24 December

Bible in 365 Days                        

1 John 1-5

1 John 1

This is possibly the last Apostolic message to the whole Church. It is complementary to the Gospel of John. Its subject is fellowship with God, into which believers are introduced through their union with Christ.

The whole fact of the mission of our Lord is declared to be a manifestation of eternal life. Concerning this John wrote, "We have heard," "we have seen," "we beheld," "our hands handled." The purpose of the manifestation was to bring men into fellowship with God. Through the manifestation of eternal life, and our reception of it by faith, we have fellowship with the Father. This means fellowship in Light, Love, and Life.

The first great message of the "word of life" to men is that "God is light." The place of fellowship therefore is that of walking in the light of God. In God there is no darkness, neither can there be. If, then, "men love darkness rather than the light," they are excluded from the fellowship of God.

Because of perpetual imperfection even in our most holy things there is need of a constant cleansing, which is provided in the 'blood of Jesus His Son." Light makes sin known. The sins of the past are forgiven, and the soul is cleansed from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2

Affirming that the purpose of his writing is that we sin not, the writer declared that even if we sin, provision is made by which it may be put away. The tests whereby we may know our relation to light are stated with regard to God, and with regard to our fellow men. The proof that we know God is that we keep His commandments. It is possible to know a great deal about God intellectually and still live in rebellion against Him. God is known in His Son. To be joined to Him and to abide in Him is to be transformed to His likeness. The supreme commandment, then, is to love. Love of the brethren proves a walk in light. Hatred of the brethren demonstrates darkness.

In dealing with the perils of darkness John made the groundwork of his appeal their experience in Christ. That appeal was made to 'little children," "young men." "fathers." These are warned against worldliness, which is described as "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the vainglory of life." Fellowship with God means the love of the Father, which makes Him the supreme consciousness of the soul. Having that love, the things of the world pass away.

The second peril to fellowship is the Antichrist. The spirit of Antichrist is to deny that Jesus is the Christ, which involves the denial of the Father and the Son. Any system of teaching which makes Jesus anything less than He is set forth to be in the Gospel writings is the expression of Antichrist. The Church of God needs ever to be on the watch against such tendencies and such teachings. To be influenced by purely human philosophy and wisdom will ever bring the Church into bondage to Antichrist. Therefore, let the 'little children abide in Him," that so at His Coming there may be boldness and not shame.

1 John 3

The letter now passed to a discussion of the fellowship of the saints with God as love. The hope born of love will have as its inevitable result the purification of those possessing it. The Apostle shows that in Christ there is no need for anyone to sin, and that if one does he violates the very life principle which makes him a child of God. The proof of fellowship with God as love, therefore, is to be found in righteousness of conduct and love manifested toward our brethren.

The result of such fellowship with God as love will inevitably be the world's hatred of us. The love of God for man is spiritual and perfect, and according to light, which always rebukes sin. It is this element which stirs up the hatred of men. Notwithstanding this, the hatred of the world is to be answered by loving, and that expressed even in material matters. Our love is to be in deed and in truth, rather than in word and with the tongue. The test by which we may ourselves know we are of the truth is a heart at rest before God. Doubt or uncertainty of mind is ever productive of harm. Boldness toward God is the result of a quiet and peaceable experience. The place of peace and power is abiding in Him. Abiding in Him means obedience: "he that keepeth His commandments abideth in Him." The Apostle names the commandments. They are two in number, and include all other matters. The first is that we should believe in Jesus Christ, and the second that we should love one another.

1 John 4

Two closely related perils threaten our fellowship with God as love, false prophets and the spirit which actuates them. Teaching is to be tested by the indwelling Spirit. All who refuse to confess that Jesus is Lord do so because they are of the world. At the root of every heresy concerning Jesus there has been worldliness in some form. To degrade the Person of Christ is to shake the foundations of faith. There can be no character which is according to God when the creed concerning Christ is a denial of the Spirit's test.

The Apostle then makes an appeal by the employment of two arguments. First, that the nature of God is love, and therefore those who are His children should love. The second, that God has manifested His love.

The argument and appeal now issue in the declaration that no man has seen God, but the essence of the unseen God has been revealed in Christ, and now is to be revealed through His children. There is only one manifestation of God which is prevailing and powerful, and that is love. This is seen in the Son. All the glories and perfections of the Son are ours in Him. That is the apostle's consciousness of the glorious perfection of the provision which lends sternness to the words, "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar." To every person in actual union with God in Christ, love is possible. This, moreover, is not a privilege merely; it is a stern duty. The world still waits for the knowledge of God, which can come only through His revelation in the love of His children.

1 John 5

The final subject is our fellowship with God in life. This is fundamental, and is shown to be so. The relationship between the life of God and the love of God is self-evident, and that is equally true concerning the life of God and the light of God.

Thus is brought out most clearly the true nature of Christianity. It is first and last and always life. Fellowship with the light of God is not possible to those who are alienated from His life. The experience and activity of His love never come to those abiding in spiritual death.

Seeing that the fundamental aspect of fellowship with God is fellowship in life, and, moreover, seeing that man enters into life by believing, the apostle now gives the witness on which faith takes hold. The first is the truth that Jesus Christ came by water and blood. The reference is certainly to two essential features in the coming and work of Jesus. The water signifies the purity of His human life as consecrated to God and symbolized in His baptism by John. The blood refers to that passion baptism which was the supreme occasion and clear evidence of Jesus' own fellowship with God in love.

Three bear witness to these things: the Spirit of life, the water of light, the blood of love. These three agree in One, and that One is the Son of God.

The concluding words of the writer declare the reason for his writing. His purpose was confirmation of their confidence in God, which was calm and contained. The chief exercise of that confidence is manifested in intercession, that is, in prayer for others . who are not walking in light. All closes with the group of certainties, and an injunction against idols.