February 17, 2019
Evening Service

We have looked now in depth at the cycle of sin and forgiveness that we all live in.  God knew this struggle with sin would be something we continual battle with.  There is no place to quit.  We must always get back up after we fall down and embrace the forgiveness of God and carry on our journey.  We can’t do this alone; we need a Savior who will be there for us.  Jesus, as our Advocate, has set in place this process to have our sins forgiven and our relationship with Him restored.  John now defines how we can know for ourselves if we are on the right path.

1Jn 2:3-6  Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.  (4)  He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  (5)  But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.  (6)  He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

            We can know we are on the right path when we have a desire to follow Jesus and His teachings.  If we say we are a Christian and don’t keep His word we are fooling no one but ourselves.  As a true Jesus follower, we will allow the Holy Spirit within us to guide us to living a life that imitates His.  Jesus said in John 14:15 that “If you love Me keep my commandments.”  Trying to be a Jesus follower becomes our identity as who we are rather than what we do.  John now describes that a little deeper.

 

1Jn 2:7-15  Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.  (8)  Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.  (9)  He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.  (10)  He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.  (11)  But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.  (12)  I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.  (13)  I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.  (14)  I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.  

            John explains again that we can’t claim to walk in the light and also allow dark thoughts like hatred to dwell in our hearts.  Love is a defining mark of all Christ followers and is a unifying force that brings us all together.  This message was universal for all ages and generations as John addressed children, young men and fathers.  He mentions how each one has seen God at work and found Him faithful.  Our journey with Christ is a life-long marathon and He will not let us down.

 

 

1Jn 2:15-17  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  (16)  For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.  (17)  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

            John now warns us to be careful not to get caught up in the love of this world or the things of this world.  We need to examine our heart and see who owns it.  The prosperity of our nation can become also our biggest temptation.  The allure of this world and loving the pleasures that are in it is something that many find to be their down fall.  Loving the world is based in the heart as John explains that it is characterized by three attitudes.  The lust of the flesh is a preoccupation with seeking after gratifying one’s physical desires.  The lust of the eyes is covetousness, as one desires for the accumulation of all they see or we could call it materialism.  The pride of life is an obsession with one’s status of importance.  These three areas are also the areas that Jesus was tempted with by Satan as described in Matthew 4.

            Are you struggling in any of these areas?  Confess and allow God to forgive you and realign your priorities putting Him first.  These things of the world though sometimes very enjoyable are temporary.  It is only the things of God that are eternal.  Our challenge is to keep that perspective always on our mind.  John now begins an explanation of what the future holds.

 

 1Jn 2:18-23  Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.  (19)  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.  (20)  But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.  (21)  I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.  (22)  Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.  (23)  Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

            John explains that during the time between Christ’s original visit and His second coming, antichrists (false teachers who oppose Christ) will appear.  They appear on the outside to be spiritual and following Christ, but their desire is not to follow but to deceive.  In the end time, one great antichrist will arrive and play a huge role in the time of tribulation and deceive many to their destruction.  God has equipped us with the Holy Spirit to help us to identify those who deceiving others.  The first test is whether they acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ or not.  Anyone denying this is not of God.  He now continues to explain the gift God has given us.

 

1Jn 2:24-27  Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.  (25)  And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.  (26)  These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.  (27)  But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

 

            John calls out the church to stand strong upon the foundation that their faith was built on.  We have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit (anointing which you received) and that is what guides us to the truth.  It not only teaches us all things spiritual but keeps us from being deceived by a lie.  We all must learn to discern truth from error.  By allowing God to abide in us we place our total trust in Him relying upon Him to provide us guidance and strength for our walk with Him.

 

1Jn 2:28-29  And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.  (29)  If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

            John here returns to his point of walking in the light is proof that we are abiding in Him.  When Christ returns we don’t want to be found ashamed, but be found doing our Father’s business.  We will be found imitating our Savior and bring glory to our Heavenly Father.

 

Peter said “all things have been given to us that pertain to life and Godliness.”  We have seen the process God put into place for our forgiveness and now we see the way He keeps us from being deceived.  We must learn to trust in the Holy Spirit’s guidance and continue to abide in His will as we make our life’s journey.

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving, forgiving and  protecting us.