May 21, 2023
Morning Service

It has been a few weeks since we began our study of I John.  John is addressing us like our grandfather would in a tender tone full of wisdom given to him by God and proven to him through experience.  His desire is for us to attain the same fellowship he has with Jesus that our joy may be fulfilled (1:4).  He then laid out God’s plan for keeping us in that relationship by revealing to us the process in which we receive forgiveness and restoration after we fall to sin in our lives.

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

            It really is that simple and we can believe it because Jesus is our Advocate.  He stands in for us and has paid the price for all of our sins; past, present, and future.  John then laid out for us how that we can KNOW that we are truly His.

 

1Jn 2:4-6 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.

            This morning we are going to look at two areas in our lives that we can apply this to determine how we are doing in our journey to follow Him.  John is very clear in these two areas and they both deal with love.  Love is a recurring theme in this short letter as he mentions it in every chapter from here on out.  Today we look at the opposite ends of the spectrum with love; what to love and what not to love.

 1Jn 2:7-11Brethren, 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.

            John here uses another recurring theme with the comparison of light and darkness.  To walk as Jesus did is to be illuminated and walk in the light of His Word.  To walk in darkness is to ignore Jesus’ commands and walk the path that we choose for ourselves.  Here he tells us that walking in the light, in obedience to His command, is to love our brothers.  This is not a new command, but one that resonates throughout the OT scripture, but is magnified through Jesus’ ministry.  To love our brother is walking in the light and removes any cause for stumbling for us.  To have hate in our heart is to walk in the darkness and in so doing there is far greater chance of stumbling and falling.  Hate is a tool our enemy can use to cause us to fall flat on our face if we allow it to abide within us.  To abide in Christ is to walk with love in your heart for everyone without partiality.  Love defines us as Christ followers.  If there are those that have wronged us in some way or by some reason cause us to have hate in our heart for them, we have no choice but to forgive them allowing light to have victory over darkness.  This can be very difficult in this evil world that we live in as we may be asked to forgive some very hurtful things.  No matter how difficult, it is still required of us to not to judge or condemn but to forgive.  Jesus commands it:

Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

            That is exactly what Jesus offers to us and we must also offer it to our brothers.  We will not face judgement or condemnation if we abide in Him because His blood removes those things from our lives.  How can we be forgiven so much and not yet forgive others?  John now shows us this is a universal truth for all of us.

 1Jn 2:12-14 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 here appeals to those who are at different levels of maturity along our walk with Jesus.  Early in our walk we hold tightly to the forgiveness of our sins and overcoming the wicked one.  As we mature we deepen our relationship and feel the we truly know Him for who He is.  His goal for us is to be “strong and have the word of God abide in us to overcome the wicked one.”  Now John switches to the opposite end of the spectrum; what not to love.

 

 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 does not mean we are not to love all things of this life or this world.  Many things are given to us to enjoy by God Himself.  The beauty of a sunrise, the wonder of a new birth, the love we share one with another all are gifts from God to love and enjoy.  It is not wrong to save up and get a camper or go on vacation if you enjoy those things.  He is not saying everything in this world is evil and cannot be loved.  What he is speaking to here are the values and ways of thinking that oppose God’s ways that the world celebrates.  He helps us out as he categorizes these into three areas. 

“The lust of the flesh” are the desires within ourselves that gratify our fleshly desires outside of God’s design.  Putting our needs above what God allows.   Pornography, homosexuality, and sexual intercourse outside of marriage are some of examples of this that we can easily relate to.  The world promotes these things as being a normal part of life to enjoy, “if it feels good do it,” but God condemns them as sin.  Our fleshly desires are to be fulfilled through the marriage relationship or held in check through our devotion to our Lord.  To seek physical self-satisfaction beyond what God allows is loving the ways of the world.

 “The lust of the eyes” is the unhealthy desire within us to have all that we see; covetousness. In our society we are cursed with wealth.  We can work hard enough to attain any material thing that we want and to “love things” is to “love the world.”  This is a slippery slope for many of us.  Paul told Timothy that it is “the love of money is the root for all kinds of evil.”  We live in an affluent society and we must be able to keep God first in all that we do.  Ask yourselves these questions:  Why are we buying these things?  Out of need or want?  Is that want controlling us?  Can we truly be content with what we have or do we feel we need more?  Where does that stop?   Is Jesus enough for me?  We can have nice things but to lust for worldly possessions is to love the world.

“The pride of life” ties in closely with the last one as we feel the need to appear wealthy, successful, own cool things, go cool places, and are in total control of our lives.  Social media is a platform that many use to beat their own drum in this fashion, “look at me and how great I am!”  I know that is not how everyone is with their posts, but we must examine our hearts and be sure that is not our motivation.  We must not use pride of what we have or what we do to define us.  We are defined as being a child of God, a sinner covered with the grace of God and be comfortable with that.  I am made complete (whole needing nothing else) solely by Him, not by my bank account, not by my house, not by my appearance, not by my promotion, but through Jesus alone.  We are to be humble and grateful for the things God does allow us to have and not feel “entitled” to anything.  Know that God often blesses our obedience and faithfulness in new ways that are greater than our desires.  To love and desire a higher status as our primary motivation in this life is showing the pride of life and loving this world.

John sums this up in verse 17 as he reminds us that “the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”  In keeping the first things first, we must keep this fact in line.  The things of this world are fleeting, empty, and do not truly satisfy; why do we then place those things ahead of God?  It is only God that lasts forever and we must learn to always place Him first in our lives.  “A fool holds onto things that he cannot keep, but a wise man clings to what cannot be taken from him.”  We seem to work and invest greatly in our worldly success and then give God what is left over.  This is the totally wrong approach to life.  Take time to look into your spiritual mirror this morning and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you if you are struggling in this area.  Keep the first things first and God will bless you with a new peace that passes all understanding.  Love Him and your brothers, not the things of this world.

 

Heavenly Father, how easily we slip into these sins in our lives in the affluent society we live in.  Open our eyes to see things through Your eyes and put the first things first.