1 & 2 & 3 John

God's Prayer Force 1 John 5:13-21

2008-09-21T13:56:00.002-05:00

Do Not Underestimate the Power of Your Covenant With God
Do Not Underestimate the Power of Your Favor With God
Do Not Let Your Brothers & Sisters Battle Sin Without Your Spiritual Air Support

ESV 1 John 5:13 ¶ I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

ESV John 20:31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

ESV 1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

ESV John 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

ESV 1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

ESV 1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
Confidence here means courage, boldness, fearlessness

ESV John 14:13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

ESV Matthew 7:7 ¶ "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

The connection with God is amazing. When His eyes are on us, His grace abounds to us because of His deep favor for us.

By Keith Green

Oh Lord, You're beautiful
Your face is all I seek.
For when Your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.

16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life--to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.

John alludes to something that his readers no doubt would understand. We have to try to piece it together.

Physical death as a consequence of sin....

In Jewish literature the idea of sin leading to death is occasionally found:
Num 18:21-22 Do not come near the tent of meeting---only Levites can...lest you die.

Some sins were punishable by death and some not. NLT Deuteronomy 22:25 ¶ "But if the man meets the engaged woman out in the country, and he rapes her, then only the man must die. 26 Do nothing to the young woman; she has committed no crime worthy of death. She is as innocent as a murder victim.

Sometimes God announces that certain sins seal the fate of a people and cannot be forgiven.

NLT Isaiah 22:14 The LORD of Heaven's Armies has revealed this to me: "Till the day you die, you will never be forgiven for this sin." That is the judgment of the Lord, the LORD of Heaven's Armies.

BUT JOHN DOESN'T refer to physical death in 1 John 5:16-17.

Does John mean blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?

ESV Matthew 12:31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

I don't think this is what John has in mind.

It seems he has apostasy in mind. John is talking about the second death.

ESV Hebrews 6:1 ¶ Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,

ESV Hebrews 10:26 ¶ For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

ESV Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

ESV Revelation 21:6 And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

ESV 1 John 3:4 ¶ Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

18 ¶ We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

John has been talking about being born of God in the gospel of John and in 1 John.

ESV 1 John 4:7 ¶ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

People born of God are changed over time.

ESV 1 John 3:9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.

NLT Jude 1:1 This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ.

19 ¶ We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

ESV John 17:15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

ESV Galatians 1:4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

ESV John 8:47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God."

20 ¶ And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

ESV Jeremiah 24:7 I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.

ESV John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

ESV Romans 9:5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

ESV John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

ESV 1 Corinthians 10:14 ¶ Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

ALL THE USES OF CONFIDENCE IN LXX/GNT
(The original Greek word here is 'PARAESSIA')

ESV Leviticus 26:13 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.

ESV Proverbs 1:20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice;

ESV Proverbs 10:10 Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

ESV Proverbs 13:5 The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.

ESV Job 27:10 Will he take delight in the Almighty? Will he call upon God at all times?

ESV Mark 8:32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

ESV John 7:4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world."
13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.
26 And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ?

ESV John 10:24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."

ESV John 11:14 Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus has died,
54 ¶ Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.

ESV John 16:25 ¶ "I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.
29 ¶ His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech!

ESV John 18:20 Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.

ESV Acts 2:29 ¶ "Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

ESV Acts 4:13 ¶ Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,
31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

ESV Acts 28:31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

ESV 2 Corinthians 3:12 ¶ Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,

ESV 2 Corinthians 7:4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

ESV Ephesians 3:12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

ESV Ephesians 6:19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,

ESV Philippians 1:20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

ESV Colossians 2:15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

ESV 1 Timothy 3:13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

ESV Philemon 1:8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required,

ESV Hebrews 3:6 but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

ESV Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

ESV Hebrews 10:19 ¶ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

ESV 1 John 2:28 ¶ And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.

ESV 1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;

ESV 1 John 4:17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.

ESV 1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

Demonstration of love 1 John 4:7-12

2008-08-31T12:46:00.001-05:00

Have we been sold a bill of goods on love? Agape, Philia, Eros

Is there anything more important than love? Isn't loving one another the primary focus of real Christianity?

Why have I heard misinformation about love from books and pulpits all my life? What's the deal?

I've heard for years that there are three kinds of love in Greek, philia, eros and agape. Once again I read this in my study of 1 John for my sermon prep this week in an otherwise well written commentary. The common idea is that agape is God's love, outside of human beings ability or containment. It is a selfless love. Philia is brotherly or family love. The love of friendship. Eros is not a biblical term, and includes baser human desires perhaps better classified as lust.

So I was quite stunned when I found out in my pastors study years ago that is NOT accurate.
Let me first just list the Greek nouns I've found in the Semantic Domain that includes 'Love, affection, Compassion'.

Philia (love for someone or something based on association with them)
Philadelphia/os (brotherly love)
Philanthropia (love of mankind)
Philandros (a wife's love for her husband)
Philoteknos (a parents love for their children)
Philautos (love for yourself)
Philotheos (love for God)
Philostorgos (love for close relatives)
Agape (love for someone or something-showing a high regard for them or it)
Zelos (to have a deep concern or compassion for someone or something)
Epipotheo (to experience a yearning affection for someone - 'to have a great affection for, to have a yearning love for)
Splankna (deep affection or compassion)
'Platuno Ten Kardian' (idiom meaning to broaden the heart)
Embrimaomai (to have an intense, strong feeling of concern, often with the implication of indignation)
Sumpathes {You have one guess to figure this one out-no second chance sympathy if you cannot figure it out :-)}

If you combine all the phil stem words into one basic word, there are still eight kinds of love listed (not three).

Further examination shows that some of these words have a massive overlap in usage. For example, philia and agape are used for similar or identical situations in many places.

Since love is so very important to define, I believe a fresh look at just the basic lexicons and dictionaries on these words and how they are used is demanded for us. Especially in light of the discovery that there are not three basic words for love in the bible's Greek. 8 are listed, and eros is not one of them.

The word Eros is the name of the Greek mythological god of love. See a quick definition of eros from Wikipedia. Eros (ἔρως érōs) is passionate love, with sensual desire and longing. The Modern Greek word "erotas" means "(romantic) love". The term erotic is derived from eros.

So we ought to focus on love and what is biblical love, so that we don't have an over spiritual definition of love that prevents us from actually loving anyone because our definition is so high that no one could attain to it.

ESV 1 John 4:7 ¶ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

ESV John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

ESV John 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

ESV 1 John 2:3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

ESV John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

ESV 1 John 2:29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
ESV 1 John 3:9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
ESV 1 John 5:1 ¶ Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.
ESV 1 John 5:4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.
ESV 1 John 5:18 ¶ We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us--
ESV John 3:16 ¶ "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

ESV 1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.
ESV 2 Thessalonians 2:16 ¶ Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

ESV Romans 3:19 ¶ Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 21 ¶ But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

ESV Romans 5:6 ¶ For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-- 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Grudem: "propitiation means "a sacrifice that bears God's wrath to the end and in so doing changes God's wrath toward us into favor."

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

ESV Romans 13:8 ¶ Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

13 ¶ By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Practical ways to love one another:

Give gifts. Christ is our gift from the Father.
Spend time with people.
Encourage them with words that strengthen their hearts.
Touch each other...Kiss one another with a holy kiss.
Serve one another.

The honor code of the marines. Two childhood friends fighting in the trench war of WW1.

The Prime Directive: Love

2008-08-28T07:02:00.003-05:00

Is there anything more important than love? Isn't loving one another the primary focus of real Christianity? Why have I heard misinformation about love from books and pulpits all my life? What's the deal?

I've heard for years that there are three kinds of love in Greek, philia, eros and agape. Once again I read this in my study of 1 John for my sermon prep this week in an otherwise well written commentary. The common idea is that agape is God's love, outside of human beings ability or containment. It is a selfless love. Philia is brotherly or family love. The love of friendship. Eros is not a biblical term, and includes baser human desires perhaps better classified as lust.

So I was quite stunned when I found out in my pastors study years ago that is NOT accurate.
Let me first just list the Greek nouns I've found in the Semantic Domain that includes 'Love, affection, Compassion'.

Philia (love for someone or something based on association with them)
Philadelphia/os (brotherly love)
Philanthropia (love of mankind)
Philandros (a wife's love for her husband)
Philoteknos (a parents love for their children)
Philautos (love for yourself)
Philotheos (love for God)
Philostorgos (love for close relatives)
Agape (love for someone or something-showing a high regard for them or it)
Zelos (to have a deep concern or compassion for someone or something)
Epipotheo (to experience a yearning affection for someone - 'to have a great affection for, to have a yearning love for)
Splankna (deep affection or compassion)
'Platuno Ten Kardian' (idiom meaning to broaden the heart)
Embrimaomai (to have an intense, strong feeling of concern, often with the implication of indignation)
Sumpathes {You have one guess to figure this one out-no second chance sympathy if you cannot figure it out :-)}

If you combine all the phil stem words into one basic word, there are still eight kinds of love listed (not three).

Further examination shows that some of these words have a massive overlap in usage. For example, philia and agape are used for similar or identical situations in many places.

Since love is so very important to define, I believe a fresh look at just the basic lexicons and dictionaries on these words and how they are used is demanded for us. Especially in light of the discovery that there are not three basic words for love in the bible's Greek. 8 are listed, and eros is not one of them.

The word Eros is the name of the Greek mythological god of love. See a quick definition of eros from Wikipedia. See wikipedia for more on this. Eros (ἔρως érōs) is passionate love, with sensual desire and longing. The Modern Greek word "erotas" means "(romantic) love". The term erotic is derived from eros.

From what I can see, agape is love with a focus on demonstration or showing itself to the recipient of love. It can be in a human or in God.

Children of God (Pt 3) 1 John 4:1-6

2008-08-24T12:37:00.002-05:00

Children of God part 3
1 John 4:1-6

ESV 1 John 4:1 ¶ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Introduction:

Dropped Hosanna off yesterday at W.C.

It wasn't very many years ago when we brought her home from the hospital. She was so tiny. Then she learned to walk and talk. Then we took her on mission trips to White Russia. Then on to be a pastor's daughter in Illinois. Most of her life she's been in Normal, Illinois. I remember when we learned she could sing. Everyone seemed to love her voice, but no one loved it as much as I do still. That's my little girl. A boyfriend. A job. A high score on test after test. Suddenly it's time for college.

The emotions. The sadness. The excitement. Please remember the good things we deposited. Forget the rest.
First few months of college in my day were exciting for me. Every week I went to a different church. One day my suite mate suggested a new church to me. We went and checked it out. It was very charismatic. They were teaching a new doctrine. The idea was that your words have power on them. Sounds biblical. The idea was that if you confessed something that you caused it to happen. Sounded out there a little, but some scriptures seemed to support it. As he taught I began to pray. "Lord help me to discern if this is right?" The very night that I prayed that prayer, the pastor began to teach us how to speak in tongues. He said make some sort of a sound. Then repeat it and let your thinking just go. Soon you will be speaking in tongues. He believed that if you speak the word it becomes reality. I just had to reject this idea. The clincher was when he began to explain the word 'Logos' in John 1. He said that many Jews for many generations had been saying...'the Messiah is coming'. He said every time you say something that your words take on an invisible force or power that builds up in the atmosphere. He said that the Jews who had been confessing 'the Messiah is coming' had their words building up in the atmosphere to the point that their 'word' became flesh and dwelt among us. Now I didn't know much else, but I knew that was wrong. I felt God had given me a clear indication that this new church had a wrong spirit about it. I never went back to their services.

So how do we know if someone is on track or off track when it comes to spiritual truth?

Today's subject brings the convergence of two great areas of theology.

1) Pneumatology
Two broad areas of pneumatology include the study of Angels, both evil and elect. Secondly the study of the person and role of the Holy Spirit particularly in relationship to
human spirits.

2) Christology
Here we have the issues relating to the eternal existence of the Son of God and in focus today is what some call Incarnational Christology.

We will look at the command of this passage, the positive test, the negative test and the assurance John gives to reinforce us.

The Command of the passage

ESV 1 John 4:1 ¶ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Often believe can mean to trust, but in this verse it tilts towards the idea of acknowledging. The idea flows around who are you going to open up to.
A) They were not a closed community. Being open to others outside bore risk. This passage shows how to have a gate on the community without being a closed community. This is important so that we don't end up becoming ingrown as a community.

Jesus has people who were not in his group that were preaching in his name during his time. He stopped his disciples from rebuking them. The Kingdom of God was never meant to be one organized group on earth. Jesus demonstrated that for us. This means that we need to be open to people from outside our 'group' or movement. Yet the apostle warns that there are many false prophets in the world coming around to spread error.

This also means that there is a body of truth that the church must hold to. This body of truth is called 'the faith' or the truth. There are minor things and there are major things. For example, what writings in the world are considered holy writ...this is a main thing. We must agree on what is and isn't the bible. Another main thing is a basic agreement on who is Jesus. This is sometimes called Christology.

In our passage today John gives two Christological tests to tell if someone is of God or not of God.

The Positive test.

2 This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God.

The Negative test.

3 But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.

Paul had some advice to the Thessalonians on prophecy. ESV 1 Thessalonians 5:20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.

ESV 1 Corinthians 12:8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

John is talking about a variation of what Paul tells the Thessalonians. It is not the same as what he talks about to the Corinthians. There you have a special spiritual gift called discerning of spirits. This is a general test for all believers that requires no special gift to use. It's a general test.

To broaden this test out a bit: What you believe about Jesus as a human and as God is crucial. What you believe about the ministry of the Spirit of God is also important. Some people have focused so much on the Holy Spirit that they rarely talk about the life, work, teachings and atoning sacrifice of Jesus. Instead they talk only of the Holy Spirit. But the principle work of the Spirit is to glorify Jesus. It hardly can be the Holy Spirit when we replace a focus on Christ with a focus on the Holy Spirit.

Summing up the doctrine of Christ with his incarnation in mind. Jesus is fully human and he is fully divine. God the Son took on Himself a human nature. This is commonly called the incarnation. So God the Son is now human also. This is often called the dual nature of Christ. He is the God-man. Not part God. Not part man. He is fully God. He is fully man. See John 1:1, 18. You may check the section on the Trinity by Wayne Grudem in Systematic Theology.

ESV John 1:1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

ESV Genesis 1:1 ¶ In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

ESV John 1:14 ¶ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

ESV John 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."

ESV Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

John's Assurance to you: Apostolic Reinforcement
4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

a) If you have repented of your sins, put your confidence in Jesus' death on the cross to bring full forgiveness to you, and have received the Holy Spirit, then you are one of God's children. If this is true, then you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you. Then the consequence is that HE who lives in you is far greater than anyone else because He is God!
The spirits of this world follow their leader the devil. The devil is as far inferior to the Holy Spirit as can be imagined. So what does this mean? It means that no matter how dark it seems around you, remember that He who is in you is far superior. Through the Holy Spirit you have all the strength, power and protection you need to overcome all evil.

b) Anyone who listens to John the apostle and his teaching and is in agreement with his teaching is from God. Those who reject his teachings are in error.

Final thoughts

Don't be afraid to test everything that claims to be spiritual. Principally test everything first in the area of Christology. What do they think about who Jesus is? Do they believe He is the one true God? Do they believe He is fully human as well?

Some groups are saying that we don't need to think so much about doctrine anymore. Don't believe that idea. It is opposed by John the apostle. One crucial test for a right spirit is those who agree with the key doctrines of Jesus. This is where we part company with Mormons, JW's, Bahai, some United Methodists and United Presbyterians as well as some Catholics and many other groups. Many people teach that Jesus was one way. Or that he was a great spirit, but not the Only True God. Some teach he is a god, but not God. There are many different teachings about who Jesus is, but on these points, we will not sway. Jesus is fully God. There is only one true God. Jesus. He is fully man as well.

Furthermore, be open to people from outside the Vineyard, but test them. Test their ideas. Test prophecy. Be open to prophets, but test them.

How I did this about 10 years ago with a ministry that used to be called Lily Ministries (now called Judah International Ministries) in Mackinaw, IL.

Children of God: Kingdom of God vs Kingdom of darkness

2008-08-17T10:10:00.001-05:00

Christ's Kingdom love vs. Dark Kingdom hatred

ESV 1 John 3:13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

Echoes of ESV John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

ESV John 15:18 ¶ "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

ESV John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

ESV 1 John 2:11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

ESV Matthew 5:21 ¶ "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

The Kingdom of Darkness is not an impersonal Kingdom, but there is one who rules that kingdom. The Devil, Satan.

John sees two kinds of people in the world. Those with Jesus and those not.

Define world: Kosmos
What is 'death'? Here is the dominion of the kingdom of darkness: the realm of death as the NEB translates it.
What is 'life'? The dominion of the kingdom of God.

What is the main thing? Demonstrations of love.

What is Kingdom Love? Read from Spicq. His key thought is that agape must be demonstrated. Rooted in humility, a valuing of another grows so strong that a demonstration of love must transpire. Without that demonstration, there is no real agape love. The link between desire and demonstration of desire in agape is so strong that it almost overshadows the idea of motive in agape. Perhaps too much has been put on the idea that agape is 'God's love'. Agape is simply put, great value on another demonstrated.

What is the polarizing force to Christ's Kingdom love?

What is hatred? Devaluing another to the point of despising them. It is the opposite of agape love.

Is this like Star Wars...the two forces? Is the power behind Christ's Kingdom love an impersonal force? Is the Kingdom of darkness a surge of dark power of hatred?
Our movie backgrounds have clouded our ability to see the scripture here. There are two realms operating here. One realm is the region or atmosphere where Christ rules. That dimension is called the Kingdom of God because Christ rules in us. The other realm is death. Recall our focus on Hosea a few months ago: ESV Hosea 13:14 Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death? O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from my eyes.

And to his Corinthian letter Paul writes: ESV 1 Corinthians 15:54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

Through the death of Christ on the cross He broke the power of sin, the sting of death was overcome, we died to the law and to the world! Hallelujah! John focuses on the fact that this is a demonstration of the Kingdom of Heaven's Life because it was an act of love for us. The Kingdom of heaven is focused on the person of Jesus Christ.

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

ESV John 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

Agape in our hearts is personal...ESV Romans 16:14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them.

17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

ESV James 2:15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

ESV Deuteronomy 15:7 ¶ "If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother,

ESV 1 John 4:20 If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

ESV James 1:22 ¶ But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

19 ¶ By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

ESV Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

ESV Romans 5:18 ¶ Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.

ESV Hebrews 13:20 ¶ Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

ESV 1 John 4:13 ¶ By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

ESV Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

1 John 3:13-24 English, French, Greek, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian

2008-08-12T10:46:00.002-05:00

ESV 1 John 3:13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 19 ¶ By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

NEG 1 John 3:13 Ne vous étonnez pas, frères, si le monde vous hait. 14 Nous savons que nous sommes passés de la mort à la vie, parce que nous aimons les frères. Celui qui n'aime pas demeure dans la mort. 15 Quiconque hait son frère est un meurtrier, et vous savez qu 'aucun meurtrier n'a la vie éternelle demeurant en lui. 16 Nous avons connu l'amour, en ce qu 'il a donné sa vie pour nous; nous aussi, nous devons donner notre vie pour les frères. 17 Si quelqu'un possède les biens du monde, et que, voyant son frère dans le besoin, il lui ferme ses entrailles, comment l'amour de Dieu demeure -t-il en lui ? 18 Petits enfants, n'aimons pas en paroles et avec la langue, mais en actions et avec vérité. 19 ¶ Par là nous connaîtrons que nous sommes de la vérité, et nous rassurerons nos coeurs devant lui; 20 car si notre coeur nous condamne, Dieu est plus grand que notre coeur, et il connaît toutes choses. 21 Bien-aimés, si notre coeur ne nous condamne pas, nous avons de l'assurance devant Dieu. 22 Quoi que ce soit que nous demandions, nous le recevons de lui, parce que nous gardons ses commandements et que nous faisons ce qui lui est agréable. 23 Et c'est ici son commandement: que nous croyions au nom de son Fils Jésus -Christ, et que nous nous aimions les uns les autres, selon le commandement qu'il nous a donné. 24 Celui qui garde ses commandements demeure en Dieu, et Dieu en lui; et nous connaissons qu 'il demeure en nous par l'Esprit qu 'il nous a donné.

BGT 1 John 3:13 [Καὶ] μὴ θαυμάζετε, ἀδελφοί, εἰ μισεῖ ὑμᾶς ὁ κόσμος. 14 ἡμεῖς οἴδαμεν ὅτι μεταβεβήκαμεν ἐκ τοῦ θανάτου εἰς τὴν ζωήν, ὅτι ἀγαπῶμεν τοὺς ἀδελφούς· ὁ μὴ ἀγαπῶν μένει ἐν τῷ θανάτῳ. 15 πᾶς ὁ μισῶν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ ἀνθρωποκτόνος ἐστίν, καὶ οἴδατε ὅτι πᾶς ἀνθρωποκτόνος οὐκ ἔχει ζωὴν αἰώνιον ἐν αὐτῷ μένουσαν. 16 ἐν τούτῳ ἐγνώκαμεν τὴν ἀγάπην, ὅτι ἐκεῖνος ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἔθηκεν· καὶ ἡμεῖς ὀφείλομεν ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀδελφῶν τὰς ψυχὰς θεῖναι. 17 ὃς δ᾽ ἂν ἔχῃ τὸν βίον τοῦ κόσμου καὶ θεωρῇ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ χρείαν ἔχοντα καὶ κλείσῃ τὰ σπλάγχνα αὐτοῦ ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ, πῶς ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ μένει ἐν αὐτῷ; 18 Τεκνία, μὴ ἀγαπῶμεν λόγῳ μηδὲ τῇ γλώσσῃ ἀλλὰ ἐν ἔργῳ καὶ ἀληθείᾳ. 19 ¶ [Καὶ] ἐν τούτῳ γνωσόμεθα ὅτι ἐκ τῆς ἀληθείας ἐσμέν, καὶ ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ πείσομεν τὴν καρδίαν ἡμῶν, 20 ὅτι ἐὰν καταγινώσκῃ ἡμῶν ἡ καρδία, ὅτι μείζων ἐστὶν ὁ θεὸς τῆς καρδίας ἡμῶν καὶ γινώσκει πάντα. 21 Ἀγαπητοί, ἐὰν ἡ καρδία [ἡμῶν] μὴ καταγινώσκῃ, παρρησίαν ἔχομεν πρὸς τὸν θεόν 22 καὶ ὃ ἐὰν αἰτῶμεν λαμβάνομεν ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ τηροῦμεν καὶ τὰ ἀρεστὰ ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ποιοῦμεν. 23 Καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἐντολὴ αὐτοῦ, ἵνα πιστεύσωμεν τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους, καθὼς ἔδωκεν ἐντολὴν ἡμῖν. 24 καὶ ὁ τηρῶν τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ μένει καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν αὐτῷ· καὶ ἐν τούτῳ γινώσκομεν ὅτι μένει ἐν ἡμῖν, ἐκ τοῦ πνεύματος οὗ ἡμῖν ἔδωκεν.

SBP 1 John 3:13 Näo se admirem, irmäos, se os que säo do mundo vos odeiam. 14 Nós sabemos que passámos da morte para a vida porque amamos os irmäos. Aquele que näo ama ainda está morto. 15 Todo aquele que tem ódio ao seu irmäo é um assassino. E sabem que os assassinos näo têm dentro de si a vida eterna. 16 Eis como nós podemos saber o que é o amor: Jesus Cristo deu a sua vida por nós; portanto, também nós devemos dar a nossa vida pelos nossos irmäos. 17 Se alguém possui bens neste mundo e, vendo o irmäo em necessidade lhe fechar o seu coraçäo, como permanecerá nele o amor de Deus? 18 Meus filhos, näo amemos com palavras e discursos, mas com acções e com verdade. 19 ¶ Desta maneira sabemos que somos da verdade e que a nossa consciência se pode sentir tranquila diante de Deus. 20 Se o nosso coraçäo nos acusa, Deus é maior do que o nosso coraçäo e conhece tudo. 21 Queridos amigos, se o nosso coraçäo näo nos acusa, temos plena confiança em Deus 22 e tudo aquilo que lhe pedirmos havemos de o receber, porque obedecemos aos seus mandamentos e fazemos aquilo que lhe agrada. 23 E aquilo que ele nos mandou é que acreditemos em Jesus Cristo, seu Filho, e nos amemos uns aos outros como ele nos mandou. 24 Aquele que obedece aos mandamentos de Deus permanece em Deus e Deus nele. E sabemos que Deus está em nós graças ao Espírito que ele nos deu.

NVI 1 John 3:13 Hermanos, no se extrañen si el mundo los odia. 14 Nosotros sabemos que hemos pasado de la muerte a la vida porque amamos a nuestros hermanos. El que no ama permanece en la muerte. 15 Todo el que odia a su hermano es un asesino, y ustedes saben que en ningún asesino permanece la vida eterna. 16 En esto conocemos lo que es el amor: en que Jesucristo entregó su vida por nosotros. Así también nosotros debemos entregar la vida por nuestros hermanos. 17 Si alguien que posee bienes materiales ve que su hermano está pasando necesidad, y no tiene compasión de él, ¿cómo se puede decir que el amor de Dios habita en él? 18 Queridos hijos, no amemos de palabra ni de labios para afuera, sino con hechos y de verdad. 19 ¶ En esto sabremos que somos de la verdad, y nos sentiremos seguros delante de él: 20 que aunque nuestro corazón nos condene, Dios es más grande que nuestro corazón y lo sabe todo. 21 Queridos hermanos, si el corazón no nos condena, tenemos confianza delante de Dios, 22 y recibimos todo lo que le pedimos porque obedecemos sus mandamientos y hacemos lo que le agrada. 23 Y éste es su mandamiento: que creamos en el nombre de su Hijo Jesucristo, y que nos amemos los unos a los otros, pues así lo ha dispuesto. 24 El que obedece sus mandamientos permanece en Dios, y Dios en él. ¿Cómo sabemos que él permanece en nosotros? Por el Espíritu que nos dio.

RST 1 John 3:13 Не дивитесь, братия мои, если мир ненавидит вас. 14 Мы знаем, что мы перешли из смерти в жизнь, потому что любим братьев; не любящий брата пребывает в смерти. 15 Всякий, ненавидящий брата своего, есть человекоубийца; а вы знаете, что никакой человекоубийца не имеет жизни вечной, в нем пребывающей. 16 Любовь познали мы в том, что Он положил за нас душу Свою: и мы должны полагать души свои за братьев. 17 А кто имеет достаток в мире, но, видя брата своего в нужде, затворяет от него сердце свое,-- как пребывает в том любовь Божия? 18 Дети мои! станем любить не словом или языком, но делом и истиною. 19 ¶ И вот по чему узнаём, что мы от истины, и успокаиваем пред Ним сердца наши; 20 ибо если сердце наше осуждает нас, то [кольми паче Бог], потому что Бог больше сердца нашего и знает всё. 21 Возлюбленные! если сердце наше не осуждает нас, то мы имеем дерзновение к Богу, 22 и, чего ни попросим, получим от Него, потому что соблюдаем заповеди Его и делаем благоугодное пред Ним. 23 А заповедь Его та, чтобы мы веровали во имя Сына Его Иисуса Христа и любили друг друга, как Он заповедал нам. 24 И кто сохраняет заповеди Его, тот пребывает в Нем, и Он в том. А что Он пребывает в нас, узнаём по духу, который Он дал нам.

ASK (Abide, See, Keep Watch) 1 John 2:28 to 3:12

2008-08-10T12:55:00.002-05:00

ASK
Children of God Part 1 1 John 2:28-3:12

ESV 1 John 2:28 ¶ And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

3:1 ¶ See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 4 ¶ Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. 11 ¶ For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.

Abide in Him

What does it mean to abide in Him? The word abide means to dwell or to live. This is a reference to a deep and permanent relationship to God in Christ through the Holy Spirit.

This is the only command in John's letters that has a direct and immediate focus on the person of Christ. It calls directly to mind the commands of Jesus in John's gospel.

ESV John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
ESV John 15:9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

Abiding in Jesus means to be aware of Him all the time. It means to live conscious of the existence of God. It means to live with an awareness of God's presence around you. To abide 'in Jesus' means to be connected to Jesus every day, every night. It means to live for Him always. It means to draw your strength from Jesus for all you do. It means your whole life is the life of a saint. You are part of God's extending His kingdom into the realms of darkness. You get to enjoy the presence of Jesus forever...starting now!

Meditating on Jesus is the conclusion of all good doctrine. Meditating on Jesus is the conclusion of all good living. To live well and to believe well, we end up 'in Jesus'. His life fills us and surrounds us. It is to experience Jesus! ESV Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good.

It is to enjoy His word. ESV Psalm 119:103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

If Jesus' words abide in us, and we abide in Him, then we begin to understand 'abide in Him' a little more.

To abide in Jesus means to be changed by contact with Jesus. It means to be transformed by His nature. A failure to be changed, means we are not experiencing Jesus!

WHY ABIDE IN HIM?

ESV 1 John 2:28 ¶ And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

True Christians ought to live with an eye of hope on the potential of Jesus' return to the earth. This is called the second coming of Christ. The reason it is the second coming is because He came already as a baby. But he has promised to return. And he has asked us to be ready for his return.

The key to being ready for his return is to abide in Jesus.

The story of the drunk at the city square in Springfield, Missouri who got 'saved' and was thoroughly confused by the experience.

The issue of a changed life is at the core of this verse. People who pray a prayer to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior but do not take sincere steps to repent of their sins are really just playing a spiritual looking game.

Whatever happened to 'come as you are'? The point is not that you have to clean yourself up to come to Jesus. No, Jesus welcomes everyone who comes to Him in humility. The point is that if you have been with Jesus you are not going to be left as you were before you came to Him. This is because Jesus' nature is just. His nature is righteous. Does this mean that you have to be perfect to be a real Christian? How easily we forget what John just said a few minutes before (if we were reading his letter aloud straight through)!

ESV 1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

See what kind of love

3:1 ¶ See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 4 ¶ Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

I believe the key word in this paragraph is the word 'see'. That John is describing is not some physical evidence like a bloodied knife, or a finger print analysis for a court room to

review. No-he is calling us to a revelatory experience of recognizing how great God's love is for us!

The key in this revelation is the object of our vision. What is it that we are to actually see? It is the avalanche of God's agape for us.

Agape is to have love for someone or something, based on sincere appreciation and high regard - 'to love, to regard with affection, loving concern, love.'

In the NT it includes the idea of communicating love so that the one who is loved has some evidence of the love that is there.

ESV John 3:16 ¶ "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

The evidence of the love of God is the Son of God's appearance on our behalf. The epitomy of that is cross.

The soil of agape is humility. God humbled himself in order to accomplish the work of the cross. ESV Philippians 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

When you value someone and humble yourself, then you have the potential of true love. If you see yourself as superior to someone else you cannot love them.

The amazing thing is that God loves us and has granted us such a high status that we would be called 'children of God'!! This is a stunning truth because of who God is and because of who we were. And the fulness of the greatness of this statement has not yet been exposed because we don't know fully what everything will be like when Christ returns.

The great hymn of our forefathers in the faith...Amazing Love Amazing Love (And Can It Be)

words by Charles Wesley

And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! How can it be
that Thou, my God, should die for me?

Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, should die for me?

He left His Father's throne above; so free, so infinite His grace!
Emptied Himself of all but love, and bled for Adam's helpless race!
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
for, O my God, it found out me.

Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, should die for me?

Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast-bound in sin and nature's night.
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray; I woke--the dungeon flamed with light!
My chains fell off, my heart was free!
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee!

Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, should die for me?

No condemnation now I dread. Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

John comes back to his point earlier by approaching it from the opposite perspective.

ESV 1 John 2:29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

ESV 1 John 3:6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

These are two sides of the same exact coin. Basically if you say that you have met Jesus Christ...you cannot be the same person you were before you met him. Jesus calls men to follow him.

Jesus calls men to repent and believe. ESV Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
The word repent means change. Change your life because the Kingdom of Heaven is here right now.

It's like a person who does an animal imitation. Suppose you got down on all fours and pretended to be a doggy playing with your kids. You don't normally run around on your hands and knees. You only do that to act like a dog. But a real dog, a real dog doesn't pretend. It's how he really is. He really does run around on all fours. For a dog to walk upright is a chore and unnatural.

My point is that Christians don't act righteous because they are in church now...or because they are talking to the pastor...or because they are 'doing ministry'. Nope. Christians do what is right because they naturally do what is right now because their nature has been changed by an encounter with Jesus. In fact, that encounter with Jesus leaves us with a desire to walk in His presence always.

So how does this nature transformation happen? We find a clues through out scripture. For example, in Isaiah 25:8 we have a prophecy that is truly amazing.

ESV Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.

ESV 1 Corinthians 15:50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 ¶ Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

ESV 1 Corinthians 15:24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.

Central to all of this is the work of the Cross. It is through the proclamation of the work of the cross that we have overcome.

Keep Watch For Deception (Let No One Deceive You)

7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. 11 ¶ For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.

How you treat your brother in Christ is the proof in the pudding that you are truly different. Learn the lesson from Cain and Abel.

Gen 4:3 In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it." 8 ¶ Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

ESV Jude 1:11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion.

The antidote in Jude is the same as in 1 John. Keep yourself in God's love...with an eye toward the return of Christ. ESV Jude 1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

Jude is clearly relevant because he also deals with deception in the church.

ABIDE
SEE
KEEP WATCH

From 1 John 2.18.29

2008-08-10T12:55:00.001-05:00

ESV 1 John 2:18 ¶ Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore 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 it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us--eternal life. 26 ¶ I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie--just as it has taught you, abide in him. 28 ¶ And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

vs 18 ¶ Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
Cross links:

ESV 1 Corinthians 10:11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

ESV 1 John 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

ESV 2 John 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

ESV Matthew 24:24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

Study notes on vs 18

vs. 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 it might become plain that they all are not of us. cross links:

ESV Acts 20:30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

ESV 1 Corinthians 11:19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.

vs 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
Cross links:

ESV John 6:69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."

ESV John 6:69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."

ESV 2 Peter 1:12 ¶ Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.

ESV John 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

vs. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

ESV Matthew 10:33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

ESV 1 John 5:1 ¶ Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.

ESV Genesis 18:15 But Sarah denied it, saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. He said, "No, but you did laugh."

ESV Jude 1:4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

ESV 2 Peter 2:1 ¶ But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

ESV Revelation 2:13 ¶ "'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

ESV Revelation 3:8 ¶ "'I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

ESV Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, (Moses denied his Egyptian rights)

ESV Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

ESV Titus 2:12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

vs 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.

cross links: ESV John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

ESV 2 John 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

ESV 1 John 4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

ESV Luke 10:16 ¶ "The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me."

ESV 2 John 1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.

cross link:

ESV 1 John 3:24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

ESV 1 John 1:5 ¶ This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

ESV 2 Timothy 1:1 ¶ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,

ESV Titus 1:2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began

ESV 1 John 2:25 And this is the promise that he made to us--eternal life.
cross links:

ESV 2 Timothy 1:1 ¶ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,

ESV Titus 1:2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began

ESV 1 John 2:26 ¶ I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.

ESV 1 John 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.

ESV 1 John 2:27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie--just as it has taught you, abide in him.

ESV Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

ESV 1 Thessalonians 4:9 ¶ Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,

ESV John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

1John 2:28 ¶ And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

ESV Philippians 1:20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

Spiritual Growth 1 John 2:12-17

2008-07-27T12:45:00.001-05:00

ESV 1 John 2:12 ¶ I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 15 ¶ 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 desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

vs 12 cross references {ESV 1 John 2:12 ¶ I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. }

Key to forgiveness...

Anastasia story

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

in the name of Jesus...

ESV 1 Corinthians 6:9 ¶ Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

vs 13 cross references {13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.}

From the beginning...
ESV 1 John 1:1 ¶ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life--...NOTE change from in the beginning to from the beginning...all are referring to Jesus Christ's divinity.

refers to:
ESV John 1:1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

refers to: ESV Genesis 1:1 ¶ In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

(John does this in Revelation too...Rev. 1:1 refers to the frame starting and ending Daniel's description of Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2)
A strong piece of evidence that John wrote the Gospel, 1 John and Revelation.

overcoming...ESV 1 John 4:4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

ESV Luke 11:14 ¶ Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. 15 But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons," 16 while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.

ESV 1 John 5:18 ¶ We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

vs 14 cross references {ESV 1 John 2:14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.}

refers to: vs 12...repeating...13a also...and all the points of these verses are reiterated...

What does it mean to be strong in the Lord?

ESV Ephesians 6:10 ¶ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

What does it mean to have the word of God abiding in you?

ESV John 15:1 ¶ "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

ESV Psalm 119:11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

ESV 1 John 2:24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.

ESV 1 John 3:24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

It means to believe in the one in whom He has sent.

ESV John 5:38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.

Cross references to:
vs 15 {ESV 1 John 2:15 ¶ 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.}

ESV James 4:4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

vs 16 Cross references: {ESV 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world.}

ESV Galatians 5:16 ¶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

ESV 1 Peter 4:1 ¶ Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

ESV Titus 2:11 ¶ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

ESV John 8:47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God."

vs 17 Cross references: {ESV 1 John 2:17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.}

ESV Matthew 7:21 ¶ "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

ESV 1 Peter 4:1 ¶ Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

Overcoming Sin through Atonement & Love

2008-07-20T10:05:00.000-05:00

Here the the cross links to 1 John 2:1-11 that I am using for helping you overcome sin through faith in the atonement and through walking in love towards your brother.

Atonement & Love

ESV 1 John 2:1 ¶ My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 7 ¶ Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

ESV John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

ESV Acts 3:14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

ESV Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

ESV Luke 18:13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'

ESV Hebrews 2:17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Exo 25:17-22 (Mercy Seat)
ESV Exodus 25:17 "You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. 18 And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. 20 The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. 21 And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. 22 There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.

Priestly approach to the Mercy Seat
ESV Leviticus 16:2 and the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. 3 But in this way Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with a bull from the herd for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He shall put on the holy linen coat and shall have the linen undergarment on his body, and he shall tie the linen sash around his waist, and wear the linen turban; these are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water and then put them on. 5 And he shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. 6 ¶ "Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. 7 Then he shall take the two goats and set them before the LORD at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel. 9 And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the LORD and use it as a sin offering, 10 but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel. 11 ¶ "Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself. 12 And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil 13 and put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die. 14 And he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat on the east side, and in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. 15 ¶ "Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat.

ESV 2 Corinthians 5:19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

ESV 1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.

ESV John 15:10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

ESV John 14:21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" 23 Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

ESV John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love on

ESV Romans 13:12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

ESV Romans 14:13 ¶ Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother
ESV Psalm 119:165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. (So it is with those who love the law of Christ even more so!)

ESV John 12:35 So Jesus said to them, "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

Notes and thoughts from 1 John 1:1-4

2008-07-06T13:18:00.000-05:00

John's community, probably in Ephesus 35 or 40 years after Paul the Apostle was martyred.

Two camps: 1) Solid belief in the deity of Christ, with a weaker view of his humanity.
2) Some saw Christ as a full human being, but did not stress his divinity as much as they needed to.

John writes to fuse these two groups together and to ward off attacks from those in the congregations against those who have swerved to either extreme.
Extreme 1) Belief that Jesus was not physical because He was good and all physical things are corrupt.
2) Belief that Jesus was not fully God.

John's style is to tie into previous works of God that are well known. For example, in Revelation 1:1

ESV Revelation 1:1 ¶ The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

NLT Revelation 1:1 ¶ This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John,

ESV Daniel 2:29 To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be.

ESV Daniel 2:45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure."

ESV 1 John 1:1 ¶ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us-- 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

NLT 1 John 1:1 ¶ We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. 2 This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.

ESV Revelation 4:1 ¶ After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this."

ESV Revelation 22:6 ¶ And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place."

ESV Genesis 1:1 ¶ In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

ESV John 1:1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

NLT John 1:1 ¶ In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

1 John 1:1-4

ESV 1 John 1:1 ¶ That which was from the beginning,

That which was from the beginning is a reference to the Eternal One-Jesus Christ who is the Almighty God.

which we have heard,
which we have seen with our eyes,
which we looked upon and
have touched with our hands,

Jesus Christ was physically here...they heard him, saw him, looked upon him and touched him.

concerning the word of life--

Questions: Why does he say 'seen with our eyes...and then look upon'
What's the difference?

Marshall says it is seen and gazed on...

References that John assumes in 1 John 1:1-4 include
John 1:1-18 which he has already written?
Genesis 1:1 ...in the beginning.
John 1:1 links 'ARCHE with the LOGOS'
1 John 1:1 speaks 'FROM ARCHHS' and ties in to the LOGOS of ZWHS

THE WORD OF LIFE ECHOES THE ONE WHO SPOKE LIFE INTO BEING

This is classic Johannine style. Alluding to earlier works rather than direct quotes is a hallmark of John's gospel and
of the Apocalypse.

The distinguishing feature in 1 John 1:1 is APO...the preposition

Is Christ the message or is it the gospel message which was prepared from before the foundations of the world?
"Send a girl a message saying you love her...vs sending her a very expensive ring". Both are a 'message of love'.
The same is true here...God sent us a message saying He loves us through Christ's coming...and Christ Himself is
the message of God's love for us.

ESV 1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,

ESV 2 Corinthians 4:5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

THE EMPHASIS IN 1 JOHN 1:1-3 IS THAT THE MESSAGE IS IDENTICAL TO JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF.
Heb 1:1

Marshall teaches that the Word of life is a reference to the message of the gospel which brings life...but may also be a reference to Jesus himself...
and that John left it intentionally ambiguous so that both are implied...with an emphasis on the gospel rather than the person of Jesus.

1 Jn 3:14, Jn 5:24, Jn 3:16, 36, Lk 20:36; Acts 5:20, Phil 2:16; John 1:4; John 11:25; 14:6

James Montgomery Boice on the epistles of John.

What is Christianity?
x
Evidence for it...

Objective Evidences:

what we have heard...
May refer to what was written down....but probably refers to the teaching of Jesus Himself to the disciples.
Emphasize that what he said was really something...nothing like Him ever heard before...John 7:46; Mt 13:16, 17; Luke 10:23,24

what he has seen refers to John 20...the unnamed disciple who saw...three different Greek verbs used culminating in the one used here. It was John's encounter with
the resurrection of Jesus.

Touch with their hands is a reference to Luke 24:39...Jn 20:24-28 captures the idea without expressing the very thought.

Subjective Evidences:

'the life appeared' refers to the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.
John 1:10

None can repeat the objective experiences of Jesus Christ...however we must all experience Jesus personally in our hearts and minds for us to be true witnesses of Him.

This Message was not for the disciples only...but for the whole world. Mat 28:19-20; Mk 16:15; Ac 1:8

Contrast was against gnosticism which was a withdrawal from the world to seek special knowledge of God.
Christians were called to change the world through proclamation. Proclamation is devalued today because people want to make their own message up. But the proclamation of a specific message about The Message was always a crucial point.

In the same way that Jesus has seen the Father and has borne witness of Him...so the disciples now are to bear witness of Jesus because they have seen Him. Except their seeing is not just spiritual...but is a physical siting. John 3:31, 32; 18:37....John 15:27
Stott says they were not only qualified as eyewitnesses, but Jesus gave them an authoritative commission as apostles to preach the gospel. John writes it all down to complete his joy.

ALL THIS IS DONE TO ENABLE THE READERS TO ENTER INTO THE FELLOWSHIP.

The fellowship here includes the idea of salvation.

A salvation that doesn't result in integration into the body of Christ is not at all what Jesus inspires John to write about.

More than love and forgiveness

2008-06-23T23:25:00.000-05:00

The Johannine letters (1, 2, 3 John) in the new testament contain much more than a few spiritual diamonds about love and forgiveness. These letters deal with how to handle people who abandon the gathering of the brothers, conflict, assurance of salvation, discernment of truth from error, and a number of other issues. Our time to focus on these letters and soak our hearts in the truths they contain is now just a few days away. It's a great idea to start listening to or reading these letters every day. It only takes about 19 minutes to listen to all three letters, yet it you are sowing eternal power into your spirit when you listen with a humble, thirsty heart.

3rd Qtr 2008

2008-03-14T17:29:00.000-05:00

I am feeling led to pursue a study through the Johanine Epistles for the third quarter 2008. What do you think?