1 John 2:5

But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. Not merely repeating the proposition, , or asserting the opposite alternative to , but expanding the "know Him" of into "in Him verily (not vain boasting) is the love of (i:e., toward) God perfected," and "we are in Him." Love here answers to knowledge in . In proportion as we love God, we know Him: until our love and knowledge shall attain their full maturity of perfection. HIS WORD. His word is one (note, ), comprising His "commandments," which are many ...

5_But whoso keepeth _He now defines what a true keeping of God’s law is, even to love God. This passage is, I think, incorrectly explained by those who understand that they please the true God who keephis word. Rather take this as its meaning, “to love God in sincerity of heart, is to keep his commandments.” For he intended, as I have before reminded you, briefly to shew what God requires from us, and what is the holiness of the faithful. Moses also said the same thing, when he stated the sum of the law. “Now, O Israel, what does the Lord require of thee, but to fear and love him, and to walk in his precepts?” (Deuteronomy 10:12.) And again he says, “Choose life, even to love the Lord thy God, to serve him and to cleave to him.” (Deuteronomy 30:19)...

3-11 What knowledge of Christ can that be, which sees not that he is most worthy of our entire obedience? And a disobedient life shows there is neither religion nor honesty in the professor. The love of God is perfected in him that keeps his commandments. God's grace in him attains its true mark, and produces its sovereign effect as far as may be in this world, and this is man's regeneration; though never absolutely perfect here. Yet this observing Christ's commands, has holiness and excellency which, if universal, would make the earth resemble heaven itself. The command to love one another had been in force from the beginning of the world; but it might be called a new command as given to Christians. It was new in them, as their situation was new in respect of its motives, rules, and obligations. And those who walk in hatred and enmity to believers, remain in a dark state. Christian lov...

Verse 1 John 2:5. _BUT WHOSO KEEPETH HIS WORD_] Conscientiously observes his doctrine, the spirit and letter of the religion of Christ. _IS THE LOVE OF GOD PERFECTED_] The design of God's love in sending Jesus Christ into the world to die for the sin of man τετελειωται, _is accomplished_, in that man who receives the doctrine, and applies for the salvation provided for him. This seems to be the meaning of the apostle. _THAT WE ARE IN HIM._] That we have entered into his spirit and views, received his salvation, have been enabled to walk in the light, and have communion with him by the Holy Spirit....

BUT WHOSO KEEPETH HIS WORD - That is, what he has spoken or commanded, The term “word” here will include all that he has made known to us as his will in regard to our conduct. IN HIM VERILY IS THE LOVE OF GOD PERFECTED - He professes to have the love of God in his heart, and that love receives its completion or filling up by obedience to the will of God. That obedience is the proper carrying out, or the exponent of the love which exists in the heart. Love to the Saviour would be defective without that, for it is never complete without obedience. If this be the true interpretation, then the passage does not make any affirmation about sinless perfection, but it only affirms that if true love exists in the heart, it will be carried out in the life; or that love and obedience are parts of the same thing; that one will be manifested by the other; and that where obedience exists, it is the com...

EXPOSITION 1 JOHN 2:1, 1 JOHN 2:2 Moreover, walking in the light involves accepting the propitiation wrought through Jesus Christ the Righteous. The connexion with the preceding is close. We have just had (1) the confession that we do sin; we now have (2) the principle that we must not sin; and (3) the consolation that sin is not irremediable. 1 JOHN 2:1 MY LITTLE CHILDREN; or, perhaps, _my dear children; _or, simply, _my children. _The diminutive τεκνία, if it retains any force, expresses endearment rather than smallness or youth. Th

BUT WHOSO KEEPETH HIS WORD,.... Either the word of the Gospel, and the truths of it, who receives it in love, cordially embraces and retains it, and will by no means part with it, but holds it fast, and stands fast in it; or the precepts and ordinances of the word, who loves these, and esteems them above fine gold, and concerning all things to be right, and observes them as they should be: IN HIM VERILY IS THE LOVE OF GOD PERFECTED: not the love wherewith God loves him, for that is perfect in himself, and admits of no degrees, and cannot be more or less in his heart, and is entirely independent of the obedience of men, or any works of theirs; it is true indeed the manifestations of this love to the saints are imperfect, and may be more and greater, and greater manifestations of love are promised to such that love Christ, and keep his commandments, John 14:21; but here it is t

1 John 2:1. _My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not._ That you may abstain from it, and abhor it, and not indulge in anything that would lead you towards it. 1 John 2:1. _And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:_ We are to seek to live a perfectly holy life, but inasmuch as we constantly fall short of that ideal, here is our comfort; we still have an Advocate, we still have One who undertakes our cause, and pleads for us before his Father's throne. 1 John 2:2. _And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world._ Whoever comes to him shall rece

PERFECT (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 5:48). _...

II. LIGHT AND DARKNESS AND THE TESTS Chapter S 1:5-2:17 _ 1. God is light; walking in darkness and in light (1 John 1:5)_ 2. What the light manifests (1 John 1:8) 3. The advocacy of Christ to maintain the fellowship (1 John 2:1) 4. The tests of fellowship (1 John 2:3) 1 John 1:5 The message they had heard of Him and which they declared to others is, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. Light, perfect, pure light is God's nature; He is absolutely holy, with no darkness in Him at all. That God is light was manife