The book of First John

A Verse by Verse Study
Text 1st John 5:18 - 21

A. Verse 18 “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.”

     1. “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not;”

           a. This could be look at from several different directions. However the bottom line fact is that the born again believer does not sin because his sins are covered by the Blood of Christ.

          b. It is also true that the born again believer does not appreciate sin in our lives, so we do our best not to sin. This is because of our new nature. 

          c. What this does not mean is that we are not infallible.

     2. “but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself,”

            a. The original text here reads, “the generation of God keeps or preserves him”; This also has a couple of thoughts. 1. That the begotten of God or the generation of God is actually Christ because we cannot keep ourselves. 2. That it is us and we strive to keep ourselves from sinning.

          b. I lean toward the latter because while Christ does keep sin from being charged to us, we work our lives to keep sin out of them, and God did day “ He that is born of God keeps himself from sin.

          c. Our lives are ruled by our new nature.

     3. “and that wicked one toucheth him not.”

          a. Ever wonder why a saved person cannot be demon possessed, here it is.

          b. 1 John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

          c. there is not room in one man for God and Satan.

 

B. V. 19 “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”

     1. ““And we know that we are of God,”

          a. This makes me doubt those who have no assurances about salvation. How could they ever know they are saved?

          b. I know I and saved, no doubt. The scripture tells us we are.

          c. 1 John 3:14 “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”

          d. 2 Timothy 1:12 “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

     2. “and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” That is “In the wicked one,” or under the power of the wicked one.

          a. That is everyone outside of Christ. We resist the wicked one but the lost man cannot do that.

          b. Cain was of that wicked one. 1 John 3:12 “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.”

          c.  Ephesians 2:2 “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”

          d. Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

          e. 1 Corinthians 10:20 “But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.”

 

C. V. 20 “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”

      1. “And we know that the Son of God is come,”

          a. John did because he was with the Lord personally and we do because all of the Apostles of the Lord has told us and given accounts about the Lord.

          b. I have no doubt about Jesus, nor do I lack an understanding about salvation.

     2. “And hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true,”  

           a. We did not just learn this fact; Christ “hath given us an understanding,”

           b. We cannot force one to understand, Luke 24:45 “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,”

          c. He that walks in the Lord will have understanding because the Lord is the light to it.  John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

      3. “we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.””

          a. He is truth. John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

          b. “we are in him” We are His children, we are His friends, we are His beloved, We are simple in Him and He is in us.

          c. Because He is in us we have eternal life. John 11:25 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”

 

D. V. 21 “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

     1. An idol is anything that replaces the Lord.

          a. That could be an image, people say they do not worship the images, then why have them?

          b. These folks were surrounded with idols and so are we.

     2. Given the context of this letter, "idols" probably refers to false teachings that present false images of Jesus Christ.