1 John 3:1
That we should be called — That is, should be, the children of God. Therefore the world knoweth us not — They know not what to make of us. We are a mystery to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
That we should be called — That is, should be, the children of God. Therefore the world knoweth us not — They know not what to make of us. We are a mystery to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
It doth not yet appear — Even to ourselves. What we shall be — It is something ineffable, which will raise the children of God to be, in a manner, as God himself. But we know, in general, that when he, the Son of God, shall appear, we shall be like him — The glory of God penetrating our inmost subst... [ Continue Reading ]
And every one that hath this hope in him — In God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Whosoever committeth sin — Thereby transgresseth the holy, just, and good law of God, and so sets his authority at nought; for this is implied in the very nature of sin.... [ Continue Reading ]
And ye know that he — Christ. Was manifested — That he came into the world for this very purpose. To take away our sins — To destroy them all, root and branch, and leave none remaining. And in him is no sin — So that he could not suffer on his own account, but to make us as himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
Whosoever abideth in communion with him, by loving faith, sinneth not — While he so abideth. Whosoever sinneth certainly seeth him not — The loving eye of his soul is not then fixed upon God; neither doth he then experimentally know him — Whatever he did in time past.... [ Continue Reading ]
Let no one deceive you — Let none persuade you that any man is righteous but he that uniformly practises righteousness; he alone is righteous, after the example of his Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
He that committeth sin is a child of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning — That is, was the first sinner in the universe, and has continued to sin ever since. The Son of God was manifested to destroy the works of the devil — All sin. And will he not perform this in all that trust in... [ Continue Reading ]
Whosoever is born of God — By living faith, whereby God is continually breathing spiritual life into his soul, and his soul is continually breathing out love and prayer to God, doth not commit sin. For the divine seed of loving faith abideth in him; and, so long as it doth, he cannot sin, because he... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither he that loveth not his brother — Here is the transition from the general proposition to one particular.... [ Continue Reading ]
Who was of the wicked one — Who showed he was a child of the devil by killing his brother. And wherefore slew he him — For any fault? No, but just the reverse; for his goodness.... [ Continue Reading ]
Marvel not if the world hate you — For the same cause.... [ Continue Reading ]
We know — As if he had said, We ourselves could not love our brethren, unless we were passed from spiritual death to life, that is, born of God. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death — That is, is not born of God. And he that is not born of God, cannot love his brother.... [ Continue Reading ]
He, I say, abideth in spiritual death, is void of the life of God. For whosoever hateth his brother, and there is no medium between loving and hating him, is, in God's account, a murderer: every degree of hatred being a degree of the same temper which moved Cain to murder his brother. And no murdere... [ Continue Reading ]
The word God is not in the original. It was omitted by the apostle just as the particular name is omitted by Mary, when she says to the gardener, "Sir, if thou hast borne him hence;" and by the church, when she says, "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth," Song of Solomon 1:2; in both which... [ Continue Reading ]
But whoso hath this world's good — Worldly substance, far less valuable than life. And seeth his brother have need — The very sight of want knocks at the door of the spectator's heart. And shutteth up — Whether asked or not. His bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him — Ce... [ Continue Reading ]
Not in word — Only. But in deed — In action: not in tongue by empty professions, but in truth.... [ Continue Reading ]
And hereby we know — We have a farther proof by this real, operative love. That we are of the truth — That we have true faith, that we are true children of God. And shall assure our hearts before him — Shall enjoy the assurance of his favour, and the "testimony of a good conscience toward God." The... [ Continue Reading ]
For if we have not this testimony, if in anything our heart, our own conscience, condemn us, much more does God, who is greater than our heart — An infinitely holier and a more impartial Judge. And knoweth all things — So that there is no hope of hiding it from him.... [ Continue Reading ]
If our heart condemn us not — If our conscience, duly enlightened by the word and Spirit of God, and comparing all our thoughts, words, and works with that word, pronounce that they agree therewith. Then have we confidence toward God — Not only our consciousness of his favour continues and increases... [ Continue Reading ]
And this is his commandment — All his commandments in one word. That we should believe and love — in the manner and degree which he hath taught. This is the greatest and most important command that ever issued from the throne of glory. If this be neglected, no other can be kept: if this be observed,... [ Continue Reading ]
And he that keepeth his commandments — That thus believes and loves. Abideth in him, and God in him: and hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us — Which witnesses with our spirits that we are his children, and brings forth his fruits of peace, love, holiness. This... [ Continue Reading ]