1 John 3

1 John 3:1

BEhold] Take notice of it, as of a certain truth, and a great priviledge, John 1:12.

what manner of love] And how great, Matthew 8:27.

that we should be called the Sons of God] Both be so, and also acknowledged, Matthew 5:9.

the world knoweth us not] To be Gods children, and therefore loveth us not, but hateth us, Joh. 15. 21, 24. and 16. 3.

1 John 3:2

now are we the sons of God] Joh. 1. 12, 13. For we have received the Spirit of adoption here, Romans 8:15. Galatians 4:5. and so have right to glory, as Gods children.

and it doth not yet appear] Or, but it doth not yet appear, as Matthew 11:19. It hath not yet been made manifest.

what we shall be] How glorious we shall be.

but we know] See on chap. 2. 28. Or, it shall appear; as in this verse before.

we shall be like him] Colossians 3:4. Philippians 3:21.

for we shall see him] And therefore must be made like him; else are we not fit to live ever in his presence, which is called seeing of God, Matthew 5:8. Hebrews 12:14.

as he is] As he is now, in glory, not as he was, in the form of a servant, John 17:24. Phil. 2. 7, 9. and 3. 21.

1 John 3:3

every man that hath this hope] All that look for salvation by Christ, besides the righteousnesse imputed by God, seek to be inherently holy.

in him] Or, on him. On Christ.

purifieth himself] Matthew 5:8. Hebrews 12:14.

1 John 3:4

Whosoever committeth sin] Good men must not flatter themselves in their sins, nor give way to their infirmities, as if they were no sins; for they are breaches of Gods law.

transgresseth also the law] It condemns their opinion, who think, that such as are freed from the curse of the law by faith in Christ, are not subject to the command of it, 2 Peter 2:19. Jude v. 4.

sin is the transgression of the law] For, where there is no law there is no transgression, Romans 4:15. and Romans 5:13. And these two are convertible: for every transgression is a sin, and every sin is a transgression.

1 John 3:5

he was manifested] Christ took our nature on him, 1 Timothy 3:16. Chap. 1. 2.

to take away our sins] The guilt of them, by his blood, chap. 1. 7. Revelation 1:5. The filth of them, by his Spirit, 1 Corinthians 6:11.

and in him is no sin] Who neither did sin, nor had sin, 2 Corinthians 5:21. Hebrews 7:26. and Hebrews 4:15. We must not continue in sin, because Christ came to take sin away, and had no sin in himself. Or, for those two reasons, we must not despair of pardon of sin.

1 John 3:6

Whosoever abideth in him] Joh. 15. 4, 5.

sinneth not] Doth nor practiseth sin, as v. 8, 9. John 8:34. Maketh it not his trade. He sinneth not out of malice, or, liveth not in a course of known sin.

hath not seen him] Had never any true sight of him, much lesse was ever thorowly acquainted with him, Matthew 7:23. John 10:14.

1 John 3:7

Little children] See on chap. 2. 1.

he that doeth righteousnesse] Not that heareth or talketh of it onely.

is righteous] Doth shew that he is so. chap. 2. 29.

as he is righteous] Like him, as Leviticus 11:44. 1 Peter 1:16. Matthew 5:48. not equall to him, as 1 Samuel 2:2.

1 John 3:8

He that committeth sin] With plotting beforehand, and delight in it, Romans 13:14. and practising it, as v. 6.

is of the devil] John 8:44. Acts 13:10.

the devil sinneth] Continueth sinning still.

from the beginning] Of the creation, or, of sin; for he was the first sinner, John 8:44.

the Son of God was manifested] See on v. 5.

that he might destroy] Gr. dissolve. For many things are destroyed by dissolution.

the works of the devil] Our sins, as v. 5. and the power the devil hath over us, by occasion of them, 2 Timothy 2:26.

1 John 3:9

is born] Gr. hath been born, or, begotten, as chap. 5. 1.

doth not commit sin] See on v. 6.

for his seed] The graces of the holy Ghost, by whose power he was regenerate.

remaineth in him] Holinesse, planted in him by God, keeps him from sinfull courses, and, like good seed, makes him bring forth good fruit; whereas before, like ground not sown, he brought forth nothing but the weeds of sin.

cannot sin] See v. 6.

1 John 3:10

whosoever doeth not righteousnesse] Purity of life, and charity, are two sure signes of a childe of God.

1 John 3:11

message] Or, commandment.

from the beginning] See on chap. 2. 7.

one another] Not our kinred onely, but others also, and that mutually.

1 John 3:12

Not as Cain] Let us not do as Caindid: or, not that we should do as Cain.

of that wicked one] The devil, the first murderer, chap. 2. 14. John 8:44.

and slew his brother] Genesis 4:8.

because his own works were evil, and his brothers righteous] Out of meer envie, and malice proceeding from it, Psalms 38:20.

1 John 3:13

Marvel not, if the world hate you] Because the same spirit of envie that was in Cain, and the same occasions, are still in the world, Genesis 3:15. Joh. 15. 18, 19.

1 John 3:14

We know] We do not onely hope for it for hereafter, but know it now, chap. 5. 13.

that we have passed] Already, and are in the state of grace and life.

from death unto life] Out of the state of nature, which leads to hell, into the state of grace, which tends to heaven, John 5:24. Chap. 4. 7.

because we love the brethren] This is not the cause of our passing from death to life; but the cause of our knowledge thereof, or the mark whereby we know it; as Luke 7:47.

1 John 3:15

Whosoever hateth his brother, is a murderer] For he standeth guilty of transgressing the sixth commandment, Matthew 5:22.

no murderer hath eternall life] Galatians 5:21. Revelation 21:8.

1 John 3:16

the love of God] The truth of it, or the force of it, John 15:13. Romans 5:8. Chap. 4. 9.

because he laid down his life] Because Christ died for us, John 10:15. He shewed love to us, in his incarnation; but most of all, in laying down his life willingly for us, John 10:17. He needed not to have done it.

for us] Whom he had no need of, nor no cause given to love; but much cause to hate, Romans 5:8-9.

1 John 3:17

whose hath this worlds good] That is, things needfull for preserving life. So Mark 12:44. Luke 8:43. and Luke 15:12. and Luke 21:4.

his brother] His neighbour, especially a believer, Galatians 6:10. whom he ought to relieve, because they are brethren.

shutteth up his bowels] Sheweth, by not relieving him, that he is not at all moved with any pitie of his wants, or compassion of him, Lamentations 2:12. Luke 1:78. Phil. 1. 8. and 2. 1. Colossians 3:12. 2 Corinthians 7:15. Philem. v. 7, 12. Isaiah 63:15. For pitie doth, as it were, open the bowels, Genesis 43:20. 1 Kings 3:16. Matthew 9:36. Fraternall charity, should come from maternall affection.

how dwelleth the love of God in him?] It cannot abide in him, let him brag of it never so much, chap. 4. 20. James 2:15. The love of God, and of our neighbour, are inseparable, Matth. 22. 38, 39. Chap. 4. 21. and 5. 1.

1 John 3:18

My little children] See on chap. 2. 1.

let us not love in word] Not in word onely; as Hosea 6:6. Matthew 9:13. and Matthew 12:7. Romans 2:28. By giving good words, without actuall relief, which is nothing worth, James 2:15.

and in truth] Not giving to avoid the importunity of the poor, as Luke 18:4-5. but out of love to them, and pitie of their wants. Or, in deed and in truth. Because that is true charity, which is manifested by deeds.

1 John 3:19

And hereby] Or, For hereby. See on chap. 2. 2.

that we are of the truth] Sincere Christians, not hypocrites Or, professours of the heavenly truth, and livers according to it, John 18:37. Or, the true children of God, v. 10. Chap. 4. 4, 6. Therefore it followeth, before him.

shall assure our hearts] Gr. perswade. It hath no assurance by nature, and needeth suresignes to perswade it, that we are sincere, and in favour with him, Luke 1:6.

before him] Before Christ with confidence, chap. 4. 17. 2 Peter 1:10.

1 John 3:20

if our heart condemn us] Though our life be so fair, that no man condemn us, nor our words or deeds bewray us; yet if our heart condemn us, either of a secret wicked course of life, or of want of charity, v. 17. God will much more do it, Job 34:22. Psalms 19:12.

condemn us] Or, passe sentence against us, according to the Greek etymologie.

God is greater then our heart] We must take notice that God is greater then our heart, chap. 4. 4. and therefore will condemn us much more, chap. 5. 9. Job 32. 21, 22. and 33. 12. For he is more powerfull, John 10:29.

and knoweth all things] Genesis 1:31. Job 28:24. 2 Chronicles 16:9. Prov. 15 11. Hebrews 4:13. And therefore knoweth our secret sins, which we know not: and hath more cause, as well as power, to condemn us.

1 John 3:21

if our heart condemn us not] Of hypocrisie, or want of charity, as v. 20.

confidence] To pray freely to him, as v. 22.

1 John 3:22

whatsoever we ask, &c.] If we love our brethren, we may be sure God will hear us, and grant our requests, Mat. 7. 7, 8. and 21. 22. Mark 11:24. Luke 11. 9, 10. Joh. 14. 13, 14. and 16. 23, 24. Otherwise we have cause to doubt of it.

because we keep] Not for our merit, but for his mercifull promise to hear such, Daniel 9:18. John 9:31.

his commandment] Gr. commandments. Of faith in Christ, and love of God and man, v. 23. Chap. 4. 21.

1 John 3:23

on the Name of his Son] On his Son, as he hath declared himself in his Gospel, chap. 2. 12. Acts 2:21. Romans 10:13.

as he gave us commandment] John 13:34. and John 14:1.

1 John 3:24

And he that] Or, For he that; as v. 19. Chap. 2. 2.

dwelleth in him] Abideth joyned to him by faith, John 6:56. Ephesians 3:17.

and he in him] By his Spirit, as followeth in this verse. By the Spirit, is meant the gifts of the Spirit, Romans 8:10-11.