To separate truth from error is one of the goals of 1 John, of course, as we have seen. Consequently, it is frequently the case that the letter’s affirmations and teachings are accompanied by strong repudiations and denials.
As we read this section we detect what must be a further reference to the tendency of the Gnostic teachers to underestimate sin or excuse it. Perhaps the Gnostics excused sin as being essentially negative in nature; that is, as being connected with what is finite. Again, they may have related it only to their bodies and not to their minds, which they may well have said were above any dispositions to sin. But John will not have this. Sin is not merely negative. It is willful rebellion. Moreover, it involves the mind as that in which rebellion originates. It is only when we see this that we begin to abhor sin and turn from it to seek a Savior.
John has reminded his readers that it is characteristic of the devil to sin. Now he also reminds them that it is a characteristic of Christ to work to take away sin. He states this in two forms, corresponding to the parallel structure of these verses. First, Jesus appeared to take away the sins of His people; second, Jesus appeared to destroy the works of the devil.
At the conclusion of yesterday’s study, we looked at the first suggestion for understanding the presence of sin in the Christian life. Today, we look at the other six ideas.
Herein lies the explanation of John’s initial test and the reason behind it. If a person has truly been born of God, then something quite radical has happened to him. He has received a new nature and is therefore and for that very reason launched on a new course. The course is a course in holiness. If he does not go on in holiness, this indicates that he has never in plain fact been born again. On the other hand, if he does go on, he can be encouraged by this and take confidence.
After such a careful analysis of the resurrection in the preceding chapter, and the victory that is ours because of it, chapter 16 almost comes as a surprise. We see that it is a very practical chapter, which almost feels like an anticlimax to the grand and sweeping theological theme he just wrote about. He begins to talk about Christian giving, which is followed by a section that deals with personal matters and the people involved. Paul then concludes with some greetings and closing statements.
As Paul begins 1 Corinthians 16, in the first four verses he mentions the collection, and he lays down some principles for giving. One principle is that of local giving. He informs the Corinthians that he is telling them to do the same thing that he had told the Galatian churches to do and presumably what he would also instruct the Roman churches to do, and the churches in Philippi, and all the other places where he had visited. He is saying that in Christianity giving should be on a local level.
Paul was the great apostle, the dynamic leader. Timothy was quieter, and seems to have been regarded less by some because he was not like Paul. So when Paul is writing to these churches, he tells them to receive Timothy, to be kind to him, and to accept him. And when Paul writes to Timothy, he tells him not to feel inferior because of his youth, but to set an example to the believers in all the various Christian graces.
In verse 13 he has a series of statements in which he is encouraging the Christians at Corinth. There are five statements there: 1.) “Be on your guard”; 2.) “Stand firm in the faith”; 3.) “Be men of courage”; 4.) “Be strong”; and 5.) “Do everything in love.” That is a good challenge for any group of Christians at any time because it speaks of our work in Christianity as a warfare, which means that there are enemies. Paul speaks of those he was facing. He mentions that there were those who opposed him in Ephesus. In the power of Christ, Christians are to stand firm against them.
The third point he makes is to be men of courage, and fourthly, to be strong. It is so easy to lose courage or to be weak because we look out and we see the enemies that are arrayed against us. We say, “Well, we can’t stand against that. We’re just weak, insignificant, and small in numbers.” What we need is to have our eyes opened like the servant of Elisha to see the hills filled with the chariots of fire and the angels of the Lord (2 Kings 6:17). The strength of the Lord is our armament. That is how we stand, and Paul is telling the Corinthians to do that.
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