CHAPTER ONE

 

 

1:1:  “handled” = The Greek here is “pselaphao,” and is the same Greek word that is used to describe the handling of Jesus by Thomas in Luke 24:39.  Although this word is also used in Acts 17:27 and Hebrews 12:18, there is a strong probability that John is here referring directly to the event that took place in Luke’s description in order to disquiet any false conceptions about the human nature of Jesus Christ.

 

John has been identified as the Apostle that specifically had to deal with the false doctrine of proto-Gnosticism.  John’s opposition came from two main forms of Gnosticism -- Docetism and Cerinthianism.  Both of these doctrines set forth the heresy concerning the nature of Christ in that, Docetism denies the reality of the incarnation, teaching instead that Christ only appeared to have a human body, and Cerinthianism, derived from one of John’s contemporaries, Cerinthus, who after training in Egypt, taught in Asia Minor and propagated the Judaizing teaching that Jesus was only the natural-born son of Joseph and Mary, and that Christ had only entered into the body of Jesus at His baptism, withdrawing prior to the crucifixion.

 

This is why we have John’s strong emphasis upon the fact that the Disciples “handled” Jesus physically.  And John graphically describes any other doctrine to the contrary as being “antichrists,” First John 2:18 & 22; 4:3, and “false prophets,” First John 4:1, and stresses the fact that Jesus Christ did truly Come in the flesh (1Jo. 4:2-3; 2Jo. 1:7).

 

“Word of Life” = Many understand that “The Word” is well covered as being Jesus in John 1:1-3 and First John 1:1.  By contrast, Who the “Life” is can be traced to where Jesus called Himself “the way, the truth, and the life,” John 14:6.

 

1:5:  “God is light, and in Him is no darkness” = These words, “light” and “darkness” are just mediphores for righteousness and sinfulness.

 

1:6:  “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth” = To read correctly and have proper sentence structure, this verse should read:  “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and TELL not the truth;” instead of “do not the truth.”  This word “tell,” better fits in that it goes along with what “we say,” and what we are saying when we say it, i.e., when we “lie.”  Therefore, what John is really saying here by stating, “do not the truth,” is that, “Actions speak louder than words.”

 

1:7:  “walk in the light” = See my First John 1:5 Note.

 

“ ‘To walk in the light’ means to resolve to exercise thought, to exert will-power, in an earnest endeavor to represent Christ in sweetness of character.  It means to put away all gloom. . . [and] means advancement and progress in spiritual attainments.”  ST, June 3, 1903; SD:200; 4MR:272; 7MR:100.

 

1:9:  “If we confess our sins” = Every saint had a past and every sinner has a future.

 

“If you have confessed your sins, if you have planted your feet on vantage ground, and are sorry for your sins, so sorry that you will not repeat them, you will receive pardon.”  RH, May 18, 1905; 5BIO:402.

 

“Unless you are wrought upon by the Holy Spirit in special manner to confess your sins of private nature to man, do not breathe them to any soul.”  CH:373; 2MCP:776.

 

 

CHAPTER TWO

 

 

2:3-5: “hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His Commandments” = “John did not teach that salvation was to be earned by obedience; but that obedience was the fruit of faith and love.”  AA:563.

 

2:7-8:  “new Commandment” = Explained in John 13:34.

 

2:18:  “the last time. . . the last time” = John literally believed he was living in the last days of this earth.  Every generation has had the hope of Christ’s return.  See First Thessalonians 4:15 & 7, taking note of the word “we;” placing Paul in the same company.

 

First John 2:18 & 2:22 & 4:3 & Second John 1:7:  “antichrist” = This term has always been taught to mean “Against Christ,” which is very true.  However, it also means “Instead of Christ.”  Or to better understand it, “One who would take the place of” Christ.

 

Instead of attempting to identify this term with one particular individual (which will lead one down a path of false doctrines and misapplications, and thus false assumptions) one should see where this term might apply to those who strive to work against the works of God.

 

Here are most of the pertinent points of EGW quotes in reference to the term “antichrist.”  As you will see she does not classify it as applying to ONE particular individual.  However, if an organization lends itself to such actions, then it has become “antichrist.”  One should also look up her statements referring to “anti-Christian,” for they are in reference to also being “antichrist.”

 

“The man of sin [Roman Catholic Church, not an individual, unless applied to Satan], who exalted himself above God, and thought to change Times and Laws, brought about the change of the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week.  In doing this he made a breach in (87) the Law of God.  Just prior to the great Day of God, a message is sent forth to warn the people to come back to their allegiance to the Law of God, which anti-christ has broken down.”  CET:86-87.

 

“We are not to attend their circles, neither are our ministers to engage in controversy with them.  They are of that class specified whom we should not invite into our houses, or bid them God speed.  We have to compare their teachings with the revealed will of God.  We are not to engage in an investigation of spiritualism.  God has investigated this for us, and told us definitely that a class would arise in the last days who would deny Christ Who has purchased them with His Own blood.  The character of spiritualists is so plainly described that we do not need to be deceived by them.  If we obey the Divine injunction, we shall have no sympathy with spiritualists, however smooth and fair may be their words.  The beloved John continues his warning against seducers:  ‘Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is Anti-Christ that denieth the Father and the Son.  Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father (but he that acknowledgeth the Son, hath the Father also).’ ”  RH, April 15, 1875.

 

“If all that appears to be Divine life were such in reality; if all who profess to present the truth to the world were preaching for the truth, and not against it, and if they were men of God, guided by His Spirit, -- then might we see something cheering amid the prevailing moral darkness.  But the spirit of anti-Christ is prevailing to such an extent as never before.”  PH117:62.

 

“We are living in the time of the end.  Thrones and churches have united to oppose God’s purposes.  The association of man with man, which God designed should be a means of strengthening goodness and happiness, has been a means of strengthening evil and of developing tendencies to rebellion.  Men have assumed despotic power, and human laws have been put in the place of the Law of God.  It is the reign of anti-Christ.  God’s Law is set aside.  The Scriptures are exchanged for the traditions of men.  Satan has become the ruler of the world, and in his hands temptation has become a science.  He rules over a vast, well-organized empire.  Sin has stimulated his followers into fearful activity.  Men have combined to perpetuate evil.”  18MR:185.

 

2:19:  “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us:  but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” = This is one of the most popular texts used by the “Once Saved Always Saved” crowd.  See my Bible Study:  “ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED.”

 

That these were pretenders -- for whatever reason -- Paul makes clear here; nothing else.  But to use this text as saying that if they were saved in the first place, they would NEVER have acted this way, is a false assumption.  To teach that God forces salvation upon you, or that He forces you to be lost, or better. That once you chose to follow Him and then cannot change your mind to not follow Him, is very inconsistent and WRONG.

 

2:20:  “unction” = The Hebrew word is “chrisma.”  This word signifies not an unction, but an “ointment,” the very thing itself by which anointing is affected.  And so it was properly rendered in our former translations.  Possibly this is an allusion to the holy anointing oil of the Law as mentioned in Psalm 14:7, or the anointing oil in Exodus 30:23-25.  Ultimately, John could be referring to the ministry (anointing) of the Holy Spirit, as pointed out in Verse 27.  The linking of the Holy Spirit and one being anointed can be clearly seen in Isaiah 61:1.

 

2:22:  “antichrist” = See my First John 2:18 Note.

 

 

CHAPTER THREE

 

 

3:1-2:  “Behold, what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us” = “Jesus Loves those who represent the Father, and John could talk of the Father’s Love as no other of the disciples could.  He revealed to his fellow-men that which he felt in his own soul.  Representing in his character the attributes of God.”  AA:545.

 

3:2:  “now” = The argument is presented that this is present tense.  And I say Amen.  However, no one should argue that a dog who has returned to his vomit is “now” headed for the kingdom of God.  Therefore, we should not conclude that the “now,” present tense verb, applies to all who claim to be “sons of God,” unless they are living the sanctified life (see verses 6 and 9).

 

“we shall see Him as He is” = We will live in the same dimension (physicality) as He is; in addition to the Spiritual application which is also clearly implied here, that there will be an influence in the beholding of our Saviour as He is, which will tend to make us “like” Him (see 2Co. 3:18), i.e., transform us into His likeness in character; knowing for sure what is righteous and what is not.

 

3:4:  “Whosoever committeth sin” = Everyone has sinned.  The Greek word for “committeth” is “poieo,” which literally mean, “practices; bands together with; continues in.”  Had it been translated correctly that way the meaning would be more powerful:  “Whosever continues to practice sin.”

 

Salvation has THREE tenses:

PAST TENSE:  Separates you from the penalty of “sin,” you stop “sinning.”

PRESENT TENSE:  Separates you from the power of “sin.”

FUTURE TENSE:  Separates you from the presence of “sin,” no “sin” in Heaven.

 

“for sin is the transgression of the Law” = See Romans 3:20; 4:15; 5:13; 5:20; 7:7; First Corinthians 15:56, for a Biblical definition of sin as also found here.

 

The greatest explanation of what Biblical sin is, i.e., what God considers sin, is explained as:  “The Transgression of God’s Law,” as found here and the verses I have given above.

 

Another aspect of what Biblical sin is:  Not doing (performing) God’s Law (Jam. 4:17; see also Luke 12:47-48; John 9:41; 13:17; 15:22; Rom. 1:20-21; 2:17-23).  Sin ultimately is however, loving something more than our Lord Who first Loved us.

 

Influenced by the translation of this verse in the “King James Version,” many restrict sin to the violation of the Ten Commandments alone.  However, a more literal translation is:  “sin is lawlessness,” “NKJV,” which incorporates into the Greek word, “anomia,” meaning, anything that goes against the principles of God is sin (such as His dietary Laws).  However, with the verses sited above, we can see that all of God’s Laws are incorporated into the base principles of the Ten Commandments.

 

By contrast, many modern Bible versions render “anomia” as “sin is lawlessness,” believing this refers to habitual lawless behavior.  But the Greek word “anomia” actually refers to specific violations of the Law rather than to habitual lawless behavior (see its use in Rom. 4:7; Tit. 2:14; Heb. 10:17). 

 

“Could there be an excuse for disobedience, it would prove our Heavenly Father unjust, in that He had given us conditions of salvation with which we could not comply.”  LP:296.

 

“It is impossible to explain the origin of sin so as to give a reason for its existence. . . Sin is an intruder, for whose presence no reason can be given.  It is mysterious, unaccountable; to excuse it is to defend it.  Could excuse for it be found, or cause be shown for its existence, it would cease to be sin.”  GC:492.

 

3:5:  “take away our sins” = See Matthew 1:21 & Revelation 1:5.

 

3:12:  “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one” = As Satan entered into Judas, so we see here that Cain is the first man that Satan ever entered into (see Gen. 4:8; Luke 22:3; John 13:27).

 

3:15:  “It is not the opposition of the world that most endangers the Church of Christ.  It is the evil cherished in the hearts of believers that works their progress of God’s cause.  There is no surer way of weakening spirituality than by cherishing envy, suspicion, fault-finding, and evil-surmising.”  AA:549.

 

 

CHAPTER FOUR

 

 

4:3:  “antichrist” = See my First John 2:18 Note.

 

4:8:  “God is Love” = Augustine expressed this truth eloquently, when he said:  “Ubi amor, ibi trinitas,” meaning, “Where there is love, there is a Trinity.”  However, let us not limit God.  John well expresses what God is by summing Him up with the word, “Love.”  By contrast, God is “merciful,” “longsuffering,” and many, many other Bible references we can use.  But God Himself expresses Who He is when asked.  He sums Himself up with, “I AM.”  Now we must finish that statement, just like if I were to say, “I love.”  You would then ask, “You love who,” or, “You love what?”  Therefore, John just finishes God’s statement with, “God is [I AM] Love.”

 

Consider this statement:  “Eternity is where true Love exists.”  From the movie, “A Very Merry Mix-up.”

 

“[739] Brethren, with the beloved John I call upon you to ‘behold, what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.’  What Love, what matchless Love, that, sinners and aliens as we are, we may be brought back to God and adopted into His family!  We [740]

 

“may address Him by the endearing name, ‘Our Father,’ which is a sign of our affection for Him and a pledge of His tender regard and relationship to us.  And the Son of God, beholding the heirs of grace, ‘is not ashamed to call them brethren.’  They have even a more sacred relationship to God than have the angels who have never fallen.

 

“All the paternal love which has come down from generation to generation through the channel of human hearts, all the springs of tenderness which have opened in the souls of men, are but as a tiny rill to the boundless ocean when compared with the infinite, exhaustless Love of God.  Tongue cannot utter it; pen cannot portray It.  You may meditate upon It every day of your life; you may search the Scriptures diligently in order to understand It; you may summon every power and capability that God has given you, in the endeavor to comprehend the Love and compassion of the Heavenly Father; and yet there is an infinity beyond.  You may study that Love for ages; yet you can never fully comprehend the length and the breadth, the depth and the height, of the Love of God in giving His Son to die for the world.  Eternity itself can never fully reveal It.”  5T:739-740; Mar. 77.

 

4:8:  “He that loveth not knoweth not God” = “Men hate the sinner, while they love the sin.  Christ hates the sin, but loves the sinner.”  DA:462.

 

“God is Love” = God didn’t create us so that we could love God.  He created us in order to Love us.

 

4:9:  “only begotten” = Here is my John 1:14 Note:  This phrase should ONLY be studied under the context of Hebrews 11:17.  Here is my Note there:  Abraham had a total of six (6) sons.  Thus, the phrase should ALWAYS be understood as “uniqueness, not origin.”  The Apostle John is the only other one to use this phrase, which led to the misunderstanding of many and the formation of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.  See John 1:18; 3:16 & 18; First John 4:9.

 

See my Bible Study, “CHRIST, THE PHRASE ONLY BEGOTTEN.”  This is an “Enthronement” term, or “Coronation” term.  It speaks to the “setting up” of Christ as King.

 

 

CHAPTER FIVE

 

 

5:1:  “. . . and every one that loveth Him [Jesus] that begat [that brought us into the fold through the merits of His blood] loveth him [our fellow believers] that is begotten of Him [Jesus].”

 

5:12:  “He that hath the Son hath life” = “In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived.  ‘He that hath the Son hath life.’  1Jo. 5:12.  The Divinity of Christ is the believer’s assurance of eternal life.”  DA:530.

 

5:16:  “a sin which is not unto death” = Here is my Romans 6:16 Note:  A better way to understand a difficult text in God’s Word is to look at its opposite.  Therefore, a sin “not unto death,” First John 5:16, would be one that CAN BE/IS repented of; as opposed to the unpardonable sin of “blasphemy against the Holy Ghost,” Matthew 12:31-32; Mark 3:19; Luke 12:10; Acts 7:51; which CANNOT be repented of (because they do not want to repent).