D B 1,2. The Father's love to us.
C 3-15. Effect upon us.
B 16-. The Son's love to us.
C -16-24. Effect upon us.
1 John 3)
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father has given to us, in order that we should be called the children of God: on account of this the world knows us not, because it knew Him not. (The whole word [Satan's] will not love you if you become a Christian.)
2 Beloved, now are we children of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him even as He is. (He will appear as when He left, a young adult.)
C D1 3-9. Inward purity. D2 10-15. Outward manifestation.
D1 E h 3. Purity.
i 4. Sin's character. Lawless.
k 5. Christ manifested. Reason.
l 6. Test of abiding.
F 7-. Warning against deceivers.
E h -7. Righteousness.
i 8-. Sin's origin. The devil.
k -8. Christ manifested. Reason.
l 9. Test of being begotten of God.
3 And every man that has this hope upon (i.e. set, or fixed on) him purifies himself (see Acts 21:24), even as He is pure. (Pure in mind. See 2 Cor. 7:11.)
4 Every one who does (i.e. practices) sin does lawlessness: and sin is the transgression of the law. (Know the difference between Law, ordinances, and statutes.)
5 And you know that He was manifested (appeared) in order that He might take away our sins (cp. John 1:29. Col. 2:14. God provided it); and in Him there is not sin.
6 Every one who abides in Him sins not: whosoever sins (i.e. an habitual sinner) has not seen Him, neither known Him.
7 Little children, let no one deceive you (see 2:26 [seduce]):
he that does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. (Cp. 2:29. By their fruit you shall know them.)
8 He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. (see 1:1 and John 8:44. The devil is the chief sinner.)
For this the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy (cp. John 2:19) the works of the devil. (See Heb. 2:14.)
9 Whosoever is begotten (the only begotten Son. This is speaking of Christ) of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he is not able to sin, because he is begotten of God.
D2 G m 10,11. Character of the 2 classes.
n 12. The origin of Cain.
H 13. The wold's choice.
G m 14. Test of the 2 states.
n 15. Cain's followers.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil (Kenites. See Gen. 3:15,16. They show by what they do): every one who does not righteousness is not of God, and he that loves not his brother.
11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning (Genesis), that we should love one another.
12 Not as Cain, who was of (progeny) the wicked one (see John 8:44), and slew his brother. And for the sake of what slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous. (See Matt. 13:35-39. 2 Cor. 11:1-3.)
13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. (They hated Christ.)
14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loves not his brother abides in death. (See Ezek. 3:18. Amos 8:11.)
15 Whosoever hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that not any murderer has eternal life abiding in him. (No one that does this in the flesh can have salvation. When they die the go immediately before the Judge, God. And the one they murdered is right there.)
16 In this we know the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: (See John 10:10.)
C o -16-18. Love manifested to the brethren.
p 19-22. Proof of our state before God.
o 23. Commandment of God.
p 24. Proof of His abiding in us.
and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (However, don't be an enabler. Use tough love.)
17 But whoever has this world's goods (or living. Cp. Luke 15:12,30), and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his bowels (see Philem. 7,12,20) of compassion from him, how dwells the love of God in him? (Give hope, destiny, purpose.)
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (See 1:6. Expose the Word exactly as it is written.)
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts (minds) before Him.
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. (God can overcome any guilt or persecution that comes your way. Compare Peter's answer, John 21:17.)
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence (see 2:28) toward God. (See 2 Thess. 3:5-15.)
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. (Please Him and He will please you.)
23 And this is His commandment, That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, according as He gave us commandment.
24 And he that keeps His commandments dwells in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abides in us (the God-head. Richest thing in the world!), by the spirit which He gave us. (I.e. the new nature, not the Giver Himself.)