Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of I John Chapter 3
Metaphysically Interpreting I John 3:1-10
3:1Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 3:2Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is. 3:3And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
3:4Every one that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 3:5And ye know that he was manifested to take away sins; and in him is no sin. 3:6Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither knoweth him. 3:7My little children, let no man lead you astray: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous: 3:8he that doeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 3:9Whosoever is begotten of God doeth no sin, because his seed abideth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is begotten of God. 3:10In 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.
October 3, 1937: 1 John 3:1-6
What is the chief teaching in the first Epistle of John? The chief thought running through this epistle is that of the inner conviction of the reality of the Christ, the foundation hope of the Christian faith.
The first question discussed is what manner of love divine love can be. What conclusion is reached on this point? John shows that divine love is like the love of a father for his child. The offspring of spiritual parentage is spiritual in its nature. “And such we are.”
Interpret the second verse of this lesson. We manifest the Christ Spirit only as we enter into it consciously and think, live, and act in that Spirit. We become like that which we express or manifest; therefore as we manifest the Christ we become like the Christ.
How is sin defined in this lesson? Sin is reckoned lawlessness. All lawlessness is a falling short of the mark set for a perfect son of God
March 20, 1927: 1 John 3:2,3
What is meant by the assertion, “We know that if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is”? We become like that which we desire and imitate. If we persist in seeing ourselves pure, loving, perfect, and wise we shall attain these qualities.
December 31, 1944: 1 John 3:1-3
Can we by any sure rule keep our labor from being vain? By insuring that we work always in behalf of the higher consciousness of Truth we shall make our labor count. From being “children of God” we shall grow first into adolescents of God and finally into the full-grown stature of the Christ-filled man or woman.
Metaphysically Interpreting I John 3:11-24
3:11For this is the message which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another: 3:12not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous. 3:13Marvel not, brethren, if the world hateth you. 3:14We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death. 3:15Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 3:16Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 3:17But whoso hath the world's goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him?
3:18My Little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth. 3:19Hereby shall we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before him: 3:20because if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 3:21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God; 3:22and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.
3:23And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he gave us commandment. 3:24And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.
August 31, 1941: 1 John 3:13-18
What is considered as death in a metaphysical sense? The selfish personal consciousness that keeps man from feeling love for others is so referred to. “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren.”
Into what form of life does one pass in leaving personal consciousness behind? Into the consciousness of eternal life or life universal.
How does hate make a murderer of him who feels it? It makes the one who is hated conscious of the narrow personal bias of the one who hates him, a state that is equivalent to the death of common interest, sympathy, and understanding between the two. No one who feels that he is hated can be his best self under this blighting influence.
How can we “lay down our lives for the brethren”? By taking thought for them rather than for ourselves we lay down our petty, narrow interests for the broader interests of all. By giving freely of what we have wherever there is a need we lay down our life to enrich others. The life of service brings man into the surest consciousness of love.
How is love best expressed? By deeds and by thinking of the loved one as he is in the ideal.
June 20, 1943: 1 John 3:13-18
What faculty is most powerful in the gaining of a consciousness of eternal life? Love. “We know that we have passed to of death into life, because we love the brethren.” With love in our heart we know eternal life. Without it we are spiritually dead. “He that love the not abideth in death.”
Why is hate equivalent to murder? Because it destroys love in the heart, and without love no one can enter into consciousness of eternal life. Hate destroys one’s capacity for realizing eternal life.
What expression of love is most nearly perfect? The practical sharing of what one is or has with those who have not. He who loves gives, as “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.” “Let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth.”
November 23, 1947: 1 John 3:13-18
What effect does hated have on the person who hates? Hatred interferes with the spiritual growth of the individual, and, if long continued, eventually “kills out” the spiritual consciousness of the one who hates.
Is it well to express our love in words? Yes but it is more convincing to express it by our acts and our habitual attitude toward life.
October 3, 1937: 1 John 3:18-24
As spiritual beings how do we recognize one another? When we are of the same mind we recognize one another without difficulty by this inner likeness. Spiritual recognition is unerring.
How can we be sure that our faith is founded in Truth? By using our faith as a fundamental principle of life and living strictly according to what we believe we prove what is in it.
What do we learn from this lesson concerning self-condemnation? That confidence or assurance comes to us only as we overcome the habit of condemning ourselves. As we leave this form of negation behind us we gain power to demonstrate the law. “Whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments.”
Transcribed by Tracie Louise on 11-15-2013
