ASSURANCE OF OUR SALVATION

A Exegetical Study of I John 4:1-21

I John 4:1- 21 “Beloved, believe not every spirit (pneuma breath, wind, life), but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit (same as above)that confesseth (homologeo to assent, acknowledge, profess confession is made, covenant, promise) that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.  And every spirit that confesseth (same as above) not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come: and even now already is it in the world. 

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome (nikao to subdue, conquer, prevail, get the victory) them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.  They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us.  Hereby know we the spirit (same as above) of truth (aletheia true, truth), and the spirit (same as above) of error (plane fraudulence, stray from, deceit, delusion, error).  Beloved let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God (gennao to procreate, regenerate, bear, be born, born again, bring forth), and knoweth (ginosko same as above) God.  He that loveth not knoweth (same as above) not God; for God is love. 

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him (zao to live, have life; dia channel of, because of; Him autos this man: Jesus).  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation (hilasmos atonement, expiate, a means whereby sin is covered and remitted) for our sins.  Beloved, if God so love us, we ought also to love one another.  No man hath seen God at any time.  If we love one another, God dwelleth (meno to stay in a given place, state, relation, or expectancy, abide, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand)) in us, and His love is perfected in us (Jesus’ agape love, affection, dearly loved, God kind of unconditional love; tellieo to complete, accomplish, consumate, finish, fulfill, make perfect; in us as believers).  Hereby know (genosko same as above) we that we dwell (meno same as above) in Him (en fixed position, a relationship of rest; autos this man, Jesus), and He in us (autos this man, Jesus; en fixed position, a relationship of rest; hemin us as believers), because (hoti concerning that, because that;) He hath given us (didomi bestow, deliver up, give, grant) of His Spirit (pneuma breath, life, Christ’s Spirit, Holy Spirit).  And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 

Whosoever shall confess (homologeo same as above) that Jesus is the Son of God; God dwelleth (same as above) in him, and he in God.  And we have known and believed (ginosko same as above; pisteuo to have faith in, entrust, believe, commit, put trust in) the love that God hath to us.  God is love; and he that dwelleth (same as above) in love dwelleth (same as above) in God, and God in him.  Herein is our love made perfect (same as above), that we may have boldness (parrhesia assurance, boldness, confidence) in the day of judgment (hemera day, period, age, time; krisis tribunal, justice, accusation, condemnation, damnation, judgment): because as He is (kathos just as, in as much, according to; ekeinos that one (Jesus); kai even so, likewise) so are we (kai even so, likewise; emen we are, have our being, have confident expectation; hemeia we, ourselves) in this world (cosmos world).  There is no (ou not, absolutely negative, nothing) fear (phobos alarm, freight, be afraid, terror) in love (agape affection, love, God kind of unconditional love); but perfect love (teleios complete, perfect, completeness; agape same as above) casteth out fear (ballo to throw, cast out, thrust; exo out, outside, away, forth, phobos same as above): because fear (phobos same as above) hath torment (kolasis infliction, punishment, torment).  He that feareth (phobeo to frighten, alarm, afraid, exceedingly fearful) is not made perfect in love (teleioo complete, accomplished, consummate, finish, fulfill, make perfect; agape: same as above).”

John 10:14, 27-29 “I am the good shepherd, and know (ginosko taking in knowledge, to come to know, recognize, understand, to understand completely, indicates a relationship between the person knowing and the person known) my sheep, and am known (ginosko same as above) of mine.  My sheep hear my voice, and I know (ginosko same as above) them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life (aionios perpetual,, eternal, forever, everlasting; zoe life); and they shall never perish (ou me not at all, by no means, never, in no case, nor ever, not at all, in any wise; apollumi to destroy fully, to perish, lose, destroy, die), neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  My Father, who gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”

II Timothy 1:12 “For I know (Greek eido past tense, to see, to know, be aware, behold, look on, perceived, see, be sure, understand) whom I have believed (pisteuo to have faith, entrust, commit, put in trust with), and am persuaded (peitho to convice, assent to evidence or authority, to rely, agree, assure, believe, have confidence, obey, trust, yield) that He is able to keep (dunatos powerful, capable, able, power, strong; phulasso be on guard, preserve, save) that which I have committed unto (paratheke trust, committed, a deposit with, to put,  unto) Him against that day (eis till, concerning, indicating the point reached or entered; hemera age, period of, judgment).”

For other studies on this subject, please refer to our website teachings on  http://www.churchrestoration.org (Under Alphabetical Teaching Section A-Z) that you might enjoy reading: “Imperative of Knowing Jesus”, “Christ Dwells in You”, “Assurance of Salvation”, “Salvation Tenses”, “Discipleship, Jesus Call to”, “Discipleship Scriptures”, “Discipleship”, “Salvation”, “Assurance of God’s Love”, “Born Again/Born of God”, “Salvation in the Early Church”, “Death of a Christian”, “Conversion/Converted”, “Becoming a Disciple of Jesus”, and “Discipleship, Understanding of”.