THE CAPABILITIES OF OUR FAITH IN THE INCARNATE LORD In this chapter, the apostle is addressing the power of faith in the Lord Jesus the Son of God: 3. The basis of faith and witnessing to Himv. 6 - 10 . Faith and the gift of eternal lifev. 11 - 13 5. Faith and answering prayersv. 14 -15 6. Believers and their prayers for their brothersv. 16 - 18 7. Believers receive the enlightenment of knowledgev. 19 - 20 1. FAITH AND LOVE “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.” (v. 1) After St. John addressed the issue of love, now he is correlating between faith, the birth from above, and love. Our second birth is based on our faith in the Lord Jesus that He is the Christ who has reconciled us with the Father. Thus, through baptism, we become children of the Father and love Him. Our love to the Father drives us to love the Son. There is no love inside us toward God the Father except through faith in His Son. St. Hilary of Poatier Our love to God drives us to love our brothers. Our love to our brothers is not true unless if it is through our love to God, through His commandments. This describes everyone who is born of God and does what God wants him to do. St. Didymus The Blind John immediately joined love to faith, because without love faith is useless. According to charity, faith belongs to Christians, but without love it belongs to the demons. Moreover, those who do not believe are even worse than the demons. Caesarius of Arles “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.” (v. 2) By accepting the Head of the body, we accept the members of the body. 2. FAITH AND THE LIFE OF VICTORY One may ask: “Who can fulfill God’s commandments? Who can overcome the love of the world with all its temptations? Through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who has overcome the world and still overcoming by His work in us. When we hide in Him, the narrow road becomes easy, the heavy burden becomes light, all the temptations of the world become as nothing, and all the afflictions of the world as the subject of our joy. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (v. 3, 4, 5) The substance and ground of the love we ought to have for God is obedience to his commandments. St. Didymus The Blind Whoever climbs to the perfection of the Gospel rises to the highest level of virtue, overcoming every law, looking to what Moses has commanded as easy and simple, realizing that by his submission to the grace of the Savior, reaches to the condition of sublimation. Thus, sin has no dominion over us, for the Holy Spirit given to us has poured the love of God in our hearts. (Rom. 5:5) We are no more concerned with any other matter and do not desire to do what is forbidden nor neglect what is commanded. But the divine love becomes all our goals and desire, and we never enjoy the trifle matters nor even ask for what is allowed… The roots of sin do not perish under the Law, but under the grace; also the roots of the evil pertaining to the human will. Abbot Theonas No one dares to overcome the devil except the Son Jesus Christ who lived in the wilderness and overcame him. Hence, the human nature, in Christ Jesus, became triumphant and won the crown of victory. The Lord Jesus won Satan and crowned the head of human nature by the crown of triumph. St. Cyril the Great 2. THE FOUNDATION OF FAITH AND WITNESSING TO HIM “This is He who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.” (v. 6) Our faith is based on the blood of Christ, our dying and burial with Him in baptism. Here the apostle St. John is distinguishing between the baptism of John by water for remission of sin (John 1: 31) and the baptism of the Lord Jesus, which is by water, and Spirit where we are buried with Christ and rose to a new inner man on the image of the Lord Jesus. This is the baptism, which is built on the cross of the Lord Christ. The water in Marah was very bitter. When Moses cast the tree, its water became sweet, for water without the preaching of the cross is useless, in regard to salvation. But after the cross of salvation has consecrated the water, it becomes suitable to use in the baptismal front and the chalice of salvation. As Moses cast the wood in the water, likewise the priest utters on the baptismal font by the testimony of the cross of the Lord, so the water becomes sweet due to the work of grace. St. Ambrose The Spirit testifies to that baptism and His testimony is right, not merely a testimony of words but by deed, for it is His act. Entering the baptismal front, you do not only enter into simple water but you receive the salvation of the Holy Spirit, and you can reach perfection, without any obstacle. St. Gregory of Nyssa “For there are three who bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one.” (v. 7) The Holy Trinity witnesses to the power of baptism in the New Testament, and this we have seen in the baptism of the Lord Jesus. Baptism is the work of the Holy Spirit, who grants us the forgiveness of sins, and binds us with the Holy Trinity. Baptism is established on the work of the Holy Trinity, for it is based on the cross of Christ. The Father loves us and gave His Son for us. The Son sacrificed His life on the cross where He was pierced in His side and blood and water came out of His side (John 19:34), and the baptism was established on these. The testimony of the Holy Trinity is not mere words but a positive testimony: testimony of acts and sacrifice for man so he may live as a son of God. This heavenly testimony requires an earthly testimony, for St. John said: The spirit is life, the water is regeneration and the faith, the blood is knowledge, and these three are one. In the Savior these are the saving powers, and life itself is found in the son. St. Clement of Alexandria “And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and these three agree as one.” (v. 8) The three witnesses in baptism are: water, blood, and the Spirit, which are one. If any of these is removed, then there is no sacrament of baptism, for what is water without the cross of Christ? Just a material element without any act of mystery! There is no sacrament of renewal without water, for “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5) St. Ambrose What was it that flowed from Jesus’ side if not the sacrament that believers receive? They are the Spirit, the blood and the water, the Spirit which He gave up, the blood and water which flowed from His side. Saying that the three are one, he does not mean the general meaning of the spirit, the water, and the blood but the mysterious one. The element of the Spirit, the element of the water, and the element of the blood are not one. However, sometimes, for example, we say that the rock and the water are one, meaning that Christ is the rock and the Holy Spirit is the water. Who doubts that the rock and the water are different elements? But the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are one nature, therefore, we say that the rock and the water are one. Three elements came out of the Lord’s body, while He was hanging on the cross: A. The Spirit, for it was written, “And bowing His head, He gave up His Spirit.” (John 19: 30) B. Blood and water came out of His side. These three are different elements, however, the unity implies that the mysterious Body of Christ, that is the church, abides in the Holy Trinity. The Lord is Spirit (John 4:14); the blood means that the Son became flesh (John 1:14); the water refers to the Holy Spirit as the Lord Jesus has mentioned. (John 7:38) No doubt that whoever believes in the Gospel does not doubt that the Holy Trinity is a witness. It is written about the Son, “I am the One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.” (John 8:18) “… The Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” (John 15:26) Those three witnesses are one, one in nature, one in essence, one in divinity. St. Augustine What was it that flowed from Jesus side if not the sacrament, which believers receive? The Spirit, the blood and the water-the Spirit which he gave up, the blood and water which flowed from his side. The church is signified as being from this blood and water. St. Augustine “For there are three that bear witness, the spirit,” which is life, “and the water,” which is regeneration and faith, “and the blood,” which is knowledge; “and these three are one.” For in the Savior are those saving virtues, and life itself exists in His own Son. St. Clement of Alexandria “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater, for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.” (v. 9) Often we accept the witness of men, so how about the witness of the Father to His Son! The Father testified of His Son in His baptism, in the transfiguration, in His death and resurrection. The testimony of men refers to the testimony of people like Moses and the prophets, who were all men of God. Hilary of Arles “He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe, God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.” (v. 10)“If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater, for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.” (10) We do not need any external witness, when we believe in God, but the Spirit of God testifies in us with a practical experience , so we may trust the word of God, without any doubt. However, he who does not believe God makes Him a liar. We do not have to ask “how,” but with faith accept the Scripture. God can never turn himself into a liar, because he is the essence of truth. But an unbelieving man is a liar, because he does not believe in the truth of God. Hilary of Arles 4. FAITH AND THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” (v. 11-13) The goal of our faith is to enjoy eternal life. This life is not a mere gift from God, but the Son of God Himself is our life, “This life is in His Son.” This is the purpose of the incarnation; the Lord came as the First-born; He died, and rose. By His ascension, He carried us in Him, for the Incarnate God rose to the highest heaven, where the eternal doors were opened and the heavenly hosts were astonished in front of the glory granted to human beings in the Person of the God Incarnate. The members of the mysterious Body rise up to the First-born and live there forever. 47 5. FAITH AND THE ANSWER OF PRAYERS “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (v. 14) Father Isaac 48 said: {He commands us to have complete trust, without any doubt, regarding the answer of our prayers, which are not for our personal gain nor temporal rest but is in agreement with the will of God. The Lord’s Prayer teaches us “You will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” The words of St. Paul reminds us that, “For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought…” (Rom. 8:26) Sometimes our requests are against our salvation, and due to the divine care, they are rejected, for God knows what is good for us more than we do. This is what happened with St. Paul when he pleaded with the Lord three times that the thorn in the flesh be removed from him, but the Lord allowed it for his own good. “Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’” (2 Cor. 12: 8,9) Those who possess technical skills and know how to repair things are fully confident that when the need arises they will be able to do so. Similarly these holy men, John and other apostles, knew from their own experience that if they asked God for what was pleasing and acceptable to him, they would obtain it. For God is most generous to those who have this knowledge and will grant the requests of those who ask according to his will. St. Didymus The Blind He does not say absolutely what we shall ask, but what we ought to ask. St. Clement of Alexandria “And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” (v. 15) The believer, who responds to the Spirit of God, learns what to ask from God, therefore, every thing which he asks is according to God’s will and the Lord will answer him. 6. THE BELIEVERS AND THEIR PRAYERS FOR THEIR BROTHERS “If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.” (v. 16) St. Augustine said: {Even though the Lord commands us to pray for our very persecutors, this passage clearly shows that there are some brothers for whom we are not commanded to pray. We therefore must acknowledge that there are some sins among the brothers which are worse than persecution by enemies. I think that the sin of a brother is unto death when anyone who has attained a knowledge of God through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ opposes the brotherhood and is aroused by the fires of envy against that very grace by which he was reconciled to God.} However, the sin, which does not lead to death, is when one does not fulfill all the duties of brotherly love due to weakness of the spirit. We notice that St. Paul did not pray for Alexander the coppersmith. I presume that was because he had sinned a sin leading to death, that is, he opposed the fellowship of the Spirit, because of hatred. It was written, “Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.” (2 Tim. 4; 14,15) However, he prayed for others, for it is written, “At my first defense, no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.” (2 Tim. 4:16) For this reason, the church prayed against the heretics, not as a revenge, for the church does not like revenge like her Bridegroom, but for fear of her simple children who are easily deceived by those heretics like Arius and Nestor. The tradition of the Greek Fathers stated that the sin which leads to death is the sin which one deliberately commit and with no repentance. That is why the church does not pray for those who commit suicide, for they insist to be in despair. We notice that the apostle did not command not to pray for those who commit sin leading to death, but did not ask them to pray, leaving the option to the believer. “All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.” (v. 17) In the Greek language, the word “unrighteousness” means that one steps over the rights of others, and the word “sin” means that one disobeys God’s commandment and will. Any stepping over the rights of others is a sin because it contradicts the will of God, for He wants love to surround us. However, there are sins which do not lead to death, not because of their nature, but because they stem from weakness, and are unintentionally committed, or done out of ignorance in spite of our continuous repentance. This does not mean that we are not blamed for these sins, but we have to repent. That is why we pray every day saying, “Forgive us our sins.” 7. THE BELIEVERS GRANTED SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT WITH THREE CORNERS A. “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.” (v. 18) A. It was previously mentioned that the one born of God realizes the potential of the new birth, which is as a son, he does not sin as long as he abides in the Father. The moment he forgets his adoption and deviates from the Father, he falls. Here, St. John asks that the one born of God should struggle and keep himself from the evil of the world. When the devil sees his steadfastness in God, he cannot touch him. If it is true that when someone does what is righteous his power to do so comes from God, and if it is also true that righteousness and evil cannot live together, then it is perfectly clear that as long as a person does such things he is righteous and does not sin. But because this ability is giving by grace and is not natural, John adds that the righteous person must watch out, so that evil will not touch him. St. Didymus The Blind B. “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” (v. 19) God’s children realize that they are of God, not just by talking but by living with Him. Their outlook to “the world,” does not mean “the human race,” but those who are attached to the world and has chosen the kingdom of the wicked. The “world,” that is, those who love the world, are subjected to evil. This includes everybody, because we are all born under sin, which traces its origin to the disobedience of Adam. Many heretics claim that there is a creator god who made the world evil to begin with, but this is not so. The world refers to people, not to the materials substance of creation. St. Didymus The Blind “And the whole world lies in the wicked one;” not the creation, but worldly men, and those who live according to their lusts. St. Clement of Alexandria C. “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” (v. 20) The believer knows who is the Lord Jesus. He is the truth, the Grantor of life. This is the inner enlightenment, in which the soul envisions that the Lord Jesus is the whole Truth so she may be satisfied with Him. He is the source of her life, hence she abides in Him and does not forsake Him. The understanding which God gave, by which it is known that the true Son of God is coming, is the same as the mind of Christ. St. Didymus The Blind The Final Warning “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” (v. 21) Here he reminds us that we are God’s children when he says, “Little children.” It is not appropriate to submit ourselves to other things than the Father, for the idols mean submitting the heart to others than God. He reminds us of our position as children of God, asking that our hearts become sanctified for Him. In the mean time, he encourages us to struggle and persevere. “Keep yourselves,” so we may not accept anyone to replace God’s place in our hearts. The blessings of our Lord, through the prayers of St. John the Beloved and all the saints keep us all, Amen. John did not tell us to keep away from worship, but from idols, that is, from their very likeness. For it is wrong for you, who are created in the image of he living God, to become the image of an idol and dead man. Tertullian The letter ends as it began, with an admonition to worship the one true God alone. Everything else that John says is contained in this one golden rule. Hilary of Arles “And the Son of God has come and given us understanding,” which comes to us, that is, by faith, and is also called the Holy Spirit. St. Clement of Alexandria
Welcome