Behold, (1) (a) what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be (b) called the sons of God: (2) therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1) He begins to declare this agreement of the Father and the Son, at the highest cause, that is, at that free love of... [ Continue Reading ]
(3) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be (c) like him; for we shall see him (d) as he is. (3) The other: This dignity is not fully revealed to us ourselves, much less to strangers, but we are sure of th... [ Continue Reading ]
(4) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even (e) as he is pure. (4) Now he describes this adoption (the glory which as yet consists in hope) by the effect that is, because whoever is made the Son of God, endeavours to resemble the Father in purity. (e) This word signifies a... [ Continue Reading ]
(5) Whosoever (f) committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for (g) sin is the transgression of the law. (5) The rule of this purity can from no where else be taken but from the law of God, the transgression of which is called sin. (f) Does not give himself to pureness. (g) A short definition of... [ Continue Reading ]
(6) And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (6) An argument taken from the material cause of our salvation: Christ in himself is most pure, and he came to take away our sins, by sanctifying us with the Holy Spirit, therefore whoever is truly a partaker of Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever (h) sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. (h) He is said to sin, that does not give himself to purity, and in him sin reigns: but sin is said to dwell in the faithful, and not to reign in them.... [ Continue Reading ]
(7) Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. (7) Another argument of things joined together: He that lives justly, is just, and resembles Christ that is just, and by that is known to be the Son of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
(8) He that committeth sin is of the (i) devil; for the devil (k) sinneth from the (l) beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (8) An argument taken by contrast: the devil is the author of sin, and therefore he is that serves sin is o... [ Continue Reading ]
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his (m) seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (m) The Holy Spirit is so called by the effect he works, because by his power and mighty working, as it were by seed, we are made new men.... [ Continue Reading ]
(9) In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, (10) neither he that loveth not his brother. (9) The conclusion: by a wicked life they are known who are governed by the Sprit of the devil: and by a pure life who are God's... [ Continue Reading ]
(11) For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (11) The first reason taken from the authority of God who gives the commandment.... [ Continue Reading ]
(12) Not as Cain, [who] was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. (13) And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. (12) An amplification taken from the contrary example of Cain who slew his brother. (13) A short digression: Let us not marvel that we... [ Continue Reading ]
(14) We (o) know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death. (14) The second reason: Because charity is a testimony that we are translated from death to life: and therefore hatred towards the brethren is a testimony of d... [ Continue Reading ]
(15) Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (15) A confirmation: Whoever is a murderer, is in eternal death: he who hates his brother is a murderer, therefore he is in death. Thereupon follows the other side: He that loves his brot... [ Continue Reading ]
(16) Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren. (16) Now he shows how far Christian charity extends, even so far, that according to the example of Christ every man forgets himself, to provide for and help his br... [ Continue Reading ]
(17) But whoso hath this (p) world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and (q) shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? (17) He reasons by comparisons: for if we are bound even to give our life for our neighbours, how much more are we bound to help... [ Continue Reading ]
(18) My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (18) Christian charity stands not in word but in deed, and proceeds from a sincere affection.... [ Continue Reading ]
(19) And hereby we know that we are of the truth, (20) and shall assure our hearts before him. (19) He commends charity, by three effects: for first of all, by it we know that we are indeed the sons of God, as he showed before. (20) Therefore it comes that we have a quiet conscience, as on the opp... [ Continue Reading ]
For (4) if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. (r) If an evil conscience convicts us, much more ought the judgment of God condemn us, who knows our hearts better than we ourselves do.... [ Continue Reading ]
(21) Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, [then] have we confidence toward God. (21) A third effect also rises from the former, that in these miseries we are sure to be heard, because we are the sons of God: as we understand by the grace of sanctification which is only for the elect.... [ Continue Reading ]
(22) And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. (22) The conclusion, that faith in Christ and love one towards another are things joined together, and therefore the outward testimonies of sanctification must and do... [ Continue Reading ]
And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the (f) Spirit which he hath given us. (f) He means the Spirit of sanctification, whereby we are born again and live to God.... [ Continue Reading ]