BIBLE STUDY MANUALS: 1 JOHN CHAPTER 3

OBSERVATION STAGE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The purpose of the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand in accordance with the framework in which it was written: a framework which is defined by the normative rules of language, context and logic - rules which do not impose undue, unintended meanings to the text , and which largely limit the observer to the content offered by the books of 1st John and the Gospel of John. In order for any passage from elsewhere to be considered, it must have a relationship with the context at hand, such as a Scriptural quotation or a specific cross reference in the passage at hand by the author. This will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.

Remember that something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in view.

The last two verses of 1 John chapter 2 appear to be best considered as the first two verses of chapter 3. For 1 Jn 2:28 is a thematic statement for the section in 1 John which follows; and 1 Jn 2:29 begins an examination of that thematic statement which continues until 4:19. Verse 28 begins with "Now, little children," establishing an announcement of a change in the context. It goes on to say, "abide in Him" - in Jesus Christ - "so that when He appears we [believers] may have bold assurance and not shrink away from Him in shame. This is the first time that the subject appears in First John: the subject of being motivated to abide in Jesus Christ so that when He appears to bring them with Him whereupon He will judge their lives, believers might have a bold - in the sense of a brave, courageous assurance - not shrinking away from Him in shame when He comes. Thereafter from 1 Jn 2:29-4:19 this is the subject:

****** EXCERPT FROM 1 JN 2 ******

OR MOVE TO FIRST VERSE OF CHAPTER THREE

(1 Jn 2:28) NOW, LITTLE CHILDREN - AND ALL CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD - ABIDE IN JESUS CHRIST, I.E., ABIDE IN WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD FROM GOD'S WORD FROM THE BEGINNING OF YOUR SALVATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE EXPERIENCE SO THAT WHEN HE APPEARS (TO TAKE YOU FROM THE EARTH TO BE WITH HIM FOREVER), YOU MAY HAVE BOLD ASSURANCE AT HIS JUDGMENT OF YOUR FAITHFULNESS, AND NOT SHRINK AWAY FROM HIM IN SHAME

[Compare Mt 25:31a Interlinear]:

[Compare 2 Cor 5:10]:

[Compare 1 Cor 3:11-15]:

(1 Jn 2:29) WHILE CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD CONTINUE TO KNOW, I.E., ACKNOWLEDGE THAT GOD IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHTEOUS; THEY CAN THEMSELVES DO RIGHTEOUS ACTS AND DISCERN RIGHTEOUS ACTS BEING DONE BY OTHERS AND KNOW THAT THOSE OTHERS ARE ALSO BORN OF GOD

[Ref 1 Jn 2:25]:

[Review of First John relative to 1 Jn 2:29]:

****** END OF EXCERPT FROM 1 JN 2 ******

I) [1 Jn 3:1-9]:

A) (1 Jn 3:1a) BEHOLD! HOW GREAT A LOVE THE FATHER HAS BESTOWED ON US, THAT WE WOULD BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD; AND SUCH WE ARE.

1) [Compare 1 Jn 2:28-29 ]:

2) [Compare 1 Jn 3:1a Interlinear with NASB]:

****** EXCERPT FROM STUDY OF THE WORD LOVE ******

AGAPE LOVE

****** END OF EXCERPT FROM STUDY OF THE WORD LOVE ******

3) [Compare Dan 9:4]:

4) [Compare Neh 9:28-32]:

5) [Compare Dt 7:7-8]:

6) [Compare Jn 1:12-14; 3:16]:

7) [Compare 1 Jn 4:8-10, 16]:

8) [Compare Ro 5:8]:

A cont.) (1 Jn 3:1a cont.) BEHOLD! HOW GREAT A LOVE THE FATHER HAS BESTOWED ON US, THAT WE WOULD BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD; AND SUCH WE ARE, (cont.)

B) (1 Jn 3:1b) BEHOLD HOW GREAT A LOVE THE FATHER HAS BESTOWED ON US THAT WE WOULD BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD; AND SUCH WE ARE. FOR THIS REASON THE WORLD DOES NOT KNOW US, BECAUSE IT DID NOT KNOW HIM

1) [Compare Jn 1:10 ]:

2) [Compare Jn 16:1-3]:

C) (1 Jn 3:2) BELOVED, NOW AS WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD, AND IT HAS NOT APPEARED AS YET WHAT WE WILL BE. WE KNOW THAT WHEN HE APPEARS, WE WILL BE LIKE HIM, BECAUSE WE WILL SEE HIM JUST AS HE IS.

1) [Ref. 1 Jn 2:28]:

2) [Phil 3:20-21]:

3) [1 Cor 15:49-54]:

4) [Compare Ro 7:21-23]:

D) (1 Jn 3:3) CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD, WHEN / WHILE THEY TRUST THAT WHEN CHRIST APPEARS THEY WILL BE JUST AS HE IS: IN AN ETERNAL RESURRECTION BODY WITH HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, GOD PURIFIES THEM JUST AS JESUS CHRIST IS PURE - THEY ARE PURIFIED FROM ALL TEMPORAL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS

1) [Compare Titus 2:13]:

2) [Eph 1:18-19]:

3) [Compare 1 Jn 5:13]:

4) [Compare Eph 1:13-14]:

5) [Compare Ro 4:9b]:

6) [1 Jn 1:7, 9]:

E) (1 Jn 3:4) EVERYONE WHO [DOES] SIN ALSO [DOES] LAWLESSNESS; AND SIN IS LAWLESSNESS.

1) [Compare 2 Cor 6:14]:

F) (1 Jn 3:5) THE BORN OF GOD, CHILDREN OF GOD HAVE BEEN TAUGHT AND SHOULD KNOW THAT THE SON OF GOD APPEARED ON THE EARTH IN ORDER TO TAKE AWAY SINS; AND IN HIM IS NO SIN.

1) [Compare Jn 1:29]:

2) [Compare 1 Jn 2:2]:

3) [Compare 1 Jn 3:8-9]:

a) [Compare Mt 1:20-23]:

4) [Compare 1 Jn 2:29]:

5) [Compare 1 Jn 3:3]:

G) (1 Jn 3:6) ANY CHILD OF GOD, BORN OF GOD WHILE HE ABIDES IN THE SON OF GOD THROUGH THE MEANS BY WHICH AUTHOR JOHN HAS STIPULATED: THROUGH WALKING IN THE LIGHT OF GOD'S ABSOLUTE RIGHTEOUSNESS, CONFESSING SINS, KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS, ETC., ALBEIT ALL OF THIS IMPERFECTLY; HE IS PURIFIED OF ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS BY THE GRACE OF GOD. THE PHRASE RENDERED "THE ONE WHO ABIDES IN HIM DOES NOT SIN" DOES NOT HAVE EXPERIENTIAL SINLESS PERFECTION IN VIEW WHICH CONTRADICTS SCRIPTURE. BUT IN GOD'S VIEW WHICH IS THROUGH THE BLOOD OF HIS SON, "NO ONE WHO ABIDES IN HIM SINS:" AN ACCOUNTING TO THE CHILD OF GOD, OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS

ON THE OTHER HAND, EVERY CHILD OF GOD WHILE HE SINS IS CHARACTERIZED AS HAVING NOT SEEN HIM, NOR KNOWN HIM IN THE SENSE THAT HE IS ACTING APART FROM THE TRUTH ABOUT WHO GOD IS, DENYING GOD'S ABSOLUTE RIGHTEOUSNESS

1) [Compare 1 Jn 1:8, 10 ]:

2) [Compare 1 Jn 1:5-7 ]:

3) [Compare 1 Jn 1:9-2:1]:

4) [1 Jn 2:3]:

5) [1 Jn 3:2-3]:

6) [1 Jn 2:10]:

G cont.) (1 Jn 3:6 cont.) ANY CHILD OF GOD, BORN OF GOD WHILE HE ABIDES IN THE SON OF GOD THROUGH THE MEANS BY WHICH AUTHOR JOHN HAS STIPULATED: THROUGH WALKING IN THE LIGHT OF GOD'S ABSOLUTE RIGHTEOUSNESS, CONFESSING SINS, KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS, ETC., ALBEIT ALL OF THIS IMPERFECTLY; HE IS PURIFIED OF ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS BY THE GRACE OF GOD. THE PHRASE RENDERED "THE ONE WHO ABIDES IN HIM DOES NOT SIN" DOES NOT HAVE EXPERIENTIAL SINLESS PERFECTION IN VIEW WHICH CONTRADICTS SCRIPTURE. BUT IN GOD'S VIEW WHICH IS THROUGH THE BLOOD OF HIS SON, "NO ONE WHO ABIDES IN HIM SINS:" AN ACCOUNTING TO THE CHILD OF GOD, OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS

H) (1 Jn 3:7) CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD ARE TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE DECEIVES THEM RELATIVE TO THEIR UNDERSTANDING ABOUT GOD AND THEIR OBLIGATION TO HIM: THE CHILD OF GOD, BORN OF GOD WHILE HE DOES ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RIGHTEOUS AS GOD IS RIGHTEOUS - IN THE SENSE OF BEING ACCOUNTED THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD THROUGH THE BLOOD OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. SIN IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS, NOR SHOULD IT CHARACTERIZE THE BORN OF GOD, CHILD OF GOD.

1) [Compare 1 Jn 2:29; 3:2]:

I) (1 Jn 3:8) THE CHILD OF GOD, BORN OF GOD WHO SINS, WHILE HE SINS, IS CHARACTERIZED AS OF THE DEVIL. 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.

1) [Compare 1 Jn 1:7-2:2]:

2) [Compare Jn 8:44]:

3) [Compare 1 Jn 3:5]:

J) (1 Jn 3:9) THE VERSES LEADING UP TO 1 JN 3:9 HAVE IN VIEW THE STARK CONTRAST BETWEEN THE SON OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND THE DEVIL AND SIN - AS EXEMPLIFIED BY POTENTIAL ACTS OF SIN AND RIGHTEOUSNESS BY THE CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD

THE BATTLE IS BETWEEN:

THE DEVIL WHO SINNED FROM THE BEGINNNING - HIS WORKS OF ORIGINATING SIN, LAWLESSNESS AND REBELLION IN HIMSELF AND ALL OF HUMANITY AGAINST GOD, CONTAMINATING THE WHOLE HUMAN RACE AND THE WORLD SO THAT ALL OF MANKIND ARE PHYSICALLY BORN WITH A SIN NATURE WHICH CAUSES ACTS OF SIN;

AND THE SON OF GOD, JESUS CHRIST WHO IN HIS HUMANITY WAS WHOLLY AND PERFECTLY BORN OF GOD, AND REMAINS ABSOLUTELY RIGHTEOUS; WHO CAME TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL AND ENABLE MANKIND TO BE SAVED BY TAKING AWAY SIN - TO ENABLE EACH INDIVIDUAL TO TRUST IN HIS WORK TO RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE AND THEREAFTER ABIDE FOREVER IN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS

1) In View In The Verses Leading Up To 1 Jn 3:9: Children of God, Born of God Are To Abide In Him So That When He Appears They May Have Bold Assurance At His Appearing. If They Know That He is Righteous, They Know That Everyone Who Does Acts Of Righteousness Are Born Of Him. Children Of God Will Be Like Christ When He Appears Again. Those Who Have This Sure Hope Of Being Purified From Sin As Christ Is Pure Are Themselves Purified. But Those Who Do Sin, Do Lawlessness. He Appeared To Take Away Sins, And In Him Is No Sin. Everyone Who Abides In Him Is Purified Of His Sins, Everyone Who Sins Is Characterized As Not Having Seen Or Known Him. The One Who Does Righteousness Is Characterized As Righteous Just As He Is Righteous. The One Who Does Sin Is Characterized As Of The Devil Who Has Sinned From The Beginning. The Son Of God Appeared To Destroy The Works Of The Devil And Enable Mankind To Be Saved By Taking Away Sin - To Enable Each Individual To Trust In His Work To Receive Eternal Life And Thereafter To Choose To Abide In His Righteousness.

2) The Following Words From 1 Jn 3:9 Rendered, "Each One Who Has Been Born Of God Does Not Sin [At All] For His [God's] Seed Remains In Him; And He Cannot Sin, Because He Has Been Born Of God," Can Only Refer To The Son Of God, Jesus Christ.

a) [Compare 1 Jn 3:9 INTERLINEAR with NKJV]:

3) The Greek Words "Hamartian Ou Poiei" Rendered "Does Not Sin" In 1 Jn 3:9a Is A Present Tense, Third Person, Singular Verb Signifying The One Who Has Been Born Of God Does Not Sin With Neither The Appropriate Progressive Present Context Nor The Required Qualifying Words To Indicate "Does Not Practice" Or "Does Not Continue In Sin," Or 'Does Not Habitually Sin,' Etc., As Some Contend. For An Occasional Or Even A Single Additional Sin Would Still Qualify As "Continuing To Sin" or "Habitually Sinning" or "Practicing Sinning." Furthermore, These Insertions Into The Text Still Do Not Then Permit The Whole Person Of The Child Of God, Born Of God With Both Sin And Born Of God Natures To Be In View In 1 Jn 3:9, Because He Can And Still Does Choose To Do / Practice / Continue To / Habitually Sin According To 1 Jn 1:8, 10 Until Christ Appears When The Child Of God, Born Of God Will Be Like Him - Without Sin, (1 Jn 3:2)

4) If Sinless Perfection On The Part Of The Child Of God, Born Of God - His Entirety / Both Natures - Is In View In 1 Jn 3:9, Then There Would Not Be A Need For Much Of God's Word - Only Passages Which Lead Up To And Include Salvation. Thereafter Ones Becoming A Child Of God, Born Of God Would Be Perfect Without A Need To Exhort To Abide In Christ. But Such Cannot Be The Case, Unless Major Portions Of God's Word Are Misleading And Contradictory

a) [Compare 1 Jn 1:7-2:2]:

5) The "Inner Man" - The "New Nature" Of The Child Of God, Born Of God, Albeit Without Sin, Is Not Singularly In View In 1 Jn 3:9. There Is No Change In Context To This Effect In Either Of These Verses Or Anywhere In First John. Hence The Only Interpretation Left Is That 1 Jn 3:9 Refers To The Son Of God In His Perfect Sinless Humanity, Who Does Not And Cannot Sin. The Message Of This Verse Is For The Child Of God, Born Of God To Emulate The Son Of God, Who Is Wholly Born Of God Without Sin

a) [1 Jn 3:2]:

6) 1 Jn 3:10a Does Not Refer Back To 1 Jn 3:9 To Conclude That Those Who Do Not Sin Are Children Of God, Born Of God. Otherwise With A Single Sin - A Continuance / A Practice Of Sin / An Habitual Sin Then An Individual Has Not Been Born Of God

a) [Compare 1 Jn 2:28-3:1]:

7) [Conclusion Re: 1 Jn 3:9]:

Each One Of Those In View In 1 Jn 3:8, The Devil And The Son Of God, Who Has Been Born Of God Into Wholly Perfect Humanity Does Not Sin, Which Could Only Be The Son Of God, Jesus Christ, Excluding The Devil. For God's Seed - The Holy Spirit - Remains In Him - In Christ; And He Cannot Sin, Because He Has Been Born Of God