We find in verse 6 that to see and to know both describe a deeper acquaintance with JesusĬhrist. Likewise, John sometimes uses “ know” (ginosko) to describe personal acquaintance, familiarity, or fellowship Most lexicons recognize that “see” (horao) can refer to one’s perception andĮxperience of something, especially in John’s literature (compare John 6:36 12:45 14:9 15:24 3 John 11). Seen Him or known Him.” Though these verbs are sometimes used by John in relation to salvation (John 3:36 Ĥ:42 6:69 8:28 10:38), they are also sometimes used by him to describe a deeper experience of more We must also carefully define the two verbs that are stated as negative consequences in verse 6: “neither In view Christians who remain in fellowship with Jesus Christ-these Christians do not sin. HisĮxhortation to his readers, who he affectionately calls “little children,” is “abide in Him” (Jesus). The sphere John wants them to remain in isĭeclared in his purpose statement as fellowship with God through Jesus Christ (1:3 see also 1:6-7). Of something, to abide means to remain or continue (in a sphere). My disciples indeed.’” Believe is the condition for anyone who wants to be eternally saved, but abide is a conditionįor anyone who wants to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. ” That John understands believe and abide differently is clearįrom John 8:31 where he writes, “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed in Him, ‘If you abide in My word you are Him does not sin,” but “Whoever abides in Him. In verse 6 John does not say “Whoever believes in It helps to look carefully at a few of the words John uses. The author, are children of God (3:1-3 see GraceNotes no. Even chapter 3 begins with a clear statement that they, like Readers are addressed in many ways as believers. The readers’ fellowship with both God and the apostles in order to make the readers’ joy full (1:2-3). The purpose of the epistle is to encourage That these verses are written to Christians is beyond question. A Proper Understanding of the Epistle’s Purpose So if John establishes the fact that Christians sin in chapter 1, how can he say later thatĬhristians do not sin? An incorrect interpretation of these verses has caused many Christians to doubt their Many have a difficult time with these verses (and similarly 5:18 and other verses in 1 John, which cannot be included in this study), because they seem to contradict experience and contradict 1 John 1:8 which says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us,” and 1:9 that tells Christians that “we” should confess our sins. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him and he cannot sin, because he has been born of Whoever sins has neither seen Him or known Him.
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