There are two principal subjects discussed in this chapter: I. The method by which we may determine that we have the Spirit of God, 1 John 4:1. The apostle had said 1 John 3:24 that it could be determined that God dwells in them by the Spirit which he has given them; but as it is probable that the... [ Continue Reading ]
BELOVED, BELIEVE NOT EVERY SPIRIT - Do not confide implicitly in everyone who professes to be under the influences of the Holy Spirit. Compare Matthew 24:4. The true and the false teachers of religion alike claimed to be under the influence of the Spirit of God, and it was of importance that all suc... [ Continue Reading ]
HEREBY - Greek, “By this;” that is, by the test which is immediately specified. KNOW YE THE SPIRIT OF GOD - You may discern who are actuated by the Spirit of God. EVERY SPIRIT - Everyone professing to be under the influence of the Spirit of God. The apostle uses the word “spirit” here with referen... [ Continue Reading ]
AND EVERY SPIRIT THAT CONFESSETH NOT ... - That is, this doctrine is essential to the Christian system; and he who does not hold it cannot be regarded either as a Christian, or recognised as a Christian teacher. If he was not a man, then all that occurred in his life, in Gethsemane, and on the cross... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ARE OF GOD - You are of his family; you have embraced his truth, and imbibed his Spirit. LITTLE CHILDREN - Notes, 1 John 2:1. AND HAVE OVERCOME THEM - Have triumphed over their arts and temptations; their endeavors to draw you into error and sin. The word them in this place seems to refer to th... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ARE OF THE WORLD - This was one of the marks by which those who had the spirit of antichrist might be known. They belonged not to the church of God, but to the world. They had its spirit; they acted on its principles; they lived for it. Compare the notes at 1 John 2:15. THEREFORE SPEAK THEY OF... [ Continue Reading ]
WE ARE OF GOD - John here, doubtless, refers to himself, and to those who taught the same doctrines which he did. He takes it for granted that those to whom he wrote would admit this, and argues from it as an indisputable truth. He had given them such evidence of this, as to establish his character... [ Continue Reading ]
BELOVED, LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER - This verse introduces a new topic, the consideration of which occupies the remainder of the chapter. See the Analysis. The subject is one on which John dwells more than on any other - that of love. His own character especially inclined him to the exercise of love;... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT LOVETH NOT, KNOWETH NOT GOD - Has no true acquaintance with God; has no just views of him, and no right feelings toward him. The reason for this is implied in what is immediately stated, that “God is love,” and of course if they have no love reigning in their hearts, they cannot pretend to b... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THIS WAS MANIFESTED THE LOVE OF GOD - That is, in an eminent manner, or this was a most signal proof of it. The apostle does not mean to say that it has been manifested in no other way, but that this was so prominent an instance of his love, that all the other manifestations of it seemed absorbed... [ Continue Reading ]
HEREIN IS LOVE - In this great gift is the highest expression of love, as if it had done all that it can do. NOT THAT WE LOVED GOD - Not that we were in such a state that we might suppose he would make such a sacrifice for us, but just the opposite. If we had loved and obeyed him, we might have had... [ Continue Reading ]
BELOVED, IF GOD SO LOVED US, WE OUGHT ALSO TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER - * Because he is so much exalted above us, and if he has loved those who were so inferior and so unworthy, we ought to love those who are on a level with us; (2)Because it is only in this way that we can show that we have his Spirit... [ Continue Reading ]
NO MAN HATH SEEN GOD AT ANY TIME - See the notes at John 1:18, where the same declaration occurs. The statement seems to be made here in order to introduce a remark to show in what way we may know that we have any true knowledge of God. The idea is, “He has never indeed been seen by mortal eyes. We... [ Continue Reading ]
HEREBY KNOW WE THAT WE DWELL IN HIM - Here is another, or an additional evidence of it. BECAUSE HE HATH GIVEN US OF HIS SPIRIT - He has imparted the influences of that Spirit to our souls, producing “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” etc., Galatians 5:22. It was one of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WE HAVE SEEN - Notes on 1 John 1:1. AND DO TESTIFY - Notes, 1 John 1:3. That is, we who are apostles bear witness to you of this great truth, that God has sent his Son to be a Saviour. Compare the notes at John 20:31. The reason why this is referred to here is not quite apparent, but the train o... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER SHALL CONFESS THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD - In the true sense, and from the heart. This will always prove that a man is a Christian. But the passage cannot mean that if he merely says so in words, or if he does it insincerely, or without any proper sense of the truth, it will prove that h... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WE HAVE KNOWN AND BELIEVED ... - We all have assurance that God has loved us, and the fullest belief in the great fact of redemption by which he has manifested his love to us. GOD IS LOVE - Notes, 1 John 4:8. It is not uncommon for John to repeat an important truth. He delights to dwell on such... [ Continue Reading ]
HEREIN IS OUR LOVE MADE PERFECT - Margin, “love with us.” The margin accords with the Greek - μεθ ̓ ἡμῶν meth' hēmōn. The meaning is, “the love that is within us, or in us, is made perfect.” The expression is unusual; but the general idea is, that love is rendered complete or entire in the manne... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE - Love is not an affection which produces fear. In the love which we have for a parent, a child, a friend, there is no fear. If a man had perfect love to God, he would have no fear of anything - for what would he have to dread? He would have no fear of death, for he would ha... [ Continue Reading ]
WE LOVE HIM, BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US - This passage is susceptible of two explanations; either. (1)That the fact that he first loved us is the “ground” or “reason” why we love him, or. (2)That as a matter of fact we have been brought to love him in consequence of the love which he has manifested... [ Continue Reading ]
IF A MAN SAY, I LOVE GOD, AND HATETH HIS BROTHER - His Christian brother; or, in a larger sense, any man. The sense is, that no man, whatever may be his professions and pretensions, can have any true love to God, unless he loves his brethren. HE IS A LIAR - Compare the notes at 1 John 1:6. It is no... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS COMMANDMENT HAVE WE FROM HIM - That is, the command to love a brother is as obligatory as that to love God. If one is obeyed, the other ought to be also; if a man feels that one is binding on him, he should feel that the other is also; and he can never have evidence that he is a true Christ... [ Continue Reading ]