1 JOHN Notes

"Perseverance of the Saints"
in 1John

The Doctrine of Perseverance of the Saints is the idea that once born of God, it is inevitable that the Christian's life will be consistent with that which is characteristic of a child of God and he will continue to endure to the end both respect to his faith and such behavior as is characteristic of that faith. Implicit in this, of course, is the doctrine of "Eternal Security" (Once Saved, Always Saved)

Consider the Perfect Tense. The Perfect Tense is used to indicate an action which occurred in the past and has continued on till the present. The quotes are taken from the NIV. The italics are mine for emphasis.

1John 3:6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has (at any time in the past up the the present) either seen him or known him.
This statement is contrary to the idea that once saved, it is possible for a Christian to live a lifestyle of sin (Antinomianism) and (Arminianism). For if you meet someone that lives a lifestyle of sin, you can say that such a person had never come to know Jesus either in the past all the way up to the present. This is consistent with John's analysis of a certain group of people formerly considered Christians:
1John 2:19 "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us."
This is simply an application of the doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints. Once saved, it is inevitable that such people would "remain", but if not, their salvation status is revealed by their behavior (as indicated by the word "showed").
What causes the Saints to Persevere?
1John 3:9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
There is something about the rebirth experience that changes the nature of the person which makes inevitable this kind of behavior. Just as it is written:
2Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
This was the part of the promise of the New Covenant as Jeremiah wrote:
Jer 31:33,34 "But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
And is made effective by the Holy Spirit to all those who belong to Christ
Romans 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
Christ's commands are not burdensome to those who have been born of God
1John 5:3-5 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God (perfect tense: "has in the past been born of God") overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Being born itself is an event that occurs at a point in time. The perfect is used to refer to this past event which, just like physical birth, is a continuous state from the point of birth to the present. This verse answers objections to the concept of Eternal Security from verses dealing with "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.", such as in Revelations 2:7
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Along with Rev 2:11,17,26; 3:5,12,21; 21:7. It is inevitable that those who have been born of God will overcome. If they don't then they hadn't been born of God.


INDICATIONS OF SALVATION
    1:9 If we confess our sins, then He is faithful and just to 
      1. forgive us our sins and 
      2. cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 
    2:3 If we keep His commands, then we know that we know Him. 
    2:10 He who loves his brother 
      1. abides in the light, and 
      2. there is no cause for stumbling in him. 
    2:17 He who does the will of God abides forever. 
    2:23 He who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 
    2:29 Everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him. 
    3:3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure. 
    3:6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. 
    3:7 He who practices righteousness is righteousness just as He is righteous.
    3:9 Whoever has been born of God does(poiew) not sin, 
    3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. 
    3:18,19 Let us love in deed and in truth, by this we know that we are of the truth. 
    4:6 He who knows God hears us. 
    4:7 Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 
    4:12 If we love one another, then 
      1. God abides in us, and 
      2. His love has been perfected in us. 
    4:13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He is us, 
      because He has given us of His Spirit 
    4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, then 
      1. God abides in him, and 
      2. He abides in God. 
    5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, 
    5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, 
      when we love God and keep his commandments. 
    5:4 Whatever is born of God overcomes the world. 
    5:10 He who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in himself,
      that: God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son, 
      He who has the Son has the life; 
      he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. 
    5:13 You who believe in the name of the Son of God, have eternal life.
    5:18 Whoever is born of God do not sin.

INDICATIONS OF SALVATION 
SUMMARY
Confesses Sin 1:9
Keeps His Commands 2:3
Loves his brother 2:10; 3:14; 4:12
Loves  3:18,19; 4:7 
Does the will of God  2:17 
Acknowledges the Son  2:23; 4:15; 5:1,10,13
Practices Righteousness  2:29; 3:7 
Does not practice sin  3:3,6,9; 5:18 
Accepts the Apostles teachings 4:6 
Has the Holy Spirit  4:13 
Overcomes the world  5:4 


SAYINGS IN 1JOHN
1:6  "I have fellowship with Him" and walks in darkness he lies and 
does not practice the truth.
1:8 "I have no sin"  he deceives himself and 
the truth is not is him.
1:10 "I have not sinned" he is a liar, and 
His word is not in him.
2:4 "I know Him" and does not keep 
His commandments,		 he is a liar and 
the truth is not in him.
2:6  "I abide in Him"  Ought himself to walk 
just as He walked.
2:9  "I am in the light" and hates his brother  he is in the darkness
4:20  "I love God" and hates his brother  He is a liar


"KNOWING" IN 1JOHN
WHAT WE KNOW 
HOW WE KNOW IT
2:3  we have known Him  if we keep His commands 
2:5  we are in Him  if we keep His word 
2:18  it is that last hour  many Antichrists have come 
3:14 we have passed from death to life  we love the brethren 
3:16 love  Christ's example 
3:19  we are of the truth loving in deed and truth 
3:24  He abides in us  by the Spirit 
4:3 The Spirit of God  Confesses that JC come in flesh
4:6 Know spirit of truth and spirit of error  whether hears us
4:13  We abide in Him and He in us  By His Spirit 
5:2 We love the children of God  When we love God and obey Him
5:13 We have eternal life  by the things written 
5:15 We have answers to prayer  we know that He hears us 
5:18  Those born of God  do not sin 
5:19 We are of God and the whole world 
lies under the wicked one 


 

"LOVE" IN 1JOHN
    2:5 Whoever keeps His word, 
      truly the love of God is perfected in him. 
    2:10 He who loves his brother 
      . abides in the light 
      . there is no cause for stumbling in him. 
    2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. 
      If anyone loves the world, 
      the love the of the Father is not in him. 
    3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us 
      that we should be called sons of God. 
    3:10 Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, 
      nor is he who does not love his brother. 
    3:11 This is the message that you heard from the beginning, 
      that we should love one another. 
    3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life 
      because we love the brethren. 
      He who does not love this brother abides in death. 
    3:16 By this we have known love, 
      because He laid down his life for us, and 
      We also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 
    3:17 Whoever has this world's good, 
      and sees his brother in need, 
      and shuts up his heart from him, 
      how does the love of God abide in him? 
    3:18 Let us not love in word or in tongue, 
      but in deed and truth. 
    3:23 This is His Commandments: that we should 
      . believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and 
      . love one another 
    4:7 Let us love one another because love is of God; 
      and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 
    4:8 He who does not love 
      does not know God 
      because God is love. 
    4:9 In this is the love of God manifested toward us
      because God has sent His only Son...(to live through him) 
    4:10 In this is love not because we loved God but 
      because He loved us and sent His Son ... (propitiation for sins) 
    4:11 If God thusly loved us, 
      then we also ought to love one another.
    4:12 No one has seen God at any time, 
      If we love one another, then 
      . God abides in us 
      . His love has been perfected in us. 
    4:16 And we have known and believe the love God has for us, 
      God is love and he who abides in the love, 
      abides in God, and God in him. 
    4:17 The love has been perfected among us in this, 
      that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, 
      because as He is, so we are in this world. 
    4:18 There is no fear in the love, 
      but the perfect love casts out fear, 
      because fear involves torment, and 
      he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 
    4:19 We love Him
      because He first loved us. 
    4:20 If someone says, "I love God", 
      and hates his brother, then he is a liar. 
      for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, 
      how can he love God whom he has not seen? 
    4:21 And this commandment we have from Him, 
      that he who loves God must love his brother also. 
    5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, 
      and everyone who loves him who begot 
      also loves him who is begotten of Him. 
    5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, 
      when we love God and keep Him commandments, 
    5:3 For This is the love of God, 
      that we keep his commandments 


 

"LOVE" IN 1JOHN
SUMMARY
God's Manifestations of Perfect Love for Us
Propitiation for our sins  3:16; 4:9,10
Adoption as sons  3:1
Our Manifestations of Perfect Love for God
Obedience to His commands  2:5; 5:3 
Loving one another  4:12,20 
Lack of fear of God's judgment  4:17,18
Our Manifestation of Love for other Christians 
Lay down our lives for the Christians  3:16 
Provide for the needy Christians out of our worldly goods  3:17
Must be in deed and truth  3:18
Loving other Christians Reveals the following about us: 
we abide in the light  2:10 
we have passed from death to life  3:14 
we are born of God and know God  4:7
God abides in us  4:12
Motivation in Loving Other Christians 
Because of what God commands  3:11; 3:23; 4:21
Because of what we are  4:7,17; 5:1 
Because of what God has done for us  4:11
How do we know that we love other Christians? 
When we love God by keeping His commandments  5:2,3
Is it possible for one born of God, not to love?
NO!  3:10,14,15
Loving the World
Loving the World Reveals us a not being of God  2:15 


 

1JOHN 
ARRANGED CATEGORICALLY
TRUTH 
God is light. Therefore we should walk in the light (1:5-7)
Antichristians
    Position of the Antichristians 
      They lie and do not practice the truth 
      They are inevitable - so don't be gullible 
      They were never true Christians 
    Indications of an Antichristian 
      say they have fellowship with God, 
        but walk in darkness 
      They deny 
        Jesus is the Christ 
        Jesus Christ has come in the flesh 
        the apostles teachings and 
          rather listen to the world 
True Christians 
    Position of the True Christian 
      Has fellowship with other Christians
      The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses him from all sin 
      Have eternal life 
      have the Holy Spirit within them affirming God's truth 
      have victory over the antichrists 
    Indications of a True Christian 
      walk in the God's light 
      Continually accept the essential doctrines 
      follow the apostle's teachings 
SIN
Nominalism
    Position of the Nominal 
      deceived 
      make God a liar, God's word is not in them 
    Indications of Nominalism 
      if we say we have no sin 
      if we say we have not sinned 
      does not recognize true believers, 
        just as they do not recognize God 
      accepts sins as part of his lifestyle 
      does not practice righteousness 
True Christians
    Promises concerning a true believer 
      are forgiven of sin 
      are children of God 
      shall be like Jesus 
      does not have the ability 
        to accept sin as part of his lifestyle 
      the wicked one does not touch him 
    Indications of a true believer 
      confesses his sins 
      practices righteousness 
      has a hopeful anticipation of seeing the Lord 
        and becoming like Him 
      does not accept sin as part of his lifestyle
OBEDIENCE
to His commandments 
    To Love other Christians 
      Manner:
        emulating Christ 
        in deed and truth 
      Motivation: 
        Because God loves + emulation 
    To believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God 
    To not Love the world 
Results in Assurances of: 
    Salvation 
    A personal relationship with God 
    Answered prayer 
    Victory over the world 

Terms for Genuine Christians

One thing we see in 1John is that, contrary to today, it appears that the early church had many ways to refer to genuine Christians (their state as opposed to what they do) Instead of asking a person "Are you a Christian?", here are apparently some ways they may apparently ask the question:

Do you have fellowship with God? (1:6)
Have you come to know him? (2:3; 4:7)
Are you in him? (2:4; 5:20) or live in him? (2:6; 3:24)
Does he live in you? (4:13;15)

Are you in the light? (2:9)
Do you really belong to us? (2:19)
Do you have the Father? (2:23)
Do you have the Son? (5:12)
Have you been born of God? (2:29; 5:1)
Are you a child of God? (3:1)
Are you from God? (4:4)

1John and Free Grace Theology

If you're not familiar with Free Grace Theology see http://www.bcbsr.com/topics/freegrace.html

The book of 1John is all about how to identify children of God. But Free Grace Theology rejects this idea because if accepted, then the book of 1John teaches ideas explicitly contrary to Free Grace Theology. Instead they propose that 1John is not about saved/unsaved issues, but rather about the relative degree of fellowship the "saved" experience. Such people also don't believe that 1John is teaching anything about assurance of salvation, since John often references behavior. For my Bible study on 1John see http://www.bcbsr.com/books/1jn.html Here are some evidences that 1John is written not concerning the relative degree of fellowship one has with God, but rather about identifying those born of God:

1. If it's about a relative experience of fellowship among those born of God or between God and his children, then why does it use absolute either/or contrasts rather than using relative terms? Its about light versus darkness and not about shades of gray. There are tons of examples throughout 1John. In fact seldom does he ever speak in relative terms. (1John 1:6,7; 2:19,23,29; 3:7-10,14,15; 4:6-8; 5:4,10,12,18)
2. If it's about a relative experience of fellowship, then why does it link right behavior with everyone born of God rather than link it with only a certain elite group among those born of God. (1John 2:29; 3:9,10; 4:7; 5:1,4,18)

3. If it's about a relative experience of fellowship and not about identifying those born of God and distinguishing them from children of the devil, correlating these also with a person's behavior, then why does he use such terms as "this is how we know" with reference to such verses?

"This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother." 1John 3:10

"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him."1John 3:14,15

4. Futhermore if 1John is not about salvation, then why does John say that it is?
"He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." 1John 5:12,13

Concerning "Eternal Life"

While Free Grace Theology may attempt to interpret "eternal life" in 1John as limited to an elite group of believers rather than to all believers and interpret it as not referring to salvation, but rather to a relative experience of fellowship with God, the Bible teaches that everyone who believes in the Son has eternal life (John 3:16,36; 1John 5;12,13). This is contrary to the idea that the Bible teaches some kind of elitist division among the believers as if some have more eternal life than others. The Bible teaches either you have it or you don't, just as it teaches that either you have the Son or don't. So also it teaches, "if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ."Romans 8:9 Furthermore having this eternal life is not a matter of effort just as it is not a matter of degree. "the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom 6:23 The Bible also teaches that the alternative to having eternal life is not simply have less rewards in heaven, but rather the alternative is perishing. (John 10:28; 5;24)
5. Why is it even when he refers to "fellowship" (which is only mentioned in chapter1), that he speaks not in relative terms but absolute, relating it also to eternal life?
1 John 1:1-3  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched— this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

What he "saw and heard" was the gospel of Jesus Christ concerning eternal life. But eternal life is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ as John also quoted Jesus, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3 And as noted above those who don't have this eternal life are not simply cast out into some kind of Protestant Purgatory. No, rather they perish altogether under God's condemnation.

1 John 1:6  If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.

Fellowship with God is eternal life. You either have it or you don't. Those who claim to have this eternal life but live a lifestyle contrary to that fact are lying. Lying about what? Lying about having eternal life. In other words they don't have eternal life.

1 John 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

This verse correlates perfectly with the above ideas. For if one does not walk in the light, then what is implied is that such a person's sins are not purified by the blood of Jesus, else the last part of the verse would be moot. Furthermore the universal fellowship between true believers is taught in 1John 5:1-4, and 1John 3:14,15 indicates that hatred of Christians is indicative that such a person does not have eternal life in him, again speaking in absolute terms and again correlating it with eternal life.

Free Grace Theology may propose that a verse like 1John 1:7 is not dealing with eternal salvation, but rather to sanctification. Thus they propose many of those born of God die with sin which has not been purified by the blood of Jesus. This has led many such theologians to various Protestant Purgatory scenarios to deal with such unpurified sin. One such Free Grace Theologian is Watchman Nee who writes:

"If a person has become a Christian but his hands or feet sin all the time, he will suffer the punishment of the eternal fire in the kingdom of the heavens. He will not suffer this punishment eternally, but will suffer it only in the age of the kingdom" Watchman Nee
All these facts go to show that 1John is relevant to these issues and indeed teaches contrary to Free Grace Theology. Nor is there any substantive basis upon which Free Grace Theologians discard 1John.
"We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood." 1John 4:6

The Boston Christian Bible Study Resources

Jan 15,2008