07/19/17 READ FIRST JOHN, AS GOD INTENDED

07/19/17 READ FIRST JOHN, AS GOD INTENDED


This note looks at 27 verses from the short book of First John. The verses are clear calls to a life of Spirit filled victorious living, but I include the view of Sinning Religion (S/R) concerning these verses.

Now, I know that most folks will say that no one actually believes the alternative view I have added. While the Sinning Religionist (S/R) will not say that they would translate these verses in this way, it certainly is (for the most part) the interpretation that they consistently give to these verses. I have had these same things said to me time and again and again.

I hope you will read all of the verses, as I have them quoted from the KJV (though I could have used any number of other good translations), and then read the restated or explained comments attributed to the Sinning Religionist (S/R).

It is sad when sinning religion explains (changes) Scripture. Even when the Bible clearly says that God saves us from sinning, S/R says, "God meant to say..." or, "God meant THIS when He said THAT..." or, "God did not mean THAT when He said THIS."

For instance, God said that believers are, "righteous, even as He is righteous," but S/R interprets that to mean, “God sees us as righteous, even though we still sin and have a sin nature.” Consider these verses from that perspective.

PART 1... 1 John 1 & 2 For those who believe in Sinning Religion and read this article, but do not agree with my view of your position, please correct my statements and send them to me by email. BTW, you do not have to rewrite these verses for those of us who believe in salvation from sin, since we already agree with the way GOD SAID it. For those who want to refer to 1 John 1:8 as proof that believers cannot live without sin, don't be to sure that is what it is saying. Since the rest of Scripture refutes S/R and affirms righteous living, 1 John 1:8 must be understood in the light of those hundreds of other verses.

GOD SAID, 1 John 1:6

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

S/R says,

If we walk in darkness we still have salvation. Fellowship is not integral to salvation, it is an extra benefit which a Christian may or may not have. At any rate, walking in darkness (sin) does not separate us from God.

GOD SAID, 1 John 1:7

7 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 cleanses us from all sin.

S/R says,

We actually cannot really walk fully in the light or in obedience to God or in righteousness, at least all of the time. Also, we are “counted” as cleansed from all sin, rather than actually and experientially cleansed (purified) from all sin. We will always have sin, in this life.

GOD SAID, 1 John 1:9

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

S/R says,

God forgives us of the sins we confess and even of sins we do not confess, since He forgives us of future sins, before we commit them; however, He does not cleanse us from all unrighteousness in this life. He counts us as cleansed from all unrighteousness, for Jesus sake, but we are not actually delivered from all unrighteousness.

GOD SAID, 1 John 2:1

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

S/R says,

These things write I unto you, that you do not make sin a habit.

GOD SAID, 1 John 2:3

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

S/R says,

Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments most of the time (or some of the time or occasionally) or we at least want to keep his commandments.

GOD SAID, 1 John 2:4

4 He that saith, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

S/R says,

He that says, I know him, and does not keep his commandments is not a liar, or whoever does not keep his commandments some of the time is a liar.

GOD SAID, 1 John 2:5

5 But whoso keeps his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

S/R says,

But whoso keeps his word (sometimes), in him verily is the love of God perfected (occasionally): and we know we are in Him, even when we sin.

GOD SAID, 1 John 2:6

6 He that saith he abides in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

S/R says,

He that says he abides in him ought to try to walk or occasionally walk, somewhat like He walked.

GOD SAID, 1 John 2:15

15 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.

S/R says,

It is futile, but try not to love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, it cannot be helped and it does not interfere with your salvation, because the love of the Father is still in you.

GOD SAID, 1 John 2:17

17 And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides forever.

S/R says,

The world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that is saved does not have to do the will of God in order to abide forever, because he can't do the will of God, at least, not all of the time.

PART 2... 1 John 3

GOD SAID, 1 John 3:3

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

S/R says,

No man who hopes Christ is coming back, can purify himself, nor can God purify him as pure as Christ.

GOD SAID, 1 John 3:4

4 Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

S/R says,

Whoever sins habitually is breaking the law, which is too bad for those who have never trusted in Christ, but no matter how many times a believer breaks the law, he is still saved. Sin is the transgression of the law, but Jesus paid for all of a believers transgressions, past, present and future.

GOD SAID, 1 John 3:5

5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

S/R says,

And you know that He was manifested to take away the believers penalty, but He does not save the believer from the power and pollution of sin, because the believer still has sin in this present evil world. Except, God can't see our sin, because He looks at us through Jesus.

GOD SAID, 1 John 3:6

6 Whosoever abides in him sins not: whosoever sins hath not seen him, neither known him.

S/R says,

Whoever abides in Jesus, still sins, because no one is without sin and no one can live without sinning: whoever is a believer and still sins has seen God, and knows God. Deliverance from sinning is not part of salvation.

GOD SAID, 1 John 3:7

7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.

S/R says,

Little children, let no man deceive you: no man does righteousness and no man can be righteous, just as Jesus is righteous. In fact, if anyone says he is righteous, he is a liar and the truth is not in him.

GOD SAID, 1 John 3:8

8 He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

S/R says,

He that commits sin may be of God or of the devil; because the devil sins from the beginning and so do believers, but God can't see the sins of the believers. Believers sin, but since Jesus PAID THE SIN DEBT, believers can't be charged with their sins anymore. For this purpose God was manifested, that He might ignore the works of the devil in sinning believers.

GOD SAID, 1 John 3:9

9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

S/R says,

Whoever is born of God does commit sin; because either God can't deliver believers from sin or God won't deliver believers from sin or God does not care that believers get delivered from sin in this world. God's seed remains in the believer, but that seed does not or cannot save the believer from sin. Not only is the believer able to sin, he is expected to sin and in deed, cannot do any other than sin, because, being born of God does not save believers from sinning.

GOD SAID, 1 John 3:10

10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother.

S/R says,

There is no difference in the children of God and the children of the devil when it comes to sin, since both the children of God and the children of the devil sin. Even if a believer does not do righteousness, they are still of God.

GOD SAID, 1 John 3:24

24 And he that keeps his commandments dwells in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

S/R says,

Believers who do not keep God's commandments are still in Christ, because believers still sin. Here is how we know that we are Christians, because we believe we are, even if we are still sinning. We know we are saved because we believed on Christ at some time in the past, not because we are abiding in the Holy Spirit and bearing good fruit rather than evil fruit. The Holy Spirit abides, even when we are producing bad fruit.

PART 3... 1 John 4 & 5

GOD SAID, 1 John 4:17

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.

S/R says,

Believers are not like Christ in this world and though we are not like Him here and now, we will have boldness in the day of judgment, because it doesn't change our eternal destiny.

GOD SAID, 1 John 5:2

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

S/R says,

We know that we love the children of God, regardless of our feelings or actions, because keeping God's commandments has nothing to do with my relationship with God or salvation, since believers cannot keep God's commandments.

GOD SAID, 1 John 5:3

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

S/R says,

This is the love of God, that God says we have kept His commandments, even though we don't keep His commandments. We are unable to keep His commandments and it is just a legalistic burden to try to keep His commandments. It is grievous to try to keep His commandments.

GOD SAID, 1 John 5:4

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

S/R says,

Whoever is born of God does not overcome the world, because believers cannot overcome the world, the flesh and the devil. Christian faith has nothing to do with overcoming temptation, it only gives us victory in our sins, not over sin. Faith does not overcome the world.

GOD SAID, 1 John 5:5

5 Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

S/R says,

No one overcomes the world, even those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

GOD SAID, 1 John 5:17

17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

S/R says,

Not only is all unrighteousness sin, all believers are sinners and no sin results in death for the person who believes in Jesus, even if they are unrighteous. We know that there is none righteous, no not one. (DLG note, this reference in the Bible is to the unsaved, not the saved).

GOD SAID, 1 John 5:18

18 We know that whosoever is born of God sins not; but he that is begotten of God keeps himself, and that wicked one touches him not.

S/R says,

We know that whoever is born of God does sin; those who are begotten of God cannot keep themselves from sinning, even by the grace of God. Believers are Satan's instruments of unrighteousness as long as they are in the body.

GOD SAID, 1 John 5:21

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

S/R says,

Actually, no one can keep themselves from idols or any kind of sin in this life and in fact, God does not keep believers from all sin in this life.