Tue, Jan 29, 2008
A Brief Overview of 1 John
Introduction
In a moment of Spiritual crisis, we ask, “How can I know?” The question comes from the greatest of theologians and the simplest of Christians -- What assurance of eternity can I have? From the giving of hope for eternity to the message of hope from the modern pulpit, it has been asked. The first of the Johannine epistles addresses the age old question, and while reading through the epistle may seem like making your way through a wad of tangled string, the answers to the questions of assurance break through both clearly and emphatically.
John answers in both abstract and concrete concepts to relate the way of assurance to the reader. An illustrations (abstract) is given, then the author makes known the implications (concrete) that the illustration presents.
Illustration A - Walking in the light
The first abstract concept that the reader discovers is an obvious truth about walking: it’s much better to see where you’re going than to stumble around in the darkness. Having a lit path enables you to see and remove any obstacles that lie in the way. Light can expose a pitfall, ditch or stumbling block. Having a darkened path allows the obstacles to remain hidden and causes blindness resulting in a confusion of location.
Implication A - Our reaction to the light determines our spiritual condition
The first answer of assurance the author gives to the reader is found in chapter 2, verses 5 and 6: “This is how we know...[he/she] must walk as Jesus did” (NIV). He goes on to say, “...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...” (1:7). The concept of walking (peripatew) is taken a bit more seriously throughout scripture than our modern concept of walking implies. The author is not simply referring to a similarity of footsteps, but to a similarity of lifestyle. To “walk as Jesus did” (2:6) literally means that we must live as Jesus did, and Jesus’ life is characterized as righteous and full of love (3:7, 3:16).
In stark contrast to Christ stumbles the one who walks in darkness. John says he is the one who lives in disobedience (2:4) with self justification (1:8) and in hatred towards his brother (2:11). John calls this man “blinded by darkness.”
Illustration B - Children
John gives another illustration to prove his point: children carry on characteristics of their parents. These characteristics can be seen in both their appearance and their disposition/attitude. These characteristics make our father obvious.
Implication B - We exhibit traits of our “spiritual father”
John delivers the second answer of assurance in chapter 3, verse 10: “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” (NIV). He says that no one who continues sin has never seen or known God (3:6). And, in 3:8, he says that the one who continues to sin is, “of the devil.” By this, John is literally saying, “I can tell who your daddy is, and if you don’t exhibit obedience and love, your daddy is obviously not the Father. Your daddy’s the devil.”
In 3:2 he says, “...now we are children of God...we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” Perhaps John is imagining a child who has lived a lifetime away from his biological father. Then one day, as he is walking through town, he sees a man - a man with the same hair, the same smile, the same body. A man whose features and characteristics are just like the child and it is obvious to the child: “That’s my dad.”
Conclusions to be made
Through the question, “How can I know?” John is able to come to some definite answers. There are two things he notices that our lives must demonstrate, and if we can see them, they can provide complete assurance that we are “in God.”
Obedience -
John clearly says that we must obey God’s commands (2:3) and obedience demands more than just knowing - it demands doing (2:4). It is obedience to a command of old (2:7). It is an obedience to no longer live according to the “desires of the flesh” (sarx) (2:16), but the desires (qelhma, will/wishes) of the Father (2:17). So it is clear that the author wants us to be completely free from disobedience (2:1).
Love -
It is also made abundantly clear that we must love. But the author doesn’t use the terminology that the reader might expect. The author talks of loving a “brother” but he seems uninterested in a “brotherly love.” No, this was not that type of love - this love is deeper. So, again and again John uses a deeper language of love: God’s love (agaph) will be made complete (perfect) (2:5), the one who loves (agaph) his brother (2:10), How great the love (agaph) the Father has given (3:1). And just in case the reader was wondering what the characteristics of this love (agaph) are, John gives the ultimate example in chapter 3, verse 16: “This is how we know what love (agaph) is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (NIV). This love (agaph) is a love that we express, not with our mouths, but through our actions (3:18).
Final Thoughts
These are the things that give the assurance - but John restates it again and comes to this conclusion: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.... This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey His commands. And his commands are not burdensome...” (5:1-3, NIV). Obedience is not about stressing over keeping the letter of the law. It is not an overbearing duty to God. Obedience is much simpler. Obedience is love (agaph) born, not out of fear of judgement (4:18), but out of a response to God’s love (4:19, 3:1). And when that love (agaph) is expressed, it is our obedience to God and to his law. It is love made perfect (3:12).
This is how we know.
In a moment of Spiritual crisis, we ask, “How can I know?” The question comes from the greatest of theologians and the simplest of Christians -- What assurance of eternity can I have? From the giving of hope for eternity to the message of hope from the modern pulpit, it has been asked. The first of the Johannine epistles addresses the age old question, and while reading through the epistle may seem like making your way through a wad of tangled string, the answers to the questions of assurance break through both clearly and emphatically.
John answers in both abstract and concrete concepts to relate the way of assurance to the reader. An illustrations (abstract) is given, then the author makes known the implications (concrete) that the illustration presents.
Illustration A - Walking in the light
The first abstract concept that the reader discovers is an obvious truth about walking: it’s much better to see where you’re going than to stumble around in the darkness. Having a lit path enables you to see and remove any obstacles that lie in the way. Light can expose a pitfall, ditch or stumbling block. Having a darkened path allows the obstacles to remain hidden and causes blindness resulting in a confusion of location.
Implication A - Our reaction to the light determines our spiritual condition
The first answer of assurance the author gives to the reader is found in chapter 2, verses 5 and 6: “This is how we know...[he/she] must walk as Jesus did” (NIV). He goes on to say, “...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...” (1:7). The concept of walking (peripatew) is taken a bit more seriously throughout scripture than our modern concept of walking implies. The author is not simply referring to a similarity of footsteps, but to a similarity of lifestyle. To “walk as Jesus did” (2:6) literally means that we must live as Jesus did, and Jesus’ life is characterized as righteous and full of love (3:7, 3:16).
In stark contrast to Christ stumbles the one who walks in darkness. John says he is the one who lives in disobedience (2:4) with self justification (1:8) and in hatred towards his brother (2:11). John calls this man “blinded by darkness.”
Illustration B - Children
John gives another illustration to prove his point: children carry on characteristics of their parents. These characteristics can be seen in both their appearance and their disposition/attitude. These characteristics make our father obvious.
Implication B - We exhibit traits of our “spiritual father”
John delivers the second answer of assurance in chapter 3, verse 10: “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” (NIV). He says that no one who continues sin has never seen or known God (3:6). And, in 3:8, he says that the one who continues to sin is, “of the devil.” By this, John is literally saying, “I can tell who your daddy is, and if you don’t exhibit obedience and love, your daddy is obviously not the Father. Your daddy’s the devil.”
In 3:2 he says, “...now we are children of God...we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” Perhaps John is imagining a child who has lived a lifetime away from his biological father. Then one day, as he is walking through town, he sees a man - a man with the same hair, the same smile, the same body. A man whose features and characteristics are just like the child and it is obvious to the child: “That’s my dad.”
Conclusions to be made
Through the question, “How can I know?” John is able to come to some definite answers. There are two things he notices that our lives must demonstrate, and if we can see them, they can provide complete assurance that we are “in God.”
Obedience -
John clearly says that we must obey God’s commands (2:3) and obedience demands more than just knowing - it demands doing (2:4). It is obedience to a command of old (2:7). It is an obedience to no longer live according to the “desires of the flesh” (sarx) (2:16), but the desires (qelhma, will/wishes) of the Father (2:17). So it is clear that the author wants us to be completely free from disobedience (2:1).
Love -
It is also made abundantly clear that we must love. But the author doesn’t use the terminology that the reader might expect. The author talks of loving a “brother” but he seems uninterested in a “brotherly love.” No, this was not that type of love - this love is deeper. So, again and again John uses a deeper language of love: God’s love (agaph) will be made complete (perfect) (2:5), the one who loves (agaph) his brother (2:10), How great the love (agaph) the Father has given (3:1). And just in case the reader was wondering what the characteristics of this love (agaph) are, John gives the ultimate example in chapter 3, verse 16: “This is how we know what love (agaph) is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (NIV). This love (agaph) is a love that we express, not with our mouths, but through our actions (3:18).
Final Thoughts
These are the things that give the assurance - but John restates it again and comes to this conclusion: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.... This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey His commands. And his commands are not burdensome...” (5:1-3, NIV). Obedience is not about stressing over keeping the letter of the law. It is not an overbearing duty to God. Obedience is much simpler. Obedience is love (agaph) born, not out of fear of judgement (4:18), but out of a response to God’s love (4:19, 3:1). And when that love (agaph) is expressed, it is our obedience to God and to his law. It is love made perfect (3:12).
This is how we know.
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