The writer of these three letters is John, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. He is also the writer one of the Gospel which bears his name and as well as the book of Apocalypse or Revelation. It is pleasant to read these letters because there are not difficulties of understanding, and it is also very instructive to strengthen our faith in the hope of everlasting life, by means of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (John 3:16,36). Each important idea written by the Apostle John will be introduced by a simple comment. Afterwards, there may be a comment that will allow to see how we can expand the meditation and the understanding linked to the teaching of the apostle John.
The first letter of the apostle John
Chapter 1:
The introduction of the letter simply explains the purpose of bearing witness of fellowship with God and his Son Jesus Christ, in view of the hope of everlasting life by means the sacrifice of Christ: « That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have observed and our hands have felt, concerning the word of life, 2 (yes, the life was made manifest, and we have seen and are bearing witness and reporting to you the everlasting life that was with the Father and was made manifest to us), 3 that which we have seen and heard we are reporting also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 5 This is the message that we heard from him and are announcing to you: God is light, and there is no darkness at all in him. 6 If we make the statement, “We are having fellowship with him,” and yet we go on walking in the darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 7 However, if we are walking in the light as he himself is in the light, we do have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin » (verses 1-7).
Some people say that they have no sin and therefore they do not need the atonement value of the blood of Jesus Christ to obtain the forgiveness of sins: « If we make the statement, “We have no sin,” we are misleading ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous so as to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we make the statement, “We have not sinned,” we are making him a liar, and his word is not in us » (verses 8-10).
Jesus Christ during his discussion with the teacher of the Law, Nicodemus, said that those who refuse to exercise faith in his sacrifice, would incur the anger of God, and therefore would not have the everlasting life: « For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. (…) The one who exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life; the one who disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him » (John 3:16,36).
It is possible that the people, who claimed to have no sin, thought that one can be righteous (with no sin) toward God, by a good conduct and thus obtain salvation, by deserved and without exercising faith in the sacrifice of Christ. Maybe some Jews of that time who did not exercise faith in Jesus and thought that salvation is only by means a good application of the Mosaic Law. Here is what the Apostle Paul wrote regarding this idea: « We who are Jews by birth, and not sinners from the nations, recognize that a man is declared righteous, not by works of law, but only through faith in Jesus Christ. So we have put our faith in Christ Jesus, so that we may be declared righteous by faith in Christ and not by works of law, for no one will be declared righteous by works of law » (Galatians 2:15,16).
In addition, the sinful condition does not only depend on the good or bad behavior toward God, but also, the fact that the sin is in the man, in his flesh, in his genes inherited from our common ancestor, Adam. In doing so, even if some people claim to have no sin because they would have good behavior toward God, that would not prevent them from undergoing the physical law of sin in them, in their flesh and in their genes, which leads them irretrievably to death: « That is why, just as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because they had all sinned. (…) For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord » (Romans 5:12; 6:23). Therefore, to get out of this dark tunnel of sin that leads to the grave, there is no other choice than to recognize our sinful condition and to exercise faith in the sacrifice of Christ, to obtain the everlasting life (reasoning with the mind of practical wisdom).
Chapter 2:
We must exercise faith in the atonement value of the sacrifice of Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins, we must also observe the commandments of God: « My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not commit a sin. And yet, if anyone does commit a sin, we have a helper with the Father, Jesus Christ, a righteous one. 2 And he is a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins, yet not for ours only but also for the whole world’s. 3 And by this we realize that we have come to know him, namely, if we continue observing his commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know him,” and yet does not observe his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in this person. 5 But whoever does observe his word, in this person the love of God has truly been made perfect. By this we know that we are in union with him. 6 The one who says he remains in union with him is himself under obligation to go on walking just as that one walked. (…) I am writing you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for the sake of his name. 13 I am writing you, fathers, because you have come to know him who is from the beginning. I am writing you, young men, because you have conquered the wicked one. I write you, young children, because you have come to know the Father. 14 I write you, fathers, because you have come to know him who is from the beginning. I write you, young men, because you are strong and the word of God remains in you and you have conquered the wicked one » (verses 1-6,12-14).
The disciple James exposed the same idea, namely the faith, in this circumstance, the faith in Jesus Christ, goes through a behavior in accordance with the will of God. A faith without works or without this good behavior is dead: « You see that a man is to be declared righteous by works and not by faith alone. In the same manner, was not Rahab the prostitute also declared righteous by works after she received the messengers hospitably and sent them out by another way? Indeed, just as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead » (James 2:24-26).
Christian love is incompatible with hatred: « Beloved ones, I am writing you, not a new commandment, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning. This old commandment is the word that you heard. 8 Again, I am writing you a new commandment, which is true in his case and in yours, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 The one who says that he is in the light and yet hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10 The one who loves his brother remains in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and is walking in the darkness, and he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes » (verses 7-11).
The Christian should not love the world: « Do not love either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; 16 because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. 17 Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever » (verses 15-17).
Disciple James also made the same recommendation with the fact of not loving the world: « Adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is making himself an enemy of God » (James 4:4). The love for the world is a spiritual adultery, that is to say, the breaking of the promise of loyalty made to God and to Christ, during the Christian baptism (Matthew 28:19).
The apostle John announces the presence of the antichrist and gives the definition. He encourages to remain in union with Jesus Christ: « Young children, it is the last hour, and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared, from which fact we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of our sort; for if they had been of our sort, they would have remained with us. But they went out so that it might be shown that not all are of our sort. 20 And you have an anointing from the holy one, and all of you have knowledge. 21 I write you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie originates with the truth. 22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either. But whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 As for you, what you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, you will also remain in union with the Son and in union with the Father. 25 Furthermore, this is what he himself promised us—the life everlasting. 26 I write you these things about those who are trying to mislead you. 27 And as for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to be teaching you; but the anointing from him is teaching you about all things and is true and is no lie. Just as it has taught you, remain in union with him. 28 So now, little children, remain in union with him, so that when he is made manifest we may have freeness of speech and not shrink away from him in shame at his presence. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born from him » (verses 18-29).
We recall the very precise definition of the antichrist, according to what it is written in 1 John 2:22,23: « Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either. But whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also ».
Chapter 3:
« See what sort of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are. That is why the world does not know us, because it has not come to know him. 2Beloved ones, we are now children of God, but it has not yet been made manifest what we will be. We do know that when he is made manifest we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is. 3And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as that one is pure » (verses 1-3).
Are you a Son of God? « For all who are led by God’s spirit are indeed God’s sons » (Romans 8:14). This question is only in the biblical context, and particularly of the letter to the Romans, the chapter 8. The answer will be based on the context of chapter 8, in order to know if, the status of « son of God » is only reserved for a category of Christians, for example, those who have the heavenly hope of being one of the 144000, or to all Christians, including those who are an earthly hope (Apocalypse 7:1-8 (144000); 7:9- 17 (the great crowd coming out of the great tribulation). In order for the reader to check by himself, the context reveals two important points:
1 – The apostle Paul does not speak at any time directly, of two categories of Christians, but rather of two categories of humans, those who live according to fleshly desires and those (the faithful Christians) who live by being led by the Holy Spirit.
2 – The apostle Paul does not evoke the hope of everlasting life, by directly making a difference between everlasting life in heaven and everlasting life in the future earthly paradise.
It should be recalled that in Romans 8, the apostle Paul wrote that the « sons of God » are who live led by spirit, and this is quite the case of the faithful Christians who have the earthly hope. In addition, if it is obvious that the expression of « joint heirs with Christ » has a restrictive meaning in Romans (8:12-17), applying only to the 144000, this expression can be applied currently to the faithful Christians who have the earthly hope, in the broad sense of Luke 23:43: « You will be with me in paradise ». The currently faithful Christians who have the earthly hope, will be, in a broad sense, « joint heirs with Christ », because they will be with Jesus Christ in paradise…
Finally, it is also good to remember how the Model Prayer begins: « Our Father in heaven » (Matthew 6:9)… If Jesus Christ asked his disciples to begin this prayer with the expression « Our Father », it is well proof that God will not wait a thousand years to consider, right away, that the faithful Christians who have the earthly hope, are their sons, the sons of God… « For all who are led by God’s spirit are indeed God’s sons »(Romans 8:14)…
Whoever practices sin, comes from the devil: « Everyone who practices sin is also practicing lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 You know, too, that he was made manifest to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. 6 Everyone remaining in union with him does not practice sin; no one who practices sin has either seen him or come to know him. 7 Little children, let no one mislead you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as that one is righteous. 8 The one who practices sin originates with the Devil, because the Devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was made manifest, to break up the works of the Devil. 9 Everyone who has been born from God does not practice sin, for His seed remains in such one, and he cannot practice sin, for he has been born from God. 10 The children of God and the children of the Devil are evident by this fact: Whoever does not practice righteousness does not originate with God, nor does the one who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 12 not like Cain, who originated with the wicked one and slaughtered his brother. And for what reason did he slaughter him? Because his own works were wicked, but those of his brother were righteous » (verses 4-12).
The apostle John mentions the practice of sin, that is to say having a continuous and voluntary conduct in sin. In verses 7 and 8, he contrasts the man who practices justice as a way of life with the man who practices sin, as other and different way of life. Thus, the practice of sin is different from the fact of committing a single sin, resulting of a human weakness. The apostle Paul has shown, like the apostle John, that this kind of single sin, made by weakness can be forgiven on the basis of the atonement value of the sacrifice of Christ (Romans 7:21-25). John gives an example of practice of sin, a continuous feeling of hatred against his neighbor: « Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed over from death to life, because we love the brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has everlasting life remaining in him. 16 By this we have come to know love, because that one surrendered his life for us, and we are under obligation to surrender our lives for our brothers. 17 But whoever has the material possessions of this world and sees his brother in need and yet refuses to show him compassion, in what way does the love of God remain in him? 18 Little children, we should love, not in word or with the tongue, but in deed and truth » (verses 13-18).
As Jesus Christ said, sin by intention in the heart, or by the expression of bad feelings of hatred in the heart, is a serious sin, even if it is not materialized in actions (like a homicide or murder) (Matthew 5:28). John writes that someone who has hatred for his brother, is already a homicide and therefore he no longer fulfills the conditions required by God, to obtain everlasting life.
Jesus Christ forbade the hatred, the insult, and the murder: « you heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You must not murder; but whoever commits a murder will be accountable to the court of justice.’ However, I say to you that everyone who continues wrathful with his brother will be accountable to the court of justice; but whoever addresses his brother with an unspeakable word of contempt will be accountable to the Supreme Court; whereas whoever says, ‘You despicable fool!’ will be liable to the fiery Gehenna » (Matthew 5:21-22).
Jesus Christ showed how to avoid this extremity, by trying as much as possible to resolve the personality conflicts: « If, then, you are bringing your gift to the altar and you there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, and go away; first make your peace with your brother, and then, when you have come back, offer up your gift » (Matthew 5:23,24).
Also in this same chapter, Jesus Christ said to love our enemies (Matthew 5:38-48). The verb « to love » in this context, is to be taken in the sense of a reasoned love, without necessarily being marked with affection towards our enemy. For example, when someone insults us or behaves badly towards us, the love based on Bible principles will prevent us from responding to insult with insult, or hatred with hatred. In this way, the vicious circle of hatred by hatred will be broken, by the virtuous circle requested by Jesus Christ: that is, to respond to the hatred of our enemy, by self-control, a love based on decorum, good manners , good education and common sense (Galatians 5: 22,23 « the fruit of the holy spirit »). Maybe this way of acting can encourage him to change his attitude towards us.
During his arrest which would lead him to death, Jesus Christ forbade the use of weapons, nor even to defend him or defend his cause: « Then Jesus said to him: “Return your sword to its place, for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword » » (Matthew 26:52). The murder and the homicide are forbidden, for both personal reasons, and even out of religious or state patriotism. This statement of Christ is a reminder of what it is written in the prophecy of Isaiah: « And he will certainly render judgment among the nations and set matters straight respecting many peoples. And they will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore » (Isaiah 2:4).
No longer learning war obviously supposes not to practice both combat sports or martial arts, even those, tinged with religious propaganda which would consist in saying that it is only with « defensive » purpose. Transforming a human body into a « defensive weapon » can quickly become « an offensive weapon » which can injure and until to kill… Christians should not see violent sports performances or films extolling gratuitous violence. This is completely detestable in the eyes of Jehovah God: « Jehovah himself examines the righteous one as well as the wicked one, And anyone loving violence His soul certainly hates » (Psalms 11:5).
God is greater than our hearts and knows all things: « By this we will know that we originate with the truth, and we will assure our hearts before him 20 regarding whatever our hearts may condemn us in, because God is greater than our hearts and knows all things. 21 Beloved ones, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have freeness of speech toward God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we are observing his commandments and doing what is pleasing in his eyes. 23 Indeed, this is his commandment: that we have faith in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he gave us a commandment. 24 Moreover, the one who observes his commandments remains in union with him, and he in union with such one. And by the spirit that he gave us, we know that he remains in union with us » (verses 19-24).
Sometimes our symbolic heart, which represents the source of our spiritual intuitions, can go wrong. He could condemn us with an excessive feeling of guilt, thinking, for example, that God has not forgiven us or that our sin is far too serious to be forgiven (Isaiah 1:18). Nevertheless, as the apostle John recalls, God is greater than our heart. Therefore, it is not because we have the bad intuition not to be forgiven, that God has not forgiven us. In a way, in this specific case, one could say that God is much more merciful than a heart which constantly feels guilty (read Psalms 51).
The narrative about King Manasseh, which has shed much blood, is the demonstration of how far Jehovah’s mercy can be applied to sincere repentance. In the biblical narrative, it is written about wickedness of King Manasseh: « Ma·nasʹseh also shed innocent blood in very great quantity until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to the other, besides his sin of causing Judah to sin by doing what was bad in the eyes of Jehovah » (2 Kings 21:16). Because of his bad deeds, God punished him: « Jehovah kept speaking to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. So Jehovah brought against them the army chiefs of the king of As·syrʹi·a, and they captured Ma·nasʹseh with hooks and bound him with two copper fetters and took him to Babylon » (2 Chronicles 33: 10,11). However, for as incredible as it may be, this king ended up sincerely repenting of his evil deeds and obtaining Jehovah’s mercy: « In his distress, he begged Jehovah his God for favor and kept humbling himself greatly before the God of his forefathers. He kept praying to Him, and He was moved by his entreaty and heard his request for favor, and He restored him to Jerusalem to his kingship. Then Ma·nasʹseh came to know that Jehovah is the true God » (2 Chronicles 33:12,13). What is the reason for this biblical example?
Many men and women have made irreversible mistakes, such as killing many humans (in the context of conflict) or taking part in abortions, sometimes even late. Many of them think that it is impossible that God would forgive them. Add to this a deep feeling of remorse and indignity. Regarding Jehovah’s immense mercy, this is what it says: « »Come, now, and let us set matters straight between us,” says Jehovah. “Though your sins are like scarlet, They will be made as white as snow; Though they are as red as crimson cloth, They will become like wool » » (Isaiah 1:18). This verse is especially addressed to those men and women who sincerely repent before God, asking for forgiveness: God forgives sincere repentance on the basis of the precious blood of Jesus Christ: « My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not commit a sin. And yet, if anyone does commit a sin, we have a helper with the Father, Jesus Christ, a righteous one. And he is a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins, yet not for ours only but also for the whole world’s » (1 John 2:1,2). Moreover, Jehovah God will resurrect the millions of dead who were victims of the many genocides (John 5:28,29). What is irreversible for man, is not for God (Matthew 19:26 « to God all things are possible »).
It is possible that even if the mercy of God applies to sincere repentance, a feeling of remorse and indignity will continue to harass them. However, they must know that God is greater than hearts (1 John 3:19-22).
Chapter 4:
It is very important to test whether the teaching that we receive, as « inspired statement », is truly based on the Bible: « Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired statement, but test the inspired statements to see whether they originate with God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you know that the inspired statement is from God: Every inspired statement that acknowledges Jesus Christ as having come in the flesh originates with God. 3 But every inspired statement that does not acknowledge Jesus does not originate with God. Furthermore, this is the antichrist’s inspired statement that you have heard was coming, and now it is already in the world. 4 You originate with God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in union with you is greater than the one who is in union with the world. 5 They originate with the world; that is why they speak what originates with the world and the world listens to them. 6 We originate with God. Whoever comes to know God listens to us; whoever does not originate with God does not listen to us. By this we distinguish the inspired statement of truth from the inspired statement of error » (verses 1-6).
How to « test the inspired statement » to see whether it comes from God? We have a concrete example written in the book of Acts: « Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they accepted the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so » (Acts 17:11). The Bereans, while listening to the teaching of the apostle Paul, tested his « inspired statement », whether it was well based on the Bible.
In verses 2 and 3, John specifies his thought: « Every inspired statement that acknowledges Jesus Christ as having come in the flesh originates with God. But every inspired statement that does not acknowledge Jesus does not originate with God. Furthermore, this is the antichrist’s inspired statement that you have heard was coming, and now it is already in the world ». Why does the apostle John insist so much regarding the faith in Jesus Christ? Because this is the central point of teaching, the central point of Christianity. By attacking this central part of this teaching that is both simple and very important, it can endanger the everlasting future of those who receive this false teaching which frankly denies the fact that Jesus is Christ.
However, it could be very difficult to detect this kind of false teaching. Let us take a concrete example in direct connection with the faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which leads to everlasting life. Let us talk about the celebration of the memory of the sacrifice of Christ. Jesus said to celebrate it once a year, on the date of the celebration of the former Jewish Passover, on the Nisan, 14, according to the Jewish calendar: « Keep doing this in remembrance of me » (Luke 22:19). This Christian ceremony must be celebrated in the same way as the Passover, that is between faithful Christians, in congregation or in family (Hebrews 10:1; Colossians 2:17; 1 Corinthians 11:33). After the celebration of Passover, Jesus Christ established the pattern of the future celebration of the memorial of his death (Luke 22:12-18). They are in these biblical quotes of the different Gospels: Matthew 26:17-35, Mark 14:12-31, Luke 22:7-38, John Chapter 13 to 17.
The apostle Paul also wrote this: « Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed » (1 Corinthians 5:7). The modalities of this Christian celebration which replace the Jewish Passover, are very simple. The Passover Lamb is replaced by what symbolically represents the body of Christ: his flesh is represented by an unfermented bread; his blood is represented by the cup. Just as the circumcised Jews ate the lamb of Passover, thus the Christian is invited, by Jesus Christ to participate in the unfermented bread and drink the cup: « So Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I will resurrect him on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink” » (John 6:53-55).
Currently and on a global scale, a human « inspired statement » claims that the faithful Christians who have the hope of everlasting life on earth, have no right to take part in the unfermented bread and the cup, contradicting in head-on way, the clear and precise declarations of Christ (Revelation 21:3,4 (Earthly Hope of Everlasting Life); John 6:48-58 (the injunction of Christ to eat the unfermented bread and drink the cup, symbolizing his flesh and his blood)). This dogma of the prohibition to take the emblems has absolutely no biblical foundation and is head-on against the teaching of Christ to take part in the unfermented bread and the cup. Now, taking part in the unfermented bread and the cup is the only visible way that the Christian can demonstrate his faith in the sacrifice of Christ and in the hope of everlasting life (John 3:16,36). Therefore, you, faithful Christians, who test the inspired statement, as encourages the apostle John, during the next celebration of the memorial of the sacrifice of Christ, what will you do?
If we love God, we must also love our neighbor: « Beloved ones, let us continue loving one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born from God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love has not come to know God, because God is love. 9 By this the love of God was revealed in our case, that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that we might gain life through him. 10 The love is in this respect, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved ones, if this is how God loved us, then we are also under obligation to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we continue loving one another, God remains in us and his love is made perfect in us. 13 By this we know that we are remaining in union with him and he in union with us, because he has given his spirit to us. 14 In addition, we ourselves have seen and are bearing witness that the Father has sent his Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is God’s Son, God remains in union with such one and he in union with God. 16 And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. (…) If anyone says, “I love God,” and yet is hating his brother, he is a liar. For the one who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And we have this commandment from him, that whoever loves God must also love his brother » (verses 7-16a, 20,21).
John encourages us to love our neighbor in the way of God, that is to say by taking the first step: « The love is in this respect, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins. Beloved ones, if this is how God loved us, then we are also under obligation to love one another » (verses 10 and 11). It was God who loved us first, when in the beginning, we did not love him. Jesus Christ expressed the same idea, namely to take the first step, to love someone who does not love us, as God did with us, but in a different way: « For if you love those loving you, what reward do you have? Are not also the tax collectors doing the same thing? And if you greet your brothers only, what extraordinary thing are you doing? Are not also the people of the nations doing the same thing? You must accordingly be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect » (Matthew 5:46-48). Thus, the manifestation of love, in the way of God, is sublimated by particularly in loving those who do not love us. Maybe, in their hearts, in return, it will born a brotherly love for us, as was the case for our love towards God and his Son Jesus Christ (John 3:16).
Love for God is devoid of all fear: « God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in union with God and God remains in union with him. 17 In this way love has been made perfect in us, so that we may have freeness of speech in the day of judgment, because just as that one is, so are we ourselves in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts fear out, because fear restrains us. Indeed, the one who is fearful has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love, because he first loved us » (verses 16b-19).
How is it that the apostle John writes to love God without fear, while in other parts of the Bible, it is written that we must fear God (Proverbs 2:5 « The fear of Jehovah »)? The fear of Jehovah God mentioned in Proverbs 2:5 is a feeling of deep respect and deference, a reverential fear. While the fear mentioned by the apostle John is incompatible with love for God because it is another kind of fear. It is a morbid fear, the fear of punishment which is completely incompatible with the love that we could naturally have towards someone who does not scare us and who comforts us.
Chapter 5:
The conquest that has conquered the world, our faith: « Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born from God, and everyone who loves the one who caused to be born loves him who has been born from that one. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and carry out his commandments. 3 For this is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome, 4 because everyone who has been born from God conquers the world. And this is the conquest that has conquered the world, our faith. 5 Who can conquer the world? Is it not the one who has faith that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is the one who came by means of water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. And the spirit is bearing witness, because the spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three witness bearers: 8 the spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement » (verses 1-8).
The witness of God about his Son is greater: « If we accept the witness of men, the witness of God is greater. Because this is the witness God gives, the witness that he has given about his Son. 10 The person putting his faith in the Son of God has the witness within himself. The person not having faith in God has made him a liar, because he has not put his faith in the witness given by God concerning his Son. 11 And this is the witness, that God gave us everlasting life, and this life is in his Son. 12 The one who has the Son has this life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have this life. 13 I write you these things so that you may know that you have life everlasting, you who put your faith in the name of the Son of God. 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that no matter what we ask according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us concerning whatever we are asking, we know that we are to have the things we ask for, since we have asked them of him » (verses 9-15).
All unrighteousness is sin; and yet, there is a sin that does not incur death: « If anyone catches sight of his brother committing a sin that does not incur death, he will ask, and God will give life to him, yes, to those not committing sin that incurs death. There is a sin that does incur death. It is concerning that sin that I do not tell him to make request. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and yet there is a sin that does not incur death. 18 We know that everyone who has been born from God does not practice sin, but the one born from God watches him, and the wicked one cannot take hold of him. 19 We know that we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one. 20 But we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us insight so that we may gain the knowledge of the one who is true. And we are in union with the one who is true, by means of his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and life everlasting. 21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols » (verses 16-21).
As the apostle Paul wrote, the wages sin pays is death (Romans 6:23). Thus, according to the apostle John, there is a sin that does not incur death, allowing the forgiveness of God, on the basis of the atonement value of the sacrifice of Christ. The sin which incurs death, according to verse 18, is the practicing of sin, in this case, the sacrifice of Christ does not apply, it is not even useful to pray for those who are practicing it. The apostle Paul wrote a similar idea on the practice of voluntary sin, which cannot be forgiven and which, therefore, incurs death: « For as regards those who were once enlightened and who have tasted the heavenly free gift and who have become partakers of holy spirit 5 and who have tasted the fine word of God and powers of the coming system of things, 6 but have fallen away, it is impossible to revive them again to repentance, because they nail the Son of God to the stake again for themselves and expose him to public shame » (Hebrews 6:4-6).
The present system of things is under the domination of Satan the devil: « We know that we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one » (verse 19).
The Christian should not practice idolatry: « Little children, guard yourselves from idols » (verse 21).
The second letter of the apostle John
This letter is addressed to a lady and her children (unless it is the metaphor of the Christian congregation (the Lady) with her children, the Christians who compose it):
“The older man to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I truly love, and not only I but also all those who have come to know the truth, 2because of the truth that remains in us and will be with us forever. 3There will be with us undeserved kindness, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, with truth and love.
4I rejoice very much because I have found some of your children walking in the truth, just as we received commandment from the Father. 5So now I request you, lady, that we love one another. (I am writing you, not a new commandment, but one that we had from the beginning.) 6And this is what love means, that we go on walking according to his commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should go on walking in it. 7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those not acknowledging Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.
8Look out for yourselves, so that you do not lose the things we have worked to produce, but that you may obtain a full reward. 9Everyone who pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God. The one who does remain in this teaching is the one who has both the Father and the Son. 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him. 11For the one who says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works.
12Although I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink, but I am hoping to come to you and to speak with you face-to-face, so that your joy may be in full measure.
13The children of your sister, the chosen one, send you their greetings” (verses 1-13).
This is a summary of the main theme of the first letter of John: « For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those not acknowledging Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Look out for yourselves, so that you do not lose the things we have worked to produce, but that you may obtain a full reward. Everyone who pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God. The one who does remain in this teaching is the one who has both the Father and the Son » (verses 7-9).
The third letter of the apostle John
This letter also could be named, the letter to Gaius:
“The older man to Gaius, the beloved, whom I truly love.
2Beloved one, I pray that in all things you continue to prosper and enjoy good health, just as you are now prospering. 3For I rejoiced very much when brothers came and bore witness about the truth you hold, as you go on walking in the truth. 4No greater joy do I have than this: that I should hear that my children go on walking in the truth.
5Beloved one, you show your faithfulness in what you do for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. 6They have given a witness about your love before the congregation. Please send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7For it was in behalf of his name that they went out, not taking anything from the people of the nations. 8So we are under obligation to show hospitality to such ones, so that we may become fellow workers in the truth.
9I wrote something to the congregation, but Diotrephes, who likes to have the first place among them, does not accept anything from us with respect. 10That is why if I come, I will call attention to the works he is doing in spreading malicious talk about us. Not being content with this, he refuses to welcome the brothers with respect; and those who want to welcome them, he tries to hinder and to throw out of the congregation.
11Beloved one, do not imitate what is bad, but imitate what is good. The one who does good originates with God. The one who does bad has not seen God. 12Demetrius has been well-reported-on by them all and by the truth itself. In fact, we too are bearing witness about him, and you know that the witness we give is true.
13I had many things to write you, but I do not wish to go on writing you with pen and ink. 14However, I am hoping to see you soon, and we will speak face-to-face” (verses 1-14).
The apostle John mentions the presence in the Christian congregation, of a harmful individual. His name is Diotrephes, who behaves like a tyrannical wolf, mistreating the brothers and sisters of the Christian congregation. In the letter from the disciple Jude, it is explained how the infiltration of these malicious people takes place, and how to identify them (the letter of Jude).
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Achieving Spiritual Maturity (Hebrews 6:1)
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Table of languages of more than seventy languages, with six important biblical articles, written in each of these languages…
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