Bible Question:
All these questions concern the correct interpretation of 1 John Passages. 1 John 5 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.(What is the water supposed to symbolize?God?) 1 John 3 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (Does this mean I can't sin, or don't sin???) 1 John 5 16 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. (What is the sin unto death?) 1 John 5 17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. (again witht he death sin???) 18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. (here it is again where it says I don't sin?) 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (this is the last line of his letter and seems totally disparrate from the theme ???) 1 John 5 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (Even our faith???) 1 John 4 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (are we in the day of judgement or is it in the end?) |
Bible Answer: Greetings, In 1John 8 the water is referring to Jesus baptism. Water and blood constitute the external objective witnesses to who Christ is. They refer to the baptism and death (blood). In 1John 3:4-8 When we are born again we become a member of God's family. It is inconsistant for a member of God's family, who should bear the family likeness to practice sin. In doing so he would be denying the family likeness and repudiating God's will. John does not say that the one who abides in Christ does not commit a single act of sin, instead he declares no one who dwells in Him is practicing sin. He may, and does, commit individual acts of sin, but he does not habitually live a life of sin because sin in incompatible with the believer's position in Christ. Sin unto death is any premeditated and unconfessed sin that causes the Lord to determine to end to the believers life. It is not an indivdual sin like murder or lying, but whatever sin is the final one in the tolerance of God. Again John is indicating here that no one who has been born of God habitually engages in sin. In this last verse John is highlighting the importance of adherence to the fundamentals of the faith. He is referring here to the false teachers that withdrew from the brotherhood with which they had formally been associated. The false teachers upheld the world's philosophy as superior to God's revelation as demonstratedd in their perversion of basic Christian teaching. John warns the children of Christ to protect themselves from their false beliefs and practices. Faith in Jesus and dedication of one's life to Him make one an overcomer. In 4:17 the judgement referred to is the time when we stand before dthe judgement seat of Christ. (answers taken from Everyman's Bible Comentary and MacArthur Study Bible) prayon |