1 John 3:1

1 John 3:1 says, Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  John said that God showed His love for us by giving us the right to be called the sons of God if we accept His gift of salvation.  He then said that if we become a child of God by faith that the world would no longer know us, because the world didn't know Him.  I believe this means that they will no longer understand us spiritually and not physically.  Our values should set us apart from the world.  

Verse two adds, Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth 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 as he is.  John said that the beloved, those who had accepted Jesus Christ, were children of God and they couldn't know exactly what they would one day become, but when Jesus Christ returned, they would then know.  Since the Bible often refers to believers as sons of God, this is why I believe that it is important to state that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God.  This also applies to daughters of God as well, even though it usually just refers to sons.  

Verse three continues, And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.  John also said that if we put our faith in Jesus Christ that we will purify ourselves from the sins of the world.  Though we are purified by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins, once we accept Him as our Savior and Lord, we should

then work to eliminate sin from our lives. 

Verse four concludes, Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.  John said that if we did sin that we transgressed the law of God, because sin is the transgression of God's law.  We can break some of man's laws without being guilty of sin, but we cannot break God's law, even in the way we think, without being guilty of sin.    

1John 2:26

1 John 2:26 says, These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.  John said he was writing this so that people might not be seduced by putting their faith in worldly things instead of being led by the Holy Spirit.  The world always stands ready to seduce people by promising worldly desires, but as followers of Christ, we should never give in to this seduction but should be led by the Holy Spirit. 

Verse twenty-seven adds. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.  John then said we should be taught by the Holy Spirit Who lives in us.  He added that the Holy Spirit would teach us everything we needed to know about God.  This doesn't mean that we aren't supposed to go to school and learn about things of this world, but that when it comes to things about God, the Holy Spirit will lead us to an understanding.  We can only find God by faith in Jesus Christ, and until we put our faith in Him, we cannot be led by the Holy Spirit. 

Verse twenty-eight continues. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.  John then references little children, calling for them to abide in the Holy Spirit.  I believe this applies to all people of all ages.  He said if we abide in the Holy Spirit that we can have confidence and not be ashamed when Jesus Christ returns. 

Verse twenty-nine concludes. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.  John then tells us if we know that Jesus Christ is the only righteous One, then we know that everyone who lives righteously is born of Him.  We will never be righteous by our own merit but can only be made righteous by accepting the righteousness of Christ to redeem us and make us holy in God's sight.

1 John 2:22

1 John 2:22 says, Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.  John said that someone was a liar if he denied that Jesus is the Christ, or Savior of all mankind.  He added that anyone who denied the Father and the Son was antichrist.  We cannot deny that Jesus is the Christ, the only Messiah, without being antichrist. 

Verse twenty-five adds, Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.  John said anyone who denied that Jesus was the Son of God also denied God the Father.  The two are One and we cannot profess to believe in one without believing in the other.  He also said that the opposite was true. If we acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God, we also acknowledge God the Father.  Though John doesn't say it in these verses, we also must acknowledge the Holy Spirit as the completion of the one God. 

Verse twenty-four continues, Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.  John seems to refer to the Holy Spirit in this verse, since that which is in us from the beginning if we are a child of God is the Spirit of God.  It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we remain faithful to the Father and the Son. 

Verse twenty-five concludes, And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.  John said if we put our faith in Jesus Christ that we have everlasting life by God's forgiveness made available by the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, for our sins.   We are then sealed to Him by the power of the Holy Spirit.

1 John 2:18

1 John 2:18 says, Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.  John once again addresses little children, but this applies to all followers of Christ, no matter how old they may be.  He said they had heard that the antichrist would come in the last days, and then said there were already many antichrists, and because of this, they could know they were in the last days.  Since the beginning of the church, those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, people have believed that they were in the last age, and this is true.  It doesn't matter if His return happens in our lifetime or not, it is always near and we should live as though we believe that.   

Verse nineteen adds, They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.  John said that some who had professed to be Christians had left the church, because the never were believers to start with.  John said they made it clear that they weren't part of the church, by their actions I believe.  Not everyone who professes to be a follower of Christ is, and their actions will prove this.  I don't believe that this means a Christian who sins again, but those who live guided by sinful actions every day without seeing this as being wrong.   

Verse twenty continues, But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.  John said that the followers of Christ had a spiritual knowledge that comes from God and allows them to know all things that they should do.  We as Christians may not understand everything about the world, but we should know everything that we need to know to follow God faithfully. 

Verse twenty-one concludes, I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.  John said he hadn't written to them because they didn't know the truth of God but because they did.  He added that there was no lie in the truth of God.  If we are a follower of Christ, then we know His truth and we need to live by faith in that truth.