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I John 3:12-24
Verse 12
The first illustration of love vs. hate; Cain.
1. Not as Cain: 1st son of Adam
2. Who was of the evil one: ek ponāros, out from. This communicates the
origin of his thoughts and actions.
A. Status: Satan's family. John 8.44, "you are of your father the
devil."
B. Nature: the sin nature, "by nature, children of wrath."
Eph. 2:2
C. Function: under Satan's influence as per Eph. 2.2
"in which you previously walked
according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power
of the air,
of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
This includes the function of the sin nature as per Eph. 2:3.
"Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging
the desires of the flesh and of the mind,
and were by nature (the sin nature) children of wrath, just as the rest."
Compare Rom. 6:12, "therefore do not the sin reign in your
mortal body to obey its desires."
This advances into hatred for light and anyone who represents the light.
Jn. 3.19-20; 15.19
3. And slew his brother: sphadzō
as an aorist (a.) active (act.) indicative (ind.). Indicates the historical
point of time of the murder. Gen. 4.1-8
The knife used was probably the very same knife that was used in the
killing of the animal for a sacrificial offering.
It seems that after Cain's offering of vegies was rejected by God, Abel
attempted to teach him what the proper offering should be.
And instead of listening, Cain took the very knife used for the sacrifice
and killed Abel.
Wuest's comment is very helpful. "The word "slew" is sphadzo, "to slay,
slaughter, butcher, by cutting the throat." It was used in
classical Greek of slaughtering victims for sacrifice by cutting the throat,
also of animals tearing by the throat, of any slaughter by
knife or sword. It is used in the LXX of the slaughtering of the Levitical
sacrifices (Lev. 1:5). The usual word meaning to kill is
apothnesko. The inspired writer goes out of his way to use a specialized
word to describe the murder of Abel by Cain.
(Word studies in the Greek New Testament).
Study
Genesis 4:1ff
His motives are stated as
"because his deeds were evil."
Again, the word for evil is ponāros to indicate an infectious rebellion and
antagonism to the light of God's authority and policy.
His evil deeds was the attempt to relate to God on his own idea of what was
right and acceptable to God.
The issue here is NOT "doing something." It is doing something contrary to
God's policy. Using his own human viewpoint.
AND because his brother's deeds were righteous. The adjective, dikaios
refers to that which is according to God's standards of right and wrong, and
God's policy for worship.
Thus, it was a darkness vs. light issue. And that's what LOVE is all about.
Love is the attitude that seeks the benefit of others via the promotion of
light standards; the application of truth in every area of life.
The righteous deeds of Abel challenged and rebuked the evil deeds of Cain.
Light rebukes darkness and the believer SHOULD do so as per Ephesians
5:11-13.
And darkness often responds by violence.
It is impossible for the human viewpoint reasoning of darkness (religion and
philosophy) to refute the absolute truth of light.
And when darkness is pushed up against the impregnable wall of the truth, it
very often resorts to violence as a defense.
Verse 13
The darkness of the world system (kosmos) hates the light; hates God, hates
Christians, and hates the morality of the light system.
1. brethren: addressed to the believers
2. do not marvel: thaumadzo as a present active imperative plus the
negative, me. surprised, awed, shocked.
3. If the world hates you: the "if" is first class condition of reality. It
expresses the idea of WHEN. This will happen.
Jesus taught this at John 15:18-21. Verse 19, "I chose you out of the world;
therefore the world hates you.
The word for hate at both places is miseo as a present active indicative.
Hatred is the attitude that seeks to silence, neutralize or destroy any
expression of the light system.
John 16:2-3. The specific attack on the disciples after the resurrection of
Jesus.
"They will ban you from the synagogue, yet an hour is coming for everyone
who kills you to think that he is offering a service to God.
These things they will do because they have not known the Father nor Me."
He taught the details of this earlier at Mat. 10:17-23 and again at Mat.
24:-12 in reference to the tribulation.
The principle is stated at John 3:19-20,
"And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and
people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil.
For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light,
so that his deeds will not be exposed."
The light reveals the true nature of darkness viewpoint and actions. It
reveals, rebukes and condemns.
If one does not change away from such darkness, the soul will experience
extreme discomfort and unhappiness.
See Topic: THE WORLD system
Verse 14
An experiential evidence of one's salvation reality.
1. we Know: oida indicates doctrinal knowledge, stability and confidence.
2. That we have passed: metabaino as a perfect active indicative.
This describes a PAST event that has present and in fact permanent results.
It describes the STATUS of our salvation relationship with God.
3. out from the death: ek + (the) + Thanatos
A. this refers to the state of existence within the kingdom of darkness.
Many use the term "spiritual" death although the term does not occur in the
Bible.
B. It is a term of accommodation to indicate there is no relationship with
God.
John 4:24 states that "God is spirit." That is, His existence and substance
is in a realm or sphere that is different from the realm of the physical
universe.
It does not mean that man's human spirit is dead or not present.
See Topic: the human spirit
Man is born totally separated from God and under God's judgment. People are
born without any relationship with God; dead to God.
See topic: spiritual death
Romans 5:12, the subject here is not "physical"
death.
Therefore, just as through one man the sin (nature) entered into the world,
and death through the sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all
sinned—
Rom. 5:6-10 - helpless, ungodly, sinners, enemies.
Eph. 2:1 - dead in trespasses and sins; Col. 2:13
Eph. 2:3 - by "nature" children of wrath
Eph. 2:12 - separate from Christ
Eph. 2:12 - without God
John 3:18 - judged already
C. It is not "physical" death although physical death is a temporal result
of being dead in sin.
4. into the life:
The everlasting life of John 3:16 and 5:24.
John 17:3 indicates that everlasting life is relationship with God.
"This is everlasting life that they may know you, the only true God, and
Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
This is not teaching "what" produces eternal life, but rather, what is
involved with the possession of eternal life which one acquires at the very
moment of time that he trusts in Christ as savior.
The unbeliever exists IN
death; in separation from God having no relationship with Him.
The believer exists IN life. BUT the believer can function in death and
imitate the unbeliever.
The word "death" is used to express this experience in the believer's life.
See Topic: Transfer out from darkness into LIGHT
5. because we love the brethren: The verb, agapao as a present active
indicative.
This refers to the radiating of Christ's character out from our life as
evidenced by consistent expression of beneficent love.
The reason that John uses this specific object is because our fellow
believers and indeed, all people are the focus for the expression of all the
character virtues of Jesus.
John 13:34-35, "I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one
another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for
one another."
John 15:12, "this is my commandment that you love one another just as I have
loved you."
Romans 14:10, "love does no harm to a neighbor. Love therefore is the
fulfillment of the law."
The character virtues of beneficent love
Eph 4:2, "with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one
another in love."
Eph 5:1-2, "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk
in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an
offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."
1Cor. 13:4-8
Col. 2:12-17
The desire and genuine expression of these character virtues indicates that
the person has a functional relationship with God and with Jesus.
Sin, of course, interrupts that functional relationship (fellowship) with
God .
Learning God's word develops consistency in expressing love and builds
sinless consistency.
Psalm 119:11, "Your word I have stockpiled in my heart so that I might not
sin against you."
6. He who does not love the brethren: This is a present active participle of
agapao.
The participle describes what is evident in the believer's life at any given
point in time.
The one who does not radiate Christ's character, functions in the realm of
death - he is not in fellowship with God.
7. abides in the death: meno as a present active indicative.
A. CATEGORY: UNBELIEVER: Status of separation from God - spiritual
neutralization. The unbeliever has no relationship with God (not a child).
And he has no experiential fellowship with God.
1. Weary and under a burden. Mat. 11:26.
2. No "abundance" (abundant life of John 14:6).
B. CATEGORY, BELIEVER: Functional neutralization.
1. Rom. 8.13
2. Eph. 5.14
3. Jas. 2.14-26
4. Jas. 1.13-15
5. 1 Tim. 5.5-6 but she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even
while she lives."
This describes the functional status of the believer, who in this condition
imitates the unbeliever.
He is not ACTUALLY IN darkness; But he is experiencing and expressing the
way of life of the unbeliever.
Here on earth, at any given point in time, the believer will either radiate
Christ's character or function under the control of the sin nature and will
radiate the fruit of the flesh.
Verse 15 COMPARISON TO THE UNBELIEVER
1. Everyone who hates: present active participle of miseo.
This word is used to express the opposite of beneficent love.
This is the mental attitude that places self above everyone at all costs.
And so either directly or indirectly, it does harm to others.
John is teaching that a mental attitude is just as bad as the overt
sin of murder. He who hates his brother is a murderer.
Jesus taught this same thing at Mt. 5.21-30
Religion always emphasizes the overt (whether it be good or bad)
and neglects what is going on inside.
Mt. 23.27, woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
for you are like white-painted tombs which on the OUTSIDE
appear beautiful, but INSIDE they are full of dead men's bones
and all uncleanness.
True Christianity focuses on the mental attitude first
and then requires the overt follow through.
2. is a murderer. The ultimate expression of hatred is murder.
When backed into a corner, the mental attitude of hatred will kill the
object of hate and even whatever or whoever gets in the way.
So basically, hatred is mental murder.
3. AND you know: Oida refers to established knowledge in your mind.
This provides the transition to apply bible truth to the reality of
spiritual death via Rom. 6:23.
"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is everlasting life."
4. that every murderer: This refers to the unbeliever; category, murderer.
5. does not have: echo, present active indicative + the negative. It
indicates both relationship and experience.
6. everlasting life: This refers to inheritance in the kingdom of God
through salvation relationship with God.
7. abiding in Him: meno, present active participle. No relationship or
fellowship interaction with God.
The same issue of imitation was taught to the Corinthians, the Ephesians and
the Galatians.
A. 1 Cor. 6:9-11
B. Gal. 5:19-21
C. Eph. 5:3-18
D. Rev. 21:7-8
1 Cor.
6.9-11. Although "murder" is not mentioned, the principle still applies. The
list describes the unbeliever classed by sin. The believer, who may DO some
of these sins does not fall into the "unbeliever" category because the
believer has been positionally delivered out from that category through
union with Christ. "and such WERE some of you. But you WERE washed,
sanctified and justified."
Eph. 5.1-18. The issue is imitation. Imitation of God by
radiating love, or imitation of the unbeliever by living according
to the desires of the sin nature. imitating the unbeliever is imitating
someone who has no relationship with God. Such a one as this, "has no
inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God."
The believer is instructed NOT to "partake" in the unbeliever's sin activity
(imitate) BECAUSE "you were FORMERLY darkness, but now you are light IN the
Lord."
Thus the command, "walk as children of light."
Imitate light; not darkness.
Gal. 5.13-26. Again, the issue is imitation. The unbeliever is
characterized by one or more of the listed "desires of the flesh (sin
nature)." When the believer expresses any of these sins, he imitates the
unbeliever. Thus, the believer is exhorted to be led by the Spirit (through
the truths of God's word) and not "carry out the desires of the flesh." The
unbeliever has no choice but to "live out" the desires of the sin nature.
But the believer (those who BELONG to Christ) "has KILLED (crucified) the
flesh along with its desires.
Again, because the believer has been delivered out from darkness into light,
he has the CAPACITY (through application of God's word) to resist the
desires of the sin nature.
Verse 25, "SINCE (1st class condition "if" clause) we live in the Spirit,
let us also walk in the Spirit."
Romans 6:1-18. The believer is dead to the sin nature and is
"freed from the sin nature" because he has obeyed (believed) the gospel (the
teaching he received). Therefore "do not let the sin nature reign in your
mortal body that you should obey its desires."
Rev. 21.7-8 9. The issue here is
not loss of salvation, but the principle that the believer can fail to
operate under eternal life dynamics (the character qualities of love), that
are realized by knowledge and application of God's word (The goal of the
instruction is love, 1 Tim. 1:5), and therefore imitate
the unbeliever who doesn't even have access to those dynamics.
It is shameful for a child of God to act like the unbeliever. Hatred and
murder are used as the extreme example of imitation. But as the above
passages indicate, ANY SIN; any violation of the character virtues of love
does not reflect the status of everlasting life.
The believer who has everlasting life is looking like the unbeliever who
does not have everlasting life.
The believer as a child of God should not be acting like someone who is not
a child of God. Eph. 5.3 - as is proper for saints.
F.
See Topic: Salvation security
Verse 16 THE PERFECT
EXAMPLE OF LOVE: Christ's total life sacrifice.
1. we know: ginosko, perfect active indicative. We have come to know through
the experience of focusing on the historical reality of Christ's example;
His character and work.
2. the love: agape. The specific quality of love that I am writing about.
3. that He (THAT ONE): ekeinos, specifically the Messiah-savior, Jesus
Christ.
4. laid down his life: tithāmi, aorist active indicative. The specific point
of time on the cross.
The word for soul is psuchā. It refers to a total life sacrifice.
The decision of the conscious self to experience the inner pain of paying
for sin and the physical pain on the body.
Isaiah 53:7-8a; physical torment.
Isaiah 53:11, the inner "soul" agony.
Isaiah 53:8b, the death of the body.
5. for us: huper, the preposition of substitution. On behalf of, in place
of.
Jesus paid the price required by the justice of God in order to redeem
mankind from the penalty of sin.
Rom. 6:23, "the wages of sin is death (separation from God) but the gift of
God is everlasting life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Study topic: Redemption
6. The supreme sacrifice: John 10:11-18; Isaiah 53:8; Psalm 22:6-18
A. Mt. 26.65-68; 27.26-32
B. Mk. 14.63-65; 15.16-20, 29-32
7. and we ought to lay down our souls: Total
life sacrifice for the benefit of the family of God - to whatever extent
necessary.
Application of God's character and plan to every situation in life.
8. for the brethren:
A. fellow believers: Phil. 2:3-8; Gal. 6:10
B. Principle extended to all people: 1Cor. 10:31-11:1.
Verse 17 SECOND EXAMPLE OF LOVE: Physical needs of fellow believers
1. but: de = now. It indicates a transition to another example of love.
2. whoever has: echo as a present active subjunctive which indicates a
potential situation that might arise in your Christian life.
3. the goods of the world: bios + kosmos
The physical things of this life that either maintain or enhance our
physical existence.
These details of life are in two categories.
Necessity details: food, shelter, clothing
auxiliary details: possessions, relationships, entertainment
This example refers to a believer who has a surplus supply of these things.
He has plenty of necessity details and plenty of auxiliary details.
4. and sees: theoreo as a present active subjunctive. The subjunctive mood
continues the possible scenario.
This word is more detailed then blepo, which simply notices something in a
point of time.
Theoreo is more specific and detailed. In other words he has all the facts
concerning the needs of the brother in view.
5. His brother: the context indicates that this is specifically a fellow
member of the family of God; a fellow believer.
6. in need: having need. The verb is echo + chreia; present active
participle.
7. and closes his feelings from him : kleio; aorist active subjunctive. This
continues the possible scenario.
The word for feelings is splagchnon. It refers to the physical inward part
of the body as in the stomach.
Since we FEEL our emotions so often in the stomach, this word is used to
indicate emotions, either in a good or a bad sense.
Col. 3:12-14 lists the various character qualities that are related to the
emotions.
"So, as the elect ones of God, holy and beloved, Put on emotions (splagchnon,
plural) of compassion, generosity, humility, gentleness and patience,
bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint
against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. 14 In
addition to all these things put on the love, which is the unifying bond of
completeness."
And of course, ultimately it is the expression of THE love that indicates
true Christian maturity.
But this believer shows no feeling of compassion or empathy; no concern in
the least.
So of course, John states the obvious by asking the question; HOW.
8. How: pōs. As rhetorical question, it remains unanswered except through
the contextual implication that God's love never expresses itself in this
way.
9. the love of God: God is the source and example of this king of love.
It is the character - the quality of thinking - that seeks the benefit of
others through the promotion of God's character and plan in every area of
life.
10. abide in him: meno as a present active indicative.
The love of God will reside in the believer's soul in three modes. 1 Tim.
1:5.
The goal of the instruction is love: That is the purpose of learning bible
truth.
A. FELLOWSHIP MODE: out from a cleansed heart: This refers to the
forgiveness of sins. But not the salvation forgiveness. That was taken care
of once and for all in two stages.
First at the moment that Jesus paid for all the sins of the world. John
19:30, it is finished (tetelestai). Paid in full. Eph. 1:7
Second at the moment the person trusts in Christ as Savior.
Acts 10:43, "everyone who believers in Him receives forgiveness of sins."
Here, the cleansed heart refers to the experiential condition of forgiveness
based on the consistent use of confession. 1 John. 1:9-2:2.
The practice or experience of sinless consistency paves the way for advance
in Christian growth and for the consistent application of all the character
virtues of love.
In a true expression of beneficent love, there are not mental attitudes of
pride, arrogance, self-righteousness or self-interest.
B. CONTENT MODE: and a good conscience: agathos suneideisis
agathos refers to good of intrinsic value; not imagined or man-made. Good
that is good based on God's standards; not man's.
The conscience is the place in the soul where our standards of right and
wrong; good and bad are stored.
See Topic: conscience
This refers to the acquisition of divine viewpoint standards learned from
the content of bible truth. True beneficent love is based on the viewpoint
and standards of God's love - revealed to us only in the text of God's
written word. However, we can learn principles of beneficent love from moral
examples that sometimes come from parents and society.
C. APPLICATION MODE: and an unhypocritical faith. Acceptance & application
through faith thinking.
Faith refers to the conscious expression of belief and application of love
in every area of life.
Although if God's character virtues permeate the soul, quite often the
expression of those virtues will be automatic.
The word unhypocritical is anupokritos.
hupokritos refers to someone who speaks; judges; interprets out from under a
disguise or a mask. It was a theatrical term to refer to an actor who "acts"
out from under a mask to represent the character in a play, but not his true
person. Thus the idea of someone who speaks and acts differently than what
he actually is. This gives the impression that the person is who he shows
himself to be, but in actuality he is different.
Then negative (an) in front indicates something that is NOT hypocritical. It
is therefore genuine.
The FAITH that is expressed has true divine-viewpoint motivation. It is true
beneficent love that comes from the desire to please God by expressing HIS
viewpoint and standards. This does not come from a works motivation. It does
not come from pretense to give a false impression. It does not come with
strings attached. In other words, it is not an ACT in any way, shape or
form.
John indicates that without the overt expression of beneficent love there is
no indication that the believer is functioning under the influence of God's
standards in the soul.
So this serves as a challenge to the believer to evaluate and establish for
himself the genuineness of his Christian character.
And then in the next verse he challenges the believer to evaluate the overt
expression of love.
1 John 3:18-24, PERSONAL APPLICATION IN VIEW OF THE SCENARIO
V. 18
1. Little children: plural of teknion
This is a term of affection and concern that the recipients would properly
apply Bible truth.
2. Let us not love: agapao as a present act. subjunctive. This is a
reference to the Christian mandate of love
as described in 1Cor. 13:4-8 and Rom. 12:9-13
3. in word: logos. This refers to what is spoken out from the content of the
soul.
In this case the focus is on someone who actually teaches about love but
does not show a genuine expression of love.
4. or in tongue: glōssa refers to the spoken word. In this case it would be
a promise to show some expression of love or
a statement of concern for someone. But again, there is no genuine
expression of love.
5. but in deed: ergos refers to an actual expression of love that in this
context is shown by helping with the living necessity
details of life. The works of James 2:14-20.
6. and in truth: alātheia. Truth refers to the standards that determine what
genuine love is.
A. However, 1 Cor. 13:3 indicates that I can meet the material needs of
someone and STILL NOT have love.
B. Genuine love is defined and produced by the standards of God's word. John
17:17; 1 Tim. 1:5.
C. Remember there are two viewpoints in the universe; light and darkness.
Is. 55:8-9; Prov. 14:12.
V. 19
1. by this: en + houtos (instrumental case) refers back to v. 18.
The knowledge and application of truth is the real issue. Agapā love is the
by product.
It comes from the truth, not before it.
2. we shall know: ginōsko as a future mid. indicative.
It's used to indicate assurance and confidence based on perception and
understanding of the experiential reality of love.
3. that we are: present indicative of eimi is used to indicate a particular
STATUS.
4. of the truth: ek + alātheia
A. When we experience the expression of bible truth in our life as agapā
love becomes more and more consistent, it is
evidence TO US that -
1. First - that we have a status of being of the truth which is our
salvation status.
2. Second - that our fellowship with God is of the truth; according to the
standards of bible truth.
B. In other words, we know that our life conforms to truth when that truth
is consistently expressed in every area of life through the radiation of
Christ's love.
5. and we shall assure: peitho as a future act indicative. It means to
persuade or convince.
6. our hearts: refers to the self-consciousness of the soul; basically, the
ME or the ego of my being or existence.
The ME of my being finds confidence, peace and joy knowing that we are
living in a way that pleases God.
7. before Him: emprosthen indicates "in the face of," that is, according to
His standards.
Verse 20
1. In whatever our heart condemns us. kataginōsko as a present act.
subjunctive. This has the idea to know something
against someone and to condemn them based on that knowledge.
This refers to attacks on the self-conscious designed to break our spirit by
bringing doubt and fear that - we are not saved at all, and or, that we are
not in fellowship with God.
A. This refers to a human viewpoint criticism that attacks us from the sin
nature or from the world system.
B. The biblical application of love is not the same as the world's.
C. John's focus is on the material needs of people. Bible truth gives us
some guidelines.
2Thes. 3:10-13 cf principles from John 12:3-8.
D. When we love genuinely and apply divine truth to various situations,
human viewpoint will often crop up and
condemn us because our expression of God's kind of love does not conform to
the world system.
E. But if we are confident through our knowledge and application of bible
truth we will not be intimidated by these attacks.
2. BECAUSE: hoti, introduces the WHY we can be confident in our actions when
they are different from the standards of the world
and are unpopular and are criticized.
3. God is greater than our heart: God's standards are absolute and not
dependent on the subjectivity of the world's viewpoint.
God's viewpoint can supersede the human viewpoint attacks from the world and
from our own emotional subjectivity.
A. Our soul can entertain both divine and human viewpoint standards. The
battle is within the soul.
B. Our only protection is to saturate our soul with God's standards so that
His viewpoint can consistently govern our
feelings, attitudes and actions.
4. And knows all things: ginōsko as a present act. indicative + pas.
A. This is first a statement of God's absolute knowledge.
B. It is next a recognition that nothing can trick, deceive or defeat God.
C. No matter how "convincing" the viewpoint of the world might be, God's
standards see through the error and always
has the answer for the trusting believer.
D. If it appears that there is too much suffering in the world, as the world
contends, we must not let it distort the true
perspective of divine viewpoint.
E. God knew in eternity past all the details of suffering and pain that
would be in the world today.
And His character and plan remain in control.
F. It is His word that guides our attitudes and actions, not the opinions of
the world, nor indeed, the actual negative events
of history.
G. We must leave the status of the world and the events of history in the
hands of God. And let the progress of God's plan
and the influence of divine viewpoint address the real issue, which is the
spiritual needs of the world.
Verse 21
1. Beloved, if: 3rd class condition indicates the potential of 2 types of
viewpoint being present in our soul.
Light vs. darkness; divine viewpoint vs. human viewpoint.
2. our heart: this refers to the standards in our soul (conscience) relating
to our "self-ness;" our ego.
3. does not condemn us: present act. subjunctive of kataginosko + the
negative.
It is our actions and even attitudes that are in view. If they are in
conformity to the divine viewpoint standards that we have learned and that
are functional in our soul, our conscience will not be compromised and there
will be no self-condemnation.
Nor will there be any intimidation from human viewpoint attacks on how we
view and handle the events of history both past and present.
We will continue to maintain our peace, joy and stability. Principle form
Rom. 14:22.
"The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. HAPPY (makarios)
is the one who does not condemn himself in what he approves."
We will not be influenced by the philosophies, religions, attitudes and
actions of the darkness system that surrounds us.
4. and we will have confidence before God.
A. the verb echo as a present act indicative + the noun parrāsia
B. before God: pros + the accusative of theos
The standards of bible truth that we have in our soul will protect us from
self-condemnation and from the world's condemnation.
5. It is this conformity to divine viewpoint (established by the text of
God's written word) that determines fellowship and rapport with God.
6. And our confidence of fellowship rapport is the basis for confidence of
prayer access.
Prayer access means that God will most certainly hear us.
This of course in contrast to Psalm 66:18. "If I regard iniquity in my heart
Yahweh will not hear me."
7. And if God hears us, we know that we will have what we desire and request
from Him - of course, based on the principles of answered prayer. see
details in topic: prayer summary
Verse 22
1. And whatever we ask: aiteo as a present active subjunctive. The present
tense indicates the reality of access prayer, which is based on our
fellowship rapport with God through sinless consistency.
The subjunctive mood refers to the potential for all the possible and
various requests throughout our Christian life.
Phil. 4:6, "Stop worrying about everything, but with prayer and supplication
let your requests be made known to God."
2. This "whatever" is subject to attitudes and viewpoint conformity to
divine standards as amplified at 1Jn 5:14, kata thelāma,
"according to His will."
3. we receive from Him: lambano as a present active indicative indicates the
result of prayer access and agreement with
God's viewpoint, policy and plan.
4. Principle: Not only must there be prayer access, but it must also be
according to His will.
Two reasons prayer is not heard.
First: there is no fellowship with God; no prayer access. Psalm 66:18;
Isaiah 59:2
Second: the request is simply not what HE WANTS. "according to His will."
All answered prayer is determined by Him from eternity past based on the
progress of his plan and our conformity to it.
The progress of God's plan includes the principle of the optional will of
God. Things that only come about because a believer
requests it. Otherwise it would not happen. James 4:2, "you have not because
you ask not." topic: prayer summary
5. because: hoti - explains the principle for answered prayer.
6. we keep his commandments: The commandments refer to two aspects of
spiritual reality.
A. We must have relationship with God. We must be a believer in Jesus Christ
as the Savior of the world.
B. We must be in fellowship with God based on the attitude and actions of
beneficent love.
We must maintain sinless consistency.
7. AND - kai, here, indicates an amplification of his commandments.
Basically, his commandments are those things that are pleasing to him.
8. do: poieo as a present active indicative indicates putting into practice
the viewpoint and standards of God
9. the things that are pleasing to Him. "the acceptable things." ho arestos.
This is what sinless consistency is all about.
Verse 23 THE POLICY OF GOD FOR THE HUMAN RACE
1. And this is His commandment: eimi entole
The two planes of keeping God's policy for the human race.
FIRST: that we believe in Jesus as our savior. One must be a genuine
Christian through faith and the new birth.
A. believe is an aorist active subjunctive of pisteuo.
This verb expresses recognition of total value and total trust.
The subjunctive mood indicates the potential for any member of the human
race. John 3:16, "WHOEVER believes in him."
John 3:36, "The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one
who does not obey the Son
(his command to believe) will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on
him."
B. in the NAME: onoma. This does not refer to his title or the appellation,
Jesus.
It refers to WHO HE IS; His character and his work that provided salvation.
Believe in the PERSON.
C. of His Son, Jesus Christ: of course there is no alternative to God's
salvation policy. John 14:6; Acts 4:12
SECOND: and love one another
A. love is agapao as a present active subjunctive and refers to the attitude
and actions of beneficent love.
B. one another: certainly refers to fellow believers as at John 13 and 15.
But the application of beneficent love
extends to all volitional beings; all people. Both believers and
unbelievers.
2. just as he commanded us: Literally, "just as he gave us commandment."
A. gave: didomi as an aorist active indicative. This refers to the doctrinal
instruction given in a point of time in the upper room.
B. commandment: entole in the singular. This refers to the ONE and foremost
commandment for living the Christian life.
John 13:34-35; 15:12-17
BENEFICENT LOVE
1. Definition The quality of love which seeks the Divine viewpoint benefit
of the object.
A. From the negative: Rom. 13:8-10 - does no harm
B. From the positive: Gal. 5:13 - serve one another
2. The mandate for love:
A. 1 Jn. 3:23-24 -- God's policy
B. 1 Jn. 2:7-11 ---The issue of fellowship
3. The three guidelines for love:
A. The example of God the Father: 1 Jn. 4:7-11 (Mt. 5:43-48; Lk.6:27-38)
B. The example of Christ: Jn. 13:34
1. Eph. 5:1-2
2. Rom. 15:1-3
3. 1 John 2:6-11
C. The example of self: Mt. 22:34-40
1. Eph. 5:28-29
2. Mt. 7:12
4. Love then is the operative word for living the Christian way of life.
A. Gal. 5:6 with 1 Cor. 13:13
B. 1 Cor. 16:14
C. Mt. 22:34-40
5. Humility love: Expressed toward other believers because of the positional
and family equality which exists in the body of Christ. (Application of
BROTHERLY LOVE)
A. Phil. 2:1-4 - Divine viewpoint equality
B. Col. 3:12-13 - Five emotions of grace orientation (splangnon) compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness, patience
C. Eph. 4:1-2 - patience and forbearance.
D. 1 Peter 4:8 - love covers a multitude of sins.
6. Unity love: Expressed for the promotion of doctrinal purity among
believers.
A. Eph. 4:3-6
B. Col. 3:14-17
C. 1 Jn. 1:5-7; 2:3-6
D. 1 Thes. 5:13b-15
7. Exhortation love: Expressed personally to individuals for the promotion
of doctrinal purity.
A. Principle of Heb. 12:6 - Whom the Lord loves
B. Gal. 6:1-2
C. Rom. 15:1-4
8. Evangelistic love: Expressed to the unbeliever so they might be saved.
A. Reflects the principle of God's desire: 1 Tim. 2:4 and 2 Pet. 3:9
B. Reflects the principle of God's love: Jn. 3:16 and Eph. 5:2
C. 1 Cor. 10:31-11.1
D. 1 Cor. 2:1-5
E. 1 Thes. 2:1-9 (survey of principles)
F. Apply Jude v. 22-23
9. Generosity love: Desire to help in physical and material needs - Heb.
6:10
A. Rom. 12:13 (includes hospitality)
B. 1 Jn. 3:17-18
C. Jas. 2:14-18
D. Principle of genuine need: 2 Thes. 3:6-15
E. Mt. 5:38-48 - persecution context
10. How love is developed:
A. 1 Tim. 1.5 - 3 factors for proper expression of love
1. Cleansed heart: weeding out of darkness viewpoint and sins.
2. Good conscience: Absolute Divine viewpoint standards
3. un-hypocritical faith: acceptance and application through faith thinking.
B. 2 Cor. 3:18
C. Jn. 17:26
D. Gal. 5:22-23
E. 1 Jn. 2:3-5
11. SUMMARY: 1 Cor. 13:4-8
1 John 3:24
1. and the one who keeps his commandments: tereo as a present active
participle
This is a summary statement to establish the basis for fellowship and
therefore prayer access.
A. Salvation policy: before you love with God's kind of love, you must be
ABLE to learn and radiate it.
You must be in the family of God through faith/trust in the person and work
of Jesus.
B. fellowship policy: then the believer has a moment by moment volitional
responsibility to learn, accept and follow
God's policies for the Christian life.
1John 2:24, "what you have heard from the beginning."
1John 3:6, sinless consistency. "Everyone who abides in him does not sin."
2. abides in him: meno as a present act. indicative. This expresses the
reality of fellowship and rapport with God.
3. and He (God) abides in him (the believer): This is the fellowship
presence of God in the life of the believer.
This is NOT a salvation issue.
A. God indwells the believer from a positional perspective.
B. The fellowship dwelling of God refers to the radiation of His character
(love) in every area of the believer's life.
C. The functional presence of God is realized through the consistent
expression of beneficent love.
And the reality of God's existence is evidenced to others through love.
1John 4:12, "No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in
us, and His love is perfected in us."
4. And by this: refers to the functional expression of beneficent love.
5. we know: ginōsko as a present act. indicative. We have experiential
awareness and understanding of God's presence.
6. that He abides in us: that He is REALLY there.
7. out from the Spirit: ek + pneuma. Refers to the ministry of the Holy
Spirit bearing witness of our salvation status and of our
fellowship reality. Romans 8:16, "the Spirit bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God."
8. which he has given us: didomi as an aorist active indicative refers to
the point of time of our salvation.
The very moment that we trusted in Jesus as Savior and became born again
into the family of God.
Eph. 1:13; 2Cor. 1:22
9. THE PLEDGE OF THE SPIRIT
A. Pledge by status: Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13. His very presence is the seal
(guarantee) of our salvation status.
At the very moment in time that a person trusts in Jesus as Savior, that
person receives the presence of the Holy Spirit.
This is a fact stated in the Bible. Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30; 2
Corinthians 1:22; 5:5.
Here is another fact. Romans 8:9, "if anyone does not have the Spirit of
Christ, he does not belong to him (lit: he is none of His)."
Gal. 3:2. We receive the Spirit, NOT by works, "but by the message of
faith." The gospel that commands the obedience of faith.
Gal. 3:14, we receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Gal. 4:5-6. The Spirit regenerates us; gives us a new birth so that we
become sons of God. AND THEN, after the act of
regeneration, the Spirit actually enters into our soul (heart) as the divine
guarantee of our salvation. Eph. 1:13.
The presence of the Spirit imparts the spiritual life of the new birth (born
of the Spirit).
There will be no FEELING or EXPERIENCE of the Spirit's presence. There MIGHT
be an emotional reaction based on several factors.
But those factors are related to the person's history, his friends and
family, and the environment where he chooses to believe.
This possibility is different for every person and is not really an
indication or proof of the Spirit's presence or of the new birth.
B. Pledge by experience: His character building influence. Gal. 5:22-23;
2Cor. 3:18;
1John 3:24, "out from this (reflection of beneficent love) we know . . . BY
the Spirit."
The Spirit indwells every believer, but the Spirit does not CONTROL the
believer.
The job of the Spirit is to guide, lead REMIND.
The thing that controls the believer is the content of God's word that he
has learned and is followed.
The Spirit helps us understand the word of God but does not ZAP us with
knowledge.
We must compare Scripture with Scripture to arrive at an accurate
categorical understanding of God's word.
If we have no sin in the life, which will interfere with our ability to
follow the leading of the Spirit, then he will bring to mind
the truths we have learned so that we can follow those truths.
This is called fellowship with Him, abiding in Him, being filled with the
Spirit, walking in the Spirit and walking in the light.
We live the Christian life by learning and using God's word and maintaining
sinless consistency.
There is no FEELING from the Spirit; no feeling that we are in fellowship or
walking in the light.
We use the standards of God's word to make decisions and relate to the world
around us as we reside in a world system
controlled by Satan.
If we have unconfessed sin in the life, the sin nature will be the stronger
influence that affects how we relate to the world
and to people, and how we make decisions.
When we grow in the expression of beneficent love and see its consistency in
our every day life, this gives us experiential
confidence that we are in fellowship and walking in the Spirit.
If we experience sinful failures in our life, then we know that during those
times, the Spirit is not leading us and we are
not in fellowship with Him.
Thankfully, the Spirit will convict us of our failures as He reminds us of
the standards of God's word that we are violating.
This is designed to motivate us to genuine confession of the sins involved
so we can be restored to fellowship abiding in Him.
But the
standards of Gods word that we have learned reside in the soul. And just
like EVERYTHING that we have encountered in life remains "somewhere" in our
sub conscious, so likewise, standards of God's word that we have learned
will often come to the surface of our consciousness. This "reminder" from
within our own soul will then be something that can be CHOSEN to follow or
not.
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