The First Epistle General of John
Chapter 1 of The First Epistle General of John
The Saints gain fellowship with God by obedience—We must confess our sins to gain forgiveness.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
3 That which we have aseen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our bfellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
[“To have fellowship with the Lord in this life is to enjoy the companionship of his Holy Spirit, which makes us one with him; and to have fellowship with him in eternity is to be like him, having that eternal life of which he is the possessor and originator.” (McConkie, DNTC, 3:374.)]
[“To have fellowship with the Lord in this life is to enjoy the companionship of his Holy Spirit, which makes us one with him; and to have fellowship with him in eternity is to be like him, having that eternal life of which he is the possessor and originator.” (McConkie, DNTC, 3:374.)]
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Chapter 2 of The First Epistle General of John
Christ is our Advocate with the Father—We know God by obedience—Love not the world—Anti-Christs will come in the last days.
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. aAnd if any man sin, we have an badvocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the apropitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole bworld.
[ Alma 42:12–25 ).]
[ Alma 42:12–25 ).]
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we akeep his commandments.
[“Since the very fact of knowing God, in the ultimate and full sense, consists of thinking what he thinks, saying what he says, doing what he does, and of being like him, thus having exaltation or godhood—it follows that saved souls must advance and progress until they acquire his character, perfections, and attributes, until they gain his eternal power, until they themselves become gods.” (McConkie, DNTC, 3:377.)]
[“Since the very fact of knowing God, in the ultimate and full sense, consists of thinking what he thinks, saying what he says, doing what he does, and of being like him, thus having exaltation or godhood—it follows that saved souls must advance and progress until they acquire his character, perfections, and attributes, until they gain his eternal power, until they themselves become gods.” (McConkie, DNTC, 3:377.)]
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his acommandments, is a bliar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso akeepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are bin him.
7 aBrethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, awhich thing is true in him and in you: because the bdarkness is cpast, and the true dlight now shineth.
10 He that aloveth his bbrother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and awalketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
15 Love not the aworld, neither the things that are in the bworld. If any man love the world, the clove of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the alust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the bpride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the cworld.
17 And the aworld bpasseth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the cwill of God dabideth for ever.
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that aantichrist shall come, even now are there many bantichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
20 But ye have an aunction from the bHoly One, and ye know all things. unction = anointing
“This unction, this holy anointing, is the gift of the Holy Ghost, which gives them access to the infinite wisdom of the Father and the Son so that they may know all things as fast as they are able to bear them.” (McConkie, DNTC, 3:383.)
20 But ye have an aunction from the bHoly One, and ye know all things. unction = anointing
“This unction, this holy anointing, is the gift of the Holy Ghost, which gives them access to the infinite wisdom of the Father and the Son so that they may know all things as fast as they are able to bear them.” (McConkie, DNTC, 3:383.)
21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is a aliar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is bantichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that aacknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the abeginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man ateach you: but as the same banointing cteacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth arighteousness is bborn of him.
Chapter 3 of The First Epistle General of John
The sons of God will become like Christ—Love for others is required to gain eternal life—Obedience ensures us an answer to our prayers.
1 Behold, what manner of alove the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the bsons of God: therefore the cworld knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the asons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall bappear, we shall be clike him; for we shall dsee him as he is.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that acommitteth bsin is of the devil; for the devil csinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the ddevil.
9 Whosoever is aborn of God bdoth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
JST
“Whosoever is born of God doth not continue in sin; for the Spirit of God remaineth in him; and he cannot continue in sin, because he is born of God, having received that holy spirit of promise.”
JST
“Whosoever is born of God doth not continue in sin; for the Spirit of God remaineth in him; and he cannot continue in sin, because he is born of God, having received that holy spirit of promise.”
10 In this the children of God are amanifest, and the bchildren of the devil: whosoever doeth not crighteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
12 Not as aCain, 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.
14 We know that we have passed from death unto alife, because we love the bbrethren. He that cloveth not his brother abideth in ddeath.
15 Whosoever ahateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no bmurderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16 Hereby perceive we the alove bof God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his abrother have bneed, and cshutteth up his bowels of dcompassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
22 And whatsoever we aask, we receive of him, because we bkeep his ccommandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 And this is his acommandment, That we should bbelieve on the cname of his Son Jesus Christ, and dlove one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments adwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he babideth in us, by the cSpirit which he hath given us.
Chapter 4 of The First Epistle General of John
Try the spirits—God is love and dwells in those who love him.
1 Beloved, believe not every aspirit, but btry the cspirits whether they are of God: because many dfalse prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby aknow ye the bSpirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the cflesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is anot of God: and this is that spirit of bantichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
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.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God aheareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby bknow we the cspirit of truth, and the spirit of derror.
Verses 7-11: The Father loves us dearly.
Verses 7-11: The Father loves us dearly.
7 Beloved, let us alove one another: for blove is of God; and every one that loveth is cborn of God, and knoweth God.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might alive through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he aloved us, and bsent his Son to be the cpropitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1 Nephi 11:16-23
16 And he said unto me: Knowest thou the acondescension of God?
17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.
18 And he said unto me: Behold, the avirgin whom thou seest is the bmother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.
19 And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the aSpirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!
20 And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a achild in her arms.
21 And the angel said unto me: Behold the aLamb of God, yea, even the bSon of the Eternal cFather! Knowest thou the meaning of the dtree which thy father saw?
22 And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the alove of God, which bsheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the cmost desirable above all things.
23 And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most ajoyous to the soul.
John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye alove one another; as I have loved you, that ye also blove one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have alove one to another.
12 aNo man hath bseen God at any time. If we love one another, cGod ddwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
“No man hath seen God at any time, except them who believe. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” ( Inspired Version .)
13 Hereby know we that we adwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
“No man hath seen God at any time, except them who believe. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” ( Inspired Version .)
13 Hereby know we that we adwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
15 Whosoever shall aconfess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that adwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he ais, so are we in this world.
18 There is no afear in blove; but perfect clove casteth out fear: because fear hath dtorment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Chapter 5 of The First Epistle General of John
Saints are born of God through belief in Christ—Water, blood, and the Spirit testify of Christ—Belief in Christ is required in order to gain eternal life.
1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
3 For this is the alove of God, that we bkeep his commandments: and his commandments are not cgrievous.
4 For whatsoever is aborn of God bovercometh the world: and this is the cvictory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
6 This is he that acame by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the bSpirit that beareth cwitness, because the Spirit is truth.
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the aFather, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are bone.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the aSpirit, and the water, and the bblood: and these three agree in one.
9 If we receive the awitness of men, the bwitness of God is greater: for this is the cwitness of God which he hath testified of his Son
10 He that abelieveth on the Son of God hath the bwitness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the crecord that God gave of his Son.
10 He that abelieveth on the Son of God hath the bwitness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the crecord that God gave of his Son.
13 These things have I awritten unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal blife, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his awill, he bheareth us:
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we aask, we know that we have the petitions that we bdesired of him.
16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
18 We know that whosoever is aborn of God bsinneth not; but he that is begotten of God ckeepeth himself, and that dwicked one toucheth him not.
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 aeternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
http://institute.lds.org/manuals/new-testament-institute-student-manual/nt-in-11-11-52.asp
1 John—a Letter to the Christian Communities, ca. A.D. 96
http://institute.lds.org/manuals/new-testament-institute-student-manual/nt-in-11-11-52.asp
1 John—a Letter to the Christian Communities, ca. A.D. 96
INTRODUCTION
Suppose you had lived in the days of Jesus and had actually spent time in his presence. Suppose that you had heard him teach, had seen the miracles he had performed, and had felt by the Spirit the power of the testimony he bore of himself—that he came into the world to do the will of the Father, which included giving his life. Further, suppose you were a witness to his resurrection and had been privileged and worthy enough to see and feel the wounds made during his sacrifice, in part, for your sins. How would you feel toward the Savior? How would you feel about a teaching spreading among some of your fellow Christians that Jesus didn’t really suffer for anyone’s sins but merely seemed to do so? Further, that he really wasn’t a partaker of mortality but only appeared to be, and that the physical body the Lord displayed after the resurrection was an illusion? This was the problem faced by the apostle John. It appears that some Christians had adopted an early form of Gnosticism and were teaching that Jesus could not have truly come in the flesh, for God is holy and could have nothing to do with contaminating matter. To explain the Savior’s presence on earth, the Gnostics set forth two arguments: either Christ was only apparently human or else the spirit which inhabited Jesus’ mortal body descended into the man Jesus at the time of his commitment to God in baptism and departed just prior to his suffering on the cross. Thus Christ did not really suffer for our sins; it was only the man Jesus who was crucified. The first of these philosophies was known as Docetism, so called from the Greek word dokeo, “to seem or appear,” and the latter was known as Cerinthianism, named for Cerinthus, its primary proponent in the first century.
John wrote, among other reasons, to dispel such notions. Note his insistence that he had personally seen and “handled” the “Word of life” ( 1 John 1:1, 2 ), a strike at Docetism. Notice also his vehement statement that whoever “denieth that Jesus is the Christ” is a liar ( 1 John 2:22 ), a slap at Cerinthianism. Finally, notice his declaration that “every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh” is not of God but is anti-Christ ( 1 John 4:2, 3 ).
“The doctrines expounded include how to gain fellowship with God; how to know God and Christ; how to become the sons of God; how to abide in the light and love the brethren; how to dwell in God and have him dwell in us; how to be born again and gain eternal life.” (McConkie, DNTC, 3:371.)
Fellowship:
What, you may ask, is the unique fellowship that the Saints can enjoy but which cannot be enjoyed outside the Church? To find the answer to this question, read carefully 1 John 1:3–7 . John declares that in the church of Christ two types of fellowship are necessary. What are they? Which of these must precede the other?
Do you see that to John, fellowship with God and Christ must precede that of one person to another? Why is this order a necessity for true fellowship?
The message of John’s letter is that we must become partakers of the fellowship of God and his children if we are to obtain eternal life. This can be done only as we love and serve both God and each other. Only in this way can there be true fellowship. How much sense does it make for a person to say, “I love God” but then display hatred towards one of his children? Conversely, how much sense is there in the statements of those who say they love their fellow men but disavow the existence of God?
***“ When we fail to put the love of God first, we are easily deceived by crafty men who profess a great love of humanity, while advocating programs that are not of the Lord.” (Ezra Taft Benson in CR, Oct. 1967, p. 35.)
John wrote, among other reasons, to dispel such notions. Note his insistence that he had personally seen and “handled” the “Word of life” ( 1 John 1:1, 2 ), a strike at Docetism. Notice also his vehement statement that whoever “denieth that Jesus is the Christ” is a liar ( 1 John 2:22 ), a slap at Cerinthianism. Finally, notice his declaration that “every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh” is not of God but is anti-Christ ( 1 John 4:2, 3 ).
“The doctrines expounded include how to gain fellowship with God; how to know God and Christ; how to become the sons of God; how to abide in the light and love the brethren; how to dwell in God and have him dwell in us; how to be born again and gain eternal life.” (McConkie, DNTC, 3:371.)
Fellowship:
What, you may ask, is the unique fellowship that the Saints can enjoy but which cannot be enjoyed outside the Church? To find the answer to this question, read carefully 1 John 1:3–7 . John declares that in the church of Christ two types of fellowship are necessary. What are they? Which of these must precede the other?
Do you see that to John, fellowship with God and Christ must precede that of one person to another? Why is this order a necessity for true fellowship?
The message of John’s letter is that we must become partakers of the fellowship of God and his children if we are to obtain eternal life. This can be done only as we love and serve both God and each other. Only in this way can there be true fellowship. How much sense does it make for a person to say, “I love God” but then display hatred towards one of his children? Conversely, how much sense is there in the statements of those who say they love their fellow men but disavow the existence of God?
***“ When we fail to put the love of God first, we are easily deceived by crafty men who profess a great love of humanity, while advocating programs that are not of the Lord.” (Ezra Taft Benson in CR, Oct. 1967, p. 35.)
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