2 THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL
had from the beginning. John says, “This old command-
ment is now new to us, because the true light now
shineth upon it.” We often use the expression about
some old thing as it is becoming new to us. So when
the commandments are taught in their true light, which
we have had from the beginning, they appear new to us.
“He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is
in darkness even until now.
“He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is
none occasion of stumbling in him.”—Verses 9, 10.
In this scripture the light and darkness are both
explained. The light is to keep the commandments.
Darkness is to break the commandments.
“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.
“I write unto you, little children, because your sins are for-
given you for his name’s sake.
“T write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that
is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye
have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children,
because ye have known the Father.
“I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known
him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young
men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you,
and ye have overcome the wicked one.”—Verses 11-14.
Note that it is stated here twice that Christ was
from the beginning and the appeal is to those who have
accepted Christ, that the word of God abideth in them.
Thus showing they have obeyed that form of doctrine
which was once delivered to the saints. Not some new
doctrine, but that which was from the beginning, which
the saints of God had known from the beginning.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.
“If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
“For all that is in the world. the lust of the flesh, and the
lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but
is of the world.
“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he
that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”—Verses 15-17.
The last statement here made is, he that doeth the
will of God abideth forever. It is ever the doer. Faith,
says James, without works is dead, being alone.
“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.
“And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even
eternal life,
“These things have I written unto you concerning them that
seduce you.
“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.”—
Verses 24-27. }
Passing over verses 16 and 17, which is an exhorta-
tion, the Apostle again reminds us of that which was
from the beginning, which is the commandments which
was with the Father and the Son. If those command-
ments, says the Apostle, remain in us, then we have the
fellowship with the Father and the Son. He further
says, this is the condition of eternal life which is promis-
ed us. We are also reminded that our teacher, the Holy
Ghost, teaches no lies, but the truth according to the
word which abides in us.
“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.
“If ye know that he is righteous, ve know that every one
that doeth righteousness is born of him.” —Verses 28, 29. .
The person who abides in obedience has boldness in
the day of his coming. The test of true righteousness
is always the performance of the commandments of God.
The Psalmist says, “All thy commandments are right-
eousness, and thy law is the truth.”
“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.
“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.
“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself,
even as he is pure.
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for
sin is the transgression of the law.
“And ye know that he was manifested to take away our
sins; and in him is no sin. } }
“Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth
hath not seen him, neither known him. }
“Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth right-
eousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.”—3:1-7. .
Every man who embraces the hope of seeing him
at his coming and being changed to immortality puri-
fies himself, even as he is pure. This purifying process
is by ceasing to break the commandments of God and
doing that which is righteous. Christ came to take
away our sins, not the law, but sin, which is the violation
of the law, for in him was no sin. He was not a law
breaker. If we abide in him we sin not, but if we sin
we have not known him. The test of obedience is what
determins whether we are what we claim to be or not.
The man who is not willing to obey any commandment
of the law of God is no Christian, no matter if they be-
long to all the churches in the land. The more of a
profession they make the greater hypocrites they are.
Said Christ, “Yea, rather blessed are they who hear the
word of God and do it.” Many don’t like to hear about
the do religion. In fact the preaching of strict obedience
to the commandments of God will kill any of the so-call-
ed revivals now in existence. That is not what they
want. They want every thing else but the genuine
obedience. The warning in verse eight is, not to be
decelved by those who merely profess to be followers
of God.
“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth
from the beginning, For this purpose the Son of God was mani-
fested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
“Whosoever is born of God doth not cemmit sin; for his seed
remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
“In this the children of God are manifest,, and the children
of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God,
neither he that loveth not his brother.
“For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning,
that we should love one another.
“Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one. and slew his
brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works
were evil, and his brother’s righteous.”—Verses 8-12.
The story is here plainly told how to detect one
class from the other. Namely, if a person will not, or
is not, keeping the commandments of God, he is a sinner,
¢-.d has never been born of God, (converted). They are
the devil. A man who is converted cannot break the
commandments of God because his seed abides in him.
Says Peter, “that seed is the word of God by which we
are converted.” I Peter 1:22. That word teaches obed-
ience to the law of God, so that man cannot break the
commandments of God as long as he regards the in-
structions of God. This is sanctification in its purity.
It is all easy to argue sanctification in the abstract, but
apply the test given, namely, if the person is willing to
keep all the laws of God as written, the Sabbath not ac-
cepted. then we have evidence they are sanctified
through the truth. If not willing, then we know they
are not sanctified and do sin.
Note. The Apostle is not arguing whether a man
can fall from grace in back-sliding. Neither is he argu-
ing the point whether a man knows it all when he is
converted, and if he violates in the least degree he is
not sanctified. These points are all taken up in other
scriptures, such as the text that says “If a- man does
sin after conversion he has an advocate,” and so on.
But the point here is not whether a man is born of God
at all, but it is whether he is of the devil or of God,
which? That is the question here. It is decided by
his relation to the commandments of God. We are safe
in saying that the person who opposes any of the com-
mandments of God is of the devil. Those who are will-
ing to be taught what the commandments require and
accept them by obedience are of God. This is the
message we have had from the beginning says the
Apostle.
“Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. .
“We know that we have passed from death unto life because
we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth
in death.
——in