1 John 2

1 John 2:1

Even so faith, if it hath not works. Faith that has no power to bring one to obedience and to sway the life is as worthless as good wishes which end in words. Is dead, being alone. It cannot stand alone and be of any avail. Only when it shows its power in works is it of the slightest value.

1 John 2:2

Yea, a man may say, etc. One may claim works, another faith. They must go hand in hand. One cannot show faith without works. The life lived is the proof of the faith held. If a man lives in obedience to Christ, that is proof that he has faith in Christ.

1 John 2:3

Thou believest that there is one God. That is very well, but can that alone save you? The devils also believe, and tremble. Even the demons believe that also. See Matthew 8:29. Evil spirits confessed Christ, but this confession of faith did not save them.

1 John 2:4

But wilt thou know, O vain man. “I will show by proof that the faith that justifies produces works by the case of Abraham, the great father of the faithful”. Faith without works is dead. It has no power to make alive unless it has power over the life.

1 John 2:5

Was not Abraham our father. The father of the Jewish race; also the father of all his children by faith. See Galatians 3:7-9. Justified by works? By a faith which showed itself in works. This is the argument of James, that faith is of no avail unless accompanied by works. Of this all Abraham’s life was a demonstration. He was told when in Mesopotamia to go forth into the land God would show him, and “he went out, not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8); an act of faith. “By faith he sojourned in the land of promise” (Hebrews 11:9). When he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Each of these acts of faith secured Divine approval, but the supremest trial was when he offered Isaac. See PNT Hebrews 11:17. This victory of faith was followed by crowning approval and glorious promises.

1 John 2:6

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works. Abraham’s faith was a working faith. By works was faith made perfect. The element of works is essential to make it complete. Without works it is an imperfect, “a dead faith” (James 2:20). It must have energy to avail. Abraham’s faith “wrought”.

1 John 2:7

And the scripture was fulfilled. The scripture quoted in Genesis 15:6. Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness. The case of the offering of Isaac was a complete outward demonstration that Abraham believed God, as the Scripture said. He was called the friend of God. Honored as no other mortal had been. See Isaiah 41:8 2 Chronicles 20:7. The Mohammedans still call Abraham “El Khalil”, “The Friend”.

1 John 2:8

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. The case of Abraham proves that the justifying faith is a working faith.

1 John 2:9

Likewise also, was not Rahab the harlot justified by works? See PNT Hebrews 11:31. This is one of the long roll of examples of faith shown by works given by Paul.

1 John 2:10

For as the body without the spirit is dead. The body is a lifeless, dead thing, without the spirit. So faith without works is dead also. So lifeless is faith it shows an energy in works. NOTE.–Some have thought, among these Luther, that Paul and James were not in agreement on the subject of faith. Those who thus conclude mistake both these inspired men of God. Paul shows that works without faith will not justify, and hence lays the emphasis on “faith”; James shows that faith without works will not justify. Paul, indeed, shows that faith alone is worthless (1 Corinthians 13:2), and in Hebrews 11:1-40, he emphasizes works as the demonstration of faith. The two writers are in agreement, and all seeming disagreement is due to the fact that they are seeking to correct different errors, and hence look at the matter from different points of view.

1 John 2:12

The Control of the Tongue SUMMARY OF JAMES 3: Aspiring to Teachership. The Power of the Tongue. Its Untamable Nature. Its Contradictory Uses. Wisdom Shown in Its Proper Control. The Wisdom from Above Described. My brethren, be not many masters. Do not many of you seek to be teachers. The office of public teaching in the church is meant. Knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. Those who profess to teach others will be judged more strictly than those of humbler professions. See Matthew 7:1. Of those who have much, much is required. See Lu 12:48. A lesson is to be given on the tongue. He who teaches will be held strictly to account for the manner in which he uses it.

1 John 2:13

For in many things we offend all. All are liable to stumble and make mistakes. These can hardly be excused in the teacher. If any man offend not in word, the same [is] a perfect man. He who controls his tongue gives proof of his ability to maintain entire self control.

1 John 2:14

We put bits in the horses’ mouths. The word “bridle” (James 3:2) suggests a figure. The bridle bit controls the whole horse.

1 John 2:15

Behold also the ships. These are controlled by so small a thing as the helm. The governor. “Steersman” (Revised Version); helmsman. James abounds in the sea figures. See James 1:6.

1 John 2:16

Even so the tongue is a little member. Though so small it can control the body like a bridle, or the helm of a ship. It is a power. And boasteth great things. Claims great powers. Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth! As a spark may burn a house, a little thing like the tongue may stir up great trouble.

1 John 2:17

The tongue [is] a fire. It will kindle up anger. A word often causes a war. A world of iniquity. It can stir up a world of sinfulness. The tongue moves man, and he makes the world a world of sin. It defileth the whole body. Leads all the body into sin. And setteth on fire the course of nature. Literally, “wheel of nature”. The idea is probably “putteth nature in a blaze”, referring to the wars and commotions due to its influence. And it is set on fire from hell. It is often inspired by hell itself. A bad tongue is the organ of the devil.

1 John 2:18

Every kind of beasts. “Every nature of beasts”, literally. Four orders are named: beasts, or quadrupeds, birds, serpents, reptiles, in the Greek “creeping things”, things in the sea, or fishes. All of these have been subjected and controlled.

1 John 2:19

But the tongue can no man tame. Man has never tamed this organ as a whole. Some may have ruled their own, but the organ itself still does its evil work in the world. [It is] an unruly evil. Not only an evil, but unruly. Generally used. Full of deadly poison. Often charged with malice, envy, anger, slander, etc.

1 John 2:20

Therewith bless we God . . . [and] curse we men. Its opposite uses are shown. We use it to pray and to bless God, and, sometimes, the same tongue will be used to curse his creatures. James rebuked evils that he had observed.

1 John 2:21

Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. These utterly inconsistent things come out of the same mouth.

1 John 2:22

Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet [water] and bitter? In nature such incongruity is not shown. A fountain does not give out two kinds of waters.

1 John 2:23

Can the fig tree . . . bear olive berries? Neither does a tree bear two opposite kinds of fruits. Nor should the mouth bear blessing and cursing, good and evil.

1 John 2:24

Who [is] a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Discreet and well informed? It must be shown in a good conversation, that is, in life, both words and deeds, with meekness of wisdom. True wisdom will not speak boastfully.

1 John 2:25

Glory not. If there is bitterness in the heart, let there be no boasting of your goodness. That would be to lie “against the truth”.

1 John 2:26

This wisdom descendeth not from above. Wisdom (not real wisdom, but false) which gives rise to envy and strife is not from heaven. But [is] earthly, sensual, devilish. It is of the passions, of the devil, not of God.

1 John 2:27

For where envying and strife [is], etc. Where these exist in the heart, every evil work will follow.

1 John 2:28

But the wisdom that is from above. The divine wisdom imparted by communion with God is put in contrast with the false, sensual wisdom named in James 3:15. Is first pure. The other is sensual; this is pure. Then peaceable. The other is full of strife; this seeks for peace. Gentle. Not too rigid and exacting. Easy to be entreated. Not obstinate, but capable of persuasion. Full of mercy. Not unforgiving and unkind. Good fruits. The other shows evil works; heavenly wisdom is full of good fruits. Without partiality. Not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). Without hypocrisy. Sincere.

1 John 2:29

The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace. This wisdom not only bears righteousness as a fruit, but sows this fruit as seed to produce peace. Them that make peace. These sowers are peacemakers. See Matthew 5:9. Sowing righteousness makes peace, because wrong is the fruitful mother of strife.