July 21, 2013
Evening Service

IJn. 2

 

            This morning we looked at chapter one of IJn.  We also mentioned that John was the last of the Apostles, and that his writings took place somewhere between 60-90 AD.   

·         The introduction spoke of the divinity of Jesus,  just as he did in his gospel.

·         He encouraged us to walk in the light, and to have fellowship with one another.

·         He taught us to confess our sins, just as the Lord did the prayer He taught His disciples to pray.

 

Let’s look at chapter 2:

 

1Jn 2:1-29  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:  (2)  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 

·         That you sin not!  These are the words of encouragement. 

·         Joh 8:11  She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

·         The Apostle Paul in Romans:  Rom 6:15  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

·         As we see the perfect will of God is that we don’t sin, but we know in reality that this is not going to happen until we are changed into our new body, our glorified body.

·         I mentioned the morning 5 definitions of sin in the Bible they are:

1.       Pro 24:9  The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

2.      Rom 14:23  And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

3.      Jas 4:17  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

4.      1Jn 3:4  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

5.      1Jn 5:17  All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

 

As you can see it would be very difficult to live within these limits every day, and moment, yet that is the challenge set before us.  We should do our best not to sin all the time.  We should never get discouraged when we mess up, yes, we should get upset with ourselves, but we realize that while we are in the flesh, we are going to mess up.  The admonition is to do the best we can.

 

(3)  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.  (4)  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 

·         Here again we see the goals we are to set, and desire is to please the Lord in all we do.

(5)  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 

·         As I mentioned this morning, the idea is to not practice sinning.  Just as the idea here is to practice keeping the commandments of the Lord.  It doesn’t mean that you won’t miss the mark sometimes, because you will, but we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.

 

(6)  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 

·         Practice, or always try to walk the way He walked.

(7)  Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.  (8)  Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

·         The true light now shining is the teachings of Jesus.

(9)  He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.  (10)  He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.  (11)  But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. 

·         I think it very interesting that John uses this illustration to show whether we are walking after the Lord or not.  Loving our brother.

·         Peter said:  1Pe 4:8  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

·         Paul said:  I Cor. 13:8;  Love never fails.

This is why we should practice loving the way God wants us to love.  If we are willing to do this, we are spinning our wheels.

 

(12)  I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. 

·         You see, it’s not about what I have done, but what He has done for me.  I could never be the pure sacrificial lamb that Jesus was.  This Lamb had to be without spot or wrinkle.  The sinless Lamb of God that took away the sins of the world.  Jesus of Nazareth.   What He did for us.

(13)  I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning.

·         You fathers know what Jesus did for mankind, and you know He was from the beginning.

I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one.

·         Overcoming the wicked one doesn’t mean that you are sin free.  It means that you know satan is a defeated being, and you know Jesus has made a way, even when we miss the mark.

I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.  (14)  I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 

·         We fit in there somewhere.  The more we know about God, and His plan for mankind, the less power satan has over us.

(15)  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  (16)  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  (17)  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 

·         Here again is the admonition to forsake the world, and follow Jesus.

·         It is not difficult to discern the difference in the world, and the teachings of Christ. 

·         God has given us a beautiful world to live in.  It is the corruptness that man does to it that makes it not worth following.  THE LUST OF THE FLESH, THE LUST OF THE EYES, AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE.  Not of God, but of satan. 

James said:

Jas 4:4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

When satan tempted Jesus:

Jas 4:4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Mat 4:6  And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Mat 4:8  Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

 

This still happens today.  Many a young person that has started out using their talents for the Lord end up in gutters of the world, because of wrong choices.  Leaving the peace of the church, and choosing the bright lights of the world.  Satan tempted, and they accepted.  Destruction follows.