First John:

[Rob Morgan]

First John:

John writes his first epistle at a time when apostolic doctrine is being challenged by a proliferation of false teachings. Like Second Peter and Jude, First John has a negative and a positive thrust: it refutes erroneous doctrine and encourages its readership to walk in the knowledge of the truth. John lists the criteria and characteristics of fellowship with God and shows that those who abide in Christ can have confidence and assurance before Him. This simply written but profound work develops the meaning of fellowship in the basis of fellowship (1:1-2:27) and the behavior of fellowship (2:28-5:211.

The Basis of Fellowship (1:1-2:27): John's prologue (l: I -4) recalls the beginning of apostolic contact with Christ. It relates his desire to transmit this apostolic witness to his readers so that they may shore the some fellowship with Jesus Christ, the personification of life. This proclamation is followed by a description of the conditions of fellowship (l: 5-2:14). Fellowship with a God of light is made possible by the blood of Christ, which cleanses the believer and propitiates (satisfies) the Father’s righteous demands. Believers must walk in integrity and openness to what the light reveals, with a willingness to confess failures exposed by the light. While no specific instance of sin should be seen as inevitable in o Christian’s life, complete sinlessness will not be a reality until we stand before God (3:2).

The readers' sins have been forgiven and they enjoy fellowship with God. As a result, they know "Him who is from the beginning" and are strengthened to overcome the temptations of the evil one (2:12-12). The cautions to fellowship are both practical (the lusts of the corrupt world system which opposes God, 2:15-17) and doctrinal (the Teachings of those who differentiate between Jesus and the Christ, 2:18-23). ln contrast to these "antichrists," the readers have the knowledge of the truth and an anointing from the Holy One. Therefore, it would be foolish for them to turn away from the teachings of the apostles to the innovations of the antichrists. The antidote to these heretical teachings is abiding in the apostolic truths that they "heard from the beginning," which are authenticated by the anointing they have received (2:2a-27).

The Behavior of Fellowship (2:28-5:21): The basic theme of First John is summarized in 2:28 - assurance through abiding in Christ. The next verse introduces the motif of regeneration, and argues that regeneration is manifested in the practice of righteousness (2:29-3:10). Because we are children of God through faith in Christ, we have a firm hope of being fully conformed to Him when He appears (3: l -3). Our present likeness to Christ places us in a position of incompatibility with sin, because sin is contrary to the person and work of Christ (3:4-6). The concept (3:6) does not contradict chapter 1, verse 8, because it is saying that the abider, insofar as he abides, does not sin. When the believer sins, he does not reflect the regenerate new man but Satan, the original sinner (3:7- l0).

Regeneration is shown in righteousness (2:29-3:10), and righteousness is manifested in love (3: l0-23). The apostle uses the example of Cain to illustrate what love is not: hatred is murdering in spirit, and it arises from the worldly sphere of death. John then uses the example of Christ to illustrate what love is: love is practiced in self-sacrifice, not mere profession. This practical expression of love results in assurance before God and answered prayers because the believer is walking in obedience to God's commands to believe in Christ and love one another.

John introduces two important motifs (3:24), which are developed in chapter4, verses l-.l6: the indwelling God, and the Spirit as a mark of this indwelling. The Spirit of God confesses the incarnate Christ and confirms apostolic doctrine (4:1-6), the mutual abiding of the believer in God and God in the believer is manifested in love for others, and this love produces a divine and human fellowship that testifies to and reflects the reality of the incarnation (4:7 -16). lt also anticipates the perfect fellowship to come and creates a readiness to face the One from whom all love is derived (4:17 -19).

John joins the concepts he has presented into a circular chain of six links that begins with love for the brethren (4:20-5:1 7): (1) Love for believers is the inseparable product of love for God (4:20- 5:1). (2) Love for God arises out of obedience to His commandments (5:2-3). (3) Obedience to God is the result of faith in His Son (5:4-5). (a) This faith is in Jesus, who was the Christ not only at His

[Meow]

how now brown cow, how now, the axe giant will soon cometh, thou shell suffer the wrath Of paul bunyan, your butt hole will never be the same again

[Rob Morgan]

We think so, we try to cover all, so some one were ever will have a chance. to choose.

[iaininlondon]

Haveneth you posted here previously?
http://therisenchrist.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/first-john.html
To the bolt3 version of Rob Morgan