1 John 5:18-21 God's sovereign power to keep His children from being
destroyed by sin is manifested in two ways. Jesus, the uniquely begotten one
born of God, keeps His children; and He has given us understanding to cooperate
in this process so that we may recognize and avoid sin. This is what eternal life consists of. Not
some future eternity after we die and go to heaven, but starting right now, as
soon as we become God's children.
The very last phrase seems an almost
new thought. John warns God's children to guard themselves from images and likenesses.
This seems to be a reference to the second commandment (Exodus 20:4-6). Why
include this here? Perhaps John's real intention is to warn his readers to
beware of looking like Christians but acting, i.e. fooling themselves or
others by pretense that they are Christians, but not really practicing the
faith. He has just explained what true Christianity consists of. Children -
don't pretend!
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