THE FOCUS COMMENTARY VERSION OF THE BIBLE

FIRST JOHN
LIVING IN THE LIGHT AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT
Copyright: June 2013 All Rights Reserved Brian C. Pace

Preface to the Book of First John

Here in 1st John, we have a painful church split. Some people had left the church in sharp disagreement with several points of essential doctrine. A few people who had left were coming back to try to get more converts from the remaining fellowship to leave with them. The church left behind was hurting, and in need of instruction and encouragement. Thus this letter of 1st John. The people who had left were believed to be Gnostics at one time, but many scholars now believe that this letter probably was written before Gnostics had time to form into an organized group. This would mean that these were quite likely preGnostics, people who had gnostic thinking, but had not developed into groups of their own yet. They could not have been too bad of sinners to begin with, or they would not have been welcomed into the church. So what was their thinking? From what John taught against we can know much of what they believed. Not believing that sin in the flesh could affect the spirit, they did not believe that they could be sinners in a damaging sense whenever they committed a sin. But I will not go into more of what they probably believed here. Instead, I have inserted underlined headings inside of the text when a strong new argument from John begins, writing: Some have said.. In the underlined heading I describe what the new section was about. Thus: Some have said: We have no sin, we have never sinned is one heading, where John begins a new strong argument against the thought that we cannot and have not ever sinned. You will quickly get the idea. These points John makes begin to become repetitious, so these underlined headings stop after it has become hard to miss the point. John expresses himself forcefully in these arguments, often calling his opponents liars and antichrists. Clearly, he loves these people and is concerned that they understand his support for them, and his position against the ones who had left.

The context: Abiding; Remaining in Jesus Properly

There is an over-riding context throughout the entire text of 1st John, and that context is to abide. To abide in the form John uses here is to: remain in properly or to live in properly in this present world. It is a behavior, conduct, life style concept. This idea is expressed clearly in the Gospel of John, chapter 15. Therefore I have reprinted this text, since it lays out the context of this entire book so well.

John 15: 4-14

Remain properly in me, and I will remain in you. As the branch cannot produce fruit by itself, unless it remains properly in the vine, neither can you, unless you remain properly in me. I am the vine; you are the fruit producing branches. Whoever remains properly in me and I in him, he it is that produces much fruit; remember, without me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain properly in me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you remain properly in me, and my words live in you, then you may ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. By this my Father is honored, that you bear much fruit, and by so doing you prove yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; remain properly in my love. If you obey my commandments, you will remain properly in my love, just as I have kept my Fathers commandments and remain properly in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full and complete. My command is this: You must love each other even as I have loved you. There is no greater love for a person than this: to lay down ones life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I am commanding you.

Introduction To The Focus Commentary Version of the Bible

The focus commentary version is a version of the Bible which has the commentary of the given book included within the version of the Bible itself. Now this would be extremely wordy if the version itself was not very focused on the subject at hand. However, because it is 'focused' on only the subject of the book, or the subject of the section of the book it is commenting on, it is not nearly so wordy as separate commentaries. What this means is, for example, that Revelation is a book on future events. Even though there may be good examples of explaining the Trinity within the book of Revelation, there would be no comment here on that subject. There are already many good commentaries which try to explain every subject brought up within any given book, but this is not one of them. This version is not made for memorization. It is made for researching the intent of this letter. For learning about things the writer and readers would know about, and you would not know. It is made for expanding the Greek meaning of words, to include meaning that is not clear in the regular versions. It is made to include the research of many other commentaries within the actual version itself. This version also includes scripture references within the version itself whenever those references help explain the subject upon which it is written.

Chapter 1
This letter is written concerning the Word of Life, who was with God from the beginning. We are His eyewitnesses: we have heard Him, we have looked upon Him with our own eyes; yes, we saw Him, and our own hands have touched and felt Him. This Word of Eternal Life was with the Father, but now has been shown to us; we have seen it, and we are testifying of it, to reveal to you that eternal life. We are proclaiming everything we have seen and heard in order that you can have fellowship with us. We are now having true fellowship with the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing to you that we may have the fullest of joy together.
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Some have said: If we sin, we stay in fellowship with God and each other. 5. God has given us a message to declare to you: God is truth and righteousness, in Him is no evil at all. Someone may not say: we have fellowship with God, and remain properly in Him, if they are living in disobedience and confusion. If someone tries this, they are lying, and are not living in the light of Gods truth. But if we live our lives in the light of His truth and righteousness, as He also does, all of us will have true fellowship with each other. Under these conditions, the blood, the death penalty payment paid by Jesus Christ, Gods Son, will keep us clean from all unrighteousness. Some have said: We have no sin, we have never sinned 8. If we say we have no sin to deal with, we have deceived ourselves and the light of Gods truth is not in us. What we need to do is to confess and forsake anything we do wrong. (Whoever hides his transgressions will not succeed, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will find mercy Proverbs 28:13). Then God, in His faithfulness and righteousness, will not only forgive us, but will also cleanse away all of the unrighteousness. Never forget, if anyone says they have never sinned, they are really calling God a liar, and you know then that His Word cannot be in them.
Chapter 2

1. You are my Christian children, and I am writing this letter to you to teach you to stop any sin you may have done. As you learn this, if you do sin, we have One to speak for us, a Mediator between the Father and us, Jesus Christ the righteous, sinless one. Jesus Himself is our sacrifice to our Father that appeased and satisfied His righteous anger against all our sin; and not for us only, but for the sins of all people of this world.

Some have said: We need not keep Jesuss commandments (love one another) 3. As we keep Jesuss commandments, we know and can assure ourselves that we are having fellowship with Him and are getting to know Him better and better all the time. If anyone is not keeping His commandments but is trying to tell you that he knows Him, this person is a liar, the light of Gods truth is not in that person. Whoever continues to follow Gods Word and do His commands, the love of God is completed in him. That is one way we are sure we are remaining properly in Him. And know this: he who tells you that he is remaining properly with Jesus should live as Jesus lived, completely loving God and the brethren, and be practicing no sin at all. Some have said: We need not love the brethren as Jesus commanded (A) 7. Brethren, what I have written unto you so far is not a new command, but the old one you have already heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (This is the command that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another 1stJohn3:11). The word which you heard from the beginning is the old commandment. But now, a new word from God, a new command, I am writing to you. This new word is true in Him and you, because sin and confusion is passing away out of your lives, and the light of the truth is already shining brightly. (I give you a new command: Love one another: In the same way I have loved you, you must also love one another. John 13:34) 9. He who says he is living in the light of Gods truth, but he hates his Christian brothers, is at this very moment living in sin and confusion. You can know who is remaining properly in the truth of Jesus, because he has love for the brethren; there will be no cause for falling back into sin for that person. But anyone who hates his brother has such confusion in his life that he knows not where he is going or what he is doing, because the confusion has completely misled him. 12. I am writing unto you, my little children, because your sins are forgiven for His names sake. I am writing unto you, fathers, because you do know Him who is from the beginning. I am writing unto you, young men because you have conquered the evil one I am writing unto you, my little children, because you have come to know the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because you do know Him who is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God remains properly in you. Because of this you have conquered the evil one.

Some have said: We need not be completely separate from the world 15. We must learn to completely stop loving the world systems, or anything that is in the world. (Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind Romans 12:2a). If anyone has any love for the world around us, the love of the Father is not in him. (Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God James 4:4). Let us look at some things that are in the world: the cravings of the flesh--love of money, sexual immorality, wanting your own way, etc.,-the desires of the eyes,--desire for things, materialism, greed, selfishness, etc.-- and the pride of life,--self-assurance, self-righteousness, better than others because of abundance, promotion, education, trust in worldly resources, etc. Remember, these things do not come from our Father, but are of this world that surrounds us. And this world is passing away, with all of the wrong desires of it. (Since you know then that the world and all these things in it shall be burnt up, what type of people should you be in all your life style; separate for this world, and looking for and eagerly waiting for the coming of the day of Jesus return; in which the heavens being on fire shall be melted, and the elements shall melt with intense heat? Therefore we, knowing his promise, look for a new heaven and a new earth, where we will live in righteousness 2ndPeter 3: 11-13). Now he who leaves the world behind and does the will of God will live forever. (But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt Genesis 19:26). (Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough for the work I have given him, and looking back to this world, is fit for the kingdom of God Luke 9:62). 18. Little children, the end is now very near. You have heard it said that the the one Antichrist is coming. But I am telling you that even now many antichrists and false teachers are already here. So we know for sure that we are living in the last moment of time. These people have left us now, but they were really never the same as us; if they had been our true Christian brothers, they would never have left us. In order to expose that they were never with us, they have left us. You who have remained have an anointing of the Holy One upon you, and you are aware that everything I am telling you is true. I have not written unto you because you do not know the truth of these things, but because you do know it, and you also know that no lie can be a part of the truth. Some have said: Jesus may not be who you say He is 22. Who is the real liar around here? Any person who denies that Jesus is Gods son, the Christ of God, the Messiah. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist, of which I am writing about. Anyone who denies the Son of God as the Christ, he does not belong to the Father either.

He who is aware and admits that Jesus is the Son of God and the Christ of God belongs to and is properly remaining with the Father. 24. Even though you all are doing so well, we all still need to be careful to remain properly with what you heard at the first. If you do continue in what was first given to you, you will remain in proper relationship with the Father and His Son. And you will receive the promise He has given to us, which is eternal life. 26. It has become necessary for me to write these things to you because there are those who are trying to deceive you and thereby lead you astray. Remember, the anointing you have received from Him is remaining in you, and you do not need to be taught anything from these people. This anointing is continuing to teach you about all things; this anointing is true, and there is not any falsehood in it; and even as it has taught you, you will continue to remain properly with the Father. So now, little children, remain properly in our Lord Jesus, in order that when He returns and we see Him, we will not be embarrassed, but instead we will enjoy a steadfast confidence at His coming. If you know that Jesus is the Righteous One who has never sinned, then you can know that all who practice living right have been born of God.
Chapter 3

Just look and see the extent the Father has lavished His love upon us, that we would be called the children of God! The world does not know who we are, because the world did not know who Jesus was. (They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world John 17:16). My dear brothers, it has not yet been revealed what we shall be like, but because we are the children of God, we know that when He is revealed we shall be like Him, and we shall see Him clearly for what He is. Everyone who has this hope in Jesus will purify himself and keep himself pure, even as Jesus is pure.
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Some have said: A little sin is no big issue 4. Whoever does sin commits lawlessness, and all sin is lawlessness. In Jesus is no sin at all; and He came to take away our sins, to teach us to bring an end to wrong living in our lives. Whoever remains properly with Jesus could never, deliberately or negligently, allow sin to continue in their life, no matter how infrequently; whoever allows sin to continue does not know anything about Jesus and what He came to do. 7. My little children do not let anyone mislead you on this. Any person who continues living right is righteous, just as Jesus is righteous. Any person who allows sin to continue is in his life is following the devil himself, who has sinned from the beginning.

The purpose the Son of God came to earth was to destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God and remains properly in Him would not and could not allow sin to continue in their life, no matter how infrequently, either deliberately or negligently, for two reasons: Gods word does remain in him, and his life comes from being born of God. Your word has been hidden in my heart, so that I will not sin against you. Psalm 119:11) (The law and Word of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip. Psalm 37:31) ("This is the contract I will make with the people of Israel after that time," said the LORD. "I will place my law and my word in their minds and write it on their hearts. Then, I will be their God, and they will be my people. Jeremiah 31:33) Some have said: We need not love the brethren as Jesus commanded (B) 10. So now we see that Gods children and the devils followers are exposed for all to see. Any person who does not practice living right is not of God. And this also goes for any person who does not love his brother. Loving the brethren is part of living right before God; in fact, it is the message, the command that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love each other. Not like Cain, who was a follower of the devil, who murdered his own brother. Why would anyone ever do something as horrific as that? Only because Cain was continuing in sin and his brother refused to continue in sin any longer, but was practicing living right before God. 13. You know, my beloved brethren, you need to stop being surprised when the world around us hates you, like Cain hated Able. (The world hated them because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world John 17:14b). They hate us, but we love one another. This is one way we know we have successfully completed salvation, when we love the brethren. If a person does not love the brethren, he is not a Christian, and is spiritually dead. (Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit until you have reached authentic love of the brethren, be careful that you keep loving one another with a pure heart fervently 1 Peter 1:22). If a person hates his Christian brother he is a murderer; and we know there is no such thing as a Christian murderer. 16. This is how we identify the real love of God: Jesus laid down His life for us. Jesus is our example for this life, so we should also lay down our lives for the brethren whenever needed. If ever there is a person who sees his brother in need, and having what is needed to help, still he hardens his heart against his brother, how could the love of God remain properly in Him? My little children listen: none of us should ever love only in word or in tongue; we need to love each other with action and in truth.

When we love the brethren properly like that, we can know we are partakers of the truth, and assure our hearts in His presence. If our heart still condemns us after doing these things, God knows all things; He is greater than our hearts. But if we do these things, and our heart does not condemn us, we can build our confidence before God. As our assurance grows, we can ask whatever desired, and receive from Him; because we are remaining properly in Him and doing what is pleasing in His sight; we are doing in truth His commandments. (If you remain properly in me, and my words live in you, then you may ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7) 23. Now here is His commandment: we are to believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and we must love one another, even as He has commanded us. Anyone who is obeying these commandments is securely remaining properly in God and God in him. And here is another way we know He is remaining properly in us, by His Spirit that He has given to us.
19. Chapter 4

Some have said: Jesus, Gods Son, did not come in the flesh 1. Beloved, many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world. Some have already come and gone from your fellowship. So this is what we need to do: never believe every spirit, but instead put each spirit to the test to see if they are really from God. Here is one of the things you must look for: every spirit that freely admits that Jesus Christ has come from heaven and lived in the flesh is of the Spirit of God. (For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.John 6:38) Every spirit that does not freely admit that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. This is the spirit of the antichrist. You have heard that it is coming, and now it has arrived in the world. 4. God, who is in you, is greater than all these spirits and people in the world; therefore you have overcome them, my little children of God. They are of this world; therefore the world accepts them as they speak from the viewpoint of this world. Those who know God accepts us as we speak about the words of God that He has given to us. That is because we are not of this world, we are of God. Anyone who is not of God will not accept us as we speak. By these things we can know for sure who is of the Spirit of Truth and of the spirit of error. 7. Beloved, let us go over what God has commanded us again. Love of the brethren comes from our God; therefore we need to love one another. Everyone who continues to love the brethren knows God and has been born from God. If anyone does not love the brethren, he cannot know God, for God Himself is Love.

This is the way that the love of God was revealed to us: God has sent His only son, Jesus, into the world from heaven, in order that we might have life through Him. (I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10b). Now we can see what real love is, not us loving the Father, but that He loved us with such a love that He sent His Son to be our sacrifice unto Himself, which appeased His righteous anger against all sin. Since the Father loves us so very much, we really need to love one another. If we love one another as we ought to do, God will remain in us, and His love will be completed in us, even though none of us has ever seen God. 13. Because God has given us and we have received His Holy Spirit, we know we are properly remaining in Him and Him in us. And we know and speak openly that God our Father has sent His Son to be the savior of the world. Whoever admits freely that Jesus is Gods Son, God abides in him, and he remains properly in God. 16. Now we know and believe the love God has for us. He who remains properly in God by loving his brother is abiding in God and God in Him, because God is love. Since His love is completed in us like this, we know we can have boldness in the Day of Judgment; because as He is now so are we in this world. There is no fear in perfect love, because perfect love displaces fear. Fear brings on dread, therefore anyone who fears has not yet been made perfect in love. 19. Since He loved us first, we find it easy to love Him. If anyone says I love God, but he hates his brother, he has to be a liar. When a person does not love his own brother, whom he has seen, clearly he cannot love God, whom he has not seen. Therefore we have to acknowledge the commandment that we have received from God: he who really loves God must love his brother also.
9. Chapter 5

Whoever believes that Jesus is Gods Christ, the anointed Saviour of the world, is born of God; and everyone who loves the Father also loves the Son He sent. As we love God and keep His commandments, we then know that we love the children of God. This is the real love of God: that we keep Gods commandments. And we know that the commandments of God are not difficult. 4. Whenever a person is born of God, they have conquered the world. The victory that overcomes the world when we are born of Him is our faith. He who believes that Jesus is the name of the Son of God has the faith that overcomes the world. 6. Jesus Christ is he who came by water-baptism-and blood-the death of the cross; not just by water, but by water and blood. And the Holy Spirit is he who bears witness to these things, because the Holy Spirit is the truth. (When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. John 16:13)
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Now there are three who bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: The Holy Spirit, the water, and the blood. And these three agree as one. 9. Even as we receive the testimony of men, still we know that the testimony from God is greater. Now this is the testimony from God that He testified concerning His Son. Anyone who believes Jesus is the name of the Son of God has the witness within himself; anyone who does not believe the testimony from God has made God out as a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God gave about His Son. 11. Now this is the testimony: God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His son. The person remaining properly in Jesus Christ, Gods Son, has eternal life. Anyone who does not have Gods Son does not have eternal life. I have written these things to you who believe that Jesus is the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you are the ones who have eternal life; and so that you will continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 14. Now this is the assurance that we have in Him, that He listens favorably to our prayers when we ask anything according to what He wants to do. And if we know that He is listening favorably to us, whatever it is we are asking for, we also know that He will grant us or requests that we have asked for, when it is according to His will. 16. If any of you see a believer doing a sin which does not lead only to death, he will pray for him, and God will grant him life for those whose sin does not lead only to death. There is a certain sin that leads only to death; I do not say one should pray about that. Even though all living wrong is sin, still there are sins that can be forgiven and therefore one does not have to die. We know that if a person is born of God, he does not allow sin to continue; he will watch over himself carefully, and the wicked one cannot hurt such a one. (Everyone who has this hope in Jesus will purify himself and keep himself pure, even as Jesus is pure. 1st John 3:3) 19. We know that we are born of God, but that the rest of the world is easily persuaded by the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has indeed come, and that He has given us a spiritual understanding so that we will know Him who is truth; and that we would be in Him who is truth: this is Gods Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and the eternal life of God. My little Children, guard yourselves carefully from idols. Amen