Bible Students

Reading through the epistles of John, multiple themes are brought up often. These themes center around the idea of the “love of the Father” dwelling in someone and showing through into their relationships. John warns his audience that if there is a lack of love in their relationships, there may be a lack of the “love of the Father” inside of them. I believe the most prominent ideas can be summarized by this statement: Sanctification should be sought to be hastened, not made stagnant, and not used as a measure of salvation for outsiders, but as personal confirmation to the one sanctified. The salvation of an individual can be affirmed, by them, by witnessing the sanctification of oneself. The love of God should show through into other people, and a lack of love for brothers may indicate a lack of the love of the Father. A lack of sanctification, or stagnation, does not mean the individual is not saved, but should be a concern. Sanctification, also, should be sought to be hastened. Sanctification is both the work which God begins, and something an individual can actively engage in. A person should work as a response to the truth of the Gospel, out of love. Sanctification should not remain stagnant, ideally. Sanctification, also, should not be judged by others as a determination of another person’s salvation. 

Sanctification is the confirmation for the saved individual of their salvation. How could someone be sanctified without first accepting Christ? John clearly states sanctification is a result of salvation when he writes, “And hereby we do know that we know [Christ], if we keep his commandments,” (1 John 2:3 KJV). Barker and Kohlenberger give an interesting insight to this verse, noting it was probably a response to the gnostics, who believed knowing God was based on insight and knowledge, and not moral action (Barker, Kenneth L., and John R. Kohlenberger III, p. 1086). However, according to John, through sanctification a person can understand if they truly know Christ. This sanctification, the indwelling of God’s love, will manifest itself in loving thy neighbor, as “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light…But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes,” (1 John 2:10-11 KJV). Regarding this, Barker and Kohlenberger write that “…hate destroys any window for light from God,” (Barker, Kenneth L., and John R. Kohlenberger III, p. 1088). A lack of love towards thy brother demonstrates the strong potential for walking apart from the light. Just as sanctification is an affirmation of salvation, a lack of sanctification is a lack of confirmation in that area. A lack of sanctification does not mean someone is not saved, but it should be concerning to the individual, and should cause personal consideration. 

A desire to do good works, to restrain oneself, and to further sanctification is admirable. To hasten sanctification means to lean in and give hard effort to obey the convictions of the Spirit, and the commandments of God, rather than being content with stagnant sanctification. Sanctification is both the work which God begins in an individual, as well as something which can be actively engaged in. John writes, “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not,” (I John 5:18 KJV). Macdonald notes, “Of this we can be sure, that one who has the divine nature does not go on practicing sin,” (Macdonald, p. 2428). It is clear here that whoever loves God and is born of him strives to know no sin. On this, it is also clear that stagnant sanctification, a lack of effort towards sanctification, should be discouraged, but a burning desire for striving should be promoted. 

Sanctification should not be measured by outsiders as a definite understanding of another person’s salvation. A person can be saved while being stagnant. For, how could John write to an audience to love each other, if loving came most naturally? When John writes, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God…” (I John 4:8 KJV), if his audience knew to love without instruction, why would they be instructed here? If the love of God naturally created all sanctification, apart from human effort, there would be no need for instruction of any kind. The love of God can exist while being unsanctified, for sanctification is not finished in this life, for all fall short of Christ, the model for sanctification. John does, however, write that, “No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected [or matured] in us,” (I John 4:12), demonstrating that when we choose to love others, the love of God is matured more and more. Matthew Henry writes, “That God dwells in us and we in him, were words too high for mortals to use, had not God put them before us” in regards to this statement (1 John 4, par. 3).

As demonstrated, the main theme of I John is the love of the Father shown through a person’s sanctification. If there is a lack of love for one’s brother, there may be a lack of love in the person. Sanctification should be sought to be hastened, not made stagnant, and not used as a measure of salvation for outsiders, but as personal confirmation to the one sanctified. The salvation of an individual can be affirmed by themselves, by evaluating the sanctification taking place. The love of God should show through into the relationships which Christians have with each other, and should not be stagnant. Sanctification, also, should be sought to be hastened, and is both the work which God begins, and something an individual can actively engage in. A person should work as a response to the truth of the Gospel, out of love. In all of these things, a person should work out of their salvation with fear and trembling, giving thanks and good works to God. 

Bibliography

“1 John 4 Bible Commentary.” 1 John 4 Bible Commentary – Matthew Henry (Concise), https://www.christianity.com/bible/commentary/matthew-henry-concise/1-john/4. 

Barker, Kenneth L., and John R. Kohlenberger III. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary Abridged Edition. Zondervan, 1994.Macdonald, William. Believer’s Bible Commentary. Second ed., Thomas Nelson, 2016.