Wierwille, V.P.-The Answer-A Study of I John
The Answer — A Study of I John Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille This book is in the public domain. For more teachings by V. P. Wierwille, E. W. Bullinger and others, go to: www.eternallyblessed.org The Church of Grace was founded on the day of Pentecost, and with its founding began a new administration. John addressed his first epistle to those newly born into the fellowship to inform them of their position, rights, and responsibilities in the sight of God. When the words "from the beginning" are used in the first verse, it does not refer to the "in the beginning" as in Genesis 1:1. "The beginning" is found in seven verses in this epistle; in six it refers to the beginning of this administration, the period of the Church of Grace; once it refers to the time of beginning when iniquity was found in the Devil.
I John 1:1: That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
Hearing, seeing, and handling are in the realm of the five senses. The word can be known to the natural man through his five senses—he has no other way by which to become knowledgeable.
Verse 2:
(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) John is informing the people that he is going to make known his revelation concerning this "Word of life."
Verse 3: That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. A child cannot have fellowship in an earthly family until after his birth. This is true of God’s spiritual family also. We must be born again of God before we can have fellowship with God in His family. John is writing not to the unbelievers but to those who are sons, to those who are born again, so that they may have fellowship with God and with the other believers.
Verse 4: And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
Joy is also a fruit of the spirit as mentioned in Galatians 5:22 where it says. But the fruit of the Spirit is Joy…. The fruit of the spirit does not include happiness. A man may have happiness from the material things around him; an abundance of things may make him happy. But joy is an inside job. Joy is a spiritual quality. The revelation in I John is written that the born-again believer may not only have joy within, but that his renewed-mind joy may be full.
I John 1:5: This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
If God is Light, then there can be no darkness in Him. Everything negative, evil, harmful, sinful, and death-provoking must be from a source other than the true God of light.
Verse 6:
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
After a person is a son in the household of God, he, can have fellowship in the family as he follows the Word as his guidebook. If we as sons say that we have fellowship with God and yet do not follow the rule book and walk ungodly, we lie. When we stray outside the guidelines, we are out of fellowship, yet we remain sons in the household. We must clearly note the difference between fellowship and sonship. To "walk in darkness" does not break the Father-son relationship; it breaks the fellowship.
Verse 7: But if we walk in the light, as he [God] is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Walking in the light gives us fellowship with God. When we are out of fellowship, we walk in darkness, which is sin, since all broken fellowship is sin. However, when we confess our broken fellowship, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us, makes us without blemish. "The blood" is a figure of speech referring to Jesus Christ’s giving his life. It is the figure metalepsis which includes synecdoche. "Blood" is put by the figure synecdoche for "blood-shedding" indicating the death of Jesus Christ as distinct from his life. Then it goes beyond his death as an act, indicating the merits he accomplished for us which he effected by his death and are thus logically associated with it. The word "cleanseth" denotes cleansing through and through, leaving no imperfection or impurity.
Verses 8-10:
If we say that we have no sin [broken fellowship], we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins [broken fellowship], he [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins [broken fellowship], and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned [broken fellowship], we make him [God] a liar, and his [God’s] word is not in us [in our minds]. No man can live in fellowship with God if he lives according to any other principles than those of God’s Word. When we walk in other paths, we sin, which is unrighteousness. If, when we are out of fellowship, we confess our sins to God, God is true to His promise to provide legal justice. God is able to absolve us of all broken fellowship, a sin of which all sons are guilty.
I John 2: l and 2: My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not [that you do not break fellowship]. And [but] if any man sin [breaks fellowship], we have an advocate [a defense attorney] with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he [Jesus Christ] is the propitiation [payment] for our sins [broken fellowship]: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Jesus Christ is the propitiation for our sins, meaning that he not only paid for them but he also wins us back into favor with God when we break fellowship. Our confession of sin brings forgiveness of our broken fellowship. God can remit our sin only once, and that is at the time of salvation. Remission of sins is for the unsaved sinner; forgiveness of sin is for the saved sinner who is out of fellowship with God.
Verse 3: And hereby we do know that we know him [God], if we keep his [God’s] commandments.
We are to prove to ourselves that we know God. The two Greek forms for "know" in verse 3 are used with precision as follows: "We do know [present tense—by being well acquainted personally] that we know [perfect tense—by an initial meeting, salvation, with God]...." What are His commandments? To do those things which He has just instructed—to walk in the light. We are to hold forth the Word after our minds have been illuminated by it.
Verse 4:
He [the man] that saith, I know [by a personal acquaintance] him [God], and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him [the man].
If a person is not born again, the truth is not in him spiritually. But if a born-again believer says that he knows God intimately and does not observe the commandment to walk in the light, the truth of the Word is not in that man’s mind. The truth remains in the believer’s spiritual being, but that person has not put on the truth in his mind.
Verse 5: But whoso keepeth his [God’s] word, in him [the man] verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him [God by Jesus Christ]. To keep God’s Word is to live according to His will. We do the keeping of His Word, and in the keeping of it, the love of God is perfected in us. Love, agapē in Greek, comes with spiritual birth. "Love [agapē] of God" is outwardly manifested when we walk in the light. Having the spirit from God in us plus walking in His love makes possible the perfect fellowship.
Verse 6:
He [the man] that saith he abideth in him [God by Christ Jesus] ought himself also so to walk, even as he [Jesus Christ] walked.
Anyone who says that he is abiding or continuing in the presence of God must have his mind renewed according to the Word and walk with this renewed mind as Jesus Christ did. The born-again believer can, because of freedom of will, choose to live according to this world; but to be in fellowship, a believer must choose to renew his mind and act according to the Word of God.
Verses 7 and 8:
Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing [entire transaction of word and deed] is true in him [God] and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. A newly made precept is now given. The whole transaction of God was made genuine and applicable, and therefore is, and can be, manifested in the senses world. The darkness is past because God in Christ in us is light. This light cannot be seen by others, however, unless we manifest it, show it forth by our walk.
Verse 9:
He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
Hate is possible only when someone is born of the seed of the Devil, just as agapē love is possible only when someone is born of God’s seed. The two Greek words indicating "hate," miseō and stugētos, must be understood by their usage in the context. They may mean "dislike," or "dislike issuing in the absolute hate of the Devil." This hate, the opposite of agapē, is a spiritual quality brought into a person when he is born of the seed of the serpent.
Verses 10 and 11:
He [the man] that loveth his brother abideth in the light [walking in the renewed mind according to the Word], and there is none occasion of stumbling in him [the man]. But he that hateth [dislikes] his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
If we keep our minds renewed on God’s Word, the love of God is perfected in our minds, and we give no opportunity to the flesh to dislike or slight a brother in Christ. He who slights or dislikes his brother has not renewed his mind on God’s Word. Satan constantly tries to dissuade us from walking in the truth of the light and thus causes us to walk in darkness. In order to continue steadfast in the light, a believer must have a knowledge of God’s Word. Without such knowledge, a believer is uprooted and is easily swayed into darkness because of ignorance.
Verse 12:
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his [God’s] name’s sake. A person cannot be a child of God until he is born again of God’s seed. A man’s sin, broken fellowship, is forgiven on account of God’s name’s sake, because the man is in God’s family. Literally, all sins were laid on Jesus Christ when he made his sacrifice.
Verses 13 and 14:
I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one [Satan]. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [God] that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one [Satan]. The Word of God can only dwell in men after they are born again and have eternal life. Believers abide in the Word as they renew their minds according to that Word. This is the only way to overcome the wicked one.
Verse 15:
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
If the love of the Father is not in a person, that person does not have eternal life. If a man truly loves the things of the world (which refers to Satan, who rules and legally owns the world), the love of the Father cannot be in him.
Verse 16: For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Lust (desire for more than one needs), possessive desires ("lust of the eyes"), and boastings ("pride") are all qualities of men in whom the Word does not abide.
Verses 17 and 18: And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth [practices] the will of God abideth for ever.
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
Any person who is born of the seed of the serpent is called "antichrist" because he is in opposition to Christ.
Verse 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. The antichrists, those born into the household of the Devil, wanted to separate themselves from the believers, those of the household of the true God.
Verses 20-24: But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things [because we have His written Word].
I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledged the Son hath the Father also.
Let that therefore abide in you [in your mind], which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you [in your mind], ye also shall continue [to walk] in the Son, and in the Father.
If that which we have heard from the beginning, eternal life, is in us spiritually and we walk in fellowship by renewing our minds, we shall continue in the Father. Renewing our mind takes three steps: (1) know the Word of God, (2) put it into our mind, and (3) manifest it in actions. Salvation gives us sonship; the renewed mind gives us perfect fellowship with the Father.
Verses 25-27: And this is the promise that he [God] hath promised us, even eternal life.
These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you [cause you to doubt]. But the anointing [the new birth] which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you [instruct you]: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him [God]. The anointing which we have from God is the anointing of holy spirit. It is receiving the fullness of the gift from the Holy Spirit Who is God. We need no man to teach us because we have the Word and the power and manifestations of the holy spirit.
Verse 28: And now, little children, abide in him [in God through Christ Jesus]; that, when he [Christ] shall appear, we may have confidence [boldness], and not be ashamed before him [God] at his [Christ’s] coming. At the return of Christ, we are going to be judged and rewarded for our walk with God. If we live with the renewed mind in manifestation and are in fellowship with God, we will not be ashamed or feel dishonorable. Rather, we shall have confidence.
Verse 29:
If ye know that He [God] is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him [God].
"Doeth" is the key word. It means to practice a skill such as a professional surgeon, painter, or musician. We are to practice in the senses realm that which we have received in the spirit. We are righteous because God made us righteous; but our righteousness is manifested to the world as we practice the will of God, and the will of God is known only from the Word of God.
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him [God] not. The world will never understand our being "sons of God." Salvation is an internal, spiritual working, and natural men cannot understand spiritual matters. The world does not know God, for as I Corinthians 2:14 explains, "…the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they [spiritual matters] are spiritually discerned."
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and [but] it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he [Christ] shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Starting with the words "and it doth not yet appear" in verse 2 through verse 4 is a parenthetical section dealing with Christ. Then in verse 5 we return to the subject, God. To be like him (Christ) is to be as he will be in his resurrected body at his return. When Christ returns, we shall be like him because we are joint heirs with Christ* and Sons of the same Father.
* Romans 8:17:
"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
Verse 3: And every man that hath this hope [Christ’s return] in him purifieth himself, even as he [Christ] is pure.
We have hope for Christ’s second coming. Thus, we who have this hope should purify ourselves by renewing the mind. Our minds should he made as pure by us as our spirits are pure, the gift from God.
Verse 4:
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. The phrase "transgression of the law" is the Greek word anomia, "lawlessness. One who practices illegalities, thereby not observing the law, is a transgressor. To fulfill the law, man must follow the instructions given in Galatians 6:2 where it says, "Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."
I John 3:5 and 6: And ye know that He [God] was manifested [in Christ and shown to the world] to take away our sins; and in Him [God] is no sin.
Whosoever abideth in Him [God] sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him [God], neither known [beyond initial acquaintance] Him [God].
Verse 6 is speaking of a believer abiding in God (fellowship), not God abiding in a believer (salvation). A believer sins by breaking fellowship with God, not in the spiritual life which he received when he was born again, for that life is perfect and cannot sin. If one has a perfectly renewed mind, he does not sin because he does not break fellowship.
Verse 7:
Little children, let no man deceive you: he [the man] that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He [God in Christ in you] is righteous. No one can do righteousness until the person himself is righteous. Righteousness is of God and is therefore included in the gift, spirit. Righteousness is God in Christ within, which makes it possible to manifest righteousness without.
Verse 8:
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he [Jesus Christ] might destroy the works of the devil.
Every sin is due to the influence of Satan over the person committing the sin. Jesus Christ was manifested that he might break the power of Satan. In his first coming he did defeat the Devil’s work; however, the total destruction is yet to take place with Christ’s second coming. The Son of God has defeated Satan for those who are born again and have renewed their minds according to the Word. If a person does not renew his mind, Satan is not defeated in that person’s life. In such a case, Satan thwarts this person with diseases, worries, fears, and other satanic negatives. The words "from the beginning" in verse 8 refer to the beginning of iniquity found in Lucifer, the Devil. Note Ezekiel 28:15: ’’Thou [both Adam and the Devil] wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee."
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin [in the spirit]; for his [God’s] seed [Christ] remaineth in him [the man]; and he cannot sin [in that of which he is born, the seed of God, Christ in him], because he is born of God. In this seed of which a man is born again, he cannot sin. It is perfect spiritual seed.
Verse 10: In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
Note the sharp line of demarcation between the two spiritual seeds. The children follow the pattern of their respective fathers.
Verses 11 and 12: For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
Cain was "of that wicked one"; he was born of the seed of the serpent and manifested the Devil’s hate and evil works.
Verses 13 and 14:
Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. The word "brethren" has the connotation of "saints" as sons of God. We know that we have passed from death unto life when our deeds are motivated by the love of God. Our salvation is manifested to ourselves and to the other saints as we love with the love of God in our renewed minds. No one has this agapē love until he is born again of God. The natural man at best can only have philia, human love. In the last part of verse 14 the words "his brother" are not in the oldest texts. "He that loveth not" refers to the unsaved man. The unsaved person cannot love with agapē love and remains in darkness.
Verse 15:
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
Some churches have taught that anyone who commits murder, one who actually takes another’s life, does not have eternal life abiding in him. The Word of God does not say this. "Whosoever hateth [hate is of the Devil, and only the Devil’s children can have it] his brother [in the flesh] is a murderer...." The brother is not killed, but the man who hates, who is born of the seed of the serpent, is causing his own death. "…No murderer [who causes his own death because he is born of the seed of the serpent] hath eternal life abiding in him." He cannot have eternal life; he is born of the serpent.
Verse 16:
Hereby perceive [understand] we the love of God, because he [Jesus Christ] laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren [saints].
We ought to lay down our lives, put our selfish desires in subjection to our spirit, to help our fellow believers.
Verse 17: But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother [saint] have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
We have frequently been taught that we are to help the unsaved who are starving. This scripture tells us that our primary responsibility is to our brothers in Christ.* *Galatians 6:10:
"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."
Verses 18-22 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth [Let us love and not just talk about it]. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him [God]. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him [God], because we keep [in our minds] His [God’s] commandments, and do [in our actions] those things that are pleasing in His [God’s] sight.
If our hearts are condemning us, we are out of fellowship with God. We have sinned by not walking in the renewed mind. When we are out of fellowship, we have no confidence toward God, and we cannot get our prayers answered.
Verse 23: And this is his [God’s] commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he [God in Christ Jesus] gave us commandment.
We can stake our very lives on the goodness which God has provided for us if we practice His will. Here we have a command, not a demand; we should believe on the name of His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus, the firstborn, and we, his brethren, are to manifest the love from the Father within His family.
Verse 24: And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him [God], and he [God] in him. And hereby we know that he [God] abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. The person who keeps the commandments not only has sonship but also fellowship. We can know that God in Christ dwells in us by manifesting the spirit which He has given to us.
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
We are not to believe every supernatural manifestation but are to test the spirits whether they be from the true God. To do this we need to operate the manifestation of discerning of spirits. The spirit of a false prophet will not be able to confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. The same is antichrist but not the Antichrist.
Verse 4:
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he [God in Christ] that is in you, than he [the Devil and his devil spirits] that is in the world.
God in Christ in us, the holy spirit, is greater than the spirits of the Devil in the world. When we believers begin to practice our legal sonship rights with the use of the name of Jesus Christ, we will truly live with power and will overcome the forces of Satan in our lives.
Verses 5-12:
They [antichrists] are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth [God], and the spirit of error [a devil spirit].
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation [payment] for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another [with the renewed mind]. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. No man has ever seen God, for God is Spirit. God’s love is perfected in our walk as our minds are renewed.
Verses 13-15:
Hereby know we that we dwell in him [God], and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit [His gift, holy spirit]. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. When God dwells in a man, he has received a new creation, eternal life. When a man dwells in God, the man is walking in fellowship in the renewed mind.
Verse 16: And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love [agapē]; and he that dwelleth in love [agapē] dwelleth in God, and God in him.
God’s love is perfected in our minds to the extent that we dwell in God and thereby manifest His gift to the world.
Verse 17:
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he [God] is, so are we in this world. As God is, so are we who are born again and who demonstrate love. We then have boldness and power in a time of crisis, for we have put on the armor of God.
Verses 18 and 19:
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: Because fear hath torment He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
We love him, because he first loved us.
God first loved us and gave us eternal life which made it possible for us to love (agapē). Now we ought to renew our minds according to the Spirit, God, and walk before Him in love.
Verses 20 and 21:
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen ? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
"To hate," as in this scripture, is "not to love." The proof to ourselves and others that we love God is to manifest the love of God to the saints.
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him [God] that begat loveth him [Christ and the brethren] also that is begotten of him.
Everyone who loves God in the renewed mind loves the brethren, for it is impossible to have the love of God in the renewed mind without loving the brethren. Both Christ and we are begotten of God. Christ is our brother, and we are all, along with him, God’s children.
Verse 2: By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
We keep His commandments by renewing our minds according to His Word. As we walk in this light, we prove to ourselves that we are the children of God.
Verses 3 and 4: For this is the love of God, that we keep his [God’s] commandments: and his commandments are not grievous [burdensome]. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world [Satan], even our Faith. The word "world" refers to Satan throughout this epistle. The world includes all of Satan’s realm and the things in it. We have the God-given ability to overcome all oppression because "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." Our victory comes with (1) our believing in the Word of God and (2) renewing our minds according to it.
Verse 5: Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Jesus overcame the world, and the same power belongs to us as we minister and operate the manifestations of the spirit.* *John 14:12:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."
Verses 6-8: This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness [with our spirit, the inner man], because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.**
**According to the critical Greek text, the following words were first added in verses 7 and 8 in the sixteenth century: "...in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth…."
According to verse 6, Jesus Christ came by water and blood. We know that Jesus was conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit. At the time of Jesus’ birth, the amniotic sac surrounding the fetus was broken and therefore water came forth. Blood also comes forth at birth with the mother’s delivery of the child. Thus Jesus "came by water and blood," just as all of us do.
I, too, by natural birth, was born of water and blood. But the spirit within me, which came at the time of my spiritual birth, indicates that I am no longer just a natural man, for I have eternal life which is spirit. These three—water, blood, and spirit—witness to the same God who was witnessed to when Jesus was born.
Verses 9-12:
If we receive the witness of men [regarding our birth of blood and water], the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him [God] a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. When we believed on the Son of God, we received the witness of eternal life within. "He that hath the Son hath life," according to the text. We do not earn this life given to us by God; we do not beg for it; we cannot steal it: and we cannot lose it, because God gave it to us as seed.
Verses 13 and 14:
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.
However, by the same token, if we ask anything which is not God’s will, we will receive nothing. We must know His will in order to know what properly and rightfully to ask for.
Verse 15: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have [present tense] the petitions that we desired [past tense] of him.
We have our requests before we have the manifestation of them. This is tremendous. Why? The Bible is the Word of God, and the Word of God is the will of God. Therefore, if we know the Word of God, we know the will of God. If the Word says, "Pray for the sick," then we know that we are to pray for the sick; we are doing God’s will. We need no longer pray the pitiful "If it be Thy will." Only someone unlearned or ignorant of the Word of God will pray "If it be Thy will." The man who knows the Word of God knows what is God’s will.
Verse 16:
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. The "sin unto death" is the unforgivable sin. (See "The Unforgivable Sin," The Words’ Way, Chapter 4.) If a man commits this sin, prayer will avail nothing, for that man is born of the seed of the serpent. However, if a brother in the flesh has not committed the unforgivable sin, God will give that brother eternal life if we ask. The word "brother" in verse 16 specifically refers to a brother by birth. We can pray for salvation for a family member who wills to hear and believe God’s promise. Praying for eternal life for a relative, brother or sister, who has not committed the unforgivable sin is a key which we can lay hold on for members of our families who are not saved.
Verse 17:
All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
Anything in thought, word, or deed which is not in harmony with God’s Word is unrighteousness. The unrighteousness of those who are born again is not unto death because God has promised forgiveness.
Verse 18:
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not [in the spirit, inner man]; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
If this verse were translated, "We know that that which is born of God within the believer sinneth not," people could understand more easily. "Whosoever is born of God" remains in fellowship with God by renewing his mind. The believer with a renewed mind cannot be touched by the wicked one. The key to keeping ourselves is in living according to God’s Word. By positive action we will allow no opportunity for Satan to interfere in our lives. As Ephesians 4:27 admonishes, "Neither give place to the devil."
I John 5:19 and 20: And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. The whole world lies, not walks or stands but lies, helpless as a babe or a dead body, before the wicked one, Satan. He is the prince of this world, according to John 14:30, and the god of this world, according to II Corinthians 4:4. However, we who are born again have been enlightened, for we know God who is true.
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
"Little children" is a term of endearment, as to students from a concerned and loving teacher. To "keep from idols" means to seek no help, guidance, or instruction from any source other than our heavenly Father, who is the true and living God. We should not be swayed from keeping our minds on God and His Word. Our victorious living, after receiving sonship, comes in direct proportion with our remaining in fellowship by thinking and acting according to the will of God, which can only be known by the Word of God.