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The book of First John A Verse by Verse Study A. V 16 “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” 1. The word “perceive” means to understand. 2. Notice the words “of God” has been added and is not in the original script. God did not suffer nor did God die. It was the Son of Man that died on the cross. 3. By His death to bring about salvation for us, we should have a clear understanding about the love of God. 4. “we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” is this littoral? Yes it is, if the time comes we should be willing. 5. Let’s not forget the 50 million who died in the dark ages alone, and in a way they died for us, to keep the church and truth going. B. V. 17 “But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” 1. This is the book of James all over again. You cannot have faith without works nor can you love your brother in Christ and see him go without food. 2. “and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him,” means to shut up your inward affection or your heart. 3. “how dwelleth the love of God in him?” this is an excellent question. How can one say He loves God and has in his heart the love of God and watch his brother do without? Is God compassionate? 4. 1 John 4:20 “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” 5. James 2:14 “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” 6. Matthew 25:45 “Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.” 7. Galatians 6:10 “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” 8. Deuteronomy 15:7 “If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:” C. V. 18 “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” 1. This verse is so much like James 2:14 we cannot just say we have faith nor can we just say we love our brother. 2. 1 Peter 1:22 “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:” 3. To “let us not love in word” also refers to in doctrine. That is only because it is right in belief. 4. and in “neither in tongue” that means to just talk about it, but rather actually doing the deed out of the love in your heart. 5. “but in deed and in truth.” That is in such acts as to show that our professed love is sincere and real. Let us do the deed of love, whether anything is said about it or not. Matthew 6:3 “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:” Alms means compassionateness. D. V. 19 “And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.” 1. “And hereby” means by this; that is, by the fact that we have true love to others, and that we manifest it by a readiness to make sacrifices to do them good. 2. “we know that we are of the truth,” Meaning That we are not deceived in what we profess to be; that is that we are true Christians. Walking the walk so to speak. Are we true Christians or not? 3. “and shall assure our hearts before him.” The words “shall assure” means to persuade. By helping the brethren in need, by walking in Christ as Christ-like, we know we are loved of Him. |