God is love. Be born of God. See Who God is; then we shall be like Him. We shall love others.
1 John 3:11 "For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." This is a reference to John 13:34, "A new commandment I give to you, that you should love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." We are only able to love others properly when we have received His love for us. Our love for others is a response to His love for us.
The first and primary way that we love others is to offer grace and forgiveness to them. The second way is to walk unselfishly, not hurting others or ourselves.
1 John 3:2 "Beloved, now we are the children of God (born of God); and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be (until later in 1 John chapter 4), but we know that when He is revealed (as love), we shall be like Him (we will walk in love), for we shall see Him as He is (He is love)." John will now give us a negative example or the antithesis of this principle in the next verse.
1 John 3:12 "not as Cain, who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous." In other words, we should not react the way Cain reacted. Why did he commit the sin of murder? It was because his view of God, or his response to God's love and grace, was wrong and distorted.
Genesis 4:1-8 The story of Cain and Abel. Read.
Vs. 2-5 Cain was a tiller of the ground, and brought an offering of the fruit of the ground. Abel was a keeper of sheep, and brought the firstborn of his flock and offered it to the Lord. It would appear at first glance that they both brought an offering from their own particular area of work or effort. But God told the what kind of offering to bring. Hebrews 11:4 "By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks." Faith comes from hearing and understanding the Word of God. Romans 10:17
So we can see that God, in His grace and love, told them which offering to bring to cover sin: a first born lamb whose blood would be spilled. Cain heard this as well as Abel. Abel responded in faith to God's offer of grace. Cain ignored God's offering of grace, and instead presented an offering to God from his own work or efforts. This came from a motive of pride and independence from God. God spilled the blood of an animal in the garden of Eden and covered Adam and Eve. This pattern was institutionalized in the Law and sacrifices of the Old Testament. The sacrifices represent the work of Jesus on our behalf.
Vs. 5-6 When God did not accept his offering, Cain became angry, and his countenance fell. When we reject God's offer of grace and approach Him by our own works through pride and independence, our view of God or response to God is distorted. We will not be at peace, which only comes from His grace. We then become angry and frustrated. Our view of ourselves then becomes distorted.
Vs. 7 "If you then do well (offer the right offering), will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." This explains 1 John 3:12. Why did Cain commit murder, the outward sin toward another human? It began with his view of God or response to God's grace. When 1 John 3:12 says that his works were evil, it means from a wrong motive, from pride and arrogance or independence from God.
When our view of God is distorted, it distorts our view of ourselves and others. Our actions then become either self-destructive or hurtful to others. When we see how great God's love is for us, and that He has forgiven the sins of our entire lifetime, we are at peace. Then we can properly love ourselves and those around us.
1 John 3:13 "Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you." Cain hated Abel because Abel received God's grace, and was dependent upon Him. Abel was at peace. Cain approached God in pride, through his own works. Because of this, he was not at peace. He blamed Abel and lashed out at Abel in anger and jealousy.
John 8:12 "Then Jesus spoke to them again saying, "I am the light of the world (love, grace). He who follows me (in love, offering grace) shall not walk in darkness (judging and condemning others), but have the light of life."
Read John 3:16-18
John 3:19-21 "And this is the condemnation, that the light (grace, love) has come into the world, and men loved darkness (judging and condemning others) rather than light (grace) because their deeds were evil (motivated from pride or independence from God). For everyone practicing evil (independence from God and His grace) hates the light (His grace and love) and does not come to the light (grace), lest his deeds should be exposed (his pride and independence from God). But he who does the truth (believes the Word) comes to the light (His grace and love), that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God (in union or dependence upon God and His grace)."
Keith Oliver
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
1 John 3:1-10
God is love. Be born of God. See God for Who He is; then we shall be like Him. We will love others.
Vs. 1 "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God (by other people). Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him." This is a reference to John 13:34-35. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." We become His disciples when we continue in His Word of grace. That is what John 8:31-32 says. As we learn to walk in love toward others, that is when people will know we are His disciples and start calling us His disciples or the children of God. The world does not know that God is love.
Vs. 2 "Beloved, now we are the children of God (born of God); and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be (until later in 1 John 4), but we know that when He is revealed (as love), we shall be like Him (we will walk in love), for we shall see Him as He is (He is love)." This is the verse that opened up the idea to me that John is writing a progressive revelation, and somewhat poking fun at the Gnostics, who were looking for secret knowledge to be revealed to them.
Vs. 3 "And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." This has always been taught as a rapture verse, along with the previous verse. But what hope is John talking about? John is talking about knowing that God is love, and that love being expressed through us to others. What does he mean by purify? He is talking about walking in love. That is what being pure means. The opposite of love is selfishness, or walking in the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. God is love. His motives are pure. Ours should be too.
Vs. 4 "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness." Sin is not walking in love. Romans 13:8,10 "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." This is why John says that sin, or not walking in love, is lawlessness.
Vs. 5 "And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin." Jesus was manifested to pay the penalty for the sins of our entire lifetime, past, present and even future sins. He not only paid the penalty for our sins; He wants to cleanse us from the actions and deeds of sin. He never sinned, or walked out of love.
Vs. 6 "Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him." We abide in Him in two ways: (1) 1 John 4:15 by being born of God and (2) 1 John 4:12 by loving one another. So if we confess that Jesus is the Son of God and love one another, we will not sin, or walk out of love. The second part of the verse says that whoever sins (doesn't walk in love) has neither seen Him nor known Him (has not seen that God is love). Look at 1 John 3:2 "has not seen" and 1 John 4:7-8 "does not know Him". It is interesting to note that we can abide in God by being born again, but not abide in God by walking out of love, or following our own selfish motives. This will open up some verses to follow. We must abide in Him in both ways to reach full maturity in the Christian walk.
Vs. 7 "Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous." We saw in 1 John 2:29 that he who practices righteousness is born of God. 1 John 5:1 says, "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God....." So practicing righteousness is being born of God, accepting the gift of righteousness that Jesus offers us. We could state this verse like this: He who is born again is righteous, just as He is righteous. When we are born again, we are made the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 We are made as righteous as He is. Why would John say not to be deceived? Because the Gnostics were teaching that Jesus was not the Christ and did not come in the flesh, so He could not be our Savior.
Vs. 8 "He who sins (does not walk in love) is of the devil (being motivated by Satan's intents:selfishness), for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." Jesus destroys the works of the devil on two levels in our lives. When we are born again, God's life comes to live within us. As we begin to walk in love, God's life flows through us to others. Read Matthew 16:21-23 This is where Jesus told Peter, "Get behind me, Satan." Jesus meant that Peter was thinking selfishly, being motivated by Satan's intentions, even though he was a follower of God.
Vs. 9 "Whoever has been born of God (our spirit is born of God) does not sin, for His seed (God's Word) remains in him; and he cannot sin (our spirit cannot sin), because he has been born of God." John is essentially saying what the apostle Paul says. When we accept the Lord, our spirits are created new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 We must then renew our minds to the Word, and begin walking in love toward others. Our salvation must be worked from the inside of us, where God has come to live, to the outside, where people can see our love and good deeds towards them. Philippians 2
Vs. 10 "In this the children of God (those motivated by love) and the children of the devil (motivated by selfishness) are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother." Notice that (1) whoever does not practice righteousness, or whoever is not born again, is not of God. He also says that (2) he who does not love his brother is not of God. If we don't walk in love, then we don't see who God is, even though we are born again. The apostle Paul would have said that we are carnal. We don't see that Christ is living in us, even though we are born again.
These verses have been taught in a condemning way because we have not seen this passage clearly. This should not be condemning; this is the pathway to maturity. If we see it as condemning, we may not be completely settled with the idea that the sins of our entire lifetime have been forgiven. As little children spiritually, we see that our sins are forgiven. We are loved and forgiven by God.
Young men or women spiritually are beginning to recognize that God lives within them. Who is God? He is love. As we walk in love, we are letting God live through us and overcoming the wicked one. Who or what is wicked? The selfishness or lust that is in the world, which is motivated by Satan. Walking in love is the pathway to maturity.
This passage opens up part of John chapter 8. In John 8:31-32, Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you continue in My Word (the word of grace), you are My disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." The Jews who believed in Him said they have never been in bondage to anyone. Jesus told them that whoever commits sin is the slave of sin. He goes on to tell these Jews who had believed Him that they were of their father the devil. These Jews were not yet born again, so the devil was still their father, even though they believed Jesus. But it also shows us that when we are sinning, we are being motivated by the devil, even if we are born again and God lives in us.
Keith Oliver
Vs. 1 "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God (by other people). Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him." This is a reference to John 13:34-35. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." We become His disciples when we continue in His Word of grace. That is what John 8:31-32 says. As we learn to walk in love toward others, that is when people will know we are His disciples and start calling us His disciples or the children of God. The world does not know that God is love.
Vs. 2 "Beloved, now we are the children of God (born of God); and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be (until later in 1 John 4), but we know that when He is revealed (as love), we shall be like Him (we will walk in love), for we shall see Him as He is (He is love)." This is the verse that opened up the idea to me that John is writing a progressive revelation, and somewhat poking fun at the Gnostics, who were looking for secret knowledge to be revealed to them.
Vs. 3 "And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." This has always been taught as a rapture verse, along with the previous verse. But what hope is John talking about? John is talking about knowing that God is love, and that love being expressed through us to others. What does he mean by purify? He is talking about walking in love. That is what being pure means. The opposite of love is selfishness, or walking in the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. God is love. His motives are pure. Ours should be too.
Vs. 4 "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness." Sin is not walking in love. Romans 13:8,10 "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." This is why John says that sin, or not walking in love, is lawlessness.
Vs. 5 "And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin." Jesus was manifested to pay the penalty for the sins of our entire lifetime, past, present and even future sins. He not only paid the penalty for our sins; He wants to cleanse us from the actions and deeds of sin. He never sinned, or walked out of love.
Vs. 6 "Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him." We abide in Him in two ways: (1) 1 John 4:15 by being born of God and (2) 1 John 4:12 by loving one another. So if we confess that Jesus is the Son of God and love one another, we will not sin, or walk out of love. The second part of the verse says that whoever sins (doesn't walk in love) has neither seen Him nor known Him (has not seen that God is love). Look at 1 John 3:2 "has not seen" and 1 John 4:7-8 "does not know Him". It is interesting to note that we can abide in God by being born again, but not abide in God by walking out of love, or following our own selfish motives. This will open up some verses to follow. We must abide in Him in both ways to reach full maturity in the Christian walk.
Vs. 7 "Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous." We saw in 1 John 2:29 that he who practices righteousness is born of God. 1 John 5:1 says, "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God....." So practicing righteousness is being born of God, accepting the gift of righteousness that Jesus offers us. We could state this verse like this: He who is born again is righteous, just as He is righteous. When we are born again, we are made the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 We are made as righteous as He is. Why would John say not to be deceived? Because the Gnostics were teaching that Jesus was not the Christ and did not come in the flesh, so He could not be our Savior.
Vs. 8 "He who sins (does not walk in love) is of the devil (being motivated by Satan's intents:selfishness), for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." Jesus destroys the works of the devil on two levels in our lives. When we are born again, God's life comes to live within us. As we begin to walk in love, God's life flows through us to others. Read Matthew 16:21-23 This is where Jesus told Peter, "Get behind me, Satan." Jesus meant that Peter was thinking selfishly, being motivated by Satan's intentions, even though he was a follower of God.
Vs. 9 "Whoever has been born of God (our spirit is born of God) does not sin, for His seed (God's Word) remains in him; and he cannot sin (our spirit cannot sin), because he has been born of God." John is essentially saying what the apostle Paul says. When we accept the Lord, our spirits are created new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 We must then renew our minds to the Word, and begin walking in love toward others. Our salvation must be worked from the inside of us, where God has come to live, to the outside, where people can see our love and good deeds towards them. Philippians 2
Vs. 10 "In this the children of God (those motivated by love) and the children of the devil (motivated by selfishness) are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother." Notice that (1) whoever does not practice righteousness, or whoever is not born again, is not of God. He also says that (2) he who does not love his brother is not of God. If we don't walk in love, then we don't see who God is, even though we are born again. The apostle Paul would have said that we are carnal. We don't see that Christ is living in us, even though we are born again.
These verses have been taught in a condemning way because we have not seen this passage clearly. This should not be condemning; this is the pathway to maturity. If we see it as condemning, we may not be completely settled with the idea that the sins of our entire lifetime have been forgiven. As little children spiritually, we see that our sins are forgiven. We are loved and forgiven by God.
Young men or women spiritually are beginning to recognize that God lives within them. Who is God? He is love. As we walk in love, we are letting God live through us and overcoming the wicked one. Who or what is wicked? The selfishness or lust that is in the world, which is motivated by Satan. Walking in love is the pathway to maturity.
This passage opens up part of John chapter 8. In John 8:31-32, Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you continue in My Word (the word of grace), you are My disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." The Jews who believed in Him said they have never been in bondage to anyone. Jesus told them that whoever commits sin is the slave of sin. He goes on to tell these Jews who had believed Him that they were of their father the devil. These Jews were not yet born again, so the devil was still their father, even though they believed Jesus. But it also shows us that when we are sinning, we are being motivated by the devil, even if we are born again and God lives in us.
Keith Oliver
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
1 John 2:15-29
God is love. We are born of God. When we see God for Who He is, that He is love, we will love others. He who does not love does not know God, or does not understand the nature of God, even though he is born again. 1 John 4:7-8
1 John 2:15-17 "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." Notice that John does not say that this person is not born again. He does say that the love of the Father is not in him or flowing through him. If we are focused on the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, we are not focused on the love of God. This is very similar to Galatians 5:19-22 "....envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I told you in time past, that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." The kingdom of God is within us when we are born again. Paul is not saying that you will not go to heaven if you commit works of the flesh. He is saying that we will not inherit or walk in the kingdom of God already within us when we are born again. We will not walk in the fruits of the Spirit if we spend our time practicing the works of the flesh. We must make a choice to walk in love.
Vs. 18-19 "Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know we are in the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us." These verses are similar to 1 John 4:1-3. The Gnostics taught that physical matter is evil; therefore Jesus would not have come in the flesh, but appeared only in spirit form. If He only appeared in spirit form, He could not bear our punishment in His body.
Vs. 20 "But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things." The anointing is the Holy Spirit which we received when we believed on Jesus.
Vs. 21-23 "I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is anti-Christ who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also." In summary, he who denies that Jesus is the Christ is not born of God. He who acknowledges the Son has the Father also, or is born of God.
Vs. 24 "Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father." He is referring to 1 John 3:11, "This is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another."
Vs. 25 "And this is the promise that He has promised us--eternal life." In verse 23, John tells us to be born of God. In verse 24, he tells us to walk in love toward others. If we do these two things, we are promised that eternal life will be manifested through us. This is the same eternal life referred to in 1 John 1:1-2 which was manifested in the life of Jesus.
Vs. 26 "These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you." The Gnostics were trying to deceive believers. They denied that Jesus is the Son of God or that He came in the flesh. They also said that sin does not matter. John said that we should walk in love and not hurt others. Sin does matter because it hurts us and those around us. How can eternal life (the love of God) be manifested through us when we spend our time hurting ourselves or others?
Vs. 27 "But the anointing (Holy Spirit) which you have received from Him abides in you (when we are born again), and you do not need that anyone teach you (to walk in love); but as the same anointing (Holy Spirit) teaches you concerning all things (love), and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you (to walk in love), you will abide in Him." Abiding in Him is walking in love according to verse 24. The Holy Spirit teaches us to love. Look at Romans 5:5.
Vs. 28 "And now, little children, abide in Him (walk in love), that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming." This is saying the same thing as 1 John 4:17, "Love has been perfected (brought to completion) among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgement (we won't be afraid of God or punishment); because as He is (He is love), so are we in this world (we walk in love)." We have come to understand the love of God for us, and we can show that love to others.
Vs. 29 "If you know that He is righteousness, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him." Practicing righteousness is trusting Jesus for our righteousness, not trusting in our own works. 1 John 5:1 says "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God...." We see the word "practice" and we misinterpret this verse because of our works oriented mindset. Believing that Jesus is the Christ is practicing righteousness. We are then born of God.
Keith Oliver
1 John 2:15-17 "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." Notice that John does not say that this person is not born again. He does say that the love of the Father is not in him or flowing through him. If we are focused on the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, we are not focused on the love of God. This is very similar to Galatians 5:19-22 "....envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I told you in time past, that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." The kingdom of God is within us when we are born again. Paul is not saying that you will not go to heaven if you commit works of the flesh. He is saying that we will not inherit or walk in the kingdom of God already within us when we are born again. We will not walk in the fruits of the Spirit if we spend our time practicing the works of the flesh. We must make a choice to walk in love.
Vs. 18-19 "Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know we are in the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us." These verses are similar to 1 John 4:1-3. The Gnostics taught that physical matter is evil; therefore Jesus would not have come in the flesh, but appeared only in spirit form. If He only appeared in spirit form, He could not bear our punishment in His body.
Vs. 20 "But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things." The anointing is the Holy Spirit which we received when we believed on Jesus.
Vs. 21-23 "I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is anti-Christ who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also." In summary, he who denies that Jesus is the Christ is not born of God. He who acknowledges the Son has the Father also, or is born of God.
Vs. 24 "Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father." He is referring to 1 John 3:11, "This is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another."
Vs. 25 "And this is the promise that He has promised us--eternal life." In verse 23, John tells us to be born of God. In verse 24, he tells us to walk in love toward others. If we do these two things, we are promised that eternal life will be manifested through us. This is the same eternal life referred to in 1 John 1:1-2 which was manifested in the life of Jesus.
Vs. 26 "These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you." The Gnostics were trying to deceive believers. They denied that Jesus is the Son of God or that He came in the flesh. They also said that sin does not matter. John said that we should walk in love and not hurt others. Sin does matter because it hurts us and those around us. How can eternal life (the love of God) be manifested through us when we spend our time hurting ourselves or others?
Vs. 27 "But the anointing (Holy Spirit) which you have received from Him abides in you (when we are born again), and you do not need that anyone teach you (to walk in love); but as the same anointing (Holy Spirit) teaches you concerning all things (love), and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you (to walk in love), you will abide in Him." Abiding in Him is walking in love according to verse 24. The Holy Spirit teaches us to love. Look at Romans 5:5.
Vs. 28 "And now, little children, abide in Him (walk in love), that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming." This is saying the same thing as 1 John 4:17, "Love has been perfected (brought to completion) among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgement (we won't be afraid of God or punishment); because as He is (He is love), so are we in this world (we walk in love)." We have come to understand the love of God for us, and we can show that love to others.
Vs. 29 "If you know that He is righteousness, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him." Practicing righteousness is trusting Jesus for our righteousness, not trusting in our own works. 1 John 5:1 says "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God...." We see the word "practice" and we misinterpret this verse because of our works oriented mindset. Believing that Jesus is the Christ is practicing righteousness. We are then born of God.
Keith Oliver
1 John 2:1-14
Remember that John's primary revelation is this: God is love. We are born of God, or born of Love. As we see God for Who He is, we shall be like Him. We shall love others. We can be born of God, but not realize that He is love, and so not walk in love toward others. 1 John 3:2, 1 John 4:7-8
1 John 2:1 "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." God does not want us to sin. Even though we are forgiven of all sin, past, present and future, sin still has hurtful consequences in our human relationships. We hurt ourselves and others. But God has declared us righteous and holy in His sight.
Vs. 2 "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.. Jesus is the propitiation for our sins as Christians, and for the sins of the whole world. Propitiation means that God is satisfied with what Jesus did. The idea that God was an angry, vengeful God who needed to be appeased, and that He did not have any goodwill toward us, is not a Biblical concept. The Bible says God chose us in Him (Jesus) before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4. God is love. Justice had to be satisfied and we had to be redeemed from sin. God Himself provided the redemption for us. That is love.
Vs. 3 "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments." Notice the phrase 'know Him'. It does not say born of Him, but to know Him, that He is love. What are the commandments we are to keep? 1 John 3:23, believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ (be born of God) and love one another. So when we are born again and love one another, we are keeping His commandments. When we know He is love, we love others.
Vs. 4 "He who says, "I know Him", and does not keep His commandments (be born of God and love one another) is a liar, and the truth is not in him." If a person is not born of God or walking in love, he does not know God. Notice how the phrase "the truth is not in him' is similar to 1 John 1:8,10. This is another reason that we know that 1 John 1:8,10 are talking about being born again. Also notice 1 John 2:22, "Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?"
Vs. 5 "But whoever keeps His Word (commandments: believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another), truly the love of God is perfected (brought to completion) in him. By This we know that we are in Him." So if we are born again and walking in love toward others, God's life is flowing through us.
Vs. 6 "He who says He abides in Him (God is love) ought himself also to walk (walk in love) just as He walked."
Vs. 7 "Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you have heard from the beginning." The commandment that John spoke of is John 13:34-35, "that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." God is love. If we walk in love, people will see God in us.
Vs. 8-11 Read. To summarize these verses, if we hate or condemn others, we are walking in darkness. If we love others by offering grace to them and not condemning them, we are walking in the light.
Vs. 12-14 "I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is 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 wicked one." These verses describe a spiritual progression within our lives, or levels of spiritual maturity. Notice the characteristics of little children: they know that their sins are forgiven them for His name's sake and they know that God is their Father. It is interesting to note that we can know God is our Father, but not realize that He is love.
Young men (or women) spiritually are those who are strong, and the word of God abides in them, and they have overcome the wicked one. Notice 1 John 4:4 We overcome the wicked one by knowing that God lives within us, and greater is He Who is in us than he (Satan and evil spirits) that is in the world. We must learn that Christ lives in us. If we don't understand that the sins of our entire lifetime are forgiven, it will be impossible to see that God lives in us. We will always be focused on our outward actions, instead of being focused on God living within us.
Fathers, or spiritually mature men and women, know Him Who is from the beginning. The Greeks referred to the gods as fathers, but they were often cruel and vindictive. The Jews saw God as a God of justice and punishment because of the Law of the Old Testament. By now we should see that John is referring to the fact that God is love. This unknown, unseen God Who is from the beginning is love. When we walk in love toward others, the love of God is perfected, or brought to completion, in us.
Keith Oliver
1 John 2:1 "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." God does not want us to sin. Even though we are forgiven of all sin, past, present and future, sin still has hurtful consequences in our human relationships. We hurt ourselves and others. But God has declared us righteous and holy in His sight.
Vs. 2 "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.. Jesus is the propitiation for our sins as Christians, and for the sins of the whole world. Propitiation means that God is satisfied with what Jesus did. The idea that God was an angry, vengeful God who needed to be appeased, and that He did not have any goodwill toward us, is not a Biblical concept. The Bible says God chose us in Him (Jesus) before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4. God is love. Justice had to be satisfied and we had to be redeemed from sin. God Himself provided the redemption for us. That is love.
Vs. 3 "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments." Notice the phrase 'know Him'. It does not say born of Him, but to know Him, that He is love. What are the commandments we are to keep? 1 John 3:23, believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ (be born of God) and love one another. So when we are born again and love one another, we are keeping His commandments. When we know He is love, we love others.
Vs. 4 "He who says, "I know Him", and does not keep His commandments (be born of God and love one another) is a liar, and the truth is not in him." If a person is not born of God or walking in love, he does not know God. Notice how the phrase "the truth is not in him' is similar to 1 John 1:8,10. This is another reason that we know that 1 John 1:8,10 are talking about being born again. Also notice 1 John 2:22, "Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?"
Vs. 5 "But whoever keeps His Word (commandments: believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another), truly the love of God is perfected (brought to completion) in him. By This we know that we are in Him." So if we are born again and walking in love toward others, God's life is flowing through us.
Vs. 6 "He who says He abides in Him (God is love) ought himself also to walk (walk in love) just as He walked."
Vs. 7 "Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you have heard from the beginning." The commandment that John spoke of is John 13:34-35, "that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." God is love. If we walk in love, people will see God in us.
Vs. 8-11 Read. To summarize these verses, if we hate or condemn others, we are walking in darkness. If we love others by offering grace to them and not condemning them, we are walking in the light.
Vs. 12-14 "I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is 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 wicked one." These verses describe a spiritual progression within our lives, or levels of spiritual maturity. Notice the characteristics of little children: they know that their sins are forgiven them for His name's sake and they know that God is their Father. It is interesting to note that we can know God is our Father, but not realize that He is love.
Young men (or women) spiritually are those who are strong, and the word of God abides in them, and they have overcome the wicked one. Notice 1 John 4:4 We overcome the wicked one by knowing that God lives within us, and greater is He Who is in us than he (Satan and evil spirits) that is in the world. We must learn that Christ lives in us. If we don't understand that the sins of our entire lifetime are forgiven, it will be impossible to see that God lives in us. We will always be focused on our outward actions, instead of being focused on God living within us.
Fathers, or spiritually mature men and women, know Him Who is from the beginning. The Greeks referred to the gods as fathers, but they were often cruel and vindictive. The Jews saw God as a God of justice and punishment because of the Law of the Old Testament. By now we should see that John is referring to the fact that God is love. This unknown, unseen God Who is from the beginning is love. When we walk in love toward others, the love of God is perfected, or brought to completion, in us.
Keith Oliver
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
1 John Chapter 1
Remember John's primary revelation: God is love. When we are born again, we are born of God or born of Love. When we recognize Who God is and receive His love, we shall be like Him. We shall love others. 1 John 3:2, 1 John 4:7-8
Vs. 1-2 "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, concerning the Word of life--the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us--" That which was from the beginning is a reference to the book of Genesis. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. This unknown, unseen God Who created the heavens and the earth, Who is eternal Life and Love, manifested Himself in the body of Jesus. Jesus personified the life and love of God in a human body. These verses also dispute the Gnostic idea, referred to in the previous lesson, that Jesus did not have a human body because they taught that matter is evil. The Gnostics said that Jesus only appeared in spirit form.
Vs. 3 "that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." Our part or fellowship or sharing in this: now God manifests Himself in us just like He manifested Himself in the person of Jesus. We have His life. We understand and demonstrate His love to others. People should now see God in us. How can people see God (Who is love) in us if we feel condemned or if we condemn others?
Vs. 4 "And these things we write to you that your joy may be full." When we truly understand what John meant in this epistle, we will be full of joy. Joy comes from fellowship with God. We have fellowship with God because we are made righteous in His sight by grace.
Vs. 5 "This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." Notice that this verse is similar to 1 John 3:11, "For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.' So John is talking here about walking in love. John declares in 1 John 2:8-11 that walking in love is walking in the light; walking in hate is walking in darkness. So John could have said this: We declare to you that God is love (light) and in Him is no hate or condemnation (darkness) at all. Why does John not reveal that God is love at this point? This is one example why I believe this book is a progressive revelation.
John 8:1-19 Jesus forgives the woman caught in adultery and does not condemn her according to the Law. John 8:12 "I am the light of the world (grace and love): he who follows me (in not condemning others but offering grace to them) shall not walk in darkness (judging and condemning others for their sins), but shall have the light of life." The Jews accused and condemned this woman caught in adultery and wanted to have her stoned. They did not see God's grace and love. Every teaching I have ever heard on 1 John defines the light as walking in holiness and darkness as walking in sin. But we must let the gospel of John interpret the epistle of John. John defines light as grace and darkness as condemning or judging others for their sins in John chapter 8. This brings a whole new view of 1 John chapter 1.
Vs. 6 "If we say that we have fellowship with Him (share in who God is, or say that we represent Him: He is full of grace and love) and walk in darkness (hate or condemn others for their sins), we lie and do not practice the truth (which is grace)."
Vs. 7 "But if we walk in the light (walk in His grace and love), as He is in the light (He is love), we have fellowship with one another (we are manifesting His life and love through us) and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin (we learn to walk in love and stop sinning). This follows John's revelation in chapter 4 that God is love, we are born of Him, and when we KNOW that He is love, we will then love others.
Vs. 8 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Notice that sin is singular, which refers to the nature of sin. Gnostics said this; no Christian would say this. For us to be born again, we must admit that we have sinned or have a nature of sin and need a Savior. Also notice that it says the truth (His Word of grace) is not in us.
Vs. 9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This happened when we were born again. This can only be a one time confession of sin for us to be born again. When we are born again, we are made righteous before God. If we are to continually confess our sins as Christians, then we would have to conclude that we lose our righteousness before God each time we sin and must be cleansed of unrighteousness over and over again. This is error. We are made righteous once and for all through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Notice that there are two types of cleansing mentioned in verse 7 and verse 9. We are cleansed of unrighteousness before God when we confess our sin and need for a Savior in our Lord Jesus Christ in verse 9. In verse 7 we are cleansed from all sin, the actions of sin. We are cleansed of unrighteousness only one time; it is permanent. We are cleansed from the actions of sin on an ongoing basis.
Vs. 10 "If we say that we have not sinned (actions of sin), we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us." Notice the phrase "His Word is not in us." It is speaking of His Word of grace to us. This could not refer to Christians. 1 Peter 1:23 "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible; by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever." When we are born again by the Word of God, it lives forever in us. 2 John 2 "For the truth's (Word's) sake, which dwells in us, and shall be with us forever."
Keith Oliver
Vs. 1-2 "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, concerning the Word of life--the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us--" That which was from the beginning is a reference to the book of Genesis. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. This unknown, unseen God Who created the heavens and the earth, Who is eternal Life and Love, manifested Himself in the body of Jesus. Jesus personified the life and love of God in a human body. These verses also dispute the Gnostic idea, referred to in the previous lesson, that Jesus did not have a human body because they taught that matter is evil. The Gnostics said that Jesus only appeared in spirit form.
Vs. 3 "that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." Our part or fellowship or sharing in this: now God manifests Himself in us just like He manifested Himself in the person of Jesus. We have His life. We understand and demonstrate His love to others. People should now see God in us. How can people see God (Who is love) in us if we feel condemned or if we condemn others?
Vs. 4 "And these things we write to you that your joy may be full." When we truly understand what John meant in this epistle, we will be full of joy. Joy comes from fellowship with God. We have fellowship with God because we are made righteous in His sight by grace.
Vs. 5 "This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." Notice that this verse is similar to 1 John 3:11, "For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.' So John is talking here about walking in love. John declares in 1 John 2:8-11 that walking in love is walking in the light; walking in hate is walking in darkness. So John could have said this: We declare to you that God is love (light) and in Him is no hate or condemnation (darkness) at all. Why does John not reveal that God is love at this point? This is one example why I believe this book is a progressive revelation.
John 8:1-19 Jesus forgives the woman caught in adultery and does not condemn her according to the Law. John 8:12 "I am the light of the world (grace and love): he who follows me (in not condemning others but offering grace to them) shall not walk in darkness (judging and condemning others for their sins), but shall have the light of life." The Jews accused and condemned this woman caught in adultery and wanted to have her stoned. They did not see God's grace and love. Every teaching I have ever heard on 1 John defines the light as walking in holiness and darkness as walking in sin. But we must let the gospel of John interpret the epistle of John. John defines light as grace and darkness as condemning or judging others for their sins in John chapter 8. This brings a whole new view of 1 John chapter 1.
Vs. 6 "If we say that we have fellowship with Him (share in who God is, or say that we represent Him: He is full of grace and love) and walk in darkness (hate or condemn others for their sins), we lie and do not practice the truth (which is grace)."
Vs. 7 "But if we walk in the light (walk in His grace and love), as He is in the light (He is love), we have fellowship with one another (we are manifesting His life and love through us) and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin (we learn to walk in love and stop sinning). This follows John's revelation in chapter 4 that God is love, we are born of Him, and when we KNOW that He is love, we will then love others.
Vs. 8 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Notice that sin is singular, which refers to the nature of sin. Gnostics said this; no Christian would say this. For us to be born again, we must admit that we have sinned or have a nature of sin and need a Savior. Also notice that it says the truth (His Word of grace) is not in us.
Vs. 9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This happened when we were born again. This can only be a one time confession of sin for us to be born again. When we are born again, we are made righteous before God. If we are to continually confess our sins as Christians, then we would have to conclude that we lose our righteousness before God each time we sin and must be cleansed of unrighteousness over and over again. This is error. We are made righteous once and for all through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Notice that there are two types of cleansing mentioned in verse 7 and verse 9. We are cleansed of unrighteousness before God when we confess our sin and need for a Savior in our Lord Jesus Christ in verse 9. In verse 7 we are cleansed from all sin, the actions of sin. We are cleansed of unrighteousness only one time; it is permanent. We are cleansed from the actions of sin on an ongoing basis.
Vs. 10 "If we say that we have not sinned (actions of sin), we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us." Notice the phrase "His Word is not in us." It is speaking of His Word of grace to us. This could not refer to Christians. 1 Peter 1:23 "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible; by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever." When we are born again by the Word of God, it lives forever in us. 2 John 2 "For the truth's (Word's) sake, which dwells in us, and shall be with us forever."
Keith Oliver
Saturday, January 14, 2012
The Book of 1 John
1 John is a progressive revelation. The great revelation is that God is love. He doesn't have love. He is love. We are born of God or born of Love. When we recognize that God is love and that He lives in us, we will be like God. We will love others.
The idea of God as a Father in not new to the New Testament. Greek mythology speaks of the gods as fathers, but they were not benevolent and loving. In many ways they were cruel and often mean and vindictive. The Old Testament also reveals God as a Father in several verses, but it was not commonly recognized by the Jews during Jesus' day because of the Law. Some Old Testament verses that reveal God as Father are Exodus 4:22, Isaiah 63:16, Isaiah 64:8, Hosea 11:1, Deut. 1:30-31, Deut. 8:5, Deut. 32:6, Psalms 89:26, Isaiah 9:6. Jesus recognized this from His study of the Old Testament. That is where He recognized God as His Father.
Gnosticism or Neoplatonism was the main philosophical school of thought during the time that the New Testament was written. Gnosticism was born out of the writings of Plato, who lived around 400 B.C. Many of the abstract themes that we see in 1 John are themes that were dealt with in the writings of Plato: light and darkness, love and hate, life and death. Gnosis is a Greek term for knowledge. Gnosticism evolved from the Way of Truth that was outlined by Plato in his dialogues and letters. The Gnostics were concerned with spiritual enlightenment, and ascent into the divine or godlike realm by this secret knowledge. Therefore, Gnosticism espoused two premises that the Bible would consider false teachings. First, the Gnostics believed in a dualism regarding spirit and physical matter. They asserted that physical matter is inherently evil and spirit is good. As a result, they said that anything done in the body, even the grossest sin, has no meaning because real life exists in the spirit realm only. Second, the Gnostics believed they possessed an 'elevated knowledge', a 'higher truth' known only to a few, which was revealed from a higher plain of existence. They believed that salvation was gained through the acquisition of this 'divine knowledge' which freed them from the illusions of darkness here on the earth. The Gnostics did not believe that Jesus came to earth in a physical body because they believed that physical matter was inherently evil.
John refutes these Gnostic ideas and he also reveals that God is love, which was a great revelation to the Greeks and Jews of his day. I believe that John does this in a humorous, tongue-in-cheek manner.
1 John 3:2 "Beloved, now we are children of God (born of God), and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be (until later in 1 John chapter 4), but we know that when He is revealed (as love), we shall be like Him (we will walk in love), for we shall see Him as He is (He is love)." In chapter 4, God is revealed as love. This pattern is used throughout the book. John speaks in one chapter of a subject, often using the abstract themes discussed earlier, and it is revealed a chapter or so later more clearly.
1 John 4:7-8 "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God: and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." Notice that he who loves is (1) born of God and (2) knows God. He who does not love does not know God. It doesn't say that he isn't born of God. We can be born of God but not know God, that He is love. Therefore we will not walk in love, even though we are born again.
1 John 4:17 "Love has been perfected (brought to completion) among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgement; because as He is (God is love), so are we in this world (we walk in love toward others).
1 John 4:18 "There is no fear (of God and punishment) in love; but perfect love (love brought to completion in us) casts out fear (of God and punishment), because fear involves torment (punishment). But he who fears (punishment) has not been made perfect in love (he does not understand the full extent of God's love)."
Let us explore this idea that God is love a little further. This is the basis of the gospel of John also.
Genesis 1:1 "IN THE BEGINNING, God created the heavens and the earth." Who is this God Who created everything? Is He sometimes mean and cruel like the gods of Greek mythology? Is He the God of justice and punishment based on the Law of the Old Testament?
John 1:1-18 "IN THE BEGINNING was the Word....." Notice the themes of light and darkness included in the first several verses. Then verse 10 "The world was made through Him, but the world did not know Him (God is love)." Verses 12-13 We become children of God. We are born of God. Verse 17 "For the law (and judgement) was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." Verse 18 No one has seen this unknown God at any time. Jesus has declared Him (or revealed Him) as love.
1 John 1:1 "That which was from THE BEGINNING....." John reveals God as love in His epistle..
Keith Oliver
The idea of God as a Father in not new to the New Testament. Greek mythology speaks of the gods as fathers, but they were not benevolent and loving. In many ways they were cruel and often mean and vindictive. The Old Testament also reveals God as a Father in several verses, but it was not commonly recognized by the Jews during Jesus' day because of the Law. Some Old Testament verses that reveal God as Father are Exodus 4:22, Isaiah 63:16, Isaiah 64:8, Hosea 11:1, Deut. 1:30-31, Deut. 8:5, Deut. 32:6, Psalms 89:26, Isaiah 9:6. Jesus recognized this from His study of the Old Testament. That is where He recognized God as His Father.
Gnosticism or Neoplatonism was the main philosophical school of thought during the time that the New Testament was written. Gnosticism was born out of the writings of Plato, who lived around 400 B.C. Many of the abstract themes that we see in 1 John are themes that were dealt with in the writings of Plato: light and darkness, love and hate, life and death. Gnosis is a Greek term for knowledge. Gnosticism evolved from the Way of Truth that was outlined by Plato in his dialogues and letters. The Gnostics were concerned with spiritual enlightenment, and ascent into the divine or godlike realm by this secret knowledge. Therefore, Gnosticism espoused two premises that the Bible would consider false teachings. First, the Gnostics believed in a dualism regarding spirit and physical matter. They asserted that physical matter is inherently evil and spirit is good. As a result, they said that anything done in the body, even the grossest sin, has no meaning because real life exists in the spirit realm only. Second, the Gnostics believed they possessed an 'elevated knowledge', a 'higher truth' known only to a few, which was revealed from a higher plain of existence. They believed that salvation was gained through the acquisition of this 'divine knowledge' which freed them from the illusions of darkness here on the earth. The Gnostics did not believe that Jesus came to earth in a physical body because they believed that physical matter was inherently evil.
John refutes these Gnostic ideas and he also reveals that God is love, which was a great revelation to the Greeks and Jews of his day. I believe that John does this in a humorous, tongue-in-cheek manner.
1 John 3:2 "Beloved, now we are children of God (born of God), and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be (until later in 1 John chapter 4), but we know that when He is revealed (as love), we shall be like Him (we will walk in love), for we shall see Him as He is (He is love)." In chapter 4, God is revealed as love. This pattern is used throughout the book. John speaks in one chapter of a subject, often using the abstract themes discussed earlier, and it is revealed a chapter or so later more clearly.
1 John 4:7-8 "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God: and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." Notice that he who loves is (1) born of God and (2) knows God. He who does not love does not know God. It doesn't say that he isn't born of God. We can be born of God but not know God, that He is love. Therefore we will not walk in love, even though we are born again.
1 John 4:17 "Love has been perfected (brought to completion) among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgement; because as He is (God is love), so are we in this world (we walk in love toward others).
1 John 4:18 "There is no fear (of God and punishment) in love; but perfect love (love brought to completion in us) casts out fear (of God and punishment), because fear involves torment (punishment). But he who fears (punishment) has not been made perfect in love (he does not understand the full extent of God's love)."
Let us explore this idea that God is love a little further. This is the basis of the gospel of John also.
Genesis 1:1 "IN THE BEGINNING, God created the heavens and the earth." Who is this God Who created everything? Is He sometimes mean and cruel like the gods of Greek mythology? Is He the God of justice and punishment based on the Law of the Old Testament?
John 1:1-18 "IN THE BEGINNING was the Word....." Notice the themes of light and darkness included in the first several verses. Then verse 10 "The world was made through Him, but the world did not know Him (God is love)." Verses 12-13 We become children of God. We are born of God. Verse 17 "For the law (and judgement) was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." Verse 18 No one has seen this unknown God at any time. Jesus has declared Him (or revealed Him) as love.
1 John 1:1 "That which was from THE BEGINNING....." John reveals God as love in His epistle..
Keith Oliver
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