1 John 3

1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

• Our Father's loves us
• Bestowed upon = given to
• Sons = children

2 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 like him; for we shall see him as he is.

• Revelation 11:14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
  15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
• Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
  5 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

• Purity
• Effect upon us

4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

• Sin's character = lawless
• Sin is the transgression of the law.
• God's law is for = keeping you out of trouble
• Committeth = doeth, practiseth
• Transgresseth = doeth lawlessness

5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

• Jesus was perfect
• Was manifested, same as "appear" in verse 2
• To = in order that (Greek word hina) He might
• Christ manifested = Reason

6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

• They're habitually sinner
• Test of abiding

7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

• Righteousness
• That's how you can tell if you're Christian, you know what's right or wrong
• Wicked go out and steal, cause trouble, etc...
• No man = no one
• Deceive = Seduce
• Warning against deceivers

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

• Christ manifested = Reason
• 1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
• John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
  45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
  46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
  47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

• Born = begotten
• Remaineth = the same word as "abideth in verse 6
• Test of being begotten of God

10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

• Character of the two classes
• Outward manifestation

11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

• Genesis 4 Tells us; Cain was the firstborn of the twins, the seed of Satan, and Abel was the seed of Adam.
• Matthews 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
• The Field is (represents) the world
• The good seed are (represents) the children of the kingdom
• The tares are the children of the wicked one
• Who is the wicked one? The devil
verse 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

• The world's choice

14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

• Test of the two states

15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

• Brother = Christian
• No murderer can have forgiveness in the flesh, God said send them to Me, for judgment
• Murderer = manslayer
• No =any
• Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
• Deuteronomy 19:10 That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.
  11 But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities:
• If a man lie and wait for someone and kill them, this is murder.
• He plan it out, he waited on the man and killed him.
• Cain's followers, Satan's seed, John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
  45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
  46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
  47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

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.

• Perceive we = we know, as in verse 1
• The effect upon us
• Love manifested to the brethren
• Whoso = whoever
• The Son's love to us
• Effect upon us

17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

• If you have more than you need,  help your brother
• Good = goods, or living
• Dwelleth = same as abide in verse 6
• Bowels = NT:4698 =  inward affection, tender mercy.
• Philemon 1:7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
  8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
  9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
  10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
  11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
  12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
  13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
  14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
  15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
  16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
  17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
  18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;
  19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
  20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

 

19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

• Proof of our state before God

20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

• John 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
  18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
  19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

 

22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

• Keep and pleasing: Matthew 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
  18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
  19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
• Matthew 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
  23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
  24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
  25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
  26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
  27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
  28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
  29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
  30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
• Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
• This is the first resurrection
• Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
  7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
• Reason: Acts 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

• Keep God's Commandments

24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

• The proof of His abiding in us
• Spirit = spirit, the new nature, not the Giver Himself
• Hath given = gave

• Exactly 2520 years from the exile of Benjamin, Iceland became an independent nation.

 

•  The first tribe to be conquered by the Assyrians was Manasseh, in 745 B.C. Exactly 2520 years later America became a nation on July 4, 1776.

 

• Study the book: Abrahamic Covenant, (A study outline of the identity of God's people) By E. Raymond Capt - page 25