p. 7 | Search the Scriptures by F. D. Starr

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · May 15, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 20.

Search the Scriptures

By F. D. Starr

First John.

THE three epistles of John were written as late as A.D. 90, or between that date and the close of that first century. John, the beloved disciple was then in his old age, being nearly a centenarian. The love that characterized his life in his earlier days, increased as the years passed; and now, so near the close of life, love seems to be his all-absorbing theme. In this first epistle of only five chapters, the term love in some form occurs fifty times, which would nearly equal, on an average, once in every two verses. This book is most decidedly a treatise on love. The thought suggests itself that the most appropriate thing to do in writing about this epistle would be to insert the book entire. This we certainly would do, were it not for the fact that doubtless every reader has the epistle in his possession. Who can fail to be impressed with the unspeakable riches of its contents upon reading it anew, tho he may have previously read it a hundred times?

Notice the marked similarity between the first verse of this epistle and the commencement of the Gospel of John: "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life." "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God." And these in turn call our minds back to the first verse in the Bible: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Thus our thoughts are turned toward Him who is without beginning or end, the Creator and Redeemer. The truth of the Gospel is the same blessed truth that has been from the beginning.

In explaining the eternal principle of love, the apostle tells what love is and what its opposite is. "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5:3. "Love is the fulfilling of the law." Keeping the commandments of God, then, is love, consequently the violation of these commandments is the opposite of love. "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4.

Here, then, we have two very plain definitions—the definition of "love" and the definition of "sin." Love is the keeping of the commandments; sin the transgression of the commandments. Love to God is shown in keeping the law, obedience; hatred of God is shown in breaking the law, in disobedience. This latter is prompted by the spirit of disobedience (See Eph. 2:2), the other by the spirit of obedience. "He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected." There is no stronger argument against antinomianism than the argument of love, neither is there any stronger motive of obedience than this same principle of love. "O, how love I Thy law." "I delight in the law of God after the inward man." These are the sentiments of truly converted men in whom the love of God abides, whether it be men like David in the old dispensation, or men like Paul in the new dispensation.

We should be careful to know what manner of spirit we are of. John warns us: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they be of God." The test of these spirits is then given. Spirits that do not acknowledge the divinity and incarnation of the Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth, are not from God. Another test is given in Isa. 8:19, 20. When the guidance of familiar spirits is being urged, the test to be applied to these spirits is: "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." True Christians will be found keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Inseparably connected with this matter of love and obedience is the experience of the new birth. "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4),—victory for the faithful commandment-keepers.

F. D. STARR.