1 John 5:18-19 - Homiletics

The strong foe and the stronger Friend.

Connecting link: It is not without reason that the apostle had just written of life from God as the needed gift to those who are sinning, whether their state be that of sin unto death or no; for the fact is that whosoever is born of God is not sinning. By the fact of the new birth he has been delivered out of that state in which the evil one would fain have held him, as that evil one still holds the world. But now the evil one is powerless, for his power is neutralized by the watchful care of the only begotten Son of God. Note: According to the Authorized Version this verse seems to teach that the believer has and exercises an instinct of self-preservation. The Revised Version and the Revisers' Greek text should be studied. Instead of ἑαυτὸν , we now read αὐτὸν . And further, the ὁ γεννηθεὶς plainly points to another than ὁ γεγεννημένος , even to him that was and is the Begotten One of God. He it is who so watches over the new-born child of God that the evil one has no power to touch him. Topic— The conquering and the conquered ones.

I. THERE IS A GREAT FOE , OF MAN . "The evil one." The personality of the evil one is clearly implied in such passages as these: Matthew 4:1 ; Matthew 13:39 ; Matthew 25:41 ; John 8:44 ; John 13:2 ; Ephesians 4:27 ; 1 Timothy 3:6 ; James 4:7 ; 1 Peter 5:8 ; 1 John 3:8 ; Luke 22:31 ; Romans 16:20 ; 1 Corinthians 5:5 ; 2 Corinthians 4:4 . It is not possible fairly to interpret all these passages as indicating only an all-pervasive, impersonal evil. If any demur, let them consider these two points.

1 . It is not possible for moral evil to exist apart from some personal being in whom it exists.

2 . Whatever evil is in man is there whether there be a devil or no. If there be no devil, and all man's evil is self-originated, then man's nature is a great deal worse than the Scriptures declare it to be.

II. THOUGH MAN HAS A GREAT FOE , HE HAS A GREATER FRIEND . This Friend is the "Begotten One of God;" "the only begotten Son." He beheld this world usurped by the destroyer, and came to set it free. His work is fourfold.

1 . He came and worsted the evil one in single combat.

2 . He laid down his life for men, and claims the globe as his.

3 . He has assumed the sovereignty over all, and dethroned the evil one ( John 12:31 , John 12:32 ).

4 . He is now engaged by his Word and Spirit in

III. THROUGH THIS FRIEND (the only begotten Son of God) THERE ARE THOSE WHO ESCAPE THE EVIL .

1 . Who are these? Those who are born again ( 2 Corinthians 4:18 ). All of them.

2 . How do they escape the evil? Through the watchful care of the Lord Jesus. He guards πηρεῖ them. The word "expresses a watchful regard from without, rather than safe custody" (so Westcott). This guardianship is exercised

3 . What is the effect? The wicked one does not touch them with a contaminating, poisoning hand. lie would, but he cannot. This must be the issue.

The life which is guarded without and sustained within by the Son of God is a perpetual proof that there are some whom evil cannot touch. They move amid the evil, but it harms them not. Let the world get more and more corrupt, they do but become more and more like their Lord.

IV. WE HAVE HERE THE SECRET OF VICTORY OR DEFEAT IN LIFE ; i.e., of conquest over evil or conquest by it. All depends on whether we are ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου or ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ (cf. 1 John 4:4 ); i.e., whether we have a life that is inspired by God or a life upon the lower level of this world. £ If our being is still of the earth earthy, we are in that region which lieth wholly in the wicked one, "in all its parts and elements." It is in his domain, in his grasp. He is the "god of this world," blinding men's minds. Its darkness is the realm in which he moves. And if we remain in this sphere, and are never extricated from it by a mightier power, with darkness and sin we must "lie down in sorrow." Who can consent to remain a prey to evil when the great Redeemer stands ready with a mighty hand to pluck us out of it, and to guard us so securely that no evil shall touch us?

V. ALL THIS IS AMONG THE CONTENTS OF THE BELIEVER 'S KNOWLEDGE . "We know."

1 . Who know it? "We"—we who are born of God. Much is known by us that is hidden from the world.

2 . H ow do they know it?