1 John 5:19

And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. WORLD LIETH IN WICKEDNESS, [ en (G1722) too (G3588) poneeroo (G4190)] - rather, 'lieth in the wicked one,' as 1 John 5:18; 1 John 2:13: cf. 1 John 4:4; John 17:14; John 1:1:e., in the power of, and abiding in, the wicked one, as its l...

19_We are of God _He deduces an exhortation from his previous doctrine; for what he had declared in common as to the children of God, he now applies to those he was writing to; and this he did, to stimulate them to beware of sin, and to encourage them to repel the onsets of Satan. Let readers observe, that it is only true faith, that applies to us, so to speak, the grace of God; for the Apostle acknowledges none as faithful, but those who have the dignity of being God’s children. Nor does he indeed put probable conjecture, as the Sophists speak, for confidence; for he says that we _know_. The meaning is, that as we have been born of God, we ought to strive to prove by our separation from the world, and by the sanctity of our life, that we have not been in vain called to so great all honor. Now, this is an admonition very necessary for all the godly; for wherever they turn their eyes, Sa...

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 19. _WE KNOW THAT WE ARE OF GOD_] Have the fullest proof of the truth of Christianity, and of our own reconciliation to God through the death of his Son. _THE WHOLE WORLD LIETH IN WICKEDNESS._] Εν τῳ πονηρῳ κειται· _Lieth in the wicked one_-is embraced in the arms of the devil, where it lies fast asleep and carnally secure, deriving its heat and power from its infernal fosterer. What a truly awful state! And do not the actions, tempers, propensities, opinions and maxims of all worldly men prove and illustrate this? "In this short expression," says Mr. Wesley, "the horrible state of the world is painted in the most lively colours; a comment on which we have in the actions, conversations, contracts, quarrels and friendships of worldly men." Yes, their ACTIONS are opposed to the law of God; their CONVERSATIONS shallow, simulous, and false; their CONTRACTS forced, interested, and d...

AND WE KNOW THAT WE ARE OF GOD - We who are Christians. The apostle supposed that true Christians might have so clear evidence on that subject as to leave no doubt on their own minds that they were the children of God. Compare 1 John 3:14; 2 Timothy 1:12. AND THE WHOLE WORLD - The term “world” here evidently means not the material world, but the people who dwell on the earth, including all idolaters, and all sinners of every grade and kind. LIETH IN WICKEDNESS - “In the wicked one,” or under the power of the wicked one - ἐν τῷ πονηρῷ en tō ponērō. It is true that the word πονηρῷ

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

[AND] WE KNOW THAT WE ARE OF GOD,.... The sons of God, and regenerated by him; this is known by the Spirit of God, which witnesses to the spirits of the saints that they are the children of God; and by the fruits and effects of regenerating grace, as love to the brethren, and the like: AND THE WHOLE WORLD LIES IN WICKEDNESS; that is, the men of the world, the greater part of the inhabitants of it, who are as they were when they came into it, not being born of God; these are addicted to sin and, wickedness; the bias of their minds is to it, they are set upon it, and give themselves up to it, are immersed in it, and are under the power of it: or "in the wicked one"; Satan, the god of this world; they are under his influence, and led according to his will, and they are governed by him, and are at his beck and command; and this is known, by sad experience, it is easy of observation; "And c...

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

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...

CONCLUSION. A reminder of the writer's purpose, an assertion of the value and also the limitations of intercessory prayer, and a summary of the teaching of the epistle. 1 JOHN 5:13. THAT. LIFE: John wishes his readers to have no misgiving as to the reality of their religious experience, though the appended clause (_even_... God) indicates that the security is bound up with a right view of Jesus. 1 John 5:14 f. When our prayers for ourselves or for others are in accord with God's will, He hears and will answer them. 1 John 5:16. a sin not unto death. a sin unto death: this distinction has given rise to much discussion. Death symbolises the hopeless ruin of the moral personality. Unto deat