John was writing to the believing remnant of Israel, as can be seen upon examination of several verses, which have their best application only unto Israel.
1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
What John means in saying the beginning, is what was heard from Jesus during his earthly ministry. They saw Jesus in the flesh and touched him.
Jesus came only at first, to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:24), and to confirm the promises made to the fathers of Israel (Romans 15:8).
1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
What John was declaring was not new revelation, as given to Paul, but what was already given unto Israel by the law and the prophets, and by Jesus, and the twelve.
1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
This was directed to the nation of Israel, who had to confess their sins in accordance with the law and the prophets expressed in Leviticus 26:40-42, 1 Kings 8:47, 2 Chronicles 6:37-39 Nehemiah 1:6, Nehemiah 9:2, and Mark 1:5.
2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
Israel, in John 14:26, and in John 16:13, was promised the Holy Ghost to teach them all things: this will also apply in the new covenant, which will be fulfilled in the future millennial kingdom on earth, as can be seen in Hebrews 8:11.
2:24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
Israel had to continue in the Son, and in the father (John 15:9), and hold the beginning of their confidence steadfast until the end; the end, is the coming of Christ (Hebrews 3:14).
2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
Israel will be saved with an everlasting salvation, and will not be ashamed (Isaiah 45:17).
2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
Israel will determine who among them is born of him, by their righteousness (Matthew 7:16-18 1 John 3:9).
3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
For Israel to abide in the love of Christ, they had to keep his commandments (John 15:10).
Israel had to abide in Christ to be fruitful (John 15:4), otherwise Israel would be cast out (John 15:6), and be unfit for the promised kingdom on earth, when Christ will reign from Jerusalem on the throne of David (Daniel 2:44 Jeremiah 23:5 Psalm 22:28 Luke 1:32-33).
3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
Israel was commanded to love one another from the beginning by Jesus himself in John 13:34-35, and John 15:12 (2 John 1:5).
4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
Jesus was sent to save the world (John 12:47 John 3:17), and in the context of John, it would be fulfilled in the millennial kingdom on earth, in which the word of the lord would go out from Jerusalem for the nations (Zechariah 8:22-23 Luke 24:47).
5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
In order to love God, Israel had to keep his commandments (Exodus 20:6 Deuteronomy 7:9 Deuteronomy 10:12-13 John 14:15).
3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
For eternal life, Israel had to believe on the name of Jesus Christ (John 3:16-18 John 6:29).
5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Jesus from the beginning said in John 8:25, that Israel had to believe on his name (John 1:12 Acts 4:12).
5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Israel, for eternal life, had to only believe on the name of Jesus, that he was Christ, the Son of God (John 20:31).
1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
What John means in saying the beginning, is what was heard from Jesus during his earthly ministry. They saw Jesus in the flesh and touched him.
Jesus came only at first, to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:24), and to confirm the promises made to the fathers of Israel (Romans 15:8).
1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
What John was declaring was not new revelation, as given to Paul, but what was already given unto Israel by the law and the prophets, and by Jesus, and the twelve.
1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
This was directed to the nation of Israel, who had to confess their sins in accordance with the law and the prophets expressed in Leviticus 26:40-42, 1 Kings 8:47, 2 Chronicles 6:37-39 Nehemiah 1:6, Nehemiah 9:2, and Mark 1:5.
2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
Israel, in John 14:26, and in John 16:13, was promised the Holy Ghost to teach them all things: this will also apply in the new covenant, which will be fulfilled in the future millennial kingdom on earth, as can be seen in Hebrews 8:11.
2:24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
Israel had to continue in the Son, and in the father (John 15:9), and hold the beginning of their confidence steadfast until the end; the end, is the coming of Christ (Hebrews 3:14).
2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
Israel will be saved with an everlasting salvation, and will not be ashamed (Isaiah 45:17).
2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
Israel will determine who among them is born of him, by their righteousness (Matthew 7:16-18 1 John 3:9).
3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
For Israel to abide in the love of Christ, they had to keep his commandments (John 15:10).
Israel had to abide in Christ to be fruitful (John 15:4), otherwise Israel would be cast out (John 15:6), and be unfit for the promised kingdom on earth, when Christ will reign from Jerusalem on the throne of David (Daniel 2:44 Jeremiah 23:5 Psalm 22:28 Luke 1:32-33).
3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
Israel was commanded to love one another from the beginning by Jesus himself in John 13:34-35, and John 15:12 (2 John 1:5).
4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
Jesus was sent to save the world (John 12:47 John 3:17), and in the context of John, it would be fulfilled in the millennial kingdom on earth, in which the word of the lord would go out from Jerusalem for the nations (Zechariah 8:22-23 Luke 24:47).
5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
In order to love God, Israel had to keep his commandments (Exodus 20:6 Deuteronomy 7:9 Deuteronomy 10:12-13 John 14:15).
3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
For eternal life, Israel had to believe on the name of Jesus Christ (John 3:16-18 John 6:29).
5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Jesus from the beginning said in John 8:25, that Israel had to believe on his name (John 1:12 Acts 4:12).
5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Israel, for eternal life, had to only believe on the name of Jesus, that he was Christ, the Son of God (John 20:31).
