1 John 5:21

Affectionate parting caution. FROM IDOLS - Christians were everywhere surrounded by idolaters with whom it was impossible to avoid some contact. Hence, the need of being on their guard against an indirect compromise or communion with idolatry. Some at Pergamos, in the region whence John wrote, fell into the snare of eating things sacrificed to idols (). The moment we cease to abide "in Him that is true (by abiding) in Jesus Christ," we become part of 'the world that lieth in the wicked one,' given up to spiritual, if not in all places literal, idolatry (; )....

21_Keep yourselves from idols _Though this be a separate sentence, yet it is as it were an appendix to the preceding doctrine. For the vivifying light of the Gospel ought to scatter and dissipate, not only darkness, but also all mists, from the minds of the godly. The Apostle not only condemns idolatry, but commands us to beware of all images and idols; by which he intimates, that the worship of God cannot continue uncorrupted and pure whenever men begin to be in love with idols or images. For so innate in us is superstition, that the least occasion will infect us with its contagion. Dry wood will not so easily burn when coals are put under it, as idolatry will lay hold on and engross the minds of men, when an occasion is given to them. And who does not see that images are the sparks? What sparks do I say? nay, rather torches, which are sufficient to set the whole world on fire. The Apos...

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 1 John 5:21. _LITTLE CHILDREN_] τεκνια. _Beloved children_; he concludes with the same affectionate feeling with which he commenced. _KEEP YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS._] Avoid the idolatry of the heathens; not only have no _false gods_, but have the _true God_. Have no idols in your _houses_, none in your _churches_, none in your _hearts_. Have no object of idolatrous worship; no _pictures,_ _relics, consecrated tapers, wafers, crosses_, c., by attending to which your minds may be divided, and prevented from worshipping the infinite Spirit in spirit and in truth. The apostle, says Dr. Macknight cautioned his disciples against going with the heathens into the temple of their idol gods, to eat of their feasts upon the sacrifices they had offered to these gods and against being present at any act of wor

LITTLE CHILDREN - This is a favorite mode of address with John, (see the notes at 1 John 2:1), and it was proper to use it in giving his parting counsel; embracing, in fact, all that he had to say - that they should keep themselves from idols, and suffer nothing to alienate their affections from the true God. His great object had been to lead them to the knowledge and love of God, and all his counsels would be practically followed, if, amidst the temptations of idolatry, and the allurements of sin, nothing were allowed to estrange their hearts from him. KEEP YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS - From worshipping them; from all that would imply communion with them or their devotees. Compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 10:14. The word rendered

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

LITTLE CHILDREN, KEEP YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS, AMEN. From Heathen idols and idolatry, into which the saints in those times might be liable to be drawn, by reason of their dwelling among Heathen idolaters, and being related to them, and by the too great freedom used in eating things sacrificed to idols in their temples; and from all other idols that might be introduced by some who went by the name of Christians, as the Gnostics, who worshipped the images of Simon and Helena; and the passage may be an antidote against the worshipping of images, afterwards introduced by the Papists. Moreover, errors and false doctrines, which are the figments of men's minds, and what they are fond of, may be called idols, and should be guarded against, and abstained from; as also the lusts of men's hearts, and all the evil things that are in the world, which are adored by the men of it; and even every creatur...

1 John 5:1. _Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God._ Take comfort, believer, from that declaration. You have accepted Jesus as the Christ the anointed of God, so the apostle affirms that you are «born of God.» It may be only lately that you have been born again, you may be only a babe in grace; but if you have a true faith in Christ as God's anointed, you are «born of God.» 1 John 5:1. _And every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him._ If you truly love God, you also love his well-beloved and only-begotten Son, and you also love all his children. There cannot be a true love to the Father and a hatred to his family, that is impossible. Judge therefore by this test whether you love God or not....

1 JOHN 5:21 eivdw,lwn) {A} After eivdw,lwn the Textus Receptus, following K L P 81 614 _Byz Lect,_ reads avmh,n, a common liturgical addition. The earlier text, without avmh,n, is strongly supported by the best Alexandrian and Western witnesses (a A B 33 itr vg Speculum _al_). -------------------------...

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...