A STUDY IN 1 JOHN (7)

Introduction (7):

A Study of Contrasts (2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

            In our last article, we began looking at the many contrasts John presents in his first epistle.  Remember, these contrasts are stark and absolute.  They leave no gray areas.  When presented with these contrasts, man must choose between one or the other.  When a person chooses, he is either on the side of light or darkness, God or the wicked one, life or death.  Let’s continue to list these strong contrasts found in 1 John.

 

Sinneth not and Sinneth

 

“Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not:  whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him” (1 John 3:6).

 

Son of God and the Devil

 

“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.  For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).  “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” (1 John 4:4).

 

Evil Works and Righteous Works

 

“Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother.  And wherefore shew he him?  Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous” (1 John 3:12).

 

Death and Life

 

“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.  He that loveth not his brother abideth in death” (1 John 3:14).

 

False Prophets and the Spirit of God

 

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:  because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:  Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  and every spirit that confesseth not the Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:  and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world” (1 John 4:1-3).

 

Spirit of Truth and Spirit of Error

 

“…Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:6b).

 

Fear and Love

 

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:  because fear hath torment.  He that feareth is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).

 

 

 

 

Loving God and Hating God

 

“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar:  for he that love not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen” (1 John 4:20).

 

Believing and Believing Not

 

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself:  he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave his Son” (1 John 5:10).

 

Life and No Life

 

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:12).

 

A Sin unto Death and A Sin not unto Death

 

“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.  All unrighteousness is sin:  and there is a sin not unto death” (1 John 5:16-17).

 

            As we conclude this section of our introduction on 1 John, we want to emphasize once more that these contrasts are bipolar.  They fall at opposite extremes from one another.  If we accept one, we must reject the other.  If we reject one, we must accept the other.  There is no middle ground.  For the Christian, the absolutes in which he believes give him confidence, courage, and great hope in a world that tells him there are no absolutes.  God exists.  Jesus is His Son.  Jesus was manifest in the flesh and died for mankind.  Those who obey His commandments abide in Him.  Those who obey His commands love their brethren.  Those who abide in Him will be the recipients of eternal life.  “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 eternal life” (1 John 5:20).