1 John

John's
First Letter

(What It Means to be a True Christian.)

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1 John 1

1 He who was from the beginning, whom we have heard, whom we have seen with our eyes, whom we have gazed upon, and our hands have handled, regarding the Word of Life. 2 And that life was revealed: and we have seen it, and we testify and declare to you the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us. 3 That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; yet indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we write these things to you, so that your joy may be completely full.

5 And this is the message which we have heard from him, and declare to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say, "We have fellowship with him," and still walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son continually cleanses us from all wrong.

8 If we say that we have committed no wrong, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we acknowledge our wrongdoings, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our wrongdoings, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say, "We have done no wrong," we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 My little children, I'm writing these things to you in order that you may not continue to do wrong. But if anyone does something wrong, we have an intercessor with the Father, who comes alongside to help: Jesus Christ the Righteous One. 2 And he himself is the satisfactory offering for our wrongdoings: and not only for ours, but also for the wrongdoings of the whole world.

(Satisfactory offering: the Greek word which I’ve translated as “satisfactory offering” is “Hilasmos”; in Biblical times a “Hilasmos” was a “sacrifice” that pagans offered to “satisfy or appease” a demon god. And that’s why the Bible teaches that Jesus was the “Hilasmos” (The Ransom Sacrifice) the Father offered to free us from our wrongdoings and the devil. (See John 3:16 & Hebrews 2:14-15)

3 And by this we know that we know him, if we keep focused on his commandments: 4 whoever says, "I know him," but doesn't keep focused on his commandments, is a liar; and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps focused on his word, in them the Love of God has truly been perfected; so by this we know that we are in him.

7 Brothers and sisters, I'm not writing some new commandment to you; but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the message which you have heard from the beginning.

8 Then again, I am writing a new commandment to you; which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says they are in the light, but hates their brother or sister, is still in darkness.

10 Whoever Loves their brother and sister is in the light, and there is nothing in him that causes entrapment. 11 But whoever hates their brother or sister is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and doesn't know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded their eyes. (See John 13:34 & 15:12.

Note: Greek often paints vivid word pictures that are hard to translate into English: like “scandalon” which is often translated as “offense” in other translations, but it’s true meaning is much deeper: a “scandalon” was “the TRIGGER of a trap”, and there are things that we can say or do that “trigger or cause” others or ourselves “to be caught in a trap” which the devil has laid for us or for them.)

12 I'm writing to you, little children, because your wrongdoings are forgiven through his name. 13 I'm writing to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I'm writing to you, young people, because you have overcome the hurtful one. I've written to you, little children, because you have known the Father. 14 I've written to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I've written to you, young people, because you are strong, and God's Word resides in you, and you have overcome the hurtful one.

the things that are in the world system. If anyone loves this world’s system, the Love of the Father isn't in them. 16 Because everything that is in the world's system, the desire of the flesh, and the desire of the eyes, and the arrogance of this life, are not from the Father, but are of this world's system. 17 And the world's system with its desire is passing away, but the one who does God's will, will remain throughout eternity.

18 Little children, it's the last hour; and as you have heard the one who stands against-Christ is coming, but even now many who are against-Christ have already come; by this we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they weren’t of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be clearly revealed that none of them are of us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21 I haven't written to you because you don't know the truth, but because you know it, and you know that no lie is of the truth.

22 Who is the liar? Is it not the one who denies that Jesus is the Anointed? This is the Anti-Christ, the one who denies the Father and the Son.

23 Everyone who denies the Son doesn't have the Father either; but whoever acknowledges the Son also has the Father.

24 So let that which you have heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, you will also remain in the Son, and in the Father.

26 I've written these things to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But the anointing you've received from him remains in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. Rather that same anointing teaches you all things, and is true and is not a lie; just as it has taught you, remain in him. (See Jeremiah 31:34, Matthew 23:10, & John 16:12-14)

28 And now, little children, remain in him. So that when he appears, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, then you also know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of him.

1 See what manner of Love the Father has bestowed unto us, that we should be called God's Children: therefore the world doesn't know us, because it didn't know him.

2 Beloved, we are now God's Children, but it hasn't yet been revealed what we will be like: but we know that, when he appears, we will be just like him; for we will see him as he is: 3 and everyone who has this confident anticipation within themselves purifies themselves, just as he is pure.

4 Everyone who practices wrong-doing also practices lawlessness; and wrongdoing is lawlessness: 5 and you know that he appeared in order to take away our wrongdoings, and in him there is nothing wrong. 6 Therefore everyone who resides in him, doesn't continue to practice wrongdoing: everyone who continues practice wrongdoing, has neither seen nor known him.

7 Little children, let no one deceive you: whoever practices doing what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 Whoever continues to practice wrongdoing, belongs to the devil: because the devil has practiced wrongdoing from the beginning.

God's Son appeared for this purpose; to destroy the things the devil does. 9 So no one who is born of God continues to practice wrongdoing; because his seed resides in him; so he’s unable to continue to practice wrongdoing, because he has been born of God. 10 By this those who are God's Children and the devil's children become obvious: whoever doesn't practice righteousness is not of God, neither is the one who doesn't Love their brother and sister.

11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning: that we are to Love one another. 12 Not like Cain, who was of the hurtful one, and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were hurtful, and his brother's righteous. 13 Don't be astonished, my brothers and sisters, if the world system hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death into life, because we Love our brothers and sisters. Whoever doesn't Love their brother and sister remains in death.

15 Whoever hates their brother or sister is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing within them.

16 By this how we came to know God's Love, because he laid down his life for us. So we also are obligated to lay down our own lives for our brothers and sisters.

17 But if someone who has worldly possessions, sees their brother or sister in need, and closes their heart to them: in what way does God's Love reside within them? 18 My little children, we must not Love only with our words or tongue, but by our actions and in truth.

19 So by loving others we know that we are of the truth, and will reassure our hearts before him: 20 because even if our own heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and

21 Beloved, if our heart doesn't condemn us, then have we confidence before God: 22 and then whatever we ask, we will receive from him; because we keep focused on his commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight.

23 THIS IS HIS COMMANDMENT: That we must trust in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and Love one another just as he commanded us. (See Jeremiah 31:31-34)

24 So the one who keeps focused on his commandments resides in him, and he in them; and by this we know that he resides in us: from the spirit he has given to us.

1 Beloved, don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, is of God: 3 And every spirit that doesn't acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Anti-Christ, which you have heard was coming, and is already now in the world.

4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he who is in you, than he who is in the world’s system. 5 They are of the world's system: therefore they speak of the worldly things, and the world listens to them. 6 We are of God: whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not of God doesn't listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

7 Beloved, let's Love one another,because Love is from God; and everyone who Loves is born of God, and knows God. 8 The one who doesn't Love doesn't know God, because God is Love.

9 God's Love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only born Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is Love, not that we Loved God, but that he Loved us, and sent his Son to be the satisfactory offering for our wrongs.

11 Beloved, if God so Loved us: we are also obligated to Love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time; if we Love one another, God resides in us, and His Love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we reside in him, and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

14 And we have seen and we testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is God's Son, God resides within them, and they reside in God.

16 And we have come to know and believe the Love that God has for us. God is Love. So whoever resides in Love resides in God and God in them. 17 In this our Love becomes fully perfected, so that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment; because just as he is Love, so also are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in Love, rather fully perfected Love drives out all fear: because fear involves fear of punishment, so the one who is afraid, hasn't reached perfection in Love.

19 We Love him, because he first Loved us. 20 If anyone says, "I Love God," but they hate their brother or sister, they are a liar.

Because the one who doesn't Love their brother or sister, whom they have seen; how can they love God, whom they haven't seen?

21 And This Commandment we received from him: that the one who Loves God, must also Love their brother and sister.

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Anointed is born of God: and everyone who Loves the Father also Loves the one who has been born of him: 2 by this we know that we Love God's Children, when we Love God and keep focused on his commandments, 3 because keeping focused on his commandments, this is what loving God is: and his commandments aren't a burden.

(Note: “His commandments are not a burden,” because His Commandment is simple to Love. (See 1 Timothy 1:5)

4 Because everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world? Is itA not the one who believes that Jesus is God's Son? (See John 14:15 & 14:23-24)

6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it's the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is truth. 7 Because there are three who testify in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three who testify on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three testify as one. 9 If we receive the testimony of people, the testimony of God is greater: because this is God's testimony, which he has testified concerning his Son. 10 Who-ever believes in God's Son has the witness within themselves: whoever doesn't believe God has made him a liar; because they haven't believed the testimony which God has given concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son: 12 Whoever has the Son, has life. Whoever doesn't have God's Son, doesn't have life.

13 I've written these things to you who believe in the name of God's Son; in order that you may know that you have eternal life. And that you may continue to trust in the name of God's Son.

14 And this is the confident anticipation that we have in him: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if he hears us, then we know that we have already received the requests which we asked of him.

16 If anyone sees their brother or sister committing a wrong that doesn't lead to death: they should ask, and God will grant life to those whose wrongdoing doesn't lead to death. (There is a wrong which leads to death; I'm not saying that anyone should pray about that.) 17 All unrighteousness is wrong; but there is a wrong that doesn't lead to death.

18 We know that everyone who has been born of God doesn't keep doing wrong; rather whoever has been born of God stands guard over themselves, and the hurtful one cannot attach himself to him.

19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the deception of the evil one.

20 But we know that God's Son has come, and has given us understanding; that we might know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life: 21 keep away from idols, little children.