The Strand Study Bible

I JOHN

I JOHN

2121

3. Christ rose from the dead (I Cor 15:4) According to Romans 1:4, Jesus’ resurrection proved He is who He said He was –God in flesh (Jn 5:17-18 & 10:30-33). Thus any religion that teaches you that Jesus (the promised OT MESSIAH - Jn 1:41 and 4:25) is not a part of the Triune Godhead does not accept the “facts” behind the Gospel. NOTE - Interestingly enough, long before Jesus rose from the dead to prove His deity, many already believed that the promised OT MESSIAH would be God in flesh: *Adam and Eve believed it (Gen 4:1) *Abraham and Isaac believed it (Gen 22:8/Heb 11:17-19 and Jn 8:56-59) *Job believed it (Job 19:25-27/Lk 2:38 & 21:28, Rom 3:24, Gal 3:13, Eph 1:7, Titus 2:14, Heb 9:12, I Pet 1:18-19 and Rev 5:9) *Moses believed it (Deut 18:15-19/Acts 3:22-23 & 7:37 and Jn 7:40) *David believed it (Psa 110/ Mt 21:16) *Solomon believed it (Prov 30:4) *Isaiah believed it (Isa 7:14 & 9:6/Mt 1:23) *Micah believed it (Mic 5:2/Mt 2:6) *Jeremiah believed it (Jere 23:5-6/Mt 2:1-4) *Daniel believed it (Dan 9:24-27)

*Ezekiel believed it (Ezk 17:22-24/Mt 2:23) *Zechariah believed it (Zech 9:9/Mt 21:5) *Malachi believed it (Mal 3:1-3 & 4:2/Mt 11:10) *The wise men believed it (Mt 2:1-2) *Herod believed it (Mt 2:7-8) *John the Baptist believed it (Jn 1:29-34) *The Devil believed it (Mt 4:1-11) *The leper believed it (Mt 8:1) *The demons believed it (Mt 8:28-29) *The common people believed it (Jn 12:34/Mic 5:2)

*The disciples believed it (Mt 16:13-18) - The disciples may not have understood every detail concerning the ‘actual’ death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, but they certainly knew the ‘facts’ behind the Gospel. They knew Jesus was God long before He rose from the dead in order to prove it (Rom 1:1-4). 5:2 THE ADAGE IS TRUE: If you love God, loving others will take care of itself 5:4-5 This word ( overcometh ) is the Greek word QLNK ( vike ) and means “ to conquer (Rev 6:2), to prevail (Rev 5:5), to get the victory 2. The sanctification of a believer ( Rev 2:7 ) – Every believer is to conquer , to prevail , to get the victory , and to be set apart (sanctified) from three evils: the Devil (I Jn 2:13-14), the world (Jn 16:33 and Rev 2:21 & 2:7,11,17,26 & 3:5,12), and the flesh (Rom 12:21). NOTE - Jesus promises the following future blessings to every believer who “ overcomes ” the Devil, the world, and the flesh: * A special audience with God (Rev 2:7 – “ will I give to eat of the tree of life ”) * A new consciousness in which we are allowed to forget the hurt that Hell has cast upon our lost loved ones and friends (Rev 2:11 – “ shall not be hurt of the second death ”) – God will not wipe away all tears until after the 1000-year Millennium ends (Rev 21:4). It makes sense that there will be some believers in Heaven who will experience great regret accompanied by tears, for not having shared the Gospel with lost loved ones and friends, and/or have not finished their race according to I Corinthians 9:24-27. This regret, and the hurt that accompanies it, could last up to a thousand years. * A special understanding of the Word of God (Rev 2:17 – “ will I give to eat of the hidden manna ”) * A special standing with God (Rev 2:17 – “ will give him a white stone ”) * A special relationship with God (Rev 2:17 – “ a new name written ”) * A special working privilege with God (Rev 2:26 – “ will I give power over the nations ”) (Exa - Solomon; Esther) (Rev 3:21 – “ will I grant to sit with me in my throne ”) (Exa - Solomon’s mother) * A special resurrected body that illuminates (Rev 3:5 – “ shall be clothed in white raiment ”). In eternity, every believer will be clothed in white (Rev 19:7-8). However, some believers will be brighter than others (Dan 12:3 and I Cor 15:38-42). * A special feeling of confidence and full assurance before God (Rev 3:5 – “ not blot out his name ”) * A special feeling of unashamed-ness before God (Rev 3:5 – “ confess his name before my Father ”) * A special place of leadership (Rev 3:12 – “ will I make a pillar in the Temple ”) * A special friendship with God (Rev 3:12 – “ will write upon him the name of my God ”) (Exa - Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Moses, Mary and Martha, Peter, James, and John, etc.) 5:6a CHRIST’S deity ( This is he ) was confirmed by three witnesses on the day of His baptism (Mt 3:13-17), thus fulfilling the law’s requirement of two or three witnesses (Deut 19:15): 1. by the water (the FATHER’S approval of the SON at His baptism – Mt 3:13-14,17) 2. by the blood (the SON’S willingness to shed His blood for the sins of mankind – Mt 3:15) 3. by the Spirit (the SPIRIT’S approval of the SON at His baptism – Mt 3:16) 5:6b This phrase ( but by water and blood ) is a reference to John 19:34-35, in which blood and water came out of the pierced side of Jesus. Thus CHRIST comes into the soul of the believer for both its cure (blood) and cleansing (water). (Rev 15:2).” This word is used to describe two kinds of “overcoming”: 1. The salvation of an unbeliever ( I Jn 5:4-5 and Rev 12:11 & 15:2 & 21:7 )