Who Keeps Us

Who Keeps Us?

By Arthur J Licursi

1John 5:18, appearing below, is a verse written by John the Beloved Apostle, specifically to the believing Jews who are looking toward the Messianic Kingdom on earth.

We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 1John 5:18 (AKJV)

I believe the truth learned thereby applies also to the believers who are of “the dispensation of the grace of God. (Eph 3:2)” But, there appears a problem for those who see and trust the Pauline truth of pure grace in “the dispensation of the grace of God,” (Rom 6:14, 11:6) as being versus the works required by the Mosaic Law. 1 John 5:18 in the Authorized KJV seems to be a problem. This verse seems or appears to be contrary to pure, 100% grace – rather it seems to promote or require self-effort for one to “keep himself.” The verse seems to indicate that the regenerated or born again child of God must keep himself. But let’s look a little closer to see who it is that is “the keeper.”

If we look at the Amplified Bible it will help us to better see what is being said.

We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God does not [deliberately and knowingly] practice committing sin, but the One Who was begotten of God carefully watches over and protects him [Christ’s divine presence within him preserves him against the evil], and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on him or touch [him]. 1John 5:18 (AMPLIFIED)

As we study the written (2Tim 2:15) word we will gain a better insight. We should note that the word “himself” as it appears here in 1 John 5:18 of the Authorized KJV is not found in the original text of most manuscripts, but rather the word “him” (See Companion Bible margin note), and so “himself” should be transliterated “him” – “he that is begotten of God keepeth him”. The Amplified, NIV or New American Standard versions of the Bible reflect this correctly.

This then would be consistent with our proper perspective as can be seen also in the Lord Jesus’ capacity to keep all who believe …Jew or Gentile.

John 10:28 And I (Jesus) give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man (Gk., oudemia, no one) pluck them out of my hand.

Here the word “man” is more properly translated “no one,” as seen in the NAS, NIV and Amplified. The “wicked one” of 1John 5:18 is the “no one”; he cannot touch or pluck any believer out of the Lord’s hand.

It will help us to clearly identify who is the “born of God” and who it is that is “begotten of God” in 1John 5:18.

It is we believers who are “born of God” (John 1:13)
It is Jesus Christ who is the “begotten of God,” in two ways.

1. As the “only begotten (monogenes, “only born”) of God” (John 1:14).

2. He also was also called the “begotten” (gennao, procreate) of the Father by resurrection (Rom 1:3-4), when He was raised from the dead.

Romans 1:3-4 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Hebrews 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day (resurrection) have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

Thus we can conclude that for we who are regenerated, those born of God, we are kept by the resurrection life of Christ (Rom 6:4b), which now indwells our spirit (1Col 1:27, 1Cor 6:17) to be our new and overcoming life that keeps us (John 17:11, 15). Christ keeps and saves us by His indwelling life. Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Proper translation of the language always requires us to see the context of a scripture, before we can interpret that scripture for proper understanding. Note that 1John 5:1 begins with a similarity.

1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (God the Father): and every one that loveth him that begat (God the Father) loveth him (Christ) also that is begotten of him (God the Father). (Parenthesis inserted by writer)

This verse mentions both the “born of God” (1Jn 5:1a) and the “begotten of (God) Him” (1John 5:1b). Reading from V1 through V18 we see that the emphasis is Christ as “the begotten Son of God” who is the “life” (V11-12) – the overcoming life, which Paul tells us indwells the believer’s spirit (Col 1:27, 1Cor 6:17). It is this life of Christ that keeps the child of God the Father, those who are “born of God.”

This is not to say we have no part at all in our walk with the Lord. Let’s see how it is that He keeps us. We, as a free-willed soul-self Christian, do have a part in co-operating with Christ’s indwelling life. We have a choice to yield or not to yield to the promptings (“witness in himself” 1John 5:10), which are of the indwelling Christ. As we are brought to yield to Him, His life prompting us within, we then are also … instantly empowered to be kept from evil. Our yielding to the Lord within then is a measure of our believing and trusting Him; this then is the “overcoming” faith (1John 5:4) that saves us, “day by day” (2Cor 4:16).

In honesty, we must admit that we do not always want to yield; rather we may choose to exert our own self preference in a situation, independent of Christ’s promptings within us.

Example: We may be tempted to retaliate for being wronged by somebody, or seek our own interest in some way.

We can be confident that even in this failure of ours our Father is still then always working to bring us “both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” How is that possible? He permits us to reap the consequences of our self-seeking and independent actions; we may suffer the pain of failure in self-dependence or in harmed relationships, and/or at least, embarrassment. Thus we learn obedience to yield to the prompting of the indwelling and saving life of Christ within, who likely was trying to retrain us from within – we know Christ via our conscience speaks to us. This then is the Christ of God “working in us to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philip 2:13).

Thankfully, we may be confident in His work to keep us. Philip. 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ

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