1 John (Written)

Friday, 8 May 2020

By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 1 John 4:2

John just noted that we are to “test the spirits” in order to determine if they are of God. One concrete test is now provided concerning this. That is evidenced by the words, “By this.” John will make a declaration that will confirm a truth. That truth is, “you know the Spirit of God.” If we are to test the spirits, we can be certain that in our testing of various precepts, one that meets the following criteria is from the Spirit of God. And that is, “Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.”

The first thing to understand, then, is that any spirit which does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh cannot be of God. It is obvious on the surface. The Greek of the statement more literally reads, “Jesus Christ, having come in the flesh.” This is what the word “confesses” is referring to.

One of the significant points of this statement is that Jesus didn’t come “into the flesh,” as if there was a human who became the Christ at some point during his life. Rather, Jesus Christ came as a human, as is stated in John 1:14 – “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” It speaks of the incarnation where God united with humanity.

Next are the words “has come,” or more literally, “having come.” The verb is a perfect participle. We are not confessing a Christ who came, but is no longer the Christ. Rather, He came and abides in the flesh still. He is forever united to humanity – the God/Man. What occurred in His coming is a one-time and for-all-time event. And this coming is defined as “in the flesh.”

The thought takes us in two directions. He came, and He came “in the flesh.” It signifies that there was a point in the existence of Christ that He did not have flesh. Thus, it speaks of the deity of Christ as much as the humanity. He is fully God, but He also came (and abides) in the flesh. The second direction is that He truly bears flesh. It is not that He merely appeared to be human as Docetism claims. Rather, he is literally clothed in humanity.

Because of this state, he could – and did – fulfill all things according to the laws given to man, meaning the Law of Moses. He literally suffered as a human. He also literally died in fulfillment of the law and on behalf of others. This then is a confirmation of verse 3:16 which said that “He laid down His life for us.” This literally happened, in a real body, and it was a body that God had united with. This state in which Christ came was, therefore, fully sufficient to accomplish all things according to the order of men. This is what the author of Hebrews states –

“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. ¹⁶ For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. ¹⁷ Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” Hebrews 2:14-18

It is the confession that this is actually what occurred – God united with flesh and came and dwelt among us – that is the “of God.” This means the source of such a confession finds its source in God and it proceeds from Him. “To confess that Jesus the anointed is come in the flesh, is to confess that there is a medium of spiritual communications between the visible and the invisible world, between earth and heaven. It is to confess that there is one Mediator for all men” (Maurice).

Life application: One thing that we can be completely sure of is that if the Bible says something, then nothing will contradict what it says and still be of the Spirit of God. This is an important axiom to remember because churches and Christians ascribe a ton of things to the workings of the Holy Spirit which clearly can’t be such. Instead, they are the fanciful dreams of people – meant for good or for harm. A very good case in point is the speaking of tongues.

Paul gives very specific guidelines for the speaking of tongues in his letter to the Corinthians. This was under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and therefore, any “speaking of tongues” in a church that doesn’t adhere to those guidelines is only made up drama and not a working of the Spirit. Are the tongues translated? Are the tongues spoken one at a time? Do no more than three people speak in tongues during the service? If these three (and other) requirements – as a minimum – are not met, then it is not of the Holy Spirit – it was an invention of the person in an attempt to gain attention.

Likewise, when a pastor, teacher, etc. confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, then he has passed one of the basic tests necessary to be considered sound in his message. It isn’t the only test, but it is a necessary one.

“Confess” means to openly acknowledge this truth. Unless this is done, no confession has been made. The mode of the confession – when speaking of Christ’s manifestation – is “in flesh” with no article. Thus, it demonstrates the completeness of what occurred. And, as noted above, what John says is in the perfect tense (having come) and therefore indicates Jesus’ incarnation is permanent.

No one can speak truth about Jesus unless he confesses that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, that He is fully God and fully man, and that this incarnation is permanent. The permanence means He wasn’t resurrected in spirit only, but bodily. Likewise, this resurrected body is eternal in nature.

Listen carefully and make sure these points are acknowledged as truth.

Heavenly Father, may we never stray from the words of the Bible into things which are either sensational or detracting from its truth. Instead, give us wisdom in understanding Your word so that we will not be foolish in our worship or duped in our beliefs about the Person and work of Jesus the Lord. To Your glory we pray this! Amen.

Thursday, 7 May 2020

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1

John again uses the word “Beloved” to introduce an exhortation that he earnestly wants his reader to pay heed to. There is a danger which will arise if his words are not heeded, and so to avoid that, he draws us close to himself with this word. His next words begin to convey this thought, but they are words which have seemed to fall on deaf ears throughout the church age, “do not believe every spirit.”

When he says, “do not believe every spirit,” the ISV gives the proper sense of the words by translating it as “stop believing every spirit.” The verb is a present participle. In other words, he was countering a person or persons who were at that time presenting false messages to his audience. But this still applies to us today – “Stop believing every spirit…” However, to do so requires discernment. After one has discernment, he must then apply that discernment. This is seen in the words, “but test the spirits.”

One can have no discernment and be unable to test the spirits. One can have discernment, but then fail to test the spirits. John calls for both. But discernment cannot come without knowledge, and knowledge in this matter cannot come without reading and remembering what is contained within the Bible. This is because the Bible is from God. Therefore, it will reveal what is not of God. As John then says, “whether they are of God.”

If “the spirits” call for some type of action or belief which is contrary to what is outlined in Scripture, they are false. The list of such things is almost endless because people have failed to simply “test the spirits” by making a rational and reasonable comparison to what the word of God states. That which is of God will be in accord with His word. That which is not of God will be at variance with it. The standard is the word of God. That which is opposed to the standard comes from that which is false. This is why John then says, “because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

Here we see the antithesis of verse 3:24, which spoke of the Holy Spirit.  John brings in false prophets who then convey a false spirit. As he often does, he uses the antithetical method to strike real contrasts to help us understand the truth. Just as light and darkness are opposing forces, so the Holy Spirit is opposed to the spirit of falsehood.

In the Old Testament, false prophets presented a message which was in opposition to that of the true prophets. With the introduction of the New Covenant, these false prophets present a message which is in opposition to that of the true apostles. John’s referring to such false teachers is not unique. Both Paul and Peter speak of them as well –

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. ¹⁵ Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. ² And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. ³ By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.” 2 Peter 2:1-3

The apostles are in agreement on this, there is the spirit of truth, and there is the spirit of error. There are true teachers, and there are false teachers. There is revealed light, and there is the darkness of deception. And, as noted above, there is only one way to be able to truly discern between the two. That is by knowing Scripture, and then making a reasonable comparison between what is presented there, and what is then presented by a teacher (or false teacher) of the word.

Finally, and as is obvious, Vincent’s Word Studies notes that the words “have gone out” are in the perfect tense, indicating “that the influence of their going out on their false mission is in operation at the present.”

Life application: Unfortunately, it is in our nature to want to believe the sensational or exciting. Because of this, it is incredibly easy to get drawn into deceit and lies. This is especially true when we don’t know our doctrine well.

Christians give a great deal of their money and effort to people who don’t say anything of value from the Bible. Instead, they manipulate choice verses and give promises of blessing while filling their own coffers.

If you are ever tempted to send someone money because you can “reap a harvest,” then you have been deceived. If you believe you can be healed by someone over the telephone after “sowing a seed,” then you have been deceived. If you believe someone has accurately picked the date of the second coming of Christ, then you’ve been deceived. These things should be obvious, but it is much nicer to believe a lie, filled with hope, than it is to believe the truth which delays that hope – even if it is in God’s good timing to do so.

Remember that “false prophets” are simply “false teachers.” They are instructing in that which is a lie, manipulating the truth for their own benefit. You are responsible for your own doctrine, so never take anyone’s interpretation of the Bible at face value. Rather, go and research it for yourself. This is noteworthy and yet is what is expected in the believer.

Heavenly Father, give us wise and discerning hearts concerning the things relating to You and Your word. Help us not to be drawn in by teachers who have hidden motives that are not in line with the gospel of Jesus. Instead, help us to discern that which is right and that which is wrong, so that our time and resources will be properly dedicated to You. Amen.

Wednesday, 6 May 2020

Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. 1 John 3:24

John spoke of keeping “His commandments” in verse 3:22. In the previous verse, he then spoke of “His commandment,” meaning God’s commandment, that we believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ. He also mentioned that we are “to love one another as He’, meaning Jesus, “gave us commandment.”

John now again speaking in the plural writes, “Now he who keeps His commandments.” It is obvious from the way John structured verse 3:23 that he is saying that Jesus is God. The Father gave commandment concerning the Son, and the Son gave commandment concerning love. Both together (being God) gave “His commandments.” John notes that he who keeps God’s commandments “abides in Him.”

One only has to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God once. That is keeping God’s commandment. As noted, John used an aorist verb. Believe at a certain point and the commandment is fulfilled. At the same time, the other commandment – which is to love one another – is fulfilled. This was seen while considering verse 3:14.

John was not speaking of the individual love between two people. As we noted then, a non-believer can be married to, and love, a believer (1 Corinthians 7 shows that such unions exist, even from a biblical perspective). However, the nonbeliever has an internal hatred toward the message of Christ (he does not believe). In this state, he abides in death. In abiding in death, there is a hatred for what the believer (even a person he loves) stands for.

The thought of loving one another is revealed in how a person stands in relation to Christ. It is not speaking of the emotional love between people, but of the love of God in Christ. Until one comes to Christ, regardless of the love between any particular people, the state of hatred toward the identity with Christ remains. However, in believing in the Son, the love towards other believers takes its proper place, and it provides a demonstration of the state of the believer abiding in God.

But more than abiding in God, John also says, “and He in him.” This is the sealing of the Spirit which is found in Ephesians 1 –

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13, 14

Paul calls this sealing of the Holy Spirit a “promise” and a “guarantee.” The state of God abiding in the person is realized when the person believes in the name of God’s Son and in the loving of one another through that act. This is exactly what John next confirms, which is in complete accord with what Paul says. He finishes the verse with, “And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.”

This is John’s first mention of the Spirit in his epistle, but naming Him here is a confirmation of what he has been writing about. If we have done the one thing that God expects of us by believing in Jesus (and which then fulfills the second commandment of loving one another), we are sealed with His Spirit. In this, we know that God abides in us. The word states it is true, and we are to accept that by faith. There is no need for an outward demonstration by God of the sealing of the Spirit, such as speaking in tongues or so on. Rather, our love of one another is sufficient evidence for us to be assured it is true.

Life application: It is important to keep this verse in the context given, which is speaking of belief and love as the overarching commandments. In believing and loving, we abide in Him and He abides in us. John is not speaking about the Law of Moses in any way, shape, or form.

The Law of Moses and in fact the entire Old Covenant law, is set aside in Christ. This is mentioned explicitly several times in the book of Hebrews and elsewhere. It is obsolete, it is set aside, it is annulled, and it is nailed to the cross.

If you are in a church that mandates any Old Covenant precept– Sabbath Day observance, tithing, etc., then you should discuss this matter with the church and determine why they are clinging to that which is unprofitable. If they continue with their improper doctrine, it’s time to leave that church.

If we are in Christ, let us not grieve the Holy Spirit by trying to reintroduce that which has been set aside by the glorious work of Jesus our Lord.

Yes, Lord God – we will endeavor to live faithfully and love wholeheartedly. We will do this because it is what You desire of us. May our lives be testaments to You and Your work at all times. May we not attempt to purchase that which You have already paid for through our own futile efforts. Rather, may we trust in the grace You offer through the giving of Your Son. To Your honor and glory we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, 5 May 2020

And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 1 John 3:23

In the previous verse, John said, “because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” He now says, “And this is His commandment.” John goes from the plural to the singular. The singular, then, is the commandment of God, and it is in relation to “His Son Jesus Christ.” God’s commandment is “that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ.”

To do the commandment of God, one must do this thing. This is how John closed out his gospel –

“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹ but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” John 20:30, 31

What is presented then builds upon what is said in John 6:29 –

“Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’”

Believing in Jesus being sent from God is the work that is necessary. In believing in this, one will believe that He is the Son of God (meaning deity) and believing on His name as well (meaning that He is the incarnation of the Divine Name – YHVH). All of this is tied up in the thought.

John next says, “and love one another. As He gave us commandment.” This is the command of God the Son. Jesus stated this commandment in the Gospel of John – in verse 13:34 (and which is substantially repeated in 15:12) –

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

Together, these form the “commandments” noted in the previous verse. However, one cannot escape the truth that when John says “His commandments” in the previous verse, and then “His commandment” and “as He gave us commandment” in this verse, that the two are united in one thought. The commandment of God and the commandment of Jesus are considered as one – meaning that Jesus must be God.

Understanding this, there is a commandment which cannot be overlooked in the process of keeping His commandments. In other words, we can “do” all day, and still not be “doing” what is necessary.

For example, the word says to refrain from sexual immorality. One can do that and still not meet the main requirement which will make a person pleasing in the sight of God. In fact, a person can “do” everything that is asked of him in the entire New Covenant except the one thing that John mentions, meaning believe in the name of Jesus Christ, and he can be as far from God as Satan himself.

And in believing in Jesus, one is naturally expected to be obedient to the command He gave to love. Though they are two things – believing and love – they are united as one. They cannot be separated. This will be further explained in the next chapter, especially in 1 John 4:9.

John is showing that faith and love are a unit. This then provides the clarification needed to understand the previous verses. Someone might argue that “doing” is sufficient to meet God’s commandments, even if we don’t believe. This is incorrect. If one is to do what is right, he must rightly believe as well. The doing part is loving one another, but a person can love every believer on the planet and not be a believer in the name of Jesus, the Son of God. If this is the case, then his love of those people does not make him right with God. The two commandments unite as one whole.

Life application: This verse may very well may sum up the expectation of the Christian as well as any other verse in the New Testament. When John says we are to believe on the name of Jesus Christ, he uses an aorist verb. This indicates the initial conversion of a believer. This requirement is stated by Paul in Romans 10:9, 10 –

 “…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Believing on the name of Jesus means believing on everything His name represents in the context of “Lord.” Jesus is our God united with human flesh. He is able to save us, freeing us from our sin debt. He is able to continue to save us despite ourselves, etc. Secondly, after believing, John brings in loving one another.

Love for other Christians is to be the defining characteristic of the faithful (those who have believed). Let us live as if we believe it truly is the case! Paul shows us the importance of love in this manner in 1 Corinthians 13. Take time today to read that short passage and think on it as you go about your day.

Lord God, for those who have believed in Jesus Christ, it was with the heart, trusting in Him for our salvation. Since that time, we have not always been faithful, and we have failed to love our fellow Christians as we ought to have. Forgive us of this and lead us to the point of loving them, even as You love each of us. To Your glory we pray, Amen.

Monday, 4 May 2020

And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 1 John 3:22

John just spoke of confidence before God when our hearts do not condemn us. In this state, John writes, “And whatever we ask we receive from Him.” Immediately, this seems like an unconditional grant, and that if we want a new Mercedes, it will show up in our driveway in the morning. In fact, this is how certain groups take this verse. To them, God is a cosmic ATM, and wealth comes about by simply claiming it. James dispels that type of nonsense –

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” James 4:3

One cannot “ask amiss” and expect to get what he wants. Further, it is not only the appropriate asking which brings about what we desire. John next states, “because we keep His commandments.” The verb is in the present tense, indicative mood – “We are surely keeping His commandments.” The word “keep” signifies “to observe.” One may “keep” his word, for example. 

John will explain what this means in the verses to come, but it has nothing to do with observing the Law of Moses. In fact, observing the law as a means of obtaining God’s approval is a mark of pride, and thus it excludes exactly what John will say in the next verse. This is because the law is not based on faith, but on works. But works are excluded from the equation as begins to be seen by the final clause, “and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.”

Again, the verb is in the present tense, indicative mood – “We are surely doing those things which are pleasing in God’s sight.” The word signifies doing (such as the will of God), producing (such as bearing fruit), and so on.

Again, the keeping and doing are based on what God has set forth – keeping His commandments and doing what is pleasing in His sight. Unless those things are being actively tended to, one cannot expect to “receive from Him” whatever he asks. And, as noted by James, what is asked must be in accord with His will.

Life application: This verse is one of great expectation for the believer. John’s words contain a wonderful promise that God hears every prayer and that none are left unattended. However, and as was noted, it is not without conditions attached to it. The believer who receives must first give. He must give of himself by actively keeping God’s –

1) Commandments – those things which are explicitly named in the Bible as expected of believers. These are not options.

2) Those things pleasing in His sight – these are the general things that are implicitly taught in the Bible and that lead to a whole, rounded, and faithful walk in Christ.

If we don’t act faithfully on His commandments and if we don’t do what is pleasing in the sight of the Lord, then how can we expect to receive whatever we ask from Him? Can we expect this from our parents? Can we expect it from a business when we go shopping? Can we expect it from our government agencies? Of course not! Unless we do as we’re asked or told, no one will fulfill our wishes.

And finally (and just as important) – we cannot expect whatever we ask if it is not in accord with His will. It is faithless at best to demand anything of God. He is in heaven and we are on earth. When God doesn’t directly give us what we ask for, it is because He has given us what is best for us indirectly. He has responded according to His glory and according to our needs, both realized and unrealized by us. He knows what they are even if we don’t.

Lord God, may we never claim anything in Jesus’ name, but rather may we humbly ask for those things we desire, and which are in accord with Your will, knowing that You will respond according to our obedience and according to Your glory. Forgive us if we are faithless, and help us to make the corrections in our lives so that we may be pleasing vessels, ready for Your use. Amen.