1st John Chapter 3

From The Open Bible Project

3:1 Behold, how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn't know us, because it didn't know him.

• (1) He begins to declare this agreement of the Father and the Son, at the highest cause, that is, at that free love of God towards us, with which he so loves us, that also he adopts us to be his children.
• (a) What a gift of how great love.
• (b) That we should be the sons of God, and so, that all the world may see that we are so.
• (2) Before he declares this adoption, he says two things: the one, that this so great a dignity, is not to be esteemed according to the judgment of the flesh, because it is unknown to the world, for the world knows not God the Father himself.

3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is.

• (3) The other: This dignity is not fully revealed to us ourselves, much less to strangers, but we are sure of the accomplishment of it, in as much as we shall be like the Son of God himself and shall enjoy his sight indeed, such as he is now, but yet this is deferred until his next coming.
• (c) Like, but not equal.
• (d) For now we see as in a glass (1 Corinthians 13:12)

3:3 Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

• (4) Now he describes this adoption (the glory which as yet consists in hope) by the effect that is, because whoever is made the Son of God, endeavours to resemble the Father in purity.
• (e) This word signifies a likeness, but not an equality.

3:4 Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness.

• (5) The rule of this purity can from no where else be taken but from the law of God, the transgression of which is called sin.
• (f) Does not give himself to pureness.
• (g) A short definition of sin.

3:5 You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and in him is no sin.

• (6) An argument taken from the material cause of our salvation: Christ in himself is most pure, and he came to take away our sins, by sanctifying us with the Holy Spirit, therefore whoever is truly a partaker of Christ, does not give himself to sin, and on the contrary, he that gives himself to sin does not know Christ.

3:6 Whoever remains in him doesn't sin. Whoever sins hasn't seen him, neither knows him.

• (h) He is said to sin, that does not give himself to purity, and in him sin reigns: but sin is said to dwell in the faithful, and not to reign in them.

3:7 Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

• (7) Another argument of things joined together: He that lives justly, is just, and resembles Christ that is just, and by that is known to be the Son of God.

3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

• (8) An argument taken by contrast: the devil is the author of sin, and therefore he is that serves sin is of the devil, or is ruled by the inspiration of the devil: and if he is the devil’s son, then is he not God’s son: for the devil and God are so contrary to one another that the Son of God was sent to destroy the works of the devil. Therefore on the other side, whoever resists sin, is the son of God, being born again of his Spirit as of new seed, in so much, that by necessity he is now delivered from the slavery of sin.
• (i) Resembles the devil, as the child does the father, and is governed by his Spirit.
• (k) He says not "sinned" but "sins" for he does nothing else but sin.
• (l) From the very beginning of the world.

3:9 Whoever is born of God doesn't commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can't sin, because he is born of God.

• (m) The Holy Spirit is so called by the effect he works, because by his power and mighty working, as it were by seed, we are made new men.

3:10 In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn't do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn't love his brother.

• (9) The conclusion: by a wicked life they are known who are governed by the Sprit of the devil: and by a pure life who are God’s children.
• (10) He begins to commend charity towards the brethren as another mark of the sons of God.

3:11 For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;

• (11) The first reason taken from the authority of God who gives the commandment.

3:12 unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

• (12) An amplification taken from the contrary example of Cain who slew his brother.
• (13) A short digression: Let us not marvel that we are hated by the world for doing our duty, for such was the condition of Abel who was a just person: and who would not rather be like him than Cain?

3:13 Don't be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.

3:14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who doesn't love his brother remains in death.

• (14) The second reason: Because charity is a testimony that we are translated from death to life: and therefore hatred towards the brethren is a testimony of death, and whoever nourishes it fosters death in his bosom.
• (o) Love is a token that we are translated from death to life, for by the effects the cause is known.

3:15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.

• (15) A confirmation: Whoever is a murderer, is in eternal death: he who hates his brother is a murderer, therefore he is in death. Thereupon follows the other side: He that loves his brother has passed to life, for indeed we are born dead.

3:16 By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

• (16) Now he shows how far Christian charity extends, even so far, that according to the example of Christ every man forgets himself, to provide for and help his brethren.

3:17 But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does the love of God remain in him?

• (17) He reasons by comparisons: for if we are bound even to give our life for our neighbours, how much more are we bound to help our brothers’ needs with our goods and substance?
• (p) Wherewith this life is sustained.
• (q) Opens not his heart to him, nor helps him willingly and cheerfully.

3:18 My little children, let's not love in word only, neither with the tongue only, but in deed and truth.

• (18) Christian charity stands not in word but in deed, and proceeds from a sincere affection.

3:19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and persuade our hearts before him,

• (19) He commends charity, by three effects: for first of all, by it we know that we are indeed the sons of God, as he showed before.
• (20) Therefore it comes that we have a quiet conscience, as on the opposite side he that thinks that he has God for a judge, because he is guilty to himself either he is never or else very rarely quiet, for God has a far sharper sight then we, and judges more severely.

3:20 because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

• (r) If an evil conscience convicts us, much more ought the judgment of God condemn us, who knows our hearts better than we ourselves do.

3:21 Beloved, if our hearts don't condemn us, we have boldness toward God;

• (21) A third effect also rises from the former, that in these miseries we are sure to be heard, because we are the sons of God: as we understand by the grace of sanctification which is only for the elect.

3:22 and whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.

• (22) The conclusion, that faith in Christ and love one towards another are things joined together, and therefore the outward testimonies of sanctification must and do answer that inward testimony of the Spirit given to us.

3:23 This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he commanded.

3:24 He who keeps his commandments remains in him, and he in him. By this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.

• (f) He means the Spirit of sanctification, whereby we are born again and live to God.