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 and without imposing undue, unintended meanings to it .which largely limits the observer to the content offered by the books of 1st John and the Gospel of John. Other passages must have a relationship with the context at hand, such as a Scriptural quotation or reference in the passage at hand. 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 - BELIEVERS OF THE JERUSALEM CHURCH, AND ALL BELIEVERS - ABIDE IN JESUS CHRIST, I.E., ABIDE IN WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD FROM GOD'S WORD FROM THE BEGINNING OF YOUR CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE SO THAT WHEN HE APPEARS (TO TAKE YOU FROM THE EARTH TO BE WITH HIM FOREVER), WE MAY HAVE BOLD ASSURANCE AND NOT SHRINK AWAY FROM HIM IN SHAME

[Compare Jn 15:10]:

[Compare Mt 25:31a Interlinear]:

[2 Cor 5:10]:

[1 Cor 3:11-15]:

(1 Jn 2:29) WHILE BELIEVERS CONTINUE TO ENDEAVOR TO KNOW THAT GOD IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHTEOUS AS THEY HAVE KNOWN FROM THE BEGINNNING OF THEIR CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE - STANDING FIRM IN THE FAITH THAT BEGAN THEIR SALVATION THAT THERE IS NOTHING IN GOD THAT IS EVIL - CORROBORATING THAT THEY ARE ABIDING IN THE WORD OF GOD AND IN THE FATHER AND IN HIS SON; THEN WHILE THEY CONTINUE TO KNOW THAT GOD IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHTEOUS, THEY CAN DISCERN SUCH RIGHTEOUSNESS IN ANOTHER WHEN ANOTHER DOES RIGHTEOUS ACTS IN AN OBSERVABLE MANNER. AND THEY CAN KNOW THAT EVERYONE ALSO WHO DOES SUCH OBSERVABLE RIGHTEOUS ACTS IS BORN OF GOD AS WELL, ALBEIT IMPERFECTLY

[Review of 1 Jn 1:7, 9; 2:3, 5-6, 10, 15, 23b, 24]:

****** 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. NOTE THAT THE EXTANT NATURE FROM WHICH COMES SINFUL ACTIONS AND THE NEW BORN OF GOD NATURE FROM WHICH COMES GODLY RIGHTEOUSNESS HAVE BOTH BEEN IN VIEW IN THE CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD IN FIRST JOHN UP TO THIS POINT

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

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

3) [Compare Mt 1:23]:

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

AGAPE LOVE

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

4) [Compare Dan 9:4]:

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

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

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

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

9) [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. NOTE THAT THE EXTANT NATURE FROM WHICH COMES SINFUL ACTIONS AND THE NEW BORN OF GOD NATURE FROM WHICH COMES GODLY RIGHTEOUSNESS HAVE BOTH BEEN IN VIEW IN THE CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD IN FIRST JOHN UP TO THIS POINT, (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. NOTE THAT THE EXTANT NATURE FROM WHICH COMES SINFUL ACTIONS AND THE NEW BORN OF GOD NATURE FROM WHICH COMES GODLY RIGHTEOUSNESS HAVE BOTH BEEN IN VIEW IN THE CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD IN FIRST JOHN UP TO THIS POINT. FOR THIS REASON THE WORLD DOES NOT KNOW, 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. NOTE THAT THE EXTANT NATURE FROM WHICH COMES SINFUL ACTIONS AND THE NEW BORN OF GOD NATURE FROM WHICH COMES GODLY RIGHTEOUSNESS HAVE BOTH BEEN IN VIEW IN THE CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD IN FIRST JOHN UP TO THIS POINT

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) EVERY CHILD OF GOD, BORN OF GOD, FOR THE MOMENTS THAT HE TRUSTS IN THE SURE HOPE THAT WHEN CHRIST APPEARS HE WILL BE JUST AS JESUS IS: ETERNAL, ABSOLUTELY RIGHTEOUS AND IN AN ETERNAL RESURRECTION BODY; THEN FOR THOSE MOMENTS THAT CHILD OF GOD PURIFIES HIMSELF JUST AS JESUS CHRIST IS PURE. SO AS A RESULT OF HIS EXPRESSION OF SURE HOPE IN CHRIST, THAT CHILD OF GOD IS ACCOUNTED BY GOD WITH HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS: GOD PURIFIES HIS CHILD FOR THAT TIME OF FAITH FROM ALL TEMPORAL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. NOTE THAT THE EXTANT NATURE FROM WHICH COMES SINFUL ACTIONS AND THE NEW BORN OF GOD NATURE FROM WHICH COMES GODLY RIGHTEOUSNESS HAVE BOTH BEEN IN VIEW IN THE CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD IN FIRST JOHN UP TO THIS POINT

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. NOTE THAT THE EXTANT NATURE FROM WHICH COMES SINFUL ACTIONS AND THE NEW BORN OF GOD NATURE FROM WHICH COMES GODLY RIGHTEOUSNESS HAVE BOTH BEEN IN VIEW IN THE CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD IN FIRST JOHN UP TO THIS POINT

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. NOTE THAT THE EXTANT NATURE FROM WHICH COMES SINFUL ACTIONS AND THE NEW BORN OF GOD NATURE FROM WHICH COMES GODLY RIGHTEOUSNESS HAVE BOTH BEEN IN VIEW IN THE CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD IN FIRST JOHN UP TO THIS POINT

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) IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONTEXT OF 1 JOHN CHAPTER ONE THROUGH 1 JOHN 3:6, ANY CHILD OF GOD, BORN OF GOD WHILE HE ABIDES IN THE SON OF GOD THROUGH THE MEANS 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. SO THE PHRASE RENDERED "THE ONE WHO ABIDES IN HIM DOES NOT SIN" DOES NOT HAVE EXPERIENTIAL SINLESS PERFECTION IN VIEW WHICH CONTRADICTS SCRIPTURE. SO IN GOD'S VIEW THROUGH THE BLOOD OF HIS SON, 'NO ONE WHO ABIDES IN HIM SINS' - AN ACCOUNTING TO THE CHILD OF GOD, OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS

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 HIS ABSOLUTE RIGHTEOUSNESS. NOTE THAT THE EXTANT NATURE FROM WHICH COMES SINFUL ACTIONS AND THE NEW BORN OF GOD NATURE FROM WHICH COMES GODLY RIGHTEOUSNESS HAVE BOTH BEEN IN VIEW IN THE CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD IN FIRST JOHN UP TO THIS POINT

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.) IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONTEXT OF 1 JOHN CHAPTER ONE THROUGH 1 JOHN 3:6, ANY CHILD OF GOD, BORN OF GOD WHILE HE ABIDES IN THE SON OF GOD THROUGH THE MEANS 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. SO THE PHRASE RENDERED "THE ONE WHO ABIDES IN HIM DOES NOT SIN" DOES NOT HAVE EXPERIENTIAL SINLESS PERFECTION IN VIEW WHICH CONTRADICTS SCRIPTURE. SO IN GOD'S VIEW THROUGH THE BLOOD OF HIS SON, 'NO ONE WHO ABIDES IN HIM SINS' - AN ACCOUNTING TO THE CHILD OF GOD OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS

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 HIS ABSOLUTE RIGHTEOUSNESS. NOTE THAT THE EXTANT NATURE FROM WHICH COMES SINFUL ACTIONS AND THE NEW BORN OF GOD NATURE FROM WHICH COMES GODLY RIGHTEOUSNESS HAVE BOTH BEEN IN VIEW IN THE CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD IN FIRST JOHN UP TO THIS POINT, (cont.)

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. NOTE THAT THE EXTANT NATURE FROM WHICH COMES SINFUL ACTIONS AND THE NEW BORN OF GOD NATURE FROM WHICH COMES GODLY RIGHTEOUSNESS HAVE BOTH BEEN IN VIEW IN THE CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD IN FIRST JOHN UP TO THIS POINT

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, HE 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. NOTE THAT THE EXTANT NATURE FROM WHICH COMES SINFUL ACTIONS AND THE NEW BORN OF GOD NATURE FROM WHICH COMES GODLY RIGHTEOUSNESS HAVE BOTH BEEN IN VIEW IN THE CHILDREN OF GOD, BORN OF GOD IN FIRST JOHN UP TO THIS POINT

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. Note That The Extant Nature From Which Comes Sinful Actions And The New Born Of God Nature From Which Comes Godly Righteousness Have Both Been In View In The Children Of God, Born Of God In First John Up To This Point

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 Phrase In 1 Jn 3:9a Rendered "Each One Who Has Been Born of God does not sin" Is A Nominative, Present Participle Phrase Signifying The One Who 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 A Single Additional Sin Would Still Qualify As "Continuing To Sin" or "Habitually Sinning" or "Practicing Sinning." So These Insertions Into The Text Still Do Not Then Permit The Whole Person Of The Child Of God, Born Of God With Both 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) Note That The Extant Nature From Which Comes Sinful Actions And The New Born Of God Nature From Which Comes Godly Righteousness Have Both Been In View Of The Children Of God, Born Of God In First John Up To This Point As Evidenced By 1 Jn 3:2. So 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. 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

a) [1 Jn 3:2]:

6) 1 Jn 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