1 John 5:18

We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. (See 1 John 3:9.) WE KNOW. Thrice repeated (1 John 5:19), to enforce the three truths which the words preface, as matters of the brethren's joint experimental knowledge. This 1 John 5:18 warns against abusing 1 John 5:16, as warranting carnal security. WHOSOEVER - `everyone who,' etc. Not only advanced believers, but everyone who is born again, "sinneth not." HE THAT IS BEGOTTEN, ...

18_We know that whosoever is born of God _If you suppose that God’s children are wholly _pure _and free from all sin, as the fanatics contend, then the Apostle is inconsistent with himself; for he would thus take away the duty of mutual prayer among brethren. Then he says that those _sin not _who do not wholly fall away from the grace of God; and hence he inferred that prayer ought to be made for all the children of God, because they sin not unto death. A proof is added, that every one, born of God, keeps himself, that is, keeps himself in the fear of God; nor does he suffer himself to be so led away, as to lose all sense of religion, and to surrender himself wholly to the devil and the flesh. For when he says, that he is _not touched by that wicked one_, reference is made to a deadly wound; for the children of God do not remain untouched by the assaults of Satan, but they ward off his s...

18-21 All mankind are divided into two parties or dominions; that which belongs to God, and that which belongs to the wicked one. True believers belong to God: they are of God, and from him, and to him, and for him; while the rest, by far the greater number, are in the power of the wicked one; they do his works, and support his cause. This general declaration includes all unbelievers, whatever their profession, station, or situation, or by whatever name they may be called. The Son leads believers to the Father, and they are in the love and favour of both; in union with both, by the indwelling and working of the Holy Spirit. Happy are those to whom it is given to know that the Son of God is come, and to have a heart to trust in and rely on him that is true! May this be our privilege; we shall thus be kept from all idols and false doctrines, and from the idolatrous love of worldly objects...

Verse 18. _WHOSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD SINNETH NOT_] This is spoken of adult Christians; _they_ are _cleansed from all_ _unrighteousness_, consequently from all _sin_, 1 John 1:7. _KEEPETH HIMSELF_] That is, _in the love of God_, Jude 1:21, by building up himself on his most holy faith, and praying in the Holy Ghost; _and that wicked one_-the devil, _toucheth him not_-finds nothing of his own nature in him on which he can work, Christ dwelling in his heart by faith....

WE KNOW THAT WHOSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD SINNETH NOT - Is not habitually and characteristically a sinner; does not ultimately and finally sin and perish; cannot, therefore, commit the unpardonable sin. Though he may fall into sin, and grieve his brethren, yet we are never to cease to pray for a true Christian: we are never to feel that he has committed the sin which has never forgiveness, and that he has thrown himself beyond the reach of our prayers. This passage, in its connection, is a full proof that a true Christian “will” never commit the unpardonable sin, and, therefore, is a proof that he will never fall from grace. Compare the notes at Hebrews 6:4; Hebrews 10:26. On the meaning of the assertion here made, that “whosoever is born of God sinneth not,” see the notes at...

EXPOSITION 1 JOHN 5:1 Faith is the source of love. 1 JOHN 5:1 The verse is a sorites. To believe in the Incarnation involves birth from God. To be born of God involves loving God. To love God involves loving his children. Therefore to believe in the Incarnation involves loving God's children. Τὸν γεγεννημένον ἐχ αὐτοῦ_ _is not to be understood as meaning Christ to the exclusion of Christians; it means any son of God, as the next verse shows. 1 JOHN 5:2 Another mark by which we can test our love towards the brethren. In 1 John 5:1_ faith _in the

WE KNOW THAT WHOSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD,.... Who is regenerated by his Spirit and grace, and quickened by his power; who has Christ formed in him, and is made a partaker of the divine nature, and has every grace implanted in him: SINNETH NOT; the sin unto death; nor does he live in sin, or is under the power and dominion of it, though he does not live without it; 1 John 3:9; BUT HE THAT IS BEGOTTEN OF GOD; the Vulgate Latin version reads, "the generation of God keeps or preserves him"; that is, that which is born in him, the new man, the principle of grace, or seed of God in him, keeps him from notorious crimes, particularly from sinning the sin unto death, and from the governing power of all other sins; but all other versions, as well as copies, read as we do, and as follows: KEEPETH HIMSELF; not that any man can keep himself by his own po

1 John 5:1. _Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God:_ These are very simple words, but they contain a great depth of meaning. The teaching conveyed by this Epistle is very profound, though the language is such as even a child can understand. There must be faith in Jesus Christ as the anointed Son of God; otherwise, there is no new birth, no regeneration of the Holy Spirit. 1 John 5:1. _And every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him._ If we love the Father, we love the Son. If we love God, we love all his people; all who are born into the divine family are the objects of our affection. 1 John 5:2. By this we know that we love th

1 JOHN 5:18 o` gennhqei.j evk {A} The ambiguity of reference intended by the words o` gennhqei.j evk tou/ qeou/ (a reading strongly attested by witnesses of all textual types) prompted copyists to introduce one or another change in the interest of clarification of meaning. (See also the following comment.)...

VI. CONCLUSION CHAPTER 5:14-21 The conclusion of this great Epistle mentions first the practical confidence which a believer may have, the outcome of that relationship and fellowship with the Father and His Son, which the doctrinal part so blessedly unfolds. We can come in prayer to Him with boldness and whatever we ask “according to His will He heareth us; and if we know that He heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of Him.” As a loving Father He listens to the cry of His children and He answers if it is according to His will, and the child of God would not have it differently, and desire anything to be granted him which is contrary to the will of God. Our unanswered prayers we joyfully recognize as being not according to His will. It is not true faith when fanatics, like faith curists, say that God must do certain things. That is not fa...