is it possible ?

[Gal328]

That we can get a study discussion on the letter of 1 John?

 

[justified]

Something specific in it you want to discuss?

 

[jon914]

That we can get a study discussion on the letter of 1 John?

If you are new to the book, try reading it through, everyday for 30 days.
Then we will study your questions

John914
II Tim 2:2

 

[Gal328]

If you are new to the book, try reading it through, everyday for 30 days.
Then we will study your questions

John914
II Tim 2:2

.....okay. I have no problem with that. One quick question before I start my 30 day journey.

Chapter 2 says.

I write these things to you so that you may not sin. But if we do sin, we have an advocate with the father.Jesus christ the righteous.



Chapter 3.9 says

No one who is born of God. practices sin, because His seed abides in Him and He can not, because He is born of God.


How can Jn tell his children that he is writing to them so that they might not sin. And say that we can't sin because we are born of God.

Almost in the same breath?

 

[Gal328]

.....okay. I have no problem with that. One quick question before I start my 30 day journey.

Chapter 2 says.

I write these things to you so that you may not sin. But if we do sin, we have an advocate with the father.Jesus christ the righteous.



Chapter 3.9 says

No one who is born of God. practices sin, because His seed abides in Him and He can not, because He is born of God.


How can Jn tell his children that he is writing to them so that they might not sin. And say that we can't sin because we are born of God.

Almost in the same breath?

Okay I've read the book a couple of times and here's the questions i"ve com up with so far....

1. 1jn 3:6 but if we continue to live in Him we won't sin either. = What does it mean to continue living in Him. How can people born of God, not live in God?

2. Those who do not obey God's commands as stated in 1 Jn 3:10 and does not love other christians, does not belong to God.

= What are God's commands other than let us love our brothers, if we are no longer under the law but instead are free, And living under grace?

 

[Gal328]

Okay I've read the book a couple of times and here's the questions i"ve com up with so far....

1. 1jn 3:6 but if we continue to live in Him we won't sin either. = What does it mean to continue living in Him. How can people born of God, not live in God?

2. Those who do not obey God's commands as stated in 1 Jn 3:10 and does not love other christians, does not belong to God.

= What are God's commands other than let us love our brothers, if we are no longer under the law but instead are free, And living under grace?

3:17 says that we are to give up our lives.

+ what does it mean to give up our lives other than the literal sense?

 

[Gal328]

3:17 says that we are to give up our lives.

+ what does it mean to give up our lives other than the literal sense?

1 Jn 4:3 says that the antichrist has already come.

= If The antichrist has already come then he can't come again, doesn't this support the preterest view to at least some extent?

 

[oneshot012]

How can Jn tell his children that he is writing to them so that they might not sin. And say that we can't sin because we are born of God.

This is a great question. First you need to understand who John in writing to. He is writing to a church at large that is facing the gnostic heresy. If you don't know what that is ask and either I or someone else will explain. So anyways John's purpose for writing this letter is multi faceted it is not just so that they won't sin. Though that is a purpose.

Look at 1 John 2:
12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.


He is also writing to spiritual children, young men, and Fathers.

Also there are other pruposes that are not explict. This letter also has a purpose to show you that you are saved. Again so multi-faceted. So I don't really see a problem when he says that for people. For there is a vast audience children in the faith, young men, and Fathers.

 

[oneshot012]

1. 1jn 3:6 but if we continue to live in Him we won't sin either. = What does it mean to continue living in Him. How can people born of God, not live in God?

Well compare this with John 15:1-8 and the parable of the vine and I think it will answer your question using scripture from the same author:

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. " You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. " Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

Jesus is the vine and in him is life. For he is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE. We are the branches. The branches apart from the vine do nothing. But in the vine they bear fruit of good works, holiness, christain witness with power and such. Apart from him we do nothing and are pruned. So we can be born of God and then not continue to live in him. How this happens is when we loose our comunion with Jesus. Rememeber he says Abide in me. That means stay or remain in me. He also says to remain in his word. The greek word there rhema can connotate as a spoken word. But lets just for arguement sake say it just means word as it denotes. Then we can say that to remain in Jesus is to continue to read the Bible "his words" and in pray "fellowship with him" listening to his voice.

2. Those who do not obey God's commands as stated in 1 Jn 3:10 and does not love other christians, does not belong to God.

= What are God's commands other than let us love our brothers, if we are no longer under the law but instead are free, And living under grace?

Read the gospels. The larger commands are Love the Lord you God and your nieghbor as yourself but clearly Jesus tells us to do much more than that. In fact part of the great commission is teaching the disiples that we make all that Jesus commanded of us.

 

[Gal328]

This is a great question. First you need to understand who John in writing to. He is writing to a church at large that is facing the gnostic heresy. If you don't know what that is ask and either I or someone else will explain. So anyways John's purpose for writing this letter is multi faceted it is not just so that they won't sin. Though that is a purpose.

Look at 1 John 2:
12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.


He is also writing to spiritual children, young men, and Fathers.

Also there are other pruposes that are not explict. This letter also has a purpose to show you that you are saved. Again so multi-faceted. So I don't really see a problem when he says that for people. For there is a vast audience children in the faith, young men, and Fathers.

How do you know He is not talking to the same people since He addresses them as little children?

 

[Gal328]

Well compare this with John 15:1-8 and the parable of the vine and I think it will answer your question using scripture from the same author:

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. " You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. " Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

Jesus is the vine and in him is life. For he is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE. We are the branches. The branches apart from the vine do nothing. But in the vine they bear fruit of good works, holiness, christain witness with power and such. Apart from him we do nothing and are pruned. So we can be born of God and then not continue to live in him. How this happens is when we loose our comunion with Jesus. Rememeber he says Abide in me. That means stay or remain in me. He also says to remain in his word. The greek word there rhema can connotate as a spoken word. But lets just for arguement sake say it just means word as it denotes. Then we can say that to remain in Jesus is to continue to read the Bible "his words" and in pray "fellowship with him" listening to his voice.



Read the gospels. The larger commands are Love the Lord you God and your nieghbor as yourself but clearly Jesus tells us to do much more than that. In fact part of the great commission is teaching the disiples that we make all that Jesus commanded of us.

I have to tell you that this is very good. Thank you for this.

 

[oneshot012]

How do you know He is not talking to the same people since He addresses them as little children?

Okay maybe I will try to readdress the question so that you will better understand it....I was doing it at like 12 in the morning from memory as I just read through 1 John two weeks ago...I am now rereading it for your sake...So here it goes....

Chapter 2 says.

I write these things to you so that you may not sin. But if we do sin, we have an advocate with the father.Jesus christ the righteous.



Chapter 3.9 says

No one who is born of God. practices sin, because His seed abides in Him and He can not, because He is born of God.


How can Jn tell his children that he is writing to them so that they might not sin. And say that we can't sin because we are born of God.

Almost in the same breath?

Well now that I look more closely at the verses you can see that they answer your question. John says that I write these things so that you may not sin. Remember MAY NOT SIN. That doesn't mean that you won't sin for "if we say we have no sin then we are only fooling ourselves to accept the truth" (1 John 1:8). These words are for you christian living but then in chapter 3 he is showing us that we are God's children. Look at the verse in context....

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;
the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

Okay now looking at that you can see that John is contrasting those of God and those of lawnesses or the devil and he goes on to illustrate the point through Christian love.

Look at the first few sentences (verses and chapters are not inspired):
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

John here is making a point that the love of God made us children of God. For now through the love of God we are called the children of God. And now the world does not now us and we are oging to be like him and this hope purifies us and seperates us from the world. We are different from the rest of the world.

Now look at the next few verses:

Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

Now John is setting up a contrast between the children of God and the children of the devil.

His first statement is blatant he who practices (REMEBER IT IS PRACTICES, meaning sin without SHAME) sin practices lawlessness for sin is lawlessness. And Jesus came to take away sin. For in Jesus there was no sin and is no sin he conquered it. Therefore those who abide in him therefore cannot abide in sin. So go back the vine and branch anaology and make the connection there I won't do it here. For if you are in him you will practice righteousness and be righteous as he is for you are in him. For noone born of God practices sin. It does not say that they will not sin for if we say we have no sin we are liars as 1 John 1 says. Therefore we can not practice sin and be in it habitually. Doing it without shame. If we are children we have his seed and the greek word there is sperma. If you want to make a strong connection you could say because we have the sperm of God. God sperm is forming Christ in us. For Paul crys till Christ be formed in us. Christ is growing in us and we must die so that he might live. So the more and more we practice righteousness and remain in him the more and more he is formed in us till we sin no more and are like him but that does not happen till redemption. I know that sound like a stretch but that is what I gather from the text. Then John goes on to say now you can tell the difference between the world and the children of God. Therer is nothing similar they have different parents. There DNA is nothing alike.

I know that was a lot or at least it seemed like a lot for me but we have been made new in God. For John wrote these things to Chrsitians at different stages. So some would sin but he wrote that second part to show that those who are not of God habitual sin but those of God practice righteousness.

I hope that helps.

 

[ElijahSK]

Warning: My thoughts are very different on this topic. But I assure you it will be only biblical.

I endervour not to reconcile these scriptures with my personal experience, but rather to understand what the author intended in writing them. Too many have erred from the truth (including myself for a time) trying to force this circle into the square which is our lives. Only when we take the word of God at face value and allow it to change our minds will me finally beginning to understand it.

I'm sorry if this gets lengthy, but in order to understand the latter verses we must understand the context. And to understand the context we must basicly start at the beginning and work our way forward.

John begins in 1:5 by saying God is light, and in Him is no darkness. Then he continues the thought by saying if we say we have fellowship with the light, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not know the truth. What is he saying here? If we have fellowship with God, we won't walk in darkness? If we do walk in darkness, we lie, and don't know the truth.

7 If we walk in the light, as He is in the light (that's light without darkness), we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanseth us from all sin. It seems that so far in these past two verses John is making a condition for the cleansing of sins (for being called a Christian). It seems like back then they thought if you are in sin you're not of God. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. I have seen this verse twisted by so many people it's not funny. Is this verse saying if you go and sin no more the truth is not in you? Certainly not, that would contradict the previous two verses. Rather this verse is saying, if you believe you have no (never) sinned, the truth is not in you. Basicly saying all have sinned. This verse has nothing to do with whether you sin again in the future but has everything to do with the fact that everyone has sinned before. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Let me ask this. When you got "saved", which of your sins did Jesus' blood cover? All your sins in the past? or all your sins past, present, and future? If you lusted in the last second of your life and died right then is it possible to go to heaven without your confession? We must answer it is, because salvation is not based upon our work of confession. The blood of Christ covers all your sins past, present, and future. So this verse is telling those that read the letter not yet believing, that God will forgive them if they will confess. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.Again a verse that is often scewed. Is this in the past tense or future? Is he saying if you go and sin no more you make Him a liar? No, rather if you say you have never sinned. Who would say such a thing? An unbeliever who doesn't want to admit their fault.

2:1 My little children, these things I write unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. You see John writes to them that they sin not. That is the rule he is writing by. That being the rule, what is the expection? That if you sin don't leave the faith because Jesus will be your advocate. The Rule: sin not. The Expection: If you do, there is an advocate. He's not telling them all they are free to sin everyday because they have an advocate. No, he's telling them they should go and sin no more, but if one makes a mistake it'll be ok just jump back on that horse and ride high once again going and sinning no more.

How do you know that you are a Christian? 2:3 Hereby we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. So can you continue in darkness and be a Christian? Can you continue in sin and be a Christian? Maybe according to us in our experience today, but according to John the beloved it's another story. 5 But whoso keepeth His word, in Him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby we know that we are in Him. 6 He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked. How did Jesus walk? In perfection. What does Jesus tell us? Be ye holy as I am holy. Be ye perfect as I am perfect. In verse 13 and 14 you will notice that all the believers had something in common. The oldest ones and the youngest ones all knew God and the young men overcame. What is it to know Him? We will find out. 24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. How are we Christians? By being in Christ. How are we in Christ? By remaining, by abiding in Him. 29 If ye know that He is righteous (which we know), ye know that everyone that doeth righteousness is born of Him. What does that say for those "Christians" who will not heed Him command?

Now to the best chapter thus far! 3:2 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 because we shall see Him as He is. 3:3 And EVERY MAN that hath this hope (hope of being called a son of God) in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure. Wait a second John! Are you trying to tell me that if I'm expecting to be called a son of God I'll purify myself to the point of being as pure as Jesus Himself?! May not be what my experience tries to tell me, but I must trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. Is it possible? Why yes! The blood of Christ has cleansed us from all unrighteousness. Jesus tells us "Neither do I condemn you, now go and sin no more." But Jesus how will I do that? "He that the Son sets free is free indeed." Thank you Lord! I can go and sin no more! Indeed, since you have given me the honor of being called Your son and told me I am free, I will believe on Your word which will work mightily through me to overcome the world and all temptation.

3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. So remember this verse when he talks about sin in the next few verses. He is making sure you know what he's talking about. 5 And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him is no sin. Amen! Thank you Lord for taking all my sins away. Now I am freed from that sin, I'm dead to it, and I won't bring myself back under it's bondage by the power of Christ in me! 6 Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him or known Him. Remember 2:24. What about 2:28? Do you want to be ashamed at Him coming? If not don't sin. Remember 2:13 and 14? Who did all the believers know from the little children to the fathers? They knew Him. If you sin, you don't know Him. Therefore, you're not in any of the groups in 2:13-14. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you, he that doeth righteousness is righteous even as He is righteous.

These 2 past verse lead me to say stuff like this. Let no man deceive you, Christians don't get on the web and look at pornography. Let no man decieve you, Christians aren't gluttons.

So if you will live by the Spirit, you will not fulfil the lust of the flesh, you will no longer sin. If you live by the flesh, you are under the law still, there is condemnation for you, and when Christ appears you will be ashamed. Don't seer your conscience. When it tells you not to do something, listen.

3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For the purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 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. These two verses mean exactly what they say. You don't think this was an important doctrine in the early church? 2 John 9 Whosoever transgesseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: Whoa John! Those are strong words. So if someone doesn't believe 1 John 3:8-9, or 2 John 9 literally don't accept them? Tough words there. 3 John 11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God, but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. So it's in every one of John's letters it must be the doctrine of the common salvation once for all delivered unto the saints talked about in Jude.Also Paul holds the same doctrine which is all over in his letters which would talk up way too much space but if youwant I'll add in my next post. Peter also writes 1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them.

So this here in 1 John 3:8-9 is common doctrine meant to be accepted at face value. It must either be believed for what it says or rejected for what it says. There should not be the rationalizing it away as happens most of the time.

I think that is what most of your questions were about so I am going to end it there. I've got to go to a Bible study now. Just a couple more verse on it though. 1Jo 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

How is this possible? How can we go and sin no more? 1Jo 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? So by faith in Christ is the only way. Believe His words which He pronounced over you. He called you free. He called you a servant of righteousness. You cannot serve two masters. Either you will serve sin or righteousness. And I assure you there are much greater rewards for pursuing righteousness. He said your old man (that flesh, that sinful nature) is crucified and died with Him. Will you be like all those in the hall of faith (Heb 11)? Will you trust God at His word? He has spoke those things that are not as if they are. It is up to us not to question and rationalize it away, but to accept it at face value be persuaded by it, embrace it, and confess that it is right and true for us.

There is no lie that is of the truth. There is no darkness in light. There is no fellowship between the believer and the unbeliever. So if you are of the truth, if you have the light, then believe the words of God. In them are life, and truth, and light. God creates by His word. We must tie them around our necks and onto our hands. We must search for them like for gold and silver. We must patient wait for them. When we hear them, we must not harden our hearts.

What were the two purposes of John's first letter? That we sin not. (2:1) And these things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (5:13)

Lord God, may we wield the sword of Your God to divide even our soul and our Spirit. May we hide Your word in our hearts so that we will not sin against You. Thank You for blessing us for walking in Your ways and keeping your commandments. Thank You for the glory, honor, and praise we receive from You for overcoming those temptations, trials, and tribulations You send in our way to test us. Thank You for never allowing us to be tempted above that which we are able to bear. You are the only-wise, Most High God. Thank You for taking thought of me. And for rescuing and seperating my from the world which lies in wickedness. By the power of Christ within me I will seek you early and I will meditate on Your word every night. Ever merciful, ever loving, my Friend, and my God. Give us wisdom and understand. May Your grace and peace be always with us. Amen0

 

[Gal328]

Okay maybe I will try to readdress the question so that you will better understand it....I was doing it at like 12 in the morning from memory as I just read through 1 John two weeks ago...I am now rereading it for your sake...So here it goes....




Well now that I look more closely at the verses you can see that they answer your question. John says that I write these things so that you may not sin. Remember MAY NOT SIN. That doesn't mean that you won't sin for "if we say we have no sin then we are only fooling ourselves to accept the truth" (1 John 1:8). These words are for you christian living but then in chapter 3 he is showing us that we are God's children. Look at the verse in context....

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;
the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

Okay now looking at that you can see that John is contrasting those of God and those of lawnesses or the devil and he goes on to illustrate the point through Christian love.

Look at the first few sentences (verses and chapters are not inspired):
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

John here is making a point that the love of God made us children of God. For now through the love of God we are called the children of God. And now the world does not now us and we are oging to be like him and this hope purifies us and seperates us from the world. We are different from the rest of the world.

Now look at the next few verses:

Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

Now John is setting up a contrast between the children of God and the children of the devil.

His first statement is blatant he who practices (REMEBER IT IS PRACTICES, meaning sin without SHAME) sin practices lawlessness for sin is lawlessness. And Jesus came to take away sin. For in Jesus there was no sin and is no sin he conquered it. Therefore those who abide in him therefore cannot abide in sin. So go back the vine and branch anaology and make the connection there I won't do it here. For if you are in him you will practice righteousness and be righteous as he is for you are in him. For noone born of God practices sin. It does not say that they will not sin for if we say we have no sin we are liars as 1 John 1 says. Therefore we can not practice sin and be in it habitually. Doing it without shame. If we are children we have his seed and the greek word there is sperma. If you want to make a strong connection you could say because we have the sperm of God. God sperm is forming Christ in us. For Paul crys till Christ be formed in us. Christ is growing in us and we must die so that he might live. So the more and more we practice righteousness and remain in him the more and more he is formed in us till we sin no more and are like him but that does not happen till redemption. I know that sound like a stretch but that is what I gather from the text. Then John goes on to say now you can tell the difference between the world and the children of God. Therer is nothing similar they have different parents. There DNA is nothing alike.

I know that was a lot or at least it seemed like a lot for me but we have been made new in God. For John wrote these things to Chrsitians at different stages. So some would sin but he wrote that second part to show that those who are not of God habitual sin but those of God practice righteousness.

I hope that helps.

God bless you, God bless you. Thank you for this

 

[Gal328]

Warning: My thoughts are very different on this topic. But I assure you it will be only biblical.

I endervour not to reconcile these scriptures with my personal experience, but rather to understand what the author intended in writing them. Too many have erred from the truth (including myself for a time) trying to force this circle into the square which is our lives. Only when we take the word of God at face value and allow it to change our minds will me finally beginning to understand it.

I'm sorry if this gets lengthy, but in order to understand the latter verses we must understand the context. And to understand the context we must basicly start at the beginning and work our way forward.

John begins in 1:5 by saying God is light, and in Him is no darkness. Then he continues the thought by saying if we say we have fellowship with the light, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not know the truth. What is he saying here? If we have fellowship with God, we won't walk in darkness? If we do walk in darkness, we lie, and don't know the truth.

7 If we walk in the light, as He is in the light (that's light without darkness), we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanseth us from all sin. It seems that so far in these past two verses John is making a condition for the cleansing of sins (for being called a Christian). It seems like back then they thought if you are in sin you're not of God. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. I have seen this verse twisted by so many people it's not funny. Is this verse saying if you go and sin no more the truth is not in you? Certainly not, that would contradict the previous two verses. Rather this verse is saying, if you believe you have no (never) sinned, the truth is not in you. Basicly saying all have sinned. This verse has nothing to do with whether you sin again in the future but has everything to do with the fact that everyone has sinned before. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Let me ask this. When you got "saved", which of your sins did Jesus' blood cover? All your sins in the past? or all your sins past, present, and future? If you lusted in the last second of your life and died right then is it possible to go to heaven without your confession? We must answer it is, because salvation is not based upon our work of confession. The blood of Christ covers all your sins past, present, and future. So this verse is telling those that read the letter not yet believing, that God will forgive them if they will confess. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.Again a verse that is often scewed. Is this in the past tense or future? Is he saying if you go and sin no more you make Him a liar? No, rather if you say you have never sinned. Who would say such a thing? An unbeliever who doesn't want to admit their fault.

2:1 My little children, these things I write unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. You see John writes to them that they sin not. That is the rule he is writing by. That being the rule, what is the expection? That if you sin don't leave the faith because Jesus will be your advocate. The Rule: sin not. The Expection: If you do, there is an advocate. He's not telling them all they are free to sin everyday because they have an advocate. No, he's telling them they should go and sin no more, but if one makes a mistake it'll be ok just jump back on that horse and ride high once again going and sinning no more.

How do you know that you are a Christian? 2:3 Hereby we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. So can you continue in darkness and be a Christian? Can you continue in sin and be a Christian? Maybe according to us in our experience today, but according to John the beloved it's another story. 5 But whoso keepeth His word, in Him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby we know that we are in Him. 6 He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked. How did Jesus walk? In perfection. What does Jesus tell us? Be ye holy as I am holy. Be ye perfect as I am perfect. In verse 13 and 14 you will notice that all the believers had something in common. The oldest ones and the youngest ones all knew God and the young men overcame. What is it to know Him? We will find out. 24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. How are we Christians? By being in Christ. How are we in Christ? By remaining, by abiding in Him. 29 If ye know that He is righteous (which we know), ye know that everyone that doeth righteousness is born of Him. What does that say for those "Christians" who will not heed Him command?

Now to the best chapter thus far! 3:2 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 because we shall see Him as He is. 3:3 And EVERY MAN that hath this hope (hope of being called a son of God) in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure. Wait a second John! Are you trying to tell me that if I'm expecting to be called a son of God I'll purify myself to the point of being as pure as Jesus Himself?! May not be what my experience tries to tell me, but I must trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. Is it possible? Why yes! The blood of Christ has cleansed us from all unrighteousness. Jesus tells us "Neither do I condemn you, now go and sin no more." But Jesus how will I do that? "He that the Son sets free is free indeed." Thank you Lord! I can go and sin no more! Indeed, since you have given me the honor of being called Your son and told me I am free, I will believe on Your word which will work mightily through me to overcome the world and all temptation.

3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. So remember this verse when he talks about sin in the next few verses. He is making sure you know what he's talking about. 5 And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him is no sin. Amen! Thank you Lord for taking all my sins away. Now I am freed from that sin, I'm dead to it, and I won't bring myself back under it's bondage by the power of Christ in me! 6 Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him or known Him. Remember 2:24. What about 2:28? Do you want to be ashamed at Him coming? If not don't sin. Remember 2:13 and 14? Who did all the believers know from the little children to the fathers? They knew Him. If you sin, you don't know Him. Therefore, you're not in any of the groups in 2:13-14. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you, he that doeth righteousness is righteous even as He is righteous.

These 2 past verse lead me to say stuff like this. Let no man deceive you, Christians don't get on the web and look at pornography. Let no man decieve you, Christians aren't gluttons.

So if you will live by the Spirit, you will not fulfil the lust of the flesh, you will no longer sin. If you live by the flesh, you are under the law still, there is condemnation for you, and when Christ appears you will be ashamed. Don't seer your conscience. When it tells you not to do something, listen.

3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For the purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 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. These two verses mean exactly what they say. You don't think this was an important doctrine in the early church? 2 John 9 Whosoever transgesseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: Whoa John! Those are strong words. So if someone doesn't believe 1 John 3:8-9, or 2 John 9 literally don't accept them? Tough words there. 3 John 11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God, but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. So it's in every one of John's letters it must be the doctrine of the common salvation once for all delivered unto the saints talked about in Jude.Also Paul holds the same doctrine which is all over in his letters which would talk up way too much space but if youwant I'll add in my next post. Peter also writes 1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them.

So this here in 1 John 3:8-9 is common doctrine meant to be accepted at face value. It must either be believed for what it says or rejected for what it says. There should not be the rationalizing it away as happens most of the time.

I think that is what most of your questions were about so I am going to end it there. I've got to go to a Bible study now. Just a couple more verse on it though. 1Jo 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

How is this possible? How can we go and sin no more? 1Jo 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? So by faith in Christ is the only way. Believe His words which He pronounced over you. He called you free. He called you a servant of righteousness. You cannot serve two masters. Either you will serve sin or righteousness. And I assure you there are much greater rewards for pursuing righteousness. He said your old man (that flesh, that sinful nature) is crucified and died with Him. Will you be like all those in the hall of faith (Heb 11)? Will you trust God at His word? He has spoke those things that are not as if they are. It is up to us not to question and rationalize it away, but to accept it at face value be persuaded by it, embrace it, and confess that it is right and true for us.

There is no lie that is of the truth. There is no darkness in light. There is no fellowship between the believer and the unbeliever. So if you are of the truth, if you have the light, then believe the words of God. In them are life, and truth, and light. God creates by His word. We must tie them around our necks and onto our hands. We must search for them like for gold and silver. We must patient wait for them. When we hear them, we must not harden our hearts.

What were the two purposes of John's first letter? That we sin not. (2:1) And these things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (5:13)

Lord God, may we wield the sword of Your God to divide even our soul and our Spirit. May we hide Your word in our hearts so that we will not sin against You. Thank You for blessing us for walking in Your ways and keeping your commandments. Thank You for the glory, honor, and praise we receive from You for overcoming those temptations, trials, and tribulations You send in our way to test us. Thank You for never allowing us to be tempted above that which we are able to bear. You are the only-wise, Most High God. Thank You for taking thought of me. And for rescuing and seperating my from the world which lies in wickedness. By the power of Christ within me I will seek you early and I will meditate on Your word every night. Ever merciful, ever loving, my Friend, and my God. Give us wisdom and understand. May Your grace and peace be always with us. Amen0

God bless you so much!

If you want to goon about Paul, thats entirely up to you. Butyou have done more than enough. God Bless you again!

 

[A Brother In Christ]

.....okay. I have no problem with that. One quick question before I start my 30 day journey.

Chapter 2 says.

I write these things to you so that you may not sin. But if we do sin, we have an advocate with the father.Jesus christ the righteous.



Chapter 3.9 says

No one who is born of God. practices sin, because His seed abides in Him and He can not, because He is born of God.


How can Jn tell his children that he is writing to them so that they might not sin. And say that we can't sin because we are born of God.

Almost in the same breath?

first of all read 1 john 1:8-10

1 john 3:9 is talking about a life style for his whole life