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The Letters of John
BC Weekly Digest Monday, January 4 1999 In this issue: 1 John 5:16,17 1 John 5:13-15 1 John 5:16-18 1 John 5:18 1 John 5:16 1 John 5:19 1 John 5:20 1 John 5:21 1 John 5:13 1 John 5:16,17 1 John 5:16,17 (OPV) 16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a non-deadly sin, he will ask, and [God] will give him life for those who are committing non-deadly sins. There is deadly sin. I am not saying that you should ask concerning that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin. But there is non-deadly sin. === 5:14 "If anyone sees his brother sinning a non-deadly sin" First we must note the word 'brother'. This relates to Christians praying for each other. Good parents and teachers do not 'correct' a child for every single thing he does wrong, or the child will become frustrated and discouraged. The same applies among Christians. We all stumble in many respects (James 3:1). If we treat others the way we want to be treated, we will not point out every sin or shortcoming we happen to notice in someone else. Our goal is not to sin at all, but thankfully "we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One" (1 John 2:1 OPV). I have been blessed by close acquaintance with great men and women of faith during my lifetime. Yet, they all had flaws. To make it our job to point them all out, either to them or to others, would be unkind, unjust, and would probably mean that we would be condemning ourselves! 5:16 "He will ask, and [God] will give him life for those who are committing non-deadly sins" In many cases it is enough, when we see a brother sinning, but not in such a way that it separates him from the grace of God, to say a prayer to our Father and ask Him to forgive as He has promised. The Lord was crucified for us. We do not need to crucify one another. 5:16 "There is deadly sin. I am not saying that you should ask concerning that" There is, of course, a limit to what sins are covered by the grace of God in the normal course of a Christian's life. Legalists will immediately want a 'list' of the sins which are deadly and the ones which are not. But it is not that simple. It does not say 'deadly sins' but 'deadly sin'. John does not give us a list. He just points out that there is deadly sin and there is non- deadly sin. He does seem to expect us to be able to distinguish between the two, generally speaking. Although there is no 'list' of deadly sins in the Scriptures, we do have some examples to help us know what is under consideration. In the letter to the church at Thyatira, Jesus warns: "But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and beguiling my servants to practice immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her immorality" (Rev 2:20,21 RSV). Even this Jezebel was given time to repent, but her time was up. Not only was she wrong, it was wrong for Christians to tolerate her. At Corinth, certain people who were committing deadly sins were being fellowshipped. "It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father's wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you" (1 Cor 5:1,2 RSV). Paul goes on to explain: "I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with immoral men; not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But rather I wrote to you not to associate with any one who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber -- not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside [the church] whom you are to judge?" (1 Cor 5:9-12 RSV). These passages are not exhaustive in defining what is included among deadly sins, but they give us an idea of what is meant. In such cases we can pray to God that the person involved will repent and be restored. We can also follow the Lord's instructions on how to deal with such people, and try to save them from destruction. But we cannot just ask God to forgive them, because they are committing deadly sins. 5:17 "All unrighteousness is sin. But there is non-deadly sin" John emphasizes that all unrighteousness is sin. The better we know Jesus Christ, our great example, and the holiness of God through studying the Scriptures, the better we understand how unrighteous and sinful we are, and how much we need the grace of God. With Paul we cry: "Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then I of myself with the mind, indeed, serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus" (Rom 7:24 -- 8:1 ASV). This grace does not mean that we may excuse our flaws, weaknesses and shortcomings. But neither may be become overwhelmed and discouraged because we continually fall short. There is non-deadly sin and God loved us so much that He sent His Son to be a propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2). We may ask this forgiveness not only for ourselves but also for a brother. Roy Davison ------------------------------ 1 John 5:13-15 John's Purpose in Writing If we read John's writings, from his gospel through the Revelation - we see that his chief aim is to bring believers into full fellowship with the Father and His Son. John says this means ' walking in the light' - a transformed lifestyle, modeled after the example of love, submission, and obedience seen in Jesus. This requires more than just belief in the existence of Deity, but a submission to Christ's example and to the Father's will. We imitate His lifestyle - we walk in His steps -when we love and trust the Father enough to say as Jesus did: "not my will, but thine be done" - then we know that we have arrived at the spiritual plateau where full fellowship with Him is possible !! When we really live the example we see in Jesus, when our thinking has been transformed to do the father's perfect will - we know that our requests will be honored - because they conform to His desires! Born into His family, conformed to His will - we know that a loving Father will meet all our needs and furnish us with ' all that pertains to life and godliness '. Read John 15:7,16; 1 John 1:1-7; 1 John 3:22; Hebrews 5:7-9; and 2 Peter 1:3. J.Lee Roberts ------------------------------ 1 John 5:16-18 1 John 5:16-18 5:16 "If anyone sees his brother sinning a non-deadly sin, he will ask, and [God] will give him life for those who are committing non-deadly sins. There is deadly sin. I am not saying that you should ask concerning that"(OPV). This is indeed a very difficult passage. There are various explanations given by just as many scholars. Some teach that this is referring to blasphemy, but I tend to disagree. I believe this is talking about two different categories of sin. While some may believe that this refers to degrees of sin, I believe that the Bible teaches that all sin is fatal to the soul if left uncorrected (Hebrews 2:2): "For if the word spoken through angels proved stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard"(KJV). See also Ezekiel 3:20. It is sin that causes the second death which is a separation from God. It occurs after the first death which is a physical death (Hebrews 9:27). The second death comes immediately after judgment for those who have separated themselves from God through sin (Revelation 21:8). The only way to avoid this second death is to not only be His child but to be truly aware of our sins and to have a repentive heart. If we do not have such a deep concern for our own welfare, as well as the welfare of others, we will become lost. Realizing this, we are to not only pray for our own sins but also for the sins of our fellow saints. It is for this reason that John wrote these words of warning to us. If we see a brother sin, but that brother is aware of his sin and is trying to overcome it, then we are to pray for his efforts to be successful. If necessary, we are to also assist him by teaching, encouraging him and admonishing him as necessary. If he is making the effort to redeem himself before the Lord, our prayers will be effective. On the other hand, let us suppose that another brother commits a sin for which there is evidence that he has not repented or that he is not even aware of his sin. Simply praying for him is not enough and God will not respond to prayer alone by others on his behalf. It will require direct intervention by other Christians with him to rectify the situation. God requires that we all be "our brother's keeper." While this verse may just as well mean that any unrepented sin can be fatal to one's soul, it also seems quite logical that this fatal sin is one of an insidious nature and one of which the sinner may more often not be aware. 5:17 "All unrighteousness is sin. But there is non-deadly sin"(OPV). There is a kind or type of sin that is fatal to the soul. It is the sin of which we are either unaware or of which are unwilling to repent. Without forgiveness, we are lost. We must always be aware of sin in our lives because sin separates us from the presence of God. All unrighteousness is sin by its very nature. When we pray, we should always ask God to forgive all our sins, including those of which we are unaware. 5:18 "We know that anyone having been born of God does not continue sinning, but He who is born of God watches over him, and the evil one does not have a hold on him"(OPV). This verse does not teach the "impossibility of apostasy" as do some of our denominational friends. What it does teach is that Christians are not to sin; but that God is aware that we are human and that we all do sin from time to time. Because of this fact, He has given us the means to escape the consequences of sin through forgiveness. In Romans 3:23, the apostle Paul states."For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God". In 1 John 1:9, John tells us that God is faithful to forgive each one of His children if we will just ask Him. Christians aren't perfect, but they can be forgiven. That means that we must still try to live God-like lives even though we realize that we still commit sin because we are human and not perfect. It is only through our committment to His Son that we can have forgiveness from sin. When we bare our souls before God, He is faithful and just and will forgive us. (1 John 1:9) Thus Jesus will have become our Shepherd indeed. Howard Justice ------------------------------ 1 John 5:18 1 John 5:18 (OPV) 18 We know that anyone having been born of God does not continue sinning, but He who is born of God watches over him, and the evil one does not have a hold on him. === 5:18 "Anyone having been born of God" This refers to the rebirth, the birth from above, the birth of water and the Spirit without which no one can enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:3-8). It occurs only by the will of God (John 1:13). This rebirth is based on love (1 John 4:7) and faith (1 John 5:1,4). 5:18 "Does not continue sinning" Remember that John is refuting false teachers who said one could continue sinning "in the flesh" as long as he served God "in his spirit." Here John repeats the truth stated in chapter three: "Anyone who has been born of God does not keep on practicing sin, because His seed abides in him, and he is not able to keep on sinning, because he has been born of God" (1 John 3:9 OPV). Paul refutes a similar false teaching: "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein? Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life" (Rom 6:1-4 ASV). 5:18 "But He who is born of God" There is ambiguity as to whether this refers to Christ or to a reborn believer. In this translation it is understood as referring to Christ. 5:18 "Watches over him, and the evil one does not have a hold on him" If understood to refer to the believer, it is translated "keeps himself." The Greek word can mean "to watch over protectively" the way a shepherd "keeps" sheep, or it can mean to "maintain or keep in condition". The ambiguity is of no real consequence since both are true. Christ watches over us and we also must watch ourselves! 5:18 "And the evil one does not have a hold on him" Jesus gives us this assurance: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who hath given [them] unto me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father's hand" (John 10:27-29 ASV). Roy Davison ------------------------------ 1 John 5:16 1 John 5:16 Praying For Others Having assured his readers that God answers the prayers of those who have learned submission to the Father's will, John now reminds believers to use prayer unselfishly to intercede for others. Scriptural examples are numerous of prayer being used to show heartfelt concern for the needs of others. Abraham petitioned God on behalf of the wicked inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah ( Genesis 18:23 - 32 ). Job was instructed to pray for his misguided friends ( Job 42:8-10 ). Moses often made intercession for the disobedient children of Israel ( Exodus 32:32; Numbers 14:19; Deuteronomy 9:26 ). And there is an example in 1 Chronicles 21:17 where David pleaded with God for his people. Christ and his apostles also give us a number of very moving examples of deep concern for others in their prayers. Who could forget the Lord's care for Peter:" Satan demanded to have you...but I have prayed for you..." ( Luke 22:31,32 ). And Luke also records His prayer for those who crucified him:" Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" ( Luke 23:34 RSV ). And I am moved by His prayer for all His future disciples in John 17:20 RSV " I do not pray for these only [ apostles ], but also for those who believe in me through their word." This certainly motivates me to earnestly pray for others as did Paul and his companions as they evangelized and remembered their brethren individually in their supplications ( Read 1 Thessalonians 1:2 and Ephesians 1:16 ). Let us practice John's exhortation and Paul's instructions in 1 Timothy 2:1..." I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all men ...." J.Lee Roberts ------------------------------ 1 John 5:19 1 John 5:19 (OPV) 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world is found in the evil one. === 5:19 "We know" Recall that John is emphasizing things Christians know, as he exposes the pseudo-knowledge of the gnostics: "We know that we know Him" (1 John 2:2). "We know that we are in Him" (1 John 2:5). "We know that it is the final hour" (1 John 2:18). "We know that we have passed from death into life" (1 John 3:14). "We know love" (1 John 3:16). "We know that He remains in us" (1 John 3:24). "We know the spirit of truth" (1 John 4:6). "We know that we abide in Him, and He in us" (1 John 4:13). "We know that we love the children of God" (1 John 5:2). "We know that He hears us" (1 John 5:15). Now he sums it all up: "We know that anyone having been born of God does not continue sinning" (1 John 5:18). "We know that we are of God, and the whole world is found in the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding that we might know the True One, and we are in the True One, in His Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 5:19,20). 5:19 "We are of God" With these four words John says so much. "We are of God" (1 John 4:6). "You are of God" (1 John 4:4). Man was created in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:27; 5:1; James 3:9). Our sins separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2). But through Christ we have been reconciled (Rom 5:10; 2 Cor 5:18; Col 1:22) and have become the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21). We are children of God (John 1:12; 11:52; Rom 8:14,16; Gal 3:26; Phil 2:15; 1 John 3:1,2) and thereby heirs of God (Rom 8:17). We are men and women of God (2 Tim 3:17), servants of God (Titus 1:1), slaves of God (1 Peter 2:16), the people of God (Heb 4:9; 1 Peter 2:10), priests of God (Rev 20:6; 1 Peter 2:4,5), the Israel of God (Gal 6:16). We are the temple of God (1 Cor 3:16,17; 2 Cor 6:16), a habitation of God (Eph 2:22), the church of God (Gal 1:13; 1 Thes 2:14), the flock of God (1 Peter 5:2), the household of God (Eph 2:19; 1 Tim 3:15), the city of God (Ps 46:4; 87:3; Heb 12:22). What a blessing to be of God. 5:19 "The whole world is found in the evil one" This does not mean that people in the world never do anything good. But it does mean that they are under the power of the devil. Arrogant hearers of Jesus boasted that they had never been enslaved to anyone. Jesus replied: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin "(John 8:34 ASV). "What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin; as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one" (Rom 3:9,10 ASV). The righteousness of God can only come through faith in Jesus Christ, "for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God set forth [to be] a propitiation, through faith, in his blood" (Rom 3:23-25 ASV). Christ "gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father" (Gal 1:4 ASV), "who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins" (Col 1:13,14 ASV). Roy Davison ------------------------------ 1 John 5:20 1 John 5:20 (OPV) 20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding that we might know the True One, and we are in the True One, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the True God, and eternal life. === 5:20 "We know that the Son of God has come" Jesus came from the Father (John 16:28). He came for judgment (John 9:39). He came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). He came to be King (John 18:37). As Martha confessed: "Yea, Lord: I have believed that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, [even] he that cometh into the world" (John 11:27 ASV). 5:20 "And has given us understanding" In Daniel it was foretold: "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase" (Daniel 12:4 RSV). We live in a time when people jet back and forth from one side of the earth to the other, and in a time when the whole world is connected to millions of knowledge bases via the Internet. There is a superabundance of knowledge, and a super lack of understanding. Science and engineering are great sources of knowledge, but true understanding comes only from God. In Ephesians, chapter four, we read that when Christ returned to the Father, He gave gifts to men (verse 8). His gifts were the various functions of leadership in the church (verse 11) so the body of Christ might build itself up in love "till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God" (verse 16). This allows us to escape from the lack of understanding that prevails in the world at large: "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart" (Eph 4:17,18 ASV). True wisdom and understanding are gifts of God: "But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5 ASV). 5:20 "That we might know the True One" If you search for the wisdom that comes through the Word of God "then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding" (Proverbs 2:5,6). "Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord" (2 Peter 1:2 ASV). 5:20 "And we are in the True One, in His Son Jesus Christ" Not only do we know God, we are IN God, when we are in Christ. "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and have believed the love which God has in us. God is love, and he who abides in love, abides in God, and God abides in him" (1 John 4:15,16 OPV). On the basis of our confession of faith we are baptized into Christ (Gal 3:26,27), "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body" (1 Cor 12:13 RSV), "for you died, and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Col 3:3 OPV). 5:20 "This is the True God, and eternal life" God IS eternal life, the I AM, the source of all life, the source our eternal life. Roy Davison ------------------------------ 1 John 5:21 1 John 5:21 (OPV) "Little children, guard yourselves from idols." === In many countries throughout the world, idol worship is still prevalent. In the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox churches there are even people who bow down before statues and icons in the name of Christianity! In addition, there is much "hidden" idolatry. The old heathen gods have gone 'underground'. Mars the god of war, Bacchus the god of wine, and Mammon the god of money still have hosts of worshippers! And many more could be added to the list. In the past, images were limited to cold, lifeless statues. At present, virtually every home in many countries has an image in the corner which, although it is still lifeless, can move, talk and perform the most amazing feats of magic! I refer to the television, which has become an idol in many homes. Thus, John's warning is needed as much now as it was two thousand years ago. "Little children, guard yourselves from idols!" Roy Davison ------------------------------ 1 John 5:13 1 John 5:13 In connection with 1 John 5:13 which says "I have written these things to you so you may know that you have eternal life" the question has been submitted "When does Eternal Life begin? In Heaven or here on earth?" === Many Christian blessings begin now, but reach their final culmination in the Father's house. As stated here, we can know that we HAVE eternal life. He who believes, HAS eternal life (John 6:4). He who eats the flesh of Christ and drinks His blood HAS eternal life (John 6:54). But Jesus goes on to explain: "And I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:54). In other words, HAVING eternal life does not mean that we will not die physically, but it means that through Christ we will live eternally with God after the resurrection. Yet, Jesus also said: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my word, he shall never see death" (John 8:51 ASV). The Jewish leaders thought this statement proved that Jesus had a demon! They did not understand that He was talking about a different kind of death other than physical death. To Martha He explained: "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die. Believest thou this?" (John 11:25.26 ASV). There are different kinds of life and different kinds of death. First Jesus says that someone who believes on Him, even though he die, shall live. Physical death will not prevent him from living spiritually. Then He says that any one who lives and believes on Him, shall never die. This is not a contradiction because He is talking about different kinds of life and death. Through the spiritual rebirth we have new life through Christ, and this new spiritual life in Christ cannot be taken away from us by those who can only kill the body (see Matthew 10:28). With regard to the body, however, there is a sense that we will receive eternal life on the day of judgment when our bodies are raised (Matthew 25:26; 1 Corinthians 15:42- 55). Jesus promised: "There is no man that hath left house, or wife, or brethren, or parents, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this time, and in the world to come eternal life" (Luke 18:29,30 ASV // Mark 10:30). In this sense we also have "hope of eternal life" (Titus 1:2; 3:7). Roy Davison