-- New American Standard
1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, in order that we might know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
Looking at this verse from the common perspective John was referring to the “First” Coming of Christ.
The first coming of our Lord (or the first reason that Jesus was present on earth) occurred when Jesus bore our sins on the cross, Hebrews 9:28.
-- New American Standard
Hebrews 9:28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
What is in question in this article is whether 1 John 5:20 is referring to Jesus first coming or His second?
Did Jesus give us the “understanding” referred to in 1 John 5:20 when He bore our sins or when He came to us for salvation?
Jesus came the first time and bore sins and at that time there was no distribution of understanding.
When Jesus bore our sins on the cross there was no activity required on the part of His followers.
The visitation referred to in Hebrews 9:28 as the “Second Coming” (or second reason for Jesus presence) requires the activity of two participants. One (Jesus through the Holy Spirit) to give the “understanding” and another (the follower of Christ) to receive the understanding.
When Jesus comes the second time He distributes “understanding”. This understanding was distributed so that the Christians to whom the book of first John was written would know Jesus.
This “distribution of understanding” is the function of the Holy Spirit.
-- New American Standard
John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
In order for them to receive understanding the Holy Spirit must have already been given – John 14 and 15 verse 26. This means that the “Coming” that John refers to in 1 John 5:20 is not the First but the Second Coming.
The Holy Spirit indwelt certain individuals before Jesus crucifixion, such as John the Baptist (Luke 1:77).
Luke 1:77 also illustrates the fact that when a person receives the Holy Spirit they have and can become involved in distributing the knowledge or understanding of the Lord Jesus and salvation from the wrath of God.
However in a general sense the Holy Spirit was not poured out or made available to all the followers of God until after Jesus crucifixion, John 7:39.
-- New American Standard
Luke 1:77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
-- New American Standard
John 7:39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
This distribution of “understanding” means that there is someone involved besides Jesus himself.
Someone must receive the understanding. This understanding is distributed to Christians through the Holy Spirit as they are increasingly enabled to receive it.
The action of distributing “understanding” is something that occurs in a Christian’s life as they work out their salvation.
-- New American Standard
Hebrews 9:28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time “for salvation” without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
The term “being saved” is clarified in Matthew 3:7 and 1 Thessalonians 5:9. Christians are “saved” from the wrath of God, which is visited upon ungodly people. It is clear that “salvation” requires knowledge of Jesus. A person must understand what God requires of them in order for them to be saved from God’s wrath. Jesus was our example to show us what God approves of, 1 John 2:6.
-- New American Standard
Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
-- New American Standard
1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ
-- New American Standard
1 John 2:6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
It is also clear from 1 John 5:20 that John understood that Jesus had come the “second” time in and through the person of the Holy Spirit as is clear by combining Acts 3:20 and John 14:16-20.
-- New American Standard
Acts 3:20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you,
-- New American Standard
John 14:16 "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
17. that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you.
18. "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
19. "After a little while the world will behold Me no more; but you will behold Me; because I live, you shall live also.
20. "In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
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