The Book of 1 John - Analysed and Explained in Summary - Volumes 1, 2, and 3 of "The Analysed Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
To the best of our knowledge we are of the understanding that this book, taken from Volumes 1, 2, & 3 of the "Analysed Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan published in 1907, and freely available elsewhere on the internet is in the public domain.
1 JOHN - CHRIST AND FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
INTRODUCTION - 1 John 1:1-1:4
1. Facts of the Gospel Epitomised - 1:1-1:2
2. The Purpose - 1:3-1:4
Part A: FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD. GOD IS LIGHT - 1 John 1:5-2:29
A1. Fellowship with Light - 1 John 1:5-2:11
A2. Perils of Darkness - 1 John 2:12-2:29
Part B: FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD. GOD IS LOVE - 1 John 3:1-4:21
B1. Fellowship with Love - 1 John 3:1-3:24
B2. Perils of Hatred - 1 John 4:1-4:21
Part C: FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD. GOD IS LIFE - 1 John 5:1-5:12
C1. Life and Love - 1 John 5:1-5:3
C2. Life and Light - 1 John 5:4-5:12
CONCLUSION - 1 John 5:13-5:21
1. "That ye may know" - 1 John 5:13-5:17
2. "We know" - 1 John 5:18-5:21
Introduction - 1 John 1:1-1:4
This is probably the last apostolic message to the whole Church. If the second and third epistles were written later, they were to individuals. This letter is catholic in the fullest sense of the word, being addressed to no particular church or district, and dealing with the fundamental question of the life which is the true bond of the Church's unity.
A comparison of John 10:31 and 1 John 5:13 will show the gospel and epistle to be complementary. The gospel was written that men might have life, the epistle that believers might know they had life. In the former we have Divine live as revealed in Christ; in the latter the same life as realized in the Christian. The gospel declares the way of life through the incarnate Son; the epistle unfolds the nature of that life as possessed by the children of God.
The subject of the epistle is that of fellowship with God, into which believers are introduced through their union with Christ. Its divisions mark the subjects dealt with. These subjects overlap in each case. This is the outcome of the fact that they are closely interrelated, the three forming phases of a great whole. They may be indicated thus; Introduction (1:1-1:4); Fellowship with God as Light (1:5-2;29); Fellowship with God as Love (3;1-4:21); Fellowship with God as Life (5;1-5;12); Conclusion (5:13-21).
By way of introduction John affirmed his knowledge, in common with others, of the certainty that eternal life was manifested in the Word. "We have heard ... we have seen ... beheld ... our hands handled." The word "that" refers in each case to a Person. As in the gospel, the "Word" which cannot be touched, became flesh which could be touched, so here, "the Word of life," which is a quantity intangible, imponderable, and immeasurable, had yet been touched and handled by men. The purpose of the manifestation was that of bringing men into fellowship with God. This the apostle proceeded to discuss under the three headings of light, love, and life, showing not only the privileges but also the responsibilities of such fellowship.
A. Fellowship with God. God is Light - 1 John 1:5-2:29
In this division the apostle first dealt with the fellowship of the saints with God in light, and then described the perils of darkness.
The first great message of "the Word of life" to men is that "God is light." This is a truth never to be lost sight of. To forget it is to minimize the meaning of the next declaration that "God is love." The exercise of such fellowship on the part of the believer consists of walking in the light of God. Yet because of perpetual imperfection even in holy things, there is need of constant cleansing, and this is provided in "the blood of Jesus His Son." Light makes sin known. Sins of the past are forgiven, and the soul is cleansed from unrighteousness. The apostle was careful to state that he wrote in order that we sin not. He added, however, a gracious declaration concerning the provision of the Advocate Jesus, through Whom sins might be put away. Having stated the nature and conditions of fellowship with God as light, the apostle proceeded to speak of the tests whereby we may know our relation to light, first as to God, and then as to our fellow-men. The test of light is love - love to God exemplified in obedience. The supreme commandment was not new, in that it was the original Divine intention for man. Yet it was new in its new interpretation in Christ, and in the experience of men who in its power love each other.
In approaching the subject of the perils of darkness against which he was about to utter warnings, the apostle, in a beautiful passage, declared the groundwork of his appeal to be the experience of believers in Christ. The perils against which he warned believers were those of materialism, and the false spirit of Antichrist. The description of worldliness is very clear. It consists in "the lust of the flesh," that is, desires which are wholly of the flesh, without the control of the spirit; "the lust of the eyes," that is, desire to see things which minister to the flesh only, evil curiosity to contemplate unholy things; "the vainglory of life," that is, satisfaction and boasting in things which are of the world only, and are passing and perishing. He then described the spirit of Antichrist to be that of denying that Jesus is the Christ, which denial involves also the denial of the Father and the Son. The Church needs to be ever on the watch against such desires or teachings. Her safety consists in the fact that she has the record as received "from the beginning"; and moreover, that she has that anointing of the indwelling Spirit which interprets and explains the things received, so that she has no need that any one teach her.
B. Fellowship with God. God is Love - 1 John 3:1-4:21
In this division the apostle dealt with the fellowship of the saints with God in love, and then declared the perils of hatred.
The love of God is supremely manifest in that we are called "children of God." All the meaning of this relationship we do not yet know, but this much is certain that eventually we shall be like Him. The present influence of this hope, born of love, is that he that has it purifies himself. The apostle proceeded to declare that in Christ there is no need for any one to sin, and that if a believer do so it must be in violation of the very life-principle which makes him a child of God. The test of fellowship with God as love is righteousness of conduct, and love one to another. The result of fellowship with God as love, will be that of hatred toward us on the part of the world. Yet such hatred is to be answered by the love of the Christian, such love being the proof of the presence of the new life. Affirmations of love for the men of the world, which are not demonstrated by ministry to their actual needs, are of no value. The apostle then declared the test by which we may ourselves know that we are of the truth. The true anxiety of Christian experience is to possess a heart at rest before God. Doubt or uncertainty in the inward life is ever productive of harm. The place of peace and power is that of abiding in Him. To keep His commandments is to abide in Him, and to abide in Him is to have strength to keep His commandments. The all-inclusive commandments are two in number. The first is that we should believe in Jesus Christ; and the second is that we should love one another.
Two closely related perils threaten our fellowship with God as love: those of false prophets, and the spirit which actuates them. There is a simple and yet searching test which the children of God are carefully to apply. The testimony of the Spirit of God is to Jesus Christ as having come in flesh. Those who confess not Jesus are those who deny what the Spirit of God aflftrms concerning Him. All such are of Antichrist. The test of the spirits is the indwelling Spirit. There need be no fear, for the indwelling One is greater than the spirit working in the world; but there must be no carelessness in the matter of testing. The apostle then made an appeal. He used two arguments as he urged the duty of love. First, the nature of God is love, and therefore those begotten of Him should love. The second argument was that of the manifestation of the love of God. He "sent His only begotten Son into the world." That is the last word of love, and upon it the apostle based his appeal. "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." The argument and appeal now go a step further. The perfect love which has no fear is the true revelation of God. There may be this realization and revelation because "as He is, even so are we in this world." The apostle's consciousness of the glorious perfection of his provision lent strenuousness to his words of application. "If a man say I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar." To every person in actual union with God in Christ, love is possible. Moreover, it is not a privilege merely, it is a stern duty. The world waits for the knowledge of God, and can only attain it through His revelation in the love of His children.
C. Fellowship with God. God is Life - 1 John 5:1-5:12
The final subject is that of our fellowship with God in life. This is fundamental, and is here shown to be so. Passing back over the ground traversed, the apostle shows the relation between life and love, and then between life and light.
As to the first God gives life to the believer. The love of one begotten for the One begetting issues in love for all begotten. In other words, children of the Father love each other. The spring and power of love is life. Fellowship with God in life issues in love.
There is also a close relationship between life and light. Those who are begotten of God overcome the world. Fellowship with the light of God is not possible to those who are alienated from His life. As the fundamental aspect of fellowship with God is fellowship in life; and moreover, as man enters into that life by believing, the apostle now gives the witness upon which faith takes hold. Jesus Christ came by water and blood. He "came by water" in the sense that the baptism in Jordan witnessed to His fellowship with light. He "came by blood" in the sense that the passion baptism witnessed to His fellowship with love. The supreme Witness to this is the Spirit. Thus three bear witness: the Spirit, of life; the water, of light; the blood, of love. These three "agree in one," that is, Jesus. Thus has God borne witness to man. The Son of God possessed, is the life in which men have fellowship with God in light and love.
Conclusion - 1 John 5:13-5:21
In his concluding words John stated the reason of his writing. His purpose was that of confirmation. The certainty of life possessed, results in a confidence in God which is calm and content. That confidence is exercised in intercession, the limitation of which is clearly marked. The letter closes with a group of certainties, and an injunction against idols. The force of the final warning lies in the certainty of the fellowship of the believer with God in light, and love, and life.