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Book of 1stJohn

love one another for God is Love

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Considered to be Apostle John, one of the 12 disciples and brother of James. The letter is directed to believers and churches, most likely in Asia Minor, which was John's sphere of influence. John writes to address and correct issues of foundational doctrine, obedience, and general fellowship. Writing that we are to test every spirit, whether it is of God. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. The letter finishes with a warning as to keep from idols.
five chapters
 between
90-95 AD.
line

Verse by verse, account of the book of 1st John.

1st John, chapter 1

1That which was from the very beginning, whom we have heard and seen with our own eyes, (Jesus Christ) and our hands have even handled the things concerning the Word of Life. 2We speak of and bear witness to you of the eternal life that was with the Father and was manifested to us. 3Declaring these things to you, that you can share in our common fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. 4These things we write to you so that your joy may be full.

5We declare to you the message that we have received from Him, that God is light, the absolute absence of all darkness. 6If we say we have fellowship with Him, yet we walk in darkness, we deceive ourselves and we do not practice the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as He walks in the light, we have fellowship with one another, for we are cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ from all sin. 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from unrighteousness. 10Again, if we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word is not in us.

1st John, chapter 2

1My children, these things I write to you, that you might not sin. Yet, if anyone does fall into sin, we have an advocate with the Father, the righteous Jesus Christ. 2He Himself is the atoning sacrifice and payment for not only our sins, but for the whole world.

3And this is how we know Him, by keeping His commandments. 4Yet, he who says, I know Him and does not keep His commandments, he is a liar and the truth is not in him. 5But, whomever keeps His Word, the love of God is perfected in him and by this, we know we are in Him. 6For he whom says, he abides in God, ought also to walk in the same way as the Lord conducted Himself, walking in like manner.

7Brothers, I do not write to you a new commandment, but an old commandment, the Word that you have heard from the very beginning. 8Yet, as Christ Himself gave us a new commandment. I write to you of what is true in Him and also in you, for the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9He who says he is in the light yet hates his brother is but in darkness until now. 10He who loves his brother abides in the light and no offense is in him. 11But he who hates his brother walks in darkness and does not know where he is going.

12I write these things to you children, because your sins are forgiven you, all who know the Father and confess His name. 13I write to the fathers, for you have known Him from the beginning. I write to the young men, because they have overcome the wicked one, 14These things I have written to the fathers, for they have known Him from the beginning. The young men, for they have become strong with the Word of God abiding in them and they have overcome the wicked one.

15Do not love the world or the things of the world. For he who loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that the world can offer is:

And this is not of the Father but of the world! 17The world and the lust of it is passing away, but he who does the will of God abides forever.

18Children, it is nearing the end of this age, as you heard the antichrist is coming, the very one whom will oppose Christ and even now many have already risen up, that is how we know it is the last hour. 19They were once with us but not of us, for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us, but they went out from us, proving they are not of us. 20But, you have an anointing from God and you know all things. 21I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but to encourage you in the truth that you know, for no lie is of the truth.

22Whomever denies that Jesus is the Christ, is the antichrist, who also denies both the Father and the Son. 23And whomever denies the Son neither has the Son nor the Father, but he who acknowledges the Son also has the Father.

24Therefore abide in the Word of God that you heard from the beginning and if the Word lives in you, you will also abide in the Son as well as in the Father. 25For the promise that He has given to us is eternal life. 26I write this to you concerning those who try to deceive. 27But the anointing that you have received from Him, abides in you and you have no need for anyone to instruct you, for by the anointing, that is true and not a lie will teach you all things. Just as the anointing abides in you and has taught you, so you shall also abide in Him. 28Now, abide in Him, that we should have confidence and not be ashamed at His coming. 29For if we know that He is righteous, everyone who practice righteousness is therefore, born of God.

1st John, chapter 3

1See what an incredible measure of love the Father has placed upon us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore, the world does not accept or understand us because it did not accept or understand Him. 2Beloved, we are now children of God and it has not yet been revealed to us how we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we will be like Him, for we will shall see Him as He truly is. 3And everyone that has this hope purifies themselves just as Christ Himself is pure.

4They who commit sin also commits lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness. 5Now we know that Christ was made flesh to take away our sins, for in Him there is no sin. 6Therefore, whomever abides in Him does not sin but whomever sins has not seen Christ nor do they know Him. 7Let no one deceive you, He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous. 8But he who sins, is of the devil, for from the beginning the devil has sinned and for this purpose the Son of God was made flesh, that He would destroy the works of the devil. 9Therefore, whomever has been born of God does not sin, for the seed from God remains in Him and he cannot sin because he has been born of God.

10This makes it clear who are the children of God and the children of the devil. For whomever does not practice righteousness and does not love his brother, is not a child of God. 11This is the message that we have heard from the very beginning, that we should love one another. 12Not as wicked Cain murdered his brother Abel, for Cain's works were evil and he was jealous of his bother's righteous works.

13Do not be surprised if the world hates you. 14For we know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren, those who do not love the brethren, abide in death. 15And whomever hates his brother, is the same as a murderer who does not have internal life in him.

16By this we know love, Because Jesus Christ laid down His life for us and we should also lay down our life for our brothers. 17But whomever has the provisions of this world and sees his brother in need, but chooses to harden his heart towards him, how can the love of God dwell in him? 18Children, do not love in just word alone, but also in deed and in truth. 19And by this we know that we are of the truth and our hearts have assurance before Him. 20Even if our heart condemns us, we know that God is greater than our heart, knowing all things. 21If our heart does not condemn us, we have even further confidence of God. 22And whatever we ask, we shall receive of Him, for we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. 23And this is His commandment, that we should believe on His Son Jesus Christ and love one another.

24Now, whomever keeps His commandment, abides in Him and we know that by the Spirit He has given us, that He also abides in us.

1st John, chapter 4

1Do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see if they are of God, because many false prophets are in the world. 2By this you will know the Spirit of God, every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. 3and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God, but is rather of the antichrist.

4But you are of God and have overcome them, because He who is in you, (Christ) is greater than he who is in the world. 5They are of the world, therefore, they speak what they have learned from the world and the world agrees with them. 6However, we are of God, he who knows God hears and understands us, but he who does not know God does not understand us. By this we know the spirit of truth and error.

7Beloved, love one another, for love is of God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8He who does not love, does not know God, for God is love. 9The love of God has been demonstrated to us, for God sent His only begotten Son into the world that each of us might live through Him. 10This is true love, not that we loved Him, but that He loved us and gave His only Son to be the payment for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we should also love one another.

12No one has seen God, but if we love one another God abides in us for His love has been perfected in us. 13By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, for He has given us of His Spirit. 14And by His Spirit we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son as Savior of the world. 15Whomever shall confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, God abides in Him and he also abides in God. 16We have known and believe the love that God has for us, therefore, whomever abides in love abides in God and he in Him, for God is love.

17We know love has been perfected in us, when we have boldness in the day of judgment, because as He is so are we, in this world. 18Perfect love casts out fear, there is no fear in love for fear brings torment and he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19For we are able to love, because He first loved us.

20If anyone says, that they love God, but yet they hate their brother, he is a liar. For if he does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God, whom he has not seen? 21This is the commandment that we have from Him, that he who loves God, must also love his brother.

1st John, chapter 5

1Whomever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and whomever loves the Father also loves the Son. 2When we love the children of God, we know that we love God for we will also then keep His commandments. 3For we know we have the true love of God, when we gladly keep His commandments and they are not burdensome to us. 4For whomever has been born of God, has overcome the world by faith. 5For by faith the victory has been won, he whom believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

6Jesus Christ, came into the world not only by water, (NOTE: a physical birth) but also by blood, (NOTE: the Father's seed) and the Spirit of truth bore witness to Him. 7For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit and these three are One. 8Also, there are three that bear witness on the earth: the Spirit, the water, the blood and these three agree as one.

9If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is yet greater, for God has given witness of His own Son. 10He who believes in the Son of God has the witness already in him and he who does not believe has made God out to be a liar, for he has not even believed God's own testimony. 11By this testimony we also know that God has given us eternal life in His Son. 12Whomever has the Son of God has life, he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13These things I have written to those who believe on the Son, to assure them of their eternal life and that they may continue to believe in Christ Jesus.

14Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that whatever, we ask of Him according to His will, He hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us, we know that He has granted to us, the request we ask of Him.

16If you see a fellow believer sinning a sin that does not lead to death, intercede for your brother and the LORD will give him life. However, there is sin that leads to death, I do not say that he should pray about that. 17All unrighteousness is sin and such sins are not leading to death.

18We know that whomever is born of God does not sin, for he is kept and the wicked one does not touch him. 19For we know that we are of God and the whole world is influenced by the wicked one. 20But the Son of God has come and has given us understanding of Him who is true, for we are in Him whom is truth, in His Son Jesus Christ and He is our eternal life.

21Children, keep yourselves from idols, Amen.