1 CORINTHIANS 16 22 If any man love

1 CORINTHIANS 16: 22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema: if any one in the church is secretly in opposition to the above description, and does not have sincerity of faith, demonstrable in his deeds, let him be cut off from the membership-see commentators

Benson Commentary 1 Corinthians 16: 22. If any man love not the Lord Jesus — In sincerity, but is secretly alienated from him in heart, while he calls himself his servant, preferring some secular interest of his own to that of his Divine Master; if any one be an enemy to Christ’s person, offices, doctrines, or commands; let him be Anathema Maranatha — Anathema signifies a thing devoted to destruction Pulpit Commentary "Let personal love to Christ be the essential of Christian fellowship, and let him who has it not be regarded as apart from the Church

The word only occurs elsewhere in 1 Corinthians 12: 3; Acts 23: 13 (here used as a curse-however not relevant here); Romans 9: 3 (also not relevant here); Galatians 1: 8, 9 (see also John’s letters) 1 CORINTHIANS 12: 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 1, 2, 3 JOHN 2: 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 2: 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

2: 18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 2: 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 2: 22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 2: 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 2: 26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you

4: 1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 4: 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 4: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 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: 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 5: 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 5: 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 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.

1: 7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh 1: 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 1: 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 1: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Galatians 1: 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 1: 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Now, let me make some practical applications form the above: 1. John says, that these were or claimed to be members of the church of God, and John knew them, 2. Their heretical teachings had an element of seduction; thereby meaning they were attractive and were able to lure members of the flock away from the only true church and apostolic doctrine, 3. The doctrine as given by John, clearly centers around the person of Jesus Christ- that He was indeed God come in the flesh, and nothing less, 4. That the whole doctrine of God incarnate is at the very centre of all doctrine regarding the Christian faith, any deviation from it is immediately and permanently harmful to the church, and that the only remedy is separation- either the members concerned are requested to leave, or the faithful remnants leave

5. Jesus, who is the only head of the church, will not allow His presence and that of the Holy Spirit in heretical gatherings where the doctrine is in error, 6. Therefore such gatherings are merely a sham, and the leaders thereof are “liars” and they make God to be a “liar”, according to John- these leaders are not qualified nor are they appointed of God or of His church, their chief qualification is to seduce, by nice speeches, which compromise true Christianity and have no use for the good of society, the main object is to fleece the flock.