security of salvation. Every one of them claim that our salvation is dependent upon our doing something ('works salvation'). And, since hum and mess up, they claim that certain ways to mess up can cause us to lose our salvation. Then, we have 'good Godly fundamental KJV-1611 only Baptists' who claim eternal security of salvation. However, many of those people, especially in America, have a 'dirty little secret'. They have many people who admit: 'I did what the preacher said to do but I keep doubting my eternal security of salvation'. And, the popular solution from preachers of those people is to beat on the pulpit and scream: 'I know, that I know, that I know, that I know, that I know, that I know, that I know, that I know that I'm saved'. And, they preach that if someone screams this claim enough times then God has no choice but to give them the assurance that they need. However, that is also a religious lie. Our sentence plainly says that 'We can know that we are saved (have assurance of salvation)' if we keep his commandments. Therefore, we are commanded to not believe the religious lies which claim that we can lose our salvation. We are not to believe the doctrinal error which claims that we need to do their religious activity but we must obey if we want true assurance of eternal salvation.
C2-S4 What God calls the disobedient child of God.
1. The phrases: He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments tells us the conditions which are required in order to make the rest of this sentence true. Please pay attention to the word and which means 'both of these conditions must be true'. The word saith means: 'This is a lifestyle claim and not something said lightly or only said once'. Thus, our phrases make the condition to be: 'This person keeps on claiming to be a Christian while they keep on refusing to obey the commandments of Jesus Christ'.
2. The phrases: is a liar, and the truth is not in him tells us the result of the prior phrases. The phrase is a liar means: 'This person is a child of Satan since Jesus said: Ye are of your father the devil...for he is a liar, and the father of it in John 8:44 '.The phrase the truth is not in him means: 'He probably is not saved and if he is saved then he has left his ongoing personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Such a person is carnal'.
C2-S5 How to know that we are In Christ.
1. The word But means that this sentence is continuing the subject of the prior sentence while changing direction. Where the prior sentence told us the evidence which shows that someone is lost or carnal, this sentence gives us the evidence that someone is truly saved and serving.
2. The phrase whoso keepeth his word means: 'This person obeys the word of God as their lifestyle '.
3. The phrase in him verily is the love of God perfected means: 'The love of God causes this person to spiritually mature and change their character to be like God'.
4. The phrase hereby know we that we are in him means: 'This changed character gives us the assurance of salvation'.
C2-S6 Jesus is our example of how to live in this flesh.
1. The phrase He that saith he abideth in him is speaking about what people claim about their relationship after they become a child of God. The word abideth means: 'This is an ongoing (lifestyle ) staying in a proper relationship with Jesus Christ'. Please see the Doctrinal Study called: What Did Jesus Do? for more on this doctrine and for other Bible references to the same doctrine.
2. The phrase ought himself also so to walk means: 'Support the claims of your mouth with the details of how you live in your everyday life'.
3. The phrase even as he walked with the word even meaning: 'having equal weight. When the two sides of a balancing scale hold items of equal weight, the two sides are even'. It is just as important for us to walk God's way, and be an example to others, as it was for Jesus to walk God's way, and be an example to us.
C2-S7 John is not writing anything that they have not heard before.
1. The word Brethren in the Bible is used for 'saved and serving people'. This word excludes the lost people and the saved, but carnal, people.
2. The phrase I write no new commandment unto you means: 'John is not telling them to do something new'. People who preach doctrinal error want people to accept some new doctrine. They also often match is with 'a new way to worship' such as having drums leading singing and having things like 'A Praise and Worship Team' controlling the service.
3. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
4. The phrase but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning means: 'What John is commanding them to do is something that they have heard, as a commandment, for as long as they have been saved'.
C2-S8 The old commandment has never changed.
1. The phrase The old commandment is making a distinction from a new commandment. This is a reverence the precepts which never change.
2. The phrase is the word which ye have heard from the beginning defines The old commandment.
C2-S9 A new commandment.
1. The phrase Again, a new commandment I write unto you means: 'John has told them this commandment before. This is a reference to the many applications of the word of God'. We are to obey the precepts, which never change, and the applications which Godly pastors tell us and which also meet the rest of the requirements in this sentence.
2. The phrase which thing is true in him and in you means: 'The true applications of the word of God tell us to be like Jesus Christ'. If what is preached is not true in Jesus Christ, then it is doctrinal error and we should not obey it. However, if what is preached is true in Jesus Christ then it is doctrine which we should obey and make it part of our character.
3. The phrase because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth tells us why we should do this. We are not supposed to follow the darkness of religion but are to follow the true light which now shineth through our God-given leaders and makes us more like Jesus Christ.
C2-S10 How to identify a person who is self-deluded.
1. The phrase He that saith he is in the light is the first, of two requirements, to make the third phrase true.
2. The phrase and hateth his brother is the second, of two requirements, to make the third phrase true. Basically, these two phrases are in opposition and can never coexist.
3. The phrase is in darkness even until now means: 'The people who fulfill the first two phrases, of this sentence, have been deceived and believe a doctrine of a devil'.
C2-S11 How to tell if we abideth in the light.
1. The phrase He that loveth his brother abideth in the light means: 'This is a never ending lifestyle of love.'. Such love is only possible with God's help.
2. The phrase and there is none occasion of stumbling in him means: 'This type of love does not get messed up by religious doctrine which allows hate'.
C2-S12 Hate shows that we walketh in darkness.
1. The word But means that this sentence is continuing the subject of the prior sentence while changing direction. Both tell us about emotion motivated action. The prior sentence told us about true love while this sentence tells us about lifestyle hate.
2. The phrase he that hateth his brother is in darkness means: 'This is a lifestyle hate and not just a momentary anger'. And as already pointed out, the word darkness is used symbolically to mean: 'spiritual error and misunderstanding'. Darkness is what comes from false prophets (1John 4:1) who preach doctrines of devils (1Timothy 4:1).
3. The phrase and walketh in darkness means: 'This person is following doctrinal error and doctrines of devils'. In addition. this walking is a lifestyle walking, which means it affects all of the little repeated things of life.
4. The phrase and knoweth not whither he goeth means: 'This person can not determine the eventual spiritual result of their life because that knowledge only comes from God's Holy Ghost, and this person refuses to listen to Him'. If they were truly listening to God's Holy Ghost, then they would react with God's love and trust God to take care of the problem which caused the hate.
5. The phrase because that darkness hath blinded his eyes means: 'When we choose to live with hate then we can not see (hath blinded his eyes) the eternal consequences of our attitude and actions'.
C2-S13 First reason why John is writing.
1. The phrase I write unto you means: 'John put this message into writing so that it wouldn't be lost nor perverted'.
2. The phrase little children means: 'This message is written to spiritually immature people who, also, may not have understood the spiritual message, of this epistle, unless they read this epistle'.
3. The phrase because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake means: 'Here's why'. God forgave our sins because Jesus Christ paid the debt and He can change His children if they are not spending their time paying for ongoing sin (for his name's sake). Also, the changed lives of true Christians bring glory to the name of Jesus Christ. While this sentence uses the present tense word write, a couple sentences further on uses the past tense phrase have written. It should be obvious that the two sentences need to be considered together.
C2-S14 Second reason why John is writing.
1. The phrase I write unto you, fathers means: 'John is addressing this second reason to spiritually mature people who are also leaders in the church'. With a different audience identified, the reason also changes.
2. The phrase because ye have known him that is from the beginning means: 'In order for someone to be a spiritual father, in the church, they need to know Jesus Christ in a way that only comes from a long-term personal relationship with Him'. While this sentence uses the present tense word write, a couple of sentences further on uses the past tense phrase have written. It should be obvious that the two sentences need to be considered together.
C2-S15 third reason why John is writing.
1. The phrase I write unto you, young men means: 'John is addressing this third reason to people who have spiritually matured to the point of working in the ministry but are not yet church leaders'. Please pay attention to the fact that John is addressing groups of people based upon their spiritual maturity and not their physical maturity. In addition, John uses the phrase young men for their level of spiritual maturity and not based upon sex. Unless a distinction is made between male and female within the context, the Bible uses the male pronouns to address both male and female.
2. The phrase because ye have overcome the wicked one means: 'These people have personally (ye) won spiritual victories in the spiritual war. This is a major distinction between a spiritual child and a spiritual young man'. While this sentence uses the present tense word write, a couple of sentences further on uses the past tense phrase have written. It should be obvious that the two sentences need to be considered together.
C2-S16 Fourth reason why John is writing.
1. The phrase I write unto you, little children means that this sentence is added to the second prior sentence which also was written to little children. In addition to the fact that because your sins are forgiven you for his (Jesus Christ) name's sake, John is writing our next phrase. Thus, the truly saved know Jesus Christ and God the Father.
2. The phrase because ye have known the Father means: 'People get saved because they learn the true character of God the Father and trust His promise of salvation'. Most people, when they first get saved, only think about God saving them and they don't really understand the doctrinal difference of Jesus Christ. That is why John wrote this sentence as he did. While this sentence uses the present tense word write, a couple of sentences further on uses the past tense phrase of have written. It should be obvious that the two sentences need to be considered together.
C2-S17 Fifth reason why John is writing.
1. The phrase I have written unto you, fathers is written in the past tense. It might refer to an earlier letter which we no longer have, or it might refer to the current epistle since the writing occurred in the past of the reading. I personally believe that this refers to an earlier letter which we no longer have. Once more, we see that this sentence is addressed to the fathers, which means: 'John is addressing this reason to spiritually mature people who are also leaders in the church'. With a different audience identified, the reason also changes. That is: this reason is different from the reasons given to children and to young men.
2. The phrase because ye have known him that is from the beginning means: 'These spiritually mature people have has an ongoing personal relationship with God which caused them to mature into spiritual fathers'. As such, they know how God always acts in different circumstances and can assure the spiritually younger church members that God will act in the same way in their lives. While this sentence uses the present tense word write, a couple sentences further on used the past tense phrase have written. It should be obvious that the two sentences need to be considered together.
C2-S18 Sixth reason why John is writing.
1. The phrase I have written unto you, young men is written in the past tense. It might refer to an earlier letter which we no longer have, or it might refer to the current epistle since the writing occurred in the past of the reading. I personally believe that this refers to an earlier letter which we no longer have. Once more, we see that this sentence is addressed to the young men, which means: 'John is addressing this reason to people who have spiritually matured to the point of working in the ministry but are not yet church leaders'. In addition, John uses the phrase young men for their level of spiritual maturity and not based upon sex. Unless a distinction is made between male and female within the context, the Bible uses the male pronouns to address both male and female. With a different audience identified, the reason also changes. That is: this reason is different from the reasons given to children and to fathers.
2. The phrase because ye are strong means: 'These people know how to tap into, and use, the spiritual strength which is only given to Jesus Christ and is only available to us while we maintain our ongoing personal relationship with Him'.
3. The phrase and the word of God abideth in you means: 'The word of God continues to live in them and to guide their lives'.
4. The phrase and ye have overcome the wicked one means: 'They have experienced the spiritual victory which is only possible by letting Jesus Christ to work through their personal life' While this sentence uses the past tense phrase have written, a couple sentences prior on used the present tense word write. It should be obvious that the two sentences need to be considered together.
C2-S19 Precept on love. This is the start of a set of commandments which goes through 2:21 and is what John said that he was writing to them.
1. The reasons why our sentence (Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world) is given is found in the next two sentences. This sentence is so clear that it should not need explanation. The only problem that anyone can truly have with it is a refusal to obey.
C2-S20 Why we were given the prior precept. This is part of a set of commandments which started in 2:15 and goes through 2:21 and is what John said that he was writing to them.
1. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and none who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
2. The phrase any man love the world is the condition which makes the results, in the next phrase, true. People can argue against this truth, but their arguments do not affect the truth.
3. The phrase the love of the Father is not in him means: 'They might be saved but they do not have the love of the Father and can not provide it to others'.
C2-S21 Why God's love is not in anyone who loves this world. This is part of a set of commandments which started in 2:15 and goes through 2:21 and is what John said that he was writing to them.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior two sentences are true.
2. The phrase all that is in the world tells us that the three categories, in the next three phrases, encompasses all that is in the world and there is nothing in the world which does not fit into one of these categories.
3. The phrase the lust of the flesh identifies 'a destructive strong desire which fights against all that God commands us to do'. Since it is from the flesh, it is part of us and is impossible to overcome on our own. We must use the power of God to overcome it.
4. The phrase and the lust of the eyes is 'everything that looks desirable in this world'. This motivation was what Satan used to get Eve to sin.
5. The phrase and the pride of life might be the strongest motivation there is and the hardest to overcome. This motivation comes from our comparing ourselves to other men instead of comparing ourselves, spiritually, to the Son of God.
6. The phrase is not of the Father means: 'These things do not belong to God the Father and He did not give them to us'. All of these are part of the sin nature which we inherited from our parents.
7. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
8. The phrase but is of the world means: 'All of these things are part of this corrupted world'. The word world actually means: 'all of the people in the world as a group'. Please note that the three items mentioned by John all have to do with our sinful nature and are expressed in our character. Many people confuse it with the earth, which is the ground that we live on. And, the world is so corrupt that God will only save someone if they agree to let Him change their basic nature and character.
C2-S22 Different fates for different people based upon what they do. This is part of a set of commandments which started in 2:15 and goes through 2:21 and is what John said that he was writing to them.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase the world passeth away means: 'All of the people in this world, who disagree with God, will eventually be sent to the lake of fire'.
3. The phrase and the lust thereof means: 'All of the desire to disagree with God will, eventually, go away'.
4. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction. This is part of a set of commandments which started in 2:15 and goes through 2:21 and is what John said that he was writing to them.
5. The phrase he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever means: 'The people who do what God wants them to do will live in heaven, with God, for ever'.
C2-S23 We know that it is the last time.
1. The phrase Little children means: 'John is writing this to people who have trouble understanding spiritual truths'.
2. The phrase it is the last time means: 'There will be no other great age in the history of the world'. After the current 'Church age' comes the great tribulation and then the 1,000-years reign of Christ.
3. The phrase and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come means: 'God has given us the truth about antichrist and he is not that person in the Book of Revelation who is called a beast'. The true antichrist deceived people into believing that the beast is the one and only antichrist. And, since saved people will never deal with the beast, saved people can ignore true Biblical warnings about true antichrists. This allows them to spread their lies without God's church standing against their lies.
4. The phrase even now are there many antichrists means: 'There are currently many people who are against the ministry of Christ'. These liars claim that people who claim to be saved can get all of the promises of God without fulfilling God's requirements such are their maturing spiritually and receiving a changed character to match God. Have you ever heard the lie of: 'No tears in heaven'? Have you ever heard the lie of: 'All saved will get a mansion'? Please see the Doctrinal Study called Significant New Testament Events for promises from God and the Bible references where they are found. In every one of those Bible references you will find a requirement from God which must be fulfilled in order to receive that promise.
5. The phrase whereby we know that it is the last time means: 'The fact that even now are there many antichrists proves that it is the last time'. Satan has his ministers making a 'last push' to deceive people before God locks him away and removes his influence from this world.
C2-S24 God separates people according to their doctrine. This is part of a set of commandments which started in 2:15 and goes through 2:21 and is what John said that he was writing to them.
1. The phrase They went out from us means: 'These liars learned the truth and then left the true church in order to teach perverted lies from the word of God'. Just as Satan and all of his devils were kicked out of Heaven, so also have his minister come out of the true church.
2. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
3. The phrase but they were not of us means: 'These ministers of Satan were in the church but were never, truly, part of the true church'. They told a lie and claimed to be saved, but our phrase makes it clear that they were not truly saved.
4. The phrase for if they had been of us means: 'tells us the condition which would make the next phrase true'.
5. The phrase they would no doubt have continued with us means: 'Here is how we know that someone is truly saved'. When someone is told a Bible doctrine which goes against what they believe in, the truly saved will pray and search the word of God for the truth. They might not do it the first time but they will do it some time, or God will kill them (1John 5:16 and Romans 6:16). Either way, the truly saved will not go out and start preaching against the clear doctrines of the word of God.
6. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
7. The phrase but they went out means: 'These liars could not stand being required to support the truth'.
8. The phrase that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us means: 'God causes this reaction so that His true people will not be deceived'.
C2-S25 the unction from the Holy One. This is part of a set of commandments which started in 2:15 and goes through 2:21 and is what John said that he was writing to them. 2:27 references this anointing and gives us more explanation of it. This is another verse which is commonly preached wrong.
1. The phrase ye have an unction from the Holy One means: 'Each and every one of you personally have an anointing from your personal Saviour'. I've heard several preachers claim that only preachers have this unction, but that goes against the literal meaning of the word ye. In addition, the phrase Holy One is used in the word of God to mean: 'Saviour'. (Please see the detail note for links to Bible references which teach this doctrine.) Every saved person has a personal Saviour and this is not limited to preachers. Next, the word unction means: 'anointing'. This is another way of saying that God gave every saved person a spiritual gift and a ministry in the church and a way to receive personal direction and help from God in order for then to accomplish God's will for their life. And, as part of that unction, saved people can go to God and ask if a given doctrine is true or if it is error from some devil. And, for anyone who might disagree with this explanation, consider the context and try to explain how your error fits within the context of this chapter better than what I just explained.
2. The phrase and ye know all things means: 'After we use our unction our knowing all things is added (and)'. If we can not get an answer from God, then it is something that we are not yet spiritually mature enough to understand, or it is something that God will not answer while we are in this physical reality. Regardless of why, when God doesn't provide an answer we need to accept that and avoid arguing about something that God has not explained to us.
C2-S26 the truly saved and sanctified know the truth. This is part of a set of commandments which started in 2:15 and goes through 2:21 and is what John said that he was writing to them.
1. The phrase I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth means: 'John wants to clarify his motive in writing'. He doesn't want people thinking that he believes that they do not know these truths.
2. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
3. The phrase but because ye know it means: 'John is writing because they know the truth and he wants them to understand that they must go beyond knowledge'. God expects us to act on revealed truth and to defend it from lies.
4. The phrase and that no lie is of the truth means: 'We are to reject all lies as not coming from God, Who is the Truth'.
C2-S27 says: Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? this is part of a set of commandments which starts in 2:22 and goes through 2:27 and teaches about false teachers and antichrists. The phrase Jesus is the Christ means: 'All of God's promises are only available through Jesus'. The Old Testament prophecies made it clear that all of God's promises are only available through His Christ. Therefore, since Jesus is God's Christ, all of the promises are available only through Him. And, since the context is speaking about antichrists we see that everyone who denieth that Jesus is the Christ, not only is a liar, and a servant of Satan, but he also is an antichrist.
C2-S28 says: He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. This is part of a set of commandments which starts in 2:22 and goes through 2:27 and teaches about false teachers and antichrists. The word denieth means: 'a lifestyle denying'. Such a person denies the character of God and claims that God has a different character such as people who claim that God will not punish sin. In addition, since our sentence adds the phrase and the Son, true Biblical antichrists deny that Jesus Christ shows us the character of God the Father. They claim that God will some way act differently from how Jesus Christ acted. For example, Jesus Christ rejected the self-claimed authority of religious and their adding to the word of God, and rejected their taking away from it.
C2-S29 How to know if you have a relationship with God the Father. This is part of a set of commandments which starts in 2:22 and goes through 2:27 and teaches about false teachers and antichrists.
1. The phrase Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father very clearly states that Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah Witnesses, Roman Catholics and all other religions which reject Jesus as God's only representative hath not the Father. Now, do not mistake the people as always being the same as the religious doctrine. It is possible for some saved, but spiritually immature, person to be associated with one of these devil-motivated religions.
2. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
3. The phrase he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also means: 'This person has a lifestyle acknowledging of Jesus Christ'. This person not only believes and says that they believe but they obey and acknowledge that Jesus Christ personally controls their life
C2-S30 Let God's truth abide in you. This is part of a set of commandments which starts in 2:22 and goes through 2:27 and teaches about false teachers and antichrists.
1. The phrase Let that therefore abide in you means: 'Let the true doctrine from the word of God take up residence and continue to be a controlling part of you'. The therefore means that this commandment is based upon the doctrine already written in this epistle.
2. The phrase which ye have heard from the beginning means: 'This doctrine is what people had personally heard from the apostles'. Today, the same doctrines are to be personally read from the word of God.
C2-S31 Why we want to keep the word of God in us. This is part of a set of commandments which starts in 2:22 and goes through 2:27 and teaches about false teachers and antichrists.
1. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and none who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
2. The phrase If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you is the conditional requirement in order for the rest of this sentence to be true. Lots of people 'say a prayer' or do some other religious activity, but what they personally (ye) have heard from the word of God did not remain in them. Therefore, that can not claim the salvation which the rest of this sentence promises.
3. The phrase ye also shall continue in the Son means: 'Each and every one personally who keeps the word of God in them will learn to have God's character from the Son of God'.
4. The phrase and in the Father means: 'We will continue in our relationship with God the Father if we fulfill the conditions of this sentence'. That is, if we retain the Bible truths which we were given. God will not let us lose what His word teaches unless we leave our ongoing personal relationship with Him.
5. The phrase And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life means: 'These people can be assured of their salvation'.
C2-S32 Is an additional promise of eternal life. This is part of a set of commandments which starts in 2:22 and goes through 2:27 and teaches about false teachers and antichrists.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase This is the promise that he hath promised us means: 'The promise of eternal life is added to the promise of the prior sentence and this promise also requires us to keep the word of God in us'.
3. The phrase even eternal life specifies this additional promise.
C2-S33 says, These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. This means that true Biblical antichrists will seduce God's people into believing doctrinal error. And, their first step is to convince God's people that they don't really represent devils. And, one of the ways that they do that is to convince you that all preaching against evil spiritual beings is against 'daemons' and by convincing people that they don't really have to pay attention to Biblical warnings against true antichrists because there is only one antichrist and they will be 'Rapture'd out before he is revealed. In other words, these liars seduce you by convincing God's people to ignore warnings from God.
C2-S34 Blessings if we retain our anointing. This is part of a set of commandments which starts in 2:22 and goes through 2:27 and teaches about false teachers and antichrists.
1. The word But means that this sentence is continuing the subject of the prior sentence while changing direction.
2. The phrase the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you means: 'The indwelling of God's Holy Ghost does not leave; neither does the purpose that God had for saving us'. This is a direct reference to the unction which John wrote about in 2:20.
3. The phrase and ye need not that any man teach you means: 'God will use others to teach us but we can pray and receive spiritual knowledge and understanding directly from God's Holy Ghost'. A simple example is that some claim that it is impossible to get saved unless a person goes to you and preacher the Gospel. However, I was saved by reading the word of God and I have met a few others that also received salvation by reading the word of God therefore, that religious claim is wrong and this phrase and sentence is true.
4. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
5. The phrase but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things means: 'God's Holy Ghost is Who truly teaches us spiritual things even when He uses another person to do so'. The phrase same anointing is an indirect reference to God's Holy Ghost. And, the word teacheth means: 'a lifestyle teaching'. It is hard to retain religious teachings from man but the teaching from God's Holy Ghost goes to our heart and remains. In addition, He continues to teach us all throughout our life, if we continue to listen to Him.
6. The phrase and is truth, and is no lie means: 'We need to listen to the teaching from God's Holy Ghost and reject anything which goes against His teaching'. Anything which goes against the teaching from God's Holy Ghost is a lie. However, we need to be careful because devils claim to be God's Holy Ghost and teach us error. That is why God put the word of God into writing and God preserves it unchanged. The teaching from God's Holy Ghost will never go against the written word of God while what comes from devils will go against what is written literally in the word of God.
7. The phrase and even as it hath taught you means: 'The true teaching from God's Holy Ghost never changes because God never changes (Malachi 3:6 and Hebrews 13:8) and the written word of God never changes'. Therefore, any so-called 'new doctrine' is from a devil.
8. The phrase ye shall abide in him means: 'This is a personal command given to each and every one of us (ye)'. We are to always stay with God's Holy Ghost and let Him have a say in how we live.
C2-S35 Conclusive command.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The word Now means: 'after you understand what was just written'. If people don't understand the warnings and the promises, then their natural self will encourage them to disobey this command.
3. The phrase little children means: 'John is directing these warnings and commandments to spiritually immature saved people. Those saved people who are truly more spiritually mature will already be doing the commandments of this chapter, and paying attention to the warnings'.
4. The phrase abide in him means: 'Always stay with God's Holy Ghost and let Him have a say in how we live'.
5. The phrase that, when he shall appear means: 'When Jesus Christ appears at the 'Rapture' or at our own death'. The he, of this phrase, changes which person of the Trinity that John is writing about. We always need to verify who a pronoun is representing or we can be led into doctrinal error.
6. The phrase we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming means: 'If people obey the commands of this chapter, and heed the warnings, they will not receive bad and the terror of the Lord, at the judgment seat of Christ, (2Corinthians 5:10) but will receive a reward'. Satan does not want this result. That is why he has his antichrists to seduce you they make disobedience very appealing and cause people to ignore the warnings so that they will receive bad and the terror of the Lord, at the judgment seat of Christ.
C2-S36 Live righteously to prove that you are born of him.
1. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and none who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
2. The word ye means: 'each and every one of you personally'. Doctrinal error tries to convince us to replace our responsibilities in a personal relationship with religious activities which are not personal. This sentence is giving us the conclusion of this chapter and is making it clear that everything we were told in this chapter must be part of our personal relationship with God.
3. The phrase ye know that he is righteous requires us to realize that the word know includes 'things which are only learned through an ongoing personal relationship'. Genesis 4:1 and Genesis 4:25 tells us, And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived. You don't get a baby from some impersonal religious activity. Again, Matthew 7:23 tells us: And then will I (Jesus Christ) profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. He will say this to people who relied upon religious activities and never had an ongoing personal relationship with Him. And, while we could go on, these references should be sufficient for the reader to understand that the true Biblical definition of the word know includes an ongoing personal relationship with Him. With that in mind, we see that saved people truly learn of the righteousness of Jesus Christ through an ongoing personal relationship with Him that also causes the saved person to become righteous. This change is what protects us from doctrinal error and is also what gets us everlasting rewards.
4. The phrase ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him means: 'Here is how we identify the truly saved and how we get our assurance of true salvation'. Anyone who claims to be saved but never becomes righteous can not have this assurance. And, this doctrinal truth becomes especially true when people truly understand the doctrine and details which John wrote earlier in this chapter.

Summary of Chapter 3

The chapter theme 'Be a true son of God'.

In the third chapter, John tells us that God changed the legal standing of the saved when He made us sons of God and that we can tell true sons of God from false because the true purifieth himself, even as he is pure and loves in deed and in truth, not in word, neither in tongue because the true sons of God have God's Spirit which enables them to do so.

This chapter causes much disagreement because of all the doctrinal errors which are based upon it. The fact that there is so much error proves that the devil hates the truths found here and is pressing several different lies so that people who see one lie for what it is might be taken in by another lie. Also, many will avoid the entire chapter, and the truths in it, because they are scared off by the confusion and their fear of not being able to sort out the confusion. We don't have to answer all of the confusing and conflicting lies, even though some will be answered. We only need to know what John really says in this chapter.

John is talking about our status as sons of God. He starts out the chapter by talking about our relationship to God the Father, including our legal relationship, and this is what causes most of the controversy. Then John talks about how the children of God are manifested and how the children of the devil are manifested, and that causes another controversy because devil motivated liars deny this difference. They want God's children to accept the children of Satan as their brothers and they can only do this if they get God's children to reject God's way to tell the difference.

Then John tells us how we can be assured that we are sons of God and those comments are usually ignored. Finally, John tells us the advantages of being sons of God and those promises are claimed by religious liars even while they ignore all of God's requirements to be one of the sons of God. Within this chapter, we see references to the family of God used in:

Father: 3:1
Son of God: 3:8
Sons of God: 3:1, 2
Children: 3:7, 10, 18
Brother: 3:10, 12, 15, 17
Brethren: 3:13, 14, 16

This chapter is not alone in presenting what is here. The subjects of this chapter are also dealt with in the following Studies (and are mentioned in others not listed here). Please also consider the teaching in: John 3:5; John 3:18; John 6:29; John 6:70; John 8:11; Romans 3:26; Romans Chapter 4; Romans 8:2; Romans 8:14; Acts 2:21; Acts 3:19; Hebrews 10:19; Hebrews 12:5; 2Peter 2:9; Jesus used the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Part of what is brought out in those studies is the difference between how God treats one of His children doing a sin versus how He treats a child of the devil doing a sin. When we call upon the name of the Lord, God changes our legal status from being a child of the devil (Acts 13:10) to being a child of God because of adoption (Romans 8:15, 23; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5). After we spiritually mature and have the character of God in a way that lost people can not deny, then we become one of the sons of God (John 1:12; Romans 8:14, 19; Philippians 2:15; 1John 3:1-2). This change in legal status makes a major difference in how God reacts to sin. In 1John 1, John was dealing with our acts of sin as a child of God. in this chapter, he is dealing with the legal aspects of sin. Please also see the section of this Study on Sin as it provides many more details on this subject.

The summary of each sentence within this chapter is:

C3-S1 God proves His love by what He makes His sons to be.
1. The word Behold means: 'Take a very close look and examine in detail so that you truly understand what is said after this word'.
2. The phrase what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us means: 'Don't just look at the love, but examine closely the manner of love'. The word manner (singular) means: 'method; way of performing or executing'. John 3:16 says: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Consider the level of love that was required and all that resulted. God did not make a light payment. When you truly consider what was involved in the manner of love, then you will have a better understanding of what John is trying to get us to understand. God told Moses that He could kill all of the Jews and start over with the children of Moses. In the same manner, consider why God and the Son of God had to do everything that they did for your personal salvation. That is what John hopes you will understand if you truly understand the message of this chapter.
3. The phrase that we should be called the sons of God means: 'We should receive, and display, the character of God'. This requires the indwelling Holy Ghost to keep us saved, in spite of our ongoing sins, and for Him to convey, to us, the personalized lessons from the Son of God, which are designed to change our basic character and have us accept the character of God as our own.
4. The phrase therefore the world knoweth us no means: 'This is the result which can be observed for people who truly becomes sons of God'. Remember that the world is: 'all of the people of the world considered as a group'. Therefore, this sentence is speaking about the opinion and attitude that most of the people of the world have.
5. The phrase because it knew him not means: 'of the people of the world, when considered as a group, do not truly know God'. Yes, they are religious, but their god is a devil and not the true God of the Bible.
C3-S2 God's sons will be different.
1. The word beloved identifies people who are saved and serving God. This does not include lost people, nor saved but carnal people, because such reject the truth of the word of God and, as the prior sentence reported, they are willingly are ignorant of the truth. This sentence tells a truth to those people who are willing to accept the truth.
2. The word now means: 'After the person has fulfilled the requirements for God to call them beloved'. Saved people who do not serve and have not received the character of God are not called the sons of God in the word of God. Yes, true Biblical antichrists claim that, and deceive many of God's children to pass on their deceit. However, that does not make their lie become a Biblical truth.
3. The phrase now are we the sons of God means: 'The saved people who were addressed as Beloved are we the sons of God'. Their lifestyle of service proves that they deserve this title. Our service to God shows that we have received the same character as the Son of God displayed in the Gospels. (Please see the Doctrinal Study called: What Did Jesus Do? for more on this doctrine and for other Bible references to the same doctrine.)
4. The phrase and it doth not yet appear what we shall be means: 'This phrase promises greater changes after the true sons of God get to Heaven'. Malachi 3:2-3 promises: But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.. Psalms 17:15 also promises: As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.. The Son of God is going to remove all that offends God the Father from the true sons of God. After that purification in Heaven, we shall be like him.
5. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
6. The phrase but we know that, when he shall appear means: 'This tells us when this change will occur in the lives of the true Biblical sons of God. This is after they meet Jesus Christ in the 'Rapture' or at their personal death'.
7. The phrase we shall be like him means: 'As already shown with Bible references, the true Biblical sons of God will be changed to have nothing more in them which offends God the Father'.
8. The phrase for we shall see him as he is means: 'People can not truly see the pure Jesus Christ, as He is, until their own spiritual sight is purified'.
C3-S3 Evidence that someone is a son of God.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase every man that hath this hope in him is referring to the hope described in the prior sentence which this sentence is added to.
3. The phrase purifieth himself means: 'Makes himself, and all of his life, devoted 100% to the service of God'.
4. The phrase even as he is pure means: 'The true sons of God try to become as close as possible to the purity displayed by Jesus Christ in the gospels'.
C3-S4 the legal definition of sin. John just described how we are supposed to make ourselves pure. Starting in this sentence, John is explaining about sin, which keeps us from being pure.
1. The word Whosoever means: 'Anyone whose attitude or action matches this sentence has this legal record and it does not matter who they are nor does it matter whatever other qualifying attribute which they might claim'.
2. The phrase committeth sin transgresseth also the law means: 'This is a lifestyle of violating God's law'. We need to remember that God makes a difference when He judges sin -- an ongoing deliberate sin receives the consequences where a one-time error more often receives mercy.
3. The phrase for sin is the transgression of the law means: 'Here's why the prior phrase is true. And, this is a legal definition of the word sin'. We need to keep in mind that most of this chapter is explaining things from a legal perspective. When people try to interpret the sentence 4s of this chapter from a different perspective, they often end up with doctrinal error.
C3-S5 Why the Son of God was manifested in human flesh.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase ye know means: 'Each and every one of you personally know the truth of this sentence'. As already explained, certain things can only be known through personal experience. John uses this phrase for the saved who are also serving because they have the personal experience while the lost and the carnal saved do not.
3. The phrase that he was manifested to take away our sins means: 'This is what they personally know because they have personally experienced it'. Please realize that our sentence says: to take away our sins and does not support the doctrinal lie of: 'take away the consequences of our sins'. The consequences are not removed until after the sin itself is removed from our life.
4. The phrase and in him is no sin means: 'The Son of God has no sin in Him. Therefore, we can not claim that He caused us to sin'. This is critical to understand before we try to understand the next sentence.
C3-S6 People that abideth in him 'stop their sinning'. This sentence is used as the basis for doctrinal error because people take it out of context.
1. The phrase Whosoever abideth in him means: 'Anyone who keeps on living, as a lifestyle , in a proper relationship with the Son of God whereby He has a say in how they live their life'. This is the first thing that false teachers ignore or pervert the meaning of. They try to claim that this sentence applies to people who do not fulfil this requirement. We need to pay attention to the true meaning of this phrase and match it with the Doctrinal Study called Relational Prepositions. Basically, He will never leave us but we can leave our ongoing personal relationship with Him by refusing to meet our responsibilities in the relationship. When we do that, we no longer abideth in him and the rest of this sentence does not apply to us.
2. The phrase sinneth not has several possible applications. The first thing to pay attention to is the fact that the word sinneth means: 'does an ongoing lifestyle sin'. Either Jesus Christ will change him and cause him to stop that sin or Jesus Christ will kill him (1John 5:16; Romans 6:16). The other possibility is that Jesus Christ chooses not to record the sin as a violation of the law because He decides to give the sinner mercy. However, for this to happen, the child of God must show that they are trying to stop their sin. And, since sin is the transgression of the law, it is not truly a sin if it is not recorded in God's legal book. This is called: 'diplomatic immunity'. However, only Jesus Christ determines when, and if, this privilege is extended.
3. The phrase whosoever sinneth hath not seen him identifies someone who deliberately does a lifestyle sin. Our phrase says that this person hath not seen him because if they truly did see him they would purify themselves, as John already wrote in 3:3.
4. The phrase neither known him means: 'Someone who continues in ongoing lifestyle sin does not have an ongoing personal relationship with Jesus Christ which changes them'. Yes, they might be saved and have the indwelling Holy Spirit, but they have left their ongoing personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
C3-S7 Beware of deception.
1. The phrase Little children means: 'This sentence is directed to people who have a hard time understanding spiritual truths'.
2. The phrase let no man deceive you means: 'Here is the warning and if you ignore the warning then you will be deceived'.
3. The phrase he that doeth righteousness is righteous means: 'Look at how people live and act. If they are not doing righteousness, then they are lying when they claim to be a leader and a minister of God'.
4. The phrase even as he is righteous means: 'People who are true leaders and a ministers of God do righteousness that matches what Jesus Christ did according to the gospels'. (Please see the Doctrinal Study called: What Did Jesus Do? for more on this doctrine and for other Bible references to the same doctrine.)
C3-S8 Sin is from the devil.
1. The phrase He that committeth sin is of the devil means: 'This person is doing an ongoing lifestyle sin. Therefore, he is listening to and representing the devil'.
2. The phrase for the devil sinneth from the beginning means: 'This is why we can know who the lifestyle sinner is truly representing'.
C3-S9 the Son of God was manifested to destroy sin.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase For this purpose the Son of God was manifested is giving us further information beyond what 3:5 told us. We are told that the Son of God was manifested in 1:1 as a witness to all men. In 3:5, we are told that He was manifested to take away our sins. In our current sentence, we are told that He was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil and He does this by taking away our sins. . In 4:9 we are told that the love of God toward us was manifested...that we might live through him. Therefore, the first reference tells us the witness of what God provided, the last reference tells us the result of what God provided, and the middle references tell us how God provided.
3. The phrase that he might destroy the works of the devil means: 'God must change our lives in order to destroy the works of the devil in our lives'. Without this change, we continue to do the works of the devil and suffer the consequences of those works.
C3-S10 Gives us the legal spiritual consequences of being saved. This is another verse that people pervert by taking it out of context. The context of the chapter is the legal perspective and we need to interpret this sentence by that perspective or we will be led into doctrinal error. In addition to people ignoring the context of the chapter, people also ignore the true interpretation of most of this sentence because they try to interpret it physically and religiously instead of spiritually and legally. Please be sure to include all contextual requirements when reading the following.
1. The phrase Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin is what people take completely out of context and, thereby, prove that they are using the way of Satan to pervert the true meaning of the word of God.
2. The phrase for his seed remaineth in him means: 'This is why the prior phrase is true. '. The word seed is used symbolically for the word of God. (Please see 'the Parable of the Sower' in Matthew 13:2-23; Mark 4:1-20 and Luke 8:4-15.) thus, our phrase is telling us that Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin 'because the word of God remains in him as a life-long abiding'. And, we need to consider what our prior chapter told us about the word of God abiding in us as a life-long abiding. In addition to those contextual requirements, we also need to consider the rest of this sentence as a sentence is the expression of a single thought. No one can honestly say that we can take a phrase out of context of the rest of the sentence and still retain the single message of the sentence.
3. The phrase and he cannot sin means: 'God gives His children diplomatic immunity in His criminal court but deals with their sin in His family court'. Someone with diplomatic immunity does not commit a crime because they are never charged in the legal system. They might be kicked out of the country where they are visiting, but they are not charged in the legal system. And, an act is not truly a crime until there is a charge in the legal system. Moreover, 3:4 told us that sin is the transgression of the law. Therefore, from a legal perspective, God's children never sin because God refuses to charge them in His criminal court. This does not mean that there is no consequence, only that God refuses to charge His children, in His criminal court, with doing a crime.
4. The phrase because he is born of God means: 'This is why God's children are not treated as criminals. It is because they are God's children'.
C3-S11 How to tell the difference between the children of God and the children of the devil. This is another sentence that gives people religious fits because they want to claim that we must accept the profession of someone who never in their life fulfills the requirements of this sentence.
1. The phrase in this the children of God are manifest means: 'The children of God are revealed in every possible way by what was written in the prior sentences'. The truly saved are to let God change their lives so that they stop their ongoing sins.
2. The phrase and the children of the devil means: 'The children of the devil are revealed by what is was written in the rest of this sentence. '. . .
3. The phrase whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God means: 'The children of the devil never do righteousness.'.
4. The phrase neither he that loveth not his brother means: 'The children of the devil do not love his brother as a lifestyle '.
C3-S12 Why the prior test is valid.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase This is the message that ye heard from the beginning means: 'This message started with Jesus and continued with the apostles and is still a primary message of the word of God today'.
3. The phrase that we should love one another tells us what was the message. John presents love as the characteristic of God which should be in all truly saved, especially the spiritually mature and serving. The word love occurs fifty one (51) times in this epistle and the next chapter is the true 'Love Chapter' of the Bible.
C3-S13 Truly saved do not act like Cain.
1. The phrase Not as Cain is a reference that everyone should understand.
2. The phrase who was of that wicked one means: 'Cain was directed by the devil'.
3. The phrase and slew his brother means: 'This is an example of wicked activity which is motivated by a devil'.
C3-S14 Why did Cain kill his brother?
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase wherefore slew he him? means: 'Why did Cain kill his brother?'.
C3-S15 the reason. This sentence contrasts motivation by a devil with motivation by God.
1. The word Because lets us know that this sentence is the answer to the question in the prior sentence. Instead of using a simple sentence, the question-and-answer format is used to make a reader pay more attention.
2. The phrase his own works were evil means: 'This is the main result of being motivated by a devil'.
3. The phrase and his brother's righteous means: 'This is the main result of being motivated by God'.
C3-S16 Don't find reality strange.
1. The word brethren means: 'The saved and serving and excludes the lost and the carnal saved'. The phrase Marvel not, my brethren means: 'Don't be surprised by the reaction of devil-motivated people'.
2. The word world is: 'all of the people of the world considered as a group'. Therefore, this sentence is speaking about the opinion and attitude that most of the people of the world have because they are motivated by sinful flesh and devils. That is what the phrase if the world hate you is speaking about.
C3-S17 How to know that you are saved. This sentence must be understood spiritually and not physically.
1. The phrase We know that we have passed from death unto life means: 'We can have assurance of our personal salvation'.
2. The phrase because we love the brethren means: 'Because we actively display this characteristic of God which people only have as a result of God changing them'.
C3-S18 says: He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Please note that this sentence is using lifestyle verbs. It means: 'If you do not love other saved people as a lifestyle then you are living in the motivations of death'.
C3-S19 Murderers are lost. This is another sentence that people have trouble accepting. Therefore, most people ignore it and hope that no one ever mentions it.
1. The word Whosoever means: 'Anyone whose attitude or action matches this sentence has this legal judgment from God'.
2. The phrase hateth his brother is a murderer is a far stronger claim than most religious people want to accept. Please see the Doctrinal Study called: Significant Gospel Events and the section called: Jesus and the Ten Commandments for Bible references to this commandment. Religious people claim that Thou shalt not kill means: 'do not murder', and lessen the application of this commandment. However, John goes on to the opposite direction and gives this commandment a greater area of application. John is only explaining the doctrine taught by Jesus because He always applied God's commandments to the attitude of the heart in addition to the actual action.
3. The phrase and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him matches John 8:44 which says: Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning. A murderer means: 'Someone who pl and and deliberately kills another human being'. This word excludes accidental death.
C3-S20 God's love that should be seen in the lives of the truly saved.
1. The phrase Hereby perceive we the love of God means: 'The next phrase shows us the love of God'.
2. The phrase because he laid down his life for us means: 'Jesus Christ died and went to Hell to pay for our sins'. The He of this sentence is Jesus Christ because God the Father did not lay down his life for us. Thus, our sentence is telling us that Jesus Christ is God.
3. The phrase and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren means: 'As sons of God we should have the same attitude as the Son of God and be willing to make the same type of sacrifice'.
C3-S21 Our actions in this world prove our claims of having God's love.
1. The word But means that this sentence is continuing the subject of the prior sentence while changing direction.
2. The phrase whoso hath this world's good is the first of three phrases which must be considered together because the next two phrases start with the word and. Basically, our three phrases specify the condition whereby a saved person can help a brother who is in need, but refuses to extend that help. These conditions then lead to the question at the end of our sentence. This first phrase says that: 'This person who claims to be saved has the ability to help other saved people'.
3. The word and means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
4. The phrase and seeth his brother have need means: 'This same saved person, who has the ability to help, becomes aware of the need of his brother'.
5. The phrase and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him means: 'This same saved person, who has the ability to help, and is aware of the need of his brother, then acts like a self-serving devil'.
6. The phrase how dwelleth the love of God in him? means: 'Where is the true evidence to back his claim of true salvation?'.
C3-S22 Provides the conclusion of this section when it commands us to love in deed and in truth.
1. The phrase My little children means: 'This sentence is directed to people who have a hard time understanding spiritual truths'.
2. The phrase let us not love in word means: 'Don't just preach about love from the Bible'.
3. The phrase neither in tongue means: 'Don't just talk your do-called love'.
4. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
5. The phrase but in deed and in truth means: 'Live your love according to the truth of the word of God'.
C3-S23 Our assurance is based upon our actions.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase And hereby we know that we are of the truth means: 'Our attitude, and action, of true Biblical love gives us the assurance of salvation'. The definition of true Biblical love has been written by John in 3:14 and is further defined in the next chapter.
3. The phrase and shall assure our hearts before him means: 'We will have assurance of God's approval and of God's blessings and future rewards'.
C3-S24 We must trust God's Word over the feelings of our own heart.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and none who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
3. The phrase if our heart condemn us means: 'If our feelings tell us that we are terrible people'.
4. The phrase God is greater than our heart means: 'God is a greater authority than our own feelings. If we are obeying God, then we must accept God's judgment of us over our own feelings'.
5. The phrase and knoweth all things means: 'God knows the future consequences of our attitudes and actions which we do not know. We might feel bad for a short time but the long-term good will be greater than the short-term bad feelings'.
C3-S25 Trust God above all else.
1. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and none who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
2. The word beloved identifies people who are saved and serving God. This does not include lost people, nor saved but carnal people, because such reject the truth of the word of God and, as the prior sentence reported, they are willingly are ignorant of the truth. This sentence tells a truth to those people who are willing to accept the truth.
3. The phrase if our heart condemn us not identifies people who have different feelings from those dealt with in the prior sentence..
4. The phrase then have we confidence toward God means: 'This is the result of confidence toward God'.
C3-S26 Trust God's provision.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase whatsoever we ask, we receive of him is something that lots of people like to 'claim', while they ignore the requirements of the rest of this sentence. Devil-motivated people preach this first phrase and, like Satan, take it out of context of the rest of the sentence. Then, when people don't get the promise, they convince their listeners that the problem is that God is not reliable and that their lie is not the source of the problem. Here, we see the importance of considering context for everything that we get from the Bible.
3. The phrase because we keep his commandments is the first of two requirements to receive the promise of the first phrase. This phrase means: 'Obey the word of God on a consistent basis'.
4. The phrase and do those things that are pleasing in his sight Is the second of two requirements to receive the promise of the first phrase. This phrase means: 'Deliberately seek the things that please God and do them'.
C3-S27 Obey God's commandment in order to receive from Him.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase This is his commandment needs to be understood with the prior sentence since it is added to the prior sentence. The prior sentence told us whatsoever we ask, we receive of him then gave us two phrases to obey in order to receive that promise. Now, this sentence is clarifying the requirements of the prior sentence. What follows this phrase is what God commands us to do.
3. The phrase That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ means: 'Determine as a lifestyle basis of our life (believe) that God's Son Jesus Christ has the power and authority (on His name) to make us children of God and to get us all of the blessings and promises of God'.
4. The phrase and love one another means: 'This requirement is added to the prior phrase'. The commandment to love one another is a commandment to display the changes that true salvation brings. We are to treat each other with the character of God. In addition, our next chapter gives us a lot more details on how we do true Biblical love.
5. The phrase as he gave us commandment means: 'Do this in the exact way that God commands'. That is: obey all of the details of our next chapter.
C3-S28 We will keepeth his commandments if we dwelleth in him.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him means: 'This is how you know that you dwell in God'.
3. The phrase and he in him means: 'This is how you know that God dwells in you'. . .
C3-S29 God's Holy Spirit gives us our assurance.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase hereby we know that he abideth in us means: 'This is lifestyle abiding. This is our assurance of everlasting salvation'.
3. The phrase by the Spirit which he hath given us means: 'God's Holy Spirit is what keeps us saved for ever'. People who are truly saved doubt their everlasting salvation only because they stop listening to God's Holy Spirit and replace His voice with the lies from a minister of Satan.

Summary of Chapter 4

The chapter theme: 'Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (4:7)'.

In the fourth chapter, John tells us to try the spirits whether they are of God and Hereby know we the Spirit of truth, and the Spirit of error. As the third chapter told us how to tell the difference between saved and lost people based upon the Spirit that is manifested in their lives, the fourth tells us how to tell the difference between spirits which try to get us to do things. John says that the main manifestation between the Spirit of God and other spirits is love because God is love. Therefore, the saved should love one another and his (God's ) love is perfected in us.

The summary of each sentence within this chapter is:

C4-S1 How to avoid false doctrine. This is a critical doctrine. The word try means: 'test repeatedly until you are very confident'. John already warned us against false teachers and true Biblical antichrists. Now, he is telling us how to separate them from true men of God.
1. The word beloved identifies people who are saved and serving God. This does not include lost people, nor saved but carnal people, because such reject the truth of the word of God and, as the prior sentence reported, they are willingly are ignorant of the truth. This sentence tells a truth to those people who are willing to accept the truth.
2. The phrase believe not every spirit means: 'This is the spirit of men which we are commanded to apply this sentence against'. The lowercase word spirit is used in the Bible for devils and for the spirit that belongs to men.
3. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
4. The phrase but try the spirits whether they are of God means: 'We are to repeatedly test to see if they are of God'. Please notice that we do not try their doctrine because we can be deceived. We also do not try their popularity, nor their ability to preach or anything else. All other things can deceive us but, over time, their spirit will reveal if they follow God or if they follow a devil. And, the rest of our chapter tells us how to do this.
5. The phrase because many false prophets are gone out into the world means: 'Here is why we are to obey the command of this sentence'. Where the word for gives us a reason that will happen in the future, the word because gives us a reason that has already happened. And, many of these false prophets will already be popular and have a large following but we are to obey this sentence instead of using that criteria.
C4-S2 How to tell the difference between God's Spirit and devils.
1. The phrase Hereby know ye the Spirit of God means: 'This is the main test to apply'.
2. The phrase Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God means: 'The spirit of any man who identify with the fact that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God'. Such people preach and live that Jesus is our example of how to live in the flesh. (Please see the Doctrinal Study called: What Did Jesus Do? for more on this doctrine and for other Bible references to the same doctrine.) In addition, true men of God preach and live that Christ teaches us how to mature spiritually even while we live in this flesh.
3. The phrase And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God means: 'Anyone who does not do what was explained for the people phrase is not of God'. Remember that Jesus said get thee behind me Satan (Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33; Luke 4:8) to Peter while Peter was a saved man. Therefore, our phrase is not saying that such people are lost but is saying that they, and their message of life, does not belong to God.
4. The phrase and this is that spirit of antichrist means: 'Anyone who does the prior phrase is going against the spirit of Christ'. Such people not only do not receive the ministry of Christ, but they actively fight against it and discourage anyone who tries to receive the ministry of Christ.
5. The phrase whereof ye have heard that it should come means: 'The ministries of antichrists were prophesied'.
6. The phrase and even now already is it in the world means: 'The ministries of antichrists are even now already is it in the world'. Anyone who preaches about 'the Antichrist of Revelation' is following the way of Satan to pervert the word of God by denying this sentence.
C4-S3 Our protection from the spirit of antichrist.
1. The phrase Ye are of God means: 'Each and every one of you personally belongs to God'.
2. The phrase My little children means: 'This sentence is directed to people who have a hard time understanding spiritual truths'.
3. The phrase and have overcome them means: 'The true children of God have refused the popular lies told by true antichrists'
4. The phrase because greater is he that is in you means: 'God's Holy Spirit is greater than any devil and can show God's children that what antichrists preach are lies'.
5. The phrase than he that is in the world means: 'God's Holy Spirit is greater in power than Satan'.
C4-S4 How to tell if someone follows an antichrist.
1. The phrase They are of the world means: 'The true Biblical antichrists belong to the most popular opinion of the majority of people in the world'.
2. The phrase therefore speak they of the world means: 'As a consequence, they preach what most people want them to preach'.
3. The phrase and the world heareth them means: 'The majority of people in the world listen to the popular opinion and ignore facts and evidence that the popular opinion is a lie'.
C4-S5 How to know if someone of God.
1. The phrase We are of God identifies the people who agree with, and support, the Doctrine that John preaches.
2. The phrase he that knoweth God heareth us means: 'People who have an ongoing personal relationship with God keeps on hearing, and obeying, the doctrine from John as a lifestyle action'.
3. The phrase he that is not of God heareth not us means: 'Anyone who does not do the prior phrase is not of God'. Again, these people might be saved but their life and actions do not belong to God and they will reap destruction instead of rewards from God.
C4-S6 How to tell the difference in spirits. The results of a person's life show what type of spirit they follow.
1. The phrase Hereby know we the spirit of truth means: 'The results of their life are the conclusive proof'.
2. The phrase and the spirit of error means: 'This is added to the prior phrase because the same evidence also reveals this type of spirit. The results of their life is the conclusive proof'.
C4-S7 John's request for us to act like God.
1. The word beloved identifies people who are saved and serving God. This does not include lost people, nor saved but carnal people, because such reject the truth of the word of God and, as the prior sentence reported, they are willingly are ignorant of the truth. This sentence tells a truth to those people who are willing to accept the truth.
2. The phrase let us love one another means: 'John is writing about true Biblical love and not the emotional feelings which the world calls love'.
3. The phrase for love is of God means: 'We are to do this because true Biblical love belongs to God'. People who do not belong to God can not do Biblical love. That is why they lie and claim that certain feelings are love.
4. The phrase and every one that loveth is means: 'You can not do true Biblical love unless you are born of God'.
5. The phrase and knoweth God means: 'Everyone who does true Biblical love has an ongoing personal relationship with God whereby God teaches them spiritual truths'.
C4-S8 We must love if we are of God. This sentence explains the opposite condition from the prior sentence.
1. The phrase He that loveth not knoweth not God means: 'Anyone who does not do true Biblical love does not have an ongoing personal relationship with God'.
2. The phrase for God is love means: 'Why'. Anyone who has a true ongoing personal relationship with God will be changed to be like God.
C4-S9 We are to live through God's Son.
1. The phrase in this was manifested the love of God toward us means: 'The love of God toward us was revealed in every possible way by the rest of this sentence'.
2. The phrase because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world means: 'The only begotten Son of God became a literal physical human being'.
3. The phrase that we might live through him means: 'The result of God's gift is that our life is changed to be controlled by the only begotten Son of God'.
C4-S10 True love is paying for the sins of another.
1. The phrase Herein is love means: 'True Biblical love is defined By this sentence'. . .
2. The phrase not that we loved God means: 'True Biblical love is not defined by our feelings nor by our actions'.
3. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
4. The phrase but that he loved us means: 'True Biblical love is defined by the attitude and action of God'.
5. The phrase and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins means: 'God had His only begotten Son die and go to Hell to pay for our sins'.
C4-S11 We should love like God does.
1. The word beloved identifies people who are saved and serving God. This does not include lost people, nor saved but carnal people, because such reject the truth of the word of God and, as the prior sentence reported, they are willingly are ignorant of truth. This sentence tells a truth to those people who are willing to accept the truth.
2. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and none who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
3. The phrase if God so loved us is a conditional statement because it only applies to the truly Biblically saved.
4. The phrase we ought also to love one another means: 'We should act the same way because the truly Biblically saved have been given God's character'.
C4-S12 says: No man hath seen God at any time.. This should be obvious since God is a Spirit and no one can physically see a spirit.
C4-S13 We get God to dwell in us by loving one another.
1. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and none who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
2. The phrase If we love one another is speaking about our doing true Biblical love and not the lie that the world calls love.
3. The phrase God dwelleth in us must be true because we can only do true Biblical love using the power of God.
4. The phrase and his love is perfected in us means: 'God's love causes us to mature spiritually'.
C4-S14 God's Holy Spirit assures us of our relationship.
1. The phrase Hereby know we that we dwell in him means: 'This is how we can be positive that we are saved'.
2. The phrase and he in us means: 'In addition, this is how we know that our life is changed by God'.
3. The phrase because he hath given us of his Spirit means: 'God's Holy Spirit changes us to be like Him'. Notice that this does not say Christ instead of Spirit. The claim that all saved always have Christ in them all the time is a lie and a doctrine of a devil.
C4-S15 A true testimony.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase we have seen and do testify means: 'John, and the other apostles, were personal witnesses and can testify as such in a court of law. The liars who claim to be able to correct that testimony do not have personal experience and their lies are rejected by an honest court'.
3. The phrase that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world means: 'This is what John, and the other apostles, have seen and can testify about. They can only see, and testify, about the changed lives of people who have truly accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour because, as Saviour, He changes people to have the character of God'. God the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. However, most of the world has rejected that true salvation because they are not willing to be changed and to give up their sin.
C4-S16 Live a testimony showing that Jesus is the Son of God.
1. The phrase Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God is another phrase that people like to pervert in order to support a lie from a devil. The word confess includes the meaning of: 'This is how you live and support the claims of your life'. Someone who claims one thing and lives something else is a liar and does not truly confess that Jesus is the Son of God. In addition, as the Son of God, He shows us the character of God and teaches us how to become true sons of God.
2. The phrase God dwelleth in him means: 'God dwells in the person who truly confesses that Jesus is the Son of God because only God can change their character to be like God'.
3. The phrase and he in God means: 'This person is doing their part to maintain their ongoing personal relationship with God'.
C4-S17 Experience God's love.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase we have known and believed the love that God hath to us means: 'John, and all truly Biblically saved and serving, have personally experienced God's love. And, all such also believe that their experience comes from God'. For example, I have had several doctors tell me that I had several undeniable miracles because what they observed in my body was physically and medically impossible. Now, I known and believed the love that God hath to me. But, no, I can not prove it in this physical world and I did not physically see God doing the miracle. Which is why I can say that I know it on a personal level while the world claims that I believe it because it can not be physically proven that God did what only a Spirit could do.
C4-S18 We must dwelleth in love. The word dwelleth means: 'a lifestyle dwelling'.
1. The phrase God is love means: 'True Biblical love is a characteristic of God'.
2. The phrase and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God means: 'This person remains for their life doing the things of true Biblical love'.
3. The phrase and God in him means: 'God is in this person and showing them how to do the actions of true Biblical love'.
C4-S19 Acting like God's Son gives us boldness in the day of judgment.
1. The phrase Herein is our love made perfect means: 'Our love causes us to mature spiritually'.
2. The phrase that we may have boldness in the day of judgment means: 'Our increased spiritual maturity brings the promise of everlasting rewards and those cause us to have boldness in the day of judgment'.
3. The phrase because as he is, so are we in this world means: 'We need to follow the example of Jesus Christ while we are in this world in order to receive all of these promises'.
C4-S20 It takes perfect love to stop the torment of fear.
1. The phrase There is no fear in love is talking about true Biblical love. The lie that the world calls love includes many sources of fear.
2. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
3. The phrase but perfect love casteth out fear means: 'This is speaking about spiritually mature true Biblical love. Spiritually immature saved people will have to grow up spiritually before experiencing this truth'.
4. The phrase because fear hath torment means: 'This is why the rest of this sentence is true'. Torment is a result of not being sure on what will happen in the future and not having enough faith to not worry because God has control of our future.
C4-S21 says: He that feareth is not made perfect in love means: 'If you are afraid of the future, you need to mature spiritually by increasing your true Biblical faith that whatever happens, it will be for God's glory and our everlasting good'.
C4-S22 says: We love him, because he first loved us. Until we were saved and understood God's love, we could not do the same. God loved us while we were still His enemies.
C4-S23 the conclusion of our chapter is this sentence and the next sentence.
1. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and none who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
2. The phrase If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother means: 'This person makes a claim that their life does not support'. Many people believe that they can be one way in this physical reality while being different spiritually. However, many places in the Bible, including this sentence, make it clear that such a person has deceived themselves.
3. The phrase he is a liar means: 'Gives us a judgment that there is no getting around'.
4. The phrase for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen means: 'Here's why'.
5. The phrase how can he love God whom he hath not seen? means: 'This phrase provides a contrast to the prior phrase'. True love is given to someone you know. Charity is extended to strangers. It is much harder to love God, Whom you have never seen (4:12) than it is to love someone that you can see and interact with.
C4-S24 Our God-given commandment.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase hereby we know that he abideth in us means: 'The rest of this sentence tells us how we can be assured of our salvation'.
3. The phrase by the Spirit which he hath given us means: 'God's Holy Spirit causes God's people to do true Biblical love. Without God's Holy Spirit, we could not do true Biblical love'. The change in our character and our actions provides our assurance of true salvation.

Summary of Chapter 5

The chapter theme: 'Stop sinning and win souls'.

In his final chapter, John tells us that the truly saved have the witness of God in their life and that they stop their sinning. Liars claim otherwise and deny that Jesus Christ lived in the flesh, without sin, by the power of the Holy Spirit. John concludes (other than some 'wrap-up ' comments) with, These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. According to the Bible, people take action on what they truly believe. If there is no action, then the people lie when they say that they believe. And, the truly saved believe God's word and trust God's Holy Spirit and God's power to work through their life. However, God gave us a free will and will not take it away for any reason. Therefore, the truly saved do the things that will prove that they give God permission to act according to His Holy Spirit through their life. The people who do not do such things do not have the evidence to prove their claim of being truly saved.

The summary of each sentence within this chapter is:

C5-S1 Evidence of salvation.
1. The phrase Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God means: 'This is the evidence of true salvation'. This is true regardless of any other factor beyond what they believe. However, John uses the word believe for a motivation to act. Anyone who claims this belief, and does not act on it, is to be considered a liar.
2. The phrase and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him means: 'Every one who truly loves God the Father must also love His only begotten Son Jesus Christ'. Even today, many people claim to love and serve God the Father while rejecting His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. Such people reject the command from God the Father to hear Him (Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35). When people refuse to obey God, they prove that their claim to love God is a lie. And, that is exactly what our next sentence says.
C5-S2 We must keep God's commandments in order to love the children of God.
1. The phrase By this we know that we love the children of God is building on the message of the prior two chapters. There we were told that, if we are truly saved, then we will love the children of God. In fact, Chapter 4 was summarized with If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; and liars belong to the devil.
2. The phrase when we love God means: 'We will love the children of God because we love God'.
3. The phrase and keep his commandments means: 'Anyone who claims to love God, but refuses to love the children of God, does not keep God's commandments'.
C5-S3 the love of God.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase This is the love of God means: 'This is the love which belongs to God and that He has all of His true children do'.
3. The phrase that we keep his commandments means: 'True love results in obedience'.
4. The phrase and his commandments are not grievous means: 'True love does not object to obedience'.
C5-S4 the victory of God.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world means: 'If we are truly saved then we stop worrying about what other people claim and concentrate on pleasing God'. The word overcometh means: 'This is lifestyle overcoming. We do not return to pleasing the world'.
3. The phrase and this is the victory that overcometh the world means: 'The next phrase tells us how we overcometh the world'.
4. The phrase even our faith means: 'We act in obedience to the commandments of God with the belief that God will keep His promises in His time and His way'.
C5-S5 the God made victor.
1. The phrase Who is he that overcometh the world means: 'This is posed as a question to make people think about the answer given'.
2. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
3. The phrase but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? means: 'This is a lifestyle belief. Anyone who truly believeth that Jesus is the Son of God will follow His example for how to become a son of God'.
C5-S6 How Jesus came. It should be obvious that this sentence is using symbolic language.
1. The phrase This is he that came by water and blood means: 'Jesus was physically born (by water) and made the spiritual sacrifice to save us (by blood)'.
2. The phrase even Jesus Christ; not by water only means: 'He wasn't just born physically'.
3. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
4. The phrase but by water and blood means: 'Jesus Christ was born physically so that he could make the spiritual sacrifice which was required in order to save us'.
C5-S7 God's Spirit beareth witness to what John says.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase it is the Spirit that beareth witness means: 'This doctrine comes from God's Holy Spirit'.
3. The phrase because the Spirit is truth means: 'God's Holy Spirit always gives truth and only gives truth'.
C5-S8 the three members of the Trinity record the truth.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase there are three that bear record in heaven means: 'Each member of the Trinity provides a legal record of what happens here in this physical reality'.
3. The phrase the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one means: 'This is the doctrine of the Trinity. It names each person of the Trinity and also tells us: these three are one'.
C5-S9 God's witnesses in this world.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase there are three that bear witness in earth means: 'This is a witness which is added to the record in Heaven. This witness is in earth'. . .
3. The phrase the spirit, and the water, and the blood means: 'The change in our spirit and the change in our religious activity in our life (water) and the change in people being willing to die (blood) for their beliefs'. Reportedly, there is one printing of the 1611-KJV which has a capitalized Spirit, in this phrase, and another which has a lowercase spirit. This is obviously a printer's error. But, people claim that it is an error in God's preservation, which is wrong. When the disciples asked Jesus why He preached in parables, He answered Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given (Matthew 13:10-11). We have the same principal applied here. Those people who truly listen to God's Holy Spirit are given the truth while the lost and carnal are led into error.
  
  Our phrase literally says: in earth. God does not speak in an audible voice, today, in earth. God's Holy Spirit speaks to the spirit of saved people and has them bear witness in earth. And, their witness is; a changed spirit which shows the character of God, a changed religious activity (water), which includes how they worship God, and a willingness to shed their own blood, as a martyr, for the truth of God.
4. The phrase and these three agree in one means: 'Each of these three witnesses, from truly saved people, all deliver the same spiritual message'.
C5-S10 Further proof from God.
1. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and none who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
2. The phrase If we receive the witness of men means: 'People believe what other men tell them, especially what religious men tell them'.
3. The phrase the witness of God is greater means: 'When the witness of God and the word of God go against the witness of men, only fools prefer the witness of men over the witness of God'.
4. The phrase For this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son means: 'The next sentence tells us this witness of God'.
C5-S11 Saved people hath the witness in himself.
1. The phrase He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself means: 'The witness of God is inside of the true believer because he is changed on the inside'.
2. The phrase he that believeth not God hath made him a liar means: 'God has given enough evidence in this physical reality that people have to deliberately ignore all of the evidence in order to believeth not God. This type of attitude and action effectively makes God a liar'. Please note that the word believeth is 'a lifestyle belief and not a one-time nor a temporary belief'. People might not know all of the evidence from God at first, but, over time, enough evidence is presented to everyone that each has to decide for themselves what they will believe. Those people who reject all of the evidence from God hath made him a liar. Now, imagine going to be judged by God after doing that for all of your life.
3. The phrase because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son means: 'This record is in earth and there is so much evidence that it can be ignored only by deliberate choice'.
C5-S12 Recorded proof.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase And this is the record means: 'This is what God has made available to all people'.
3. The phrase that God hath given to us eternal life means: 'All societies throughout all of the earth, and throughout all history, have recognized spiritual life and that it is not limited by time like physical life is limited. That makes it eternal life which is recognized by all peoples'.
4. The phrase and this life is in his Son means: 'God has provided the record that eternal life is in his Son'.
C5-S13 Either you have God's life or you don't. This sentence covers all possibilities; either you hath or you do not hath. There is no other possibility. The word hath means: 'a lifestyle having'. This does not include the doctrine of getting and losing salvation. People who hold to that doctrine do not hath.
1. The phrase He that hath the Son hath life means: 'If you accept God's Son, as your personal Lord for the rest of your life, then you have eternal life'. End of discussion.
2. The phrase and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life means: 'If you do not accept God's Son, as your personal Lord for the rest of your life, then you do not have eternal life and you are going to the lake of fire'. End of discussion.
C5-S14 Why God wrote the Bible and why John wrote this epistle.
1. The phrase These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God means: 'John is writing to the saved because the lost can not understand the spiritual truths which are in this epistle'.
2. The phrase that ye may know that ye have eternal life means: 'This epistle is written to eliminate any doubt about everlasting salvation'.
3. The phrase and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God means: 'This epistle is also written to encourage the saved to believe, and act upon, the promises of God so that they received increased spiritual life and spiritual maturity'.
C5-S15 Our confidence because of Who He is.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God. Lots of people like to quote part of this sentence, while ignoring the rest of it, and also ignoring the fact that the word and adds this sentence to the prior sentence. That is: we must believe, like the prior sentence said, in order to receive the promise of this sentence.
2. The phrase This is the confidence that we have in him means: 'Our confidence is in the person Who is the Son of God and not in some legalistic religious claim'. Religion is constantly trying to eliminate the personal relationship.
3. The phrase that, if we ask anything according to his will means: 'We must fulfill this requirement in order to get the promise of this sentence'. This is the most ignored phrase of this sentence. Then, when people don't get what they ask for, many believe the devil's lie that God is not reliable instead of accepting the truth that what they asked for was not according to his will.
4. The phrase he heareth us means: 'Jesus keeps on hearing us but God decides when, and how, He keeps His promises. We need to keep on asking, not because he does not hear, but to prove the sincerity of our request'.
5. The phrase And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask means: 'We can be sure that God hears us and everything that we ask of Him'.
6. The phrase we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him means: 'The word petitions means the general request but not necessarily all of the details'.
C5-S16 the sin which is not unto death.
1. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and none who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
2. The phrase If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death means: 'There is a sin unto death and sins which are not'.
3. The phrase he shall ask means: 'This is what to do for a sin which is not unto death'.
4. The phrase and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death means: 'God will answer the prayer for this type of sin'.
C5-S17 says, There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. Basically, this type of prayer is a wasted effort.
C5-S18 says, All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. A life of unrighteousness can result in death but some results in a lesser punishment.
C5-S19 Prove your own salvation.
1. The phrase We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not means: 'People who are truly saved do not have a lifestyle of sin (sinneth not)'. This sentence does not address the person who claims to be saved but appears to live a life of sin. It is possible, but unlikely, that such people are truly saved. However, if they are truly saved and die living that way, they will be sent to outer darkness (Matthew 8:12) and cry their eyes out an average of more than twice a week and do it for more than 1,000-years.
2. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
3. The phrase but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself means: 'This person has a lifestyle of keeping himself (keepeth) free from sin'. This person has a life which supports his claim of salvation.
4. The phrase and that wicked one toucheth him not means: 'Satan can not possess this type of person nor can Satan force him to sin'.
C5-S20 Base your assurance on your God-caused difference from the world.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase we know that we are of God means: 'People who are saved and serving have no doubt about their salvation'.
3. The phrase and the whole world lieth in wickedness means: 'People who are saved and serving avoid going the way of the world because that way lieth in wickedness.
C5-S21 God's Son gives understanding of Biblical truth.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase we know that the Son of God is come tells us the person Whom we get all spiritual blessings through since He has come. The Jews refused to believe all of the evidence from God and have missed out on all of the blessings. Likewise, all other religious people who reject the same evidence also miss out on all of the blessings.
3. The phrase and hath given us an understanding means: 'We have spiritual understanding only because of God's Son Jesus Christ'.
4. The phrase that we may know him that is true means: 'God gives us spiritual understanding so that we can know Him and have an ongoing personal relationship with Him'.
5. The phrase and we are in him that is true means: 'We are in an ongoing personal relationship with God'.
6. The phrase even in his Son Jesus Christ means: 'The God, Whom we deal with, is the Father's Son Jesus Christ'.
C5-S22 says, This is the true God, and eternal life. We know the true God and have eternal life only through this ongoing personal relationship.
C5-S23 says, Little children, keep yourselves from idols. All idols are inhabited by devils. When we mess with devils, they lead us into doctrinal error. Therefore, we stay away from doctrinal error when we keep ourselves from idols.
C5-S24 says, Amen. It means 'This doubles the prior sentence and makes that command something that God's people will be judged for obeying or disobeying'.

Home

God in 1John

of God:
love	2:5; 3:16-17; 4:9, 4:12 4:16; 5:3
word	2:5, 14
will	2:17
Son	3:8; 4:15; 5:5, 10, 12-13, 20
sons	3:1-2
born	3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18
children	3:10; 5:2
Spirit (Upper case=Holy Spirit)	4:2
spirit (lower case=ours)	4:1, 3, 6
ye are	4:4
we are	2:5; 3:1, 2; 4:6; 5:18, 19
witness	5:9, 10
not (of God)	3:10, 4:3, 4:6
God is:
light	1:5
greater	3:20, 5:9
love	4:8
Son of God:
manifested	3:8
Jesus is	4:15, 5:5
believe on	5:10, 5:13
is come	5:20
hath not	5:12
confidence toward God:	3:21
God gave eternal life:	5:11
God sent:	4:9
God loved:	4:10, 4:11
God dwelleth in us:	4:12, 4:15, 4:16
love God:	4:20, 4:21, 5:2
know God:	4:7
No man hath seen God:	4:12
know not God:	4:8
Believe not God:	5:10
This is the true God, and eternal life:	5:20

Interpretive Study of 1John - Summary

Epistle theme: Jesus Christ is the Son of God

God's Way to Study His Word:

Overview of 1John

Epistle theme: Jesus Christ is the Son of God

Word Counts 1John:

Word Studies in 1John:

Summary of Chapter 1

Summary of Chapter 2

Summary of Chapter 3

Summary of Chapter 4

Summary of Chapter 5

God in 1John

Contact: Webmaster@LJC1611KJV.com. Member of Tower Road Baptist Church, Abq., NM, U.S.A., 87121. Copyright 2009 Lord Jesus Christ in the 1611KJV. All rights reserved. Revised: 02/27/24.