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A STUDY IN 1 JOHN (6)

Introduction (6):

A Study in Contrasts (1)

Victor M. Eskew

 

            One of the unique aspects of John’s writing style involves contrasts.  These contrasts are found in every book John writes in the New Testament except the Revelation.  The Revelation is different in that it is a book filled with highly figurative language.  In an article entitled, “Opposing Contrasts in 1 John,” Don Bunting describes John’s contrasts as “strong contrasts.”  He explains as follows:  “I call them strong contrasts because the two things contrasted are mutually exclusive.  You cannot hold both.  You must choose one or the other.  The text tells us that you cannot compromise the two and you cannot avoid choosing.  Before God, you must choose to walk one way or the other” (Opposing Contrasts in 1 John – NJ Bible Study). 

            In this article, we want to set before you some of the contrasts John presents in his first epistle.

 

Life and Darkness, Fellowship and No Fellowship

 

“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.  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:  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” (1 John 1:5-7).

 

Keeping the Commandments and Not Keeping the Commandments

 

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected:  hereby know we that we are in him” (1 John 2:3-5).

 

Love and Hate

 

“He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.  He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.  But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not wither he goeth, because darkness hath blinded his eyes” (1 John 2:9-11).

 

The Wicked One and the Father

 

“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” (1 John 2:13).

 

The Ways of the World and the Will of God

 

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.   And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:  but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (1 John 2:15-17).

 

Truth and Lies

 

“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” (1 John 2:21).  “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you:  but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him” (1 John 2:27).

 

Jesus Is the Christ and The Antichrist

 

“Who is a liar but he that denied that Jesus is the Christ?  He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22).

 

Confidence and Being Ashamed

 

“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” (1 John 2:28).

 

The World and The Sons of God, Hearing and Not Hearing

 

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:  therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not” (1 John 3:1).  “They are of the world:  therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.  We are of God:  he that knoweth God hearth us; he that is not of God heareth not us…” (1 John 4:5-6a).  “For whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world:  and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).  “And we know that we are of  God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness” (1 John 5:19).

 

            There are some who may not appreciate John’s contrasts.  The faithful child of God should.  We live in a world of uncertainty and relativism.  “John is writing in a tone of certainty and absolutes.  An effect of this kind of message is confidence” (Opposing Contrasts in 1 John – NJ Bible Study).  In the religious world there are many areas that are black and white.  There are areas of understanding wherein no gray exists.  Man must choose his ruler, his team, his ideology, and his fate.  Christians know what they have chosen.  Thus, they are confident and unafraid.