1 John 2

1 John 2

1 John 2:1 My dear children, I write this [this instruction] to you so that you will not sin [evil, darkness]. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2:2 He is the atoning [forgiving] sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. NIV

2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2:1 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. NKJV

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

2:1 “My dear children, these things I write unto you, that ye may avoid sin. But if any man has failed, we have an advocate with the father, Jesus Christ the just.” Daniel Mace NT (1729)

John Incudes Himself as a Sinner

       John just said, in the last sentence, that if anyone claims to have “not sinned” they “make him [God] out to be a liar” (1 John 1:10). Thus, we should not draw a conclusion that John is calling his dear children to live sinless lives.

John starts this section of his letter by talking directly to them, using the word you twice. And the rest of this chapter John continues to address his dear children, with the personal pronoun “you.” (See: 2:7,8,12,13,14 etc), for about twenty-five times in the rest of the chapter.

  Then he includes himself in the next two verses. “If anyone does sin—WE have an advocate…He is the atoning sacrifice for OUR sins, and not only OUR sins…” John did not exclude himself as a sinner in need of an advocate with the Father. John also includes himself saying “if WE claim to be without sin…WE claim WE have not sinned…” (1 John 1:8-10). John would be dismayed if anyone would conclude that he is teaching sinless living.

  Peter had the same attitude as John, they were sinners, when he saw Jesus filled two boats with fish. Even the fish obeyed his word and came into the net, gathering more fish than a month fishing. “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’” (Lk 5:8). All the disciples recognized that the very words of Jesus had creative power, which was impossible for any human to possess.  

 Will not Sin or May Not Sin

  It really makes no difference how we might translate the expression you will not sin (NIV) or you may not sin (NKJV). No one reading this commentary of John would raise their hands and say they want to, or they plan to sin as soon as possible. The point is that we are to be earnest against sins that our conscience warned has us or brought guilt to us.

  The second point is the reason why John writes this letter in the first place. The content of his letter is to make us knowledgeable about the nature of sin. Thus, all who in their hearts want to live holy lives should listen carefully to the content of his letter.

  Especially in the fourth chapter John opens a big picture of the love of God dwelling in us as the greatest shield against sin that can exist. “So we know,” for sure, “and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in them” (1 John 4:16).

Our Need for an Advocate

  In that John places the goal of being serious about sin, next to if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father. So, when we fail, we fall into a bad habit or due to the weakness in the face of temptation. We are not left to drift in guilt, depression and despair. We have a personal Advocate, who is for, beside us giving assurance of His forgiveness, even in the face of our obvious guilt.

Why Do We Need an Advocate to Represent us Before Our Father?

  Because God “justifies those who have faith in Jesus” (Rom 3:26). To Justify means that the record of their sin is removed.

   What John has told us twice in this letter that “God is love” (1 John 4:8,16). But “God is just” (2 Thess 1:6) also. If wrongs are not punished in society and every criminal, every murder, every thief, every sexual predator is never punished but left free in society: Would there be a safe place to live and raise our families? No.

       God send His Son into our world to offer a way to give a just, a righteous, a fair punishment for sinners, so that they are fully justified of all wrong and restored to God that loves them. While the laws of justice are also met in the substitutional death and punishment of His Son. God provides ways for us to “live in Him and He in us” through the “Spirit” (1 John 3:24).

  Thus a sinner is forgiven, is justified, that is declared innocent before God. Then the sinner receives blessings and favors, most of all the gift of the Holy Spirit. That will change our desire to love others and to be loyal to God. Justice that requires payment for crimes committed is met by mercy and love from both our Advocate and our Father. “Mercy and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed” (Ps 85:10 NKJV).

  Our goal, our aim, is not to openly and purposely to sin—but even if we do, forgiveness and restoration is available. So when we do sin, we have an Advocate that will forgive us. When forgiven we are set again on the path of righteousness, for again “He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Ps 23:3). We are renewed to walk with new earnestness against sins that our Lord has delivered us so freely.

  Our desire is not to sin, yet we will always need Jesus as our atoning sacrifice, for no one can “claim to be without sin” (1 John 1:8), never in this life. There will always be new lessons to learn and always room to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 3:18). But always and forever and ever, we will be without sin, in the life to come.

I am Writing this Letter to You So That You Will Not Sin

       In reading and studying this entire letter, only then is it possible to understand what John means by this expression of not sinning. We cannot summarize the entire letter at this point; However, we tell you that the center of John’s letter is to love one another. There is no place in all the NT or the OT that is so focused on the importance of love as is John’s letter.

  The fourth chapter is completely dedicated to this central theme. “Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8). To not love God, is sin.
      Paul reminds us to “Do everything in love” (1 Cor 16:14). When we love there is nothing to make us “stumble” (1 John 2:10) into sin, is the direction of this letter. At the conclusion of Paul’s description of love in First Corinthians 13, he says, “Follow the way of love” (1 Cor 14:1). The way of love is ever growing, ever challenging, always needing to be refreshed.  Only in love of God, love of Christ and “love of the Spirit” (Rom 15:30) and of others can we come to hate sin and wish its attraction to be lost.

The Flow of the Text

  John starts his opening instruction so that his dear children will not sin. This is to be their constant aim. But when they do sin, John has no condemnation or judgment against his dear children. Their aim is to be as Peter has said, we “ought to live holy and godly lives” (2 Pet 3:11).

  Here is the flow of this passage, when we do sin, God is not angry with us. In our sin, He is our advocate. Even in our failure “to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives” (Titus 2:12). Even when we disappoint ourselves and do not “keep their tongue from evil and their [our] lips from deceitful speech” (1 Pet 3:10).

Jesus is our atonement, making payment from his blood to remove our guilt. He forgives and pardons, no questions asked.  Even though our pardon is expensive to God, as Christ was a sacrifice for our sin. Showing the high cost of forgiveness in God’s son becoming the created, who was the “very nature God” (Phil 2:6). In God’s son putting His arm around the sinner and drawing them to His Father, so we can forgive ourselves.

   “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1). This is not a picture of sinless children of God, but sinners like us. The difference is we are forgiven and the love of God has been placed into our souls and hearts as the greatest buffer against the common sins of pride, lust and hatefulness.

My Little Children

  John, the last Apostle, uses this expression thirteen times in his letter. They obviously were not all children. John copied this title from Jesus, when speaking to his disciples he said, “My children, I will be with you only a little longer…” (John 13:33).

  Every believer should be a serious student of John, of his gospel and letters. They should teach the themes John is presenting here, possibly the last instruction John has given to believers in Christ Jesus, as the last living person that knew Jesus as he walked this earth as a man. In perspective, everyone who reads this letter seriously is one of John’s little children.

A Major Reason We Do Not Sin

  The major reason why we do not sin, is because every sin can be forgiven, the moment we know we have sinned, and we confess it. Thus we can live daily without sin in the eyes of God.

  We can keep “a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Tim 1:5), every day and hour, by prayer and instant confession of things our conscience has convicted us about.

Another Reason for this Letter

  If we “confess our sins” God has promised in His faithfulness not only to forgive us but “cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). To cleanse is when God imparts to the believer a new heart, new desires, a new power to say: “’No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2:12). So that there will be no “darkness” inside us. So that our lives are not a “lie”, but we “live out the truth” (1 John 1:6).

  As Jesus said to the woman forgiven of her charges of adultery, “go and sin no more” (John 8:11), that is the sin she was forgiven.

Sins of Misjudgments, Not Intending to do Evil or Wrong

       There is a major difference between doing evil wicked deeds and a believer’s faults, flaws and mistakes, often made with innocence. Often coming from inexperienced and making poor judgments. Often made due to lack of wisdom and knowledge. Often made due to poor sleep or being in poor health so as not to, as one would say they were “not in their right mind.”

  Compared to doing “deeds of darkness” (Rom 13:12) and practicing “deeds [that] are evil, and acts of violence are in their hands” (Isa 59:6). That is actively, without much remorse, carrying out violence and spreading lies of darkness.

Develop a Moral Sense of Right and Wrong

  John is calling us to develop moral discernment. So that we can be “wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil” (Rom 16:19). To be “innocent” of “evil” is to not even want or wish to do evil to another. The very thought of doing someone wrong is painful.

  As a youth Jesus “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Lk 2:52). This is something that Luke would only know, since he was a Gentile convert from Paul, by talking with those who knew Jesus as a youth. The writer of Hebrews, who lived at that time reported, “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered” (Heb 5:7,8). Jesus learned from his youthful mistakes, as a young boy, about carefulness, promptness and the value of his own devotional life in learning all things from His heavenly Father.  

But If Anyone Does Sin…You Must, Immediately, go to Your Advocate

       Notice that in the first breath of John he gives the reason for this letter so that we will not sin. In the very next breath he says, when you sin, remember Jesus is the forgiving, atoning sacrifice to God in your behalf, so that your sins can be forgiven, again.

  When we yield to an inappropriate thought or pursue a destructive habit. Don’t delay in coming to your advocate with confession. It would not be a new thing if even a more mature believer should give an emotional outburst, a self-centered response to a friend. John knows this is true, that is why he quickly follows with two sentences on the availability of God’s forgiveness.

       Our goal is to learn “To live in order to please God… do this more and more.” (1 Thess 4:1). This is our ambition every day. When we make a mistake, when our sensitive conscience convicts of our actions, we should not delay in taking it all to our Advocate.  

       Lifting our Advocate, up in sermons and songs, is redemptive work.

Darkness of Malice VS Armor of Light

  We are to “put aside the deeds of darkness,” which has a strong element of malice that would do others harm, when and if they could. Instead “put on the armor of light” (Rom 13:12), this armor is protection against willful sins. It grows to produce the “fruit of the light” which “consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth” (Eph 5:9).

  What is the sin of wickedness and evil? It is the practice of “envy,” it dishonors others, it is “self-seeking,” it is “easily angered” and “keeps record of wrongs” done to them. (1 Cor 13:4,5). Evil is deprived and lives in darkness in comparison to the “fruit of the Spirit” which is “love, joy, peace, forbearance [patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness” (Gal 5:22).

Forgiveness is Dynamic

       In accepting the forgiveness of God when we ask Him “forgive our sins” (1 John 1:9). There is placed in our hearts a deep desire to not repeat the sin that we have confessed. We know this sin is inexcusable, we have felt its guilt, yet we know that we are forgiven. Thus we ask God, in faith, along with the same prayer for forgiveness to change us, to free us from the love of sin. By the power of our advocate, we will not desire to fall back into that same sin. We will not want sin to rule over us, so that we are “no longer slaves to sin” (Rom 6:6). As our advocate prays for us, we will start praying for ourselves. The prayers of our Advocate, our Savior, influence us, moves us and draws us into true repentance. It is a “godly sorrow,” a “repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret” (2 Cor 7:10).

  If we have repeatedly fallen into a habit of sin, having to confess it again and again. We need to become more earnest in prayer to God, to give us His grace. To impart to us, true freedom. For “if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36), thus you will not sin with regret. You will know you are free from the habits that enslaved you, filling you with praise to God saying, “What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me?” (Ps 116:12).

  If a believer is repeating the prayer for forgiveness, as rosery or as a memory verse, with no passion or earnestness. More out of obligation. The confessed sin will remain a part of their lives.

Born Again—Born into Love, an Eternal Gift

       Love is a major theme of the book 1 John. He talks about love five times in the second chapter. Nine times in the third chapter. In the fourth chapter John is centered on love with 27 reference and 4 references to love in the fifth chapter of 1 John.

       John calls the experience of being Born Again as “Born of God.” With the inevitable results of more and still more love, which comes from a God of love.  Listen to John plead with his “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God,” meaning that we receive love, we are able to give love to others because we have received a unique type of love, directly and personally from our God and our Father.

       John continues this thought showing us how we can be recipients of the most precious treasure of inestimable value.  This gift of love is the only thing we take from earth into our heavenly home. “Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 3:7,8). Meaning true love has a divine element, not of earthly origin. Nothing on earth, can replicate it. It is implanted, imparted to those who have faith in God’s Son and are “Born of the Spirit” (John 3:6).

       There can be no greater impetus, to not desire, not want to sin—then possessing, in our hearts, a love from God Himself, burning up the sinful tendencies and desires, which leads us into darkness.  

 1—Excuses for Sin

Some could teach a lie, saying:

“Since we can never say we are sinless. It stands to reason, that we should not worry about making sinful mistakes. Because if we do, it only proves the fact that we are all sinners and can’t help ourselves, just as God has declared. Thus, we don’t need to worry about our lapses in morality. They are to be expected, and God understands this. Since we confess them, they are all forgiven anyway.”

  This is exactly what John is seeking to prevent, those who say, since we are all going to sin anyway, and obviously we cannot completely stop, so why should we make any serious effort to avoid sin?  The very reason John has composed this letter, so that his Dear Children would not continue to sin, is to show we cannot “serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” For example, “You cannot serve both God and money” (Matt 6:24). We cannot live in the “light” of love for “their brother or sister” and at the same time embrace darkness and hatred for someone in their fellowship.

2—Excuses for Sin

       Our attitude should be to never excuse sin, never ever, (please don’t) make allowance for it. Don’t think that sin does not matter to God. Sin is “darkness” (1 John 1:5,6), that will lead you into further darkness and ultimately you sell yourself to become “slaves to sin, which leads to death”. (Rom 6:16). Sin will oppress you, cause you to make poor life decisions, such as marriage to the wrong person, which will leave you very unhappy. It could lead to finding emotional support from alcohol or drugs.  

  A life of slavery to sin is where sinful habits and practices are part of your character. The danger to careless sinning is it creates darkness so black that the light of truth is undesirable.

Unless God rescues you, sometimes it takes extreme means, to save us from the slavery of sin. Thankfully God has done this repeatedly throughout human history, in Scripture it is called “redemption through His blood” (Eph 1:7).

John Calls Us to a Higher Standard

  John wishes to call us to a higher standard, to be serious about tolerance of sin in our lives. “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? (2 Cor 13:5).

       John starts at this point with his letter calling on the “fellowship” of believers, his “dear children”, to not allow sin to rule over you, to “not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires (Rom 6:12). But instead, in our sin, look to our advocate we have with the Father, who forgives us, redeems us, loves us, restores us to be present in our Father’s presence with joy. “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Ps 16:11 NKJV).

Jesus Is an Advocate with the Father

       Through “the precious blood of Christ” (1 Pet 1:19), Christ has redeemed us, forgiven us of our sins, “by His own blood” on the cross, He has given to us an “eternal redemption” (Heb 9:12).

In the mysterious relationship between the Father and the Son, the pain of the Cross was felt by the Father as if it were His own. What His Son wishes to be accomplished on earth, for our behalf, is the Father’s same wish.

  Jesus has given us a new name for God, different than the Old Testament Hebrew name of God such as “Elohim”, in Genesis 1:1. This new name we all love to use in prayer, “Our Father” (Matt 6:9).

  The presence between themselves, together, both the Father and the Son, makes a united front of aid, support and comfort—direct into our spirits. They “shield” and “seal” each believer (1 Pet 1:5; Eph 1:13; 4:30). What more could we wish for?

  'What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Rom 8:31,32). What greater aid, assistance with Divine Presence can a believer expect to be made available to them, in their resistance to sin, to the “sin which so easily ensnares us” (Heb 12:1).

The Holy Spirit Is an Advocate with the Father

       The Greek word for Advocate is paraklétos, which also stands for the Holy Spirit, as “a consoler, comforter, helper” Jesus has taught us, “The Advocate [paraklétos], the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things [everything] and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26).

  Christ and the Spirit shares roles. Romans 8:34 says that Jesus “is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us”. Romans 8:26 says “the Spirit helps us in our weakness… The Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”

  John uses the word Advocate interchangeably to stand for Jesus as well as the Holy Spirit. The two influences John combines. The call to not to choose to sin, is made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit combined with the influences of Jesus, with His Father. For God has infinite power, as the Angel said Mary the mother of Jesus, “Nothing is impossible for God” (Luke 1:37 GOD’S WORD Translation), “So the impossible is possible with God” (The Voice).

• The Spirit comes from or proceeds from God the Father (John 15:26)

• Jesus asked God to send the Spirit to us (John 14:16; 16:7)

• The Spirit is to abide with us forever (John 14:16)

• The Spirit is to dwell with us and in us (John 14:17)

• The Spirit will never speak on His own (John 16:13)

• The Spirit is called the Spirit of truth (John 14:17; 16:13)

• The Spirit will guide (in understanding) all truth, thus bring glory to Jesus (Jon 16:13,14)

• He, the Holy Spirit, will testify about me [Jesus]. (John 15:26)

Summary: John’s Plea to his Dear Children to Not to Yield to Sin

1)    John starts his opening instruction so that his dear children will not sin. This is to be their constant aim. But when they do sin, John has no condemnation or judgment against his dear children. In our sin, Jesus is our advocate. Even in our failure “to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives” (Titus 2:12). Jesus is our atonement, making payment from His blood to remove our guilt. He forgives and pardons, no questions asked.

2)    Another reason why we will not sin or better translated, kept from sinning is, that “we have” a powerful “advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ” who forgives our sins as well as the whole world. When our sins are forgiven, we are counted as innocent, justified, with no sin. Thus it can be said, when living in a forgiven confessional state, we are not dwelling in sin.

3)    Another reason why we are not living in sin is because our sins are forgiven (1 John 1:9) and we have Jesus as our Advocate, representing us to the Father as “blameless in his sight. In love” (Eph 1:4). For “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them” (2 Cor 5:19). By “making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Col 1:20). “The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace” (Ps 29:11). Peace from the joy of forgiveness and comfort of God’s presence, for evermore.

4)    There are other reasons John gives why believers will not desire to sin, described in the preceding chapters. Chief among them is “love”, mentioned about 25 times, which is the perfect storm against our natural tendences to yield and to desire to sin at all costs. To walk willingly into blinding “darkness” (1 John 1:5,6) of sin, deceived into believing dark is light and dark is right. Love is a light that shines into darkness revealing it for what it is. Love is a magnet that pulls us out of our love of darkness and draws us into the forgiveness of the love of God.

More Reasons, We Will Not Wish to Sin

  The first reason: Jesus at great expense paid for our sins, thus we will not want to take sin carelessly due to the high cost of forgiveness, the shedding “the blood of Jesus, His Son” (1 John 1:7)

  To God, sin was totally unacceptable, so intolerable that he could not by His Divine Power order sin into oblivion, without losing all humanity. Sins defeat, in our behalf, could only be accomplished, not with our help, not with our good works, but only due to the unimaginably high cost to God to provide for us forgiveness and restoration into His “family in heaven” (Eph 3:15).

   For this reason, we will not want to sin, due to the expense it had created to God and His son. Sin is so expensive, we are not redeemed. “God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God” (1 Pet 1:18,19 NLT).

  The second reason: why believers will not wish to sin or John put it will not sin. It is because of the active presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Why is the Spirit so qualified to defeat the worst evil beast inside human hearts? Because the Spirit’s power comes from the almighty God. It is not just the Spirit by itself, but “Spirit of God lives in you” (Rom 8:9). Because “the Spirit…is from God” (1 Cor 2:12). Best of all we, as believers in Jesus become a “dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Eph 2:22).

  The results are assured, because of a greater power is available. Jesus demonstrated this power in his own ministry, “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside” (Lk 4:14). A power also made available to us today, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom 15:13). Thus we must look to follow the Spirit’s lead.

  Only the Spirit can push the flesh in the background, and bring love, joy and praise to God in the foreground of our hearts.

1 John 2:3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his [Christ Jesus] commands. 2:4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do [ignores] what he [Christ] commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.

2:3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 2:4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

1 John 2:5 But if anyone obeys his [Christ] word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him [Jesus Christ]: 2:6 Whoever claims to live [abide] in him must live [walk] as Jesus did [walked]. NIV

2:5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. NKJV

Two Overlapping Themes

 1 John 2:3,4: To keep His command: is evidence you know Him

1 John 2:5,6: The results of keeping His Word: the love for God making us complete

  These are the two center points of the entire letter of John. Everything that John discusses in his letter is a further explanation of these two themes.

Statements of Faith are Insufficient

       Just to say I know Him. I worship God and I’m a follower of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Means nothing unless it is backed up by keeping the commands given by Jesus. The command of Jesus is the instructions Jesus gave in his public ministry, further explained by his Apostles.

  To ignore His commands, is proof one does not know God at all, they are liars. Which is a very strong word that John uses. They are the same as unbelievers. Inside this person, there is no truth, in their profession of faith, despite what they may say to the contrary. Despite their high position in the church.

John Repeats the Lessons Jesus Taught Him

       John points to the essential need of every believer to personally be committed to the teachings, the commands of Jesus. And none other. 

  Jesus tells us a parable about two believers; one built their house of faith on the rock. While the “foolish man who built his house on sand.” Storms came and washed away the home on the sand. Why because he heard “the words of mine and does not put them into practice” (Matt 7:26). A believer’s faith is a lie, and the truth is not in him, if they pay little attention to the teachings of the Christ. Some substitute His words, with sermons and books that claim to teach spiritual things, which may be helpful, but not always accurate.

  The person that built their house of faith on the rock, laid a “deep foundation” on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. “For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 3:11). “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matt 7:24). The words of Jesus will generate love inside the believer.

“Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is His [God’s] command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He [God] commanded us. (1 John 3:21-23)

“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love” (2 John 1:6)

 1 John 2:5 But if anyone obeys his [Christ] word, love for God is truly made complete ‘in them’ [plural]. This is how we know we are in him [Jesus Christ]: 2:6 Whoever claims to live [abide] in him must live [walk] as Jesus did [walked]. NIV

2:5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is [has been] perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. NKJV

The Text

       The Berean Literal Bible says: “Whoever may keep His word, truly in him the love of God has been perfected [past tense]. By this we know that we are in Him.” The idea of keeping His word means to guard, to observe, to watch over, to prevent it from escaping. So that we do not forget a line from the words of Christ.

The Shocking Truth

       If the faith of a Christian has not resulted in love for God, their faith if very immature. We may hold on too many doctrines, such as water baptism, tithing, prophecy of the second coming or various interpretations of last day events. They mean nothing at all—if the love of God is not evident in our lives.

The Love of God Makes us Complete

  The Greek word for complete in the NIV is teleioó which means: “To complete, to perfect, to accomplish, to bring to an end.” It carries the idea of spiritually growing to reach a goal, to be mature. What is this goal? The Love of God is to be made complete in us, we are to “live in Him and He in us” made evident by much love for God. To make this possible “He has given us of His Spirit” (1 John 4:13).

  The Love of God is the most potent, powerful influence we can possess in our life. Because God’s love dwells, abides, in us it has a holy influence that transforms us. Thus, it can be said, “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Pet 1:16), since a holy God dwells in us, lives in us, abides in us, holiness built all around love, is His influence on our lives. God’s love placed in us is what makes us complete and mature, ready for “the Day of the Lord” (1 Thess 5:2). “God is love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God and God in them” (1 John 4:16), meaning God’s love is alive, living in us. So much so, that we love to sing praises saying, “How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!” (Ps 147:1).

  Love is the channel, the cord, the means by which God dwells in us and proof that we are growing believers in God. Belief in God is not theory, not theology, not lessons memorized, not church attendance but love for God welling up inside us.

  The love of God alone can influence love for others. God’s love alone can create impulses inside us to do good to others. Thus, we are said to be “keeping his commands” (1 John 2:3). “He [Jesus] has given us this command(ment): Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister” (1 John 4:21).

       John wants us to know what will give us confidence, give us assurance that we will be welcomed by God into life everlasting. It is God’s love that lives in us and is outwardly seen in loving others is the most important assurance that will be among those that have “been redeemed from the earth” (Rev 14:3).

The Love of God Is Made Complete When it is Demonstrated Among Us

       Although our commitment to Jesus our Savior is an individual experience, it is not gained from a larger fellowship group. It must be very personal, in which we know for ourselves the love of God is in us. And we know it is true, not by someone telling us.

       Yet, John teaches us that the love of God is completed or perfected only by means of a group or fellowship individuals that are “Born of God” (1 John 4:7).

The experience of the love of God made complete, is to be completed by a group of believers. Sure, we know it must start individually, but it is truly only completed in a group that loves one another. The plural or group expressions of “we,” “them,” “us” are repeated many more times than the individual as in you.

       What is this telling us? God’s love is to be completed in a fellowship, a group of believers, which are to love another—then the love of God is made complete. Fellowship wide love is the same as God’s love that is given and displayed all over the world, as God, through his Son, draws all of us, together, to Him in love for God and one another.

       Those who love are attentive and active in embracing others. Take note of the plural pronouns in this passage. The love of God is individual and at the same time spread among each other in the fellowship.

1# “If we keep his [Jesus’] commands” and “obeys his word [Jesus’], love for God is truly made complete in them and this is how we know we are in him” 1 John 2:5

2# “To love one another as He [God] has commanded us. The one [the individual] who keeps God’s commands, lives in him [individual] and he in them. And this is how we know that he live in us: We known it by the Spirit that he gave us” 1 John 3:23, 24

3# “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another [always]. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us, and his [God’s] love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:11,12

4# “And so we know [for sure] and rely on the love God has for us [we cherish it]. God is love. Whoever [the individual] lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how [God’s] love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment.  1 John 4:16,17

How Did Jesus Use the Word “Completed”

       The facts: We cannot live in love, for one another, without living in God’s love. We cannot love God, without God living in us. When God lives in us, since he is love by nature, His presence comes with overwhelming love, ever renewing love for the gospel of His Son with the love of God, because it came from God. This is the heartbeat of Christianity.  

       Jesus used this term in reference to the goal that He was sent to accomplish.

Jesus said, He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal (teleioó)” (Lk 13:32).

       “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish (teleioó)—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me” (John 5:36). What was the work the Father send Jesus to do? “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8). Which is darkness of hate and loss of love for God and others.

How Did Paul Use the Word “Completed”

  “Not that I have already obtained all this or have already arrived at my goal [become perfect, teleioó] but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Phil 3:12). Paul uses the word complete in the sense of growth and maturity in always pressing toward the goal. “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Tim 1:5).

What Will Not Make Us Complete? The Law

  The author of Hebrews says, “For the law made nothing perfect (teleioó), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God” (Heb 7:19).

To Those Who Claim to Know Jesus—John Shows What a False Christian Looks Like

  They may say “Yes, I know Him. I am a Christian.” But if they do not study the teachings of Jesus, very much. Their devotional life will be shallow. Likewise, if their spiritual life is built on sermons, it will be in the image of their idolized preacher.

  So many Christians cannot tell you one phrase from Ephesians, Colossians or 2 Corinthians. They cannot list the nine Fruits of the Spirit, or more than one of the Beatitudes. Biblical shallowness dominates much of Western Christianity. They have very little interest in serious Bible Study and are uncomfortable with long seasons of private prayer.

  They cannot express with comfort and assurance that they love God. They often feel no guilt in holding hard feelings and anger inside them, toward a spouse or another church member. “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8).

John Shows What a True Christian Looks Like

  The greatest evidence one is a Christian, is their love for God. That can be expressed in prayer, in open conversations, because it is lodged all over their hearts and minds. They pray to understand, to know how to apply lessons John is teaching us. They want to obey the teachings of Jesus, and they do “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 2:18), every day. They would have it no other way.

What Happens If We Obey the Words of Jesus?

       The teaching of Jesus are not just words on the page; they are with “power” (1 Cor 4:20). Not power to do something to draw attention to us. No never. But greater, greatest of all things. We are to be a channel, a conduit from heaven’s love, to flow, into us.

  From Jesus and His apostle, there flows “the word of life” (1 John 1:1). “Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35). Why? Because the Love of God becomes seated, enthroned, in place, at “home” (John 14:23) inside our hearts that connects us with “eternal life” (1 John 1:2). Which, as a result, will come to us the “crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).

The Love of God Perfected or Made Complete in Them

       The love of God is made complete in us. How is this possible? How can we have the full love of God, which loved the whole world just as God loved all humanity at its worst and most evil. Is this great unmeasured amount of God’s love, which would save all, if they would accept His love, His forgiveness, His presence in their hearts. Is this the measure of love we are to have as our own?

  Yes, for it is God’s love for us, that makes us complete. Not our love for others, not our love for God. But God’s resting inside us, that makes perfect or complete. For “we live and move and have our being” in God, ‘we are his offspring” (Acts 7:28).

   We need “God’s love [to be] …poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Rom 5:5). For we can only live as Jesus did when God’s love finds more than just place in our hearts but overshadows all our inner resources. God’s love fastens itself around, in and beside our hearts.

  Yes, it is only through God’s love that we can really know God and his Son. The nature of God’s love will permeate and flow into all the areas of our life, thoughts, and habits at work and at home. Because we have experienced “the riches of God’s grace” (Eph 1:7).

The love of God is Made Complete in us?

  How is this possible? There is a power in the words, the life and teaching of Jesus. They alone can connect us to God so that the love of God can flow into us. Jesus proclaimed “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are Spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

       The source of God’s love is in the Words of his Son and the Apostles that witnessed about him. These words create their own way in our lives so that we wish to be obedient to his instructions.  From the Word, in the New Testament, which influences our lives, which brings us into a surrendered willingness to obey—The Love of God will flow into us, and we cannot stop it anymore then we could stop a large river running downhill.

Pray With Us

  Dear Lord, have mercy on us. Give us more of your love. Dare we even ask for your love to make us complete, since we are so broken it does not seem possible to us. Unless, because of your great love for us individually, you do something for us, what appears to be so far above us that it causes us to shutter with its vastness. We come to you empty-handed, not having any idea of what it is like, to have your love be made complete in us. Meaning that your love flows out of us in devotion and prayer.

  Although we know that being complete is in You, as you dwell in us, just your loving presence makes us complete.

  We ask that you reveal more of your love to us. and rid us of petty jealousy, and envies. We trust you to do it in your way and in your time. Thank you for your gentleness with us, and for leading us softly into “paths of righteousness” (Ps 23:3 NKJV), planting our feet on the eternal platform of the love of God, so they never slip.

1 John 2:7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old [command] one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard [been taught]. 2:8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him [Christ] and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already [now] shining [in you]. 2:9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness [not shinning]. 2:10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives [abides] in the light [inside you], and there is nothing in them to make them stumble [walks with light on their path]. 2:11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness [of hate] has blinded them [from inside]. NIV

2:7 Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. 2:9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 2:10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 2:11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. NKJV

 Starting with keeping the commands of Jesus and for God’s personal love to find a welcome place, to live inside us (1 John 2:3-6). Now John tells us what specific command is most important—to love others, and thus to walk in the light.  

Contrasting Themes

Old Command VS the New Command

Light of love VS Darkness of hate

Living in the light of love VS Walking and stumbling in darkness.

Loving VS Hating

Truth is the true light VS Blinding Darkness

  First: Profound Thought: If we live in the true light, which is to love others, made visible in Him the life  of Jesus, we will not stumble into darkness of hate.

  Second: Profound Thought: Hate and ill-will toward others, we will move us into the valley of darkness,  despair, and distress.  Even if our hands are holding the Bible. Even if we are the head elder or a  pastor.  We will dwell in darkness. But also, we will lead others into darkness, as Jesus said, “If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit” (Matt 15:14).

  Third Profound Thought: Hatred blinds our eyes to the light, putting on blackened sunglasses, where  we cannot see the value of love as the true light. “Light has come into the world, but people loved  darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

The Old Command, Given Through Moses

       The command to love one another was given to Moses, centuries ago. “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord” (Lev 19:18).

The New Command, Taught by Jesus

  Jesus taught the disciples: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34). John reminds his readers that this command is the message you have already been taught. What makes this command different? The command to love is more than just a command, given by Moses, it was demonstrated in the life and actions of Jesus, to love “as I love you.”  Jesus demonstrated it, lived the fulness of the love of God.

  John summarizes: “And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that you love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love” (2 John 1:5,6). To walk in love is to display this love in your home, your workplace, your office, where you live and wherever your feet or wheels take you.

The Purpose of the Light of Love

       John is placing a spotlight on true and false believers. In an effort to draw believers who are living in darkness to confess their need for love. They need to be cleansed from the hate, prejudice, political viewpoints that demean others, and their love of violence to solve issues. Their pride and their reckless behaviors bear resemblance to rudeness and distaste for others.

  If they do not keep his commands or have His love in them—they are living in darkness. No matter what faith, creed, or church they are members of. “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved” (Rom 9:27). The remnant of all believers is those who have the “love for God” (1 John 2:5) in their hearts that shine out in their life and actions with love for others.

       This love is seen in many ways, they “share with the Lord’s people who are in need [they] Practice hospitality” (Rom 12:13).

A Spotlight Between True and False Believers

       John is placing a spotlight on true and false believers. In an effort to draw believers in darkness to confession of their need for love. They need to be cleansed from the hate, prejudice, political viewpoints that demean others, and their love of violence to solve issues. Their pride and their reckless behaviors bear resemblance to rudeness and dislike of others.

       Many are drawn to the gospel’s promise of eternal life. But they still believe they were justified into hating some people, in and out of the church. John tells them they are in darkness, a lost condition because they don’t really love others. The most important milepost of a believer’s faith is not their baptism, not their membership in a church—but the true light of love living in them, their thoughts, their plans, their ideals, is the most profound. “You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness” (1 Thess 5:5).

  Let it sink into every believer’s heart, a failure to receive love from God, then to give love, even to the undeserving, has an impact on our salvation. Paul’s prayer for all believers is “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love…” (Ep 3:17).

God is the True Light

       John is continuing the theme he introduced in the first chapter, saying that “God is light and there is no darkness at all” (1:5). There we learned that God is not the author of war, storms, tornados, earthquakes or famines, anymore then Jesus in his life brought to his society destructive weather to punish those who wished to do him harm. Instead, God loves to do good, to give to wicked, ungrateful human beings, even those who despise His Son, and are not willing to see their darkness of hate and turn to the true light.

  Paul was very proud of the Thessalonian church saying to them, now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other” (1 Thess 4:9).

This theme, pointing out a contrast between love and darkness, should be central in all public evangelism. Jesus has said, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness” (John 12:46).

John Repeats This Theme of Love: Again, and Again, and Again . . .

       John repeats this theme so often; to love one another through living in the love of God. How can we miss it? If your fellowship does not dwell on this theme of love—it is because they don’t really know God. John has taught us clearly, to know God is to love God with all your heart, mind and life. When God’s love is alive in us, we will be loving to all, friends and strangers alike. All visitors will feel a non-judgmental warmth, coming from those who love God. As Peter has written:  “All of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Pet 3:8,9)

• Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light (2:20)

• Anyone who does not love their brother and sister… is not God’s child (3:10)

• For this is the message from the beginning: We should love one another. (3:11)

• We have passed from death to life because we love each other, or we stay in death. (3:14)

• Jesus laid down his life for us, so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. (3:16)

• This is God’s commandment: to love one another (3:23).

• Love one another, for love comes from God, they are born of God and know God (4:7)

• Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (4:8)

• Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (4:11)

• No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is made complete in us. (4:12)

• God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them (4:16)

• We love because he first loved us (4:19)

• Everyone who loves the Father loves his child as well (5:1)

Not a New Commandment

  John places new emphasis on love, pointing out that darkness will pass away as the true light, its truth is seen in him.  We see it in the life and words of Jesus is true light. Which means the light of the gospel enlightens believers with an abundance of love. Now we can, “Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else” (1 Thess 5:15).

  Be very careful in letting gossip or criticism out of your mouth. For as you open your mouth to repeat or suggest unkind things, as our mouth opens, darkness enters. Afterwards we may wonder why the love of God is just a song in the hymnal.

  When we harbor hate for another, even for a short time, shown in unkindness in what we say to others. Darkness will shade our conscience, and we will feel justified in what we say. Light and darkness are not two extreme positions; we can move into darkness slowly as our dislike of others grows in intensity. Until we reach the condition where darkness blinds us, where we believe that there is not good reason to ever love another child of God.  This is total darkness.   

What To Do with Criticism and Complaining About Others, Which Invades our Souls with Blinding Darkness

       If we are convinced by the true light which is love and realize that hate is darkness. If we don’t want any darkness in our soul, what should you do? Expose these thoughts and attitudes to the “Light of the World” and confess them. Ask God to forgive you, justify you, and cleanse you. Ask God to change you from inside, so that you can replace the snide comments with patience and desire to do good to those you used to dislike.

Anyone Who Hates

       The main teaching point John is relating to his “dear children” is for them to know who are walking in the light of the gospel. John singles out our need to love another, a brother or sister among the “fellowship”. John’s focus, the “new command” (John 13:34; 1 John 2:8) after Jesus’ example. This new command is directed toward “a brother or sister” (1 John 2:9,10,11) in the fellowship. John’s focus is inside the fellowship, not outside toward unbelievers. How can we love the pagans, outside the fellowship, unless love is supreme among the fellowship.

       If any believer carries hatred, bears a grudge, is angry with another believer, they may not know that darkness has enveloped them. They have become spiritually blind. Then, no matter what position they may hold, as a Bishop or Ordained minister—they are blinded by the darkness.  “Blackest darkness is reserved for them” (2 Pet 2:17).

       This is no ordinary darkness because it blinds the eyes so that they cannot even see the light, to know they are blind. Their blindness has become perfectly fake light. They do not know where they are going, so don’t follow them, don’t listen to them, don’t trust them. But never ever hate them, just because they are in the darkness of bitterness. Instead, due to Christ and the Spirit as our “advocate with the Father” (2:1), we are able to walk in the light of love and kindness, no matter what dark deeds darkness carries out on others, thinking it is the right thing to do as an act of light.

  A person of hate will treat with indifference, with criticism, another believer who dislikes their doctrines, their interpretation of prophecy, their musical style, or their political viewpoints. If such is the case, they will be enveloped in a pale of darkness, that sadly, they will not even notice.

  Church history is full of accounts of church leaders that have oppressed and killed others they disagreed with. There are so many accounts that we cannot name them all. Sadly, they were walking in perfect darkness and the light they thought they would see was just a different shade of darkness.

  Some individuals we meet in life are so dark that we can only love from a distance. Some are very dark; their hate has become so strong that they feel justified in murder. Some are evil minded all the time; we can love only through God’s love for them. Because God still is looking to save them, out of his love, thus through God’s love we love them. 

No Room to Stumble

       No room to stumble into “sin” (2:1), when the true light is shining on us. The true light of love that gives no time, no opportunity, no place for revenge, to let the darkness of hate shed even one ray of its dark color into our lives. Those living in the light will always be ready to answer someone who hates them, with a free spirit of kindness.

       When congregations don’t grow, they should first examine themselves to see if there is any dislike of each other. Are there divorces that occurred where love failed? Are there members that they dislike enough to not be their friend? Do they treat others with indifference over food, music, or doctrinal viewpoints?

  If so, dark beams of dark light will shine throughout the whole congregation. When many embrace the darkness of indifference to others—perfect darkness prevails over the congregation. As Jesus as said, “If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! (Matt 6:23). Meaning if you think that you are in the light, but you are really in darkness—How dark is that darkness?

John Writes to Three Groups (2:12, 14)

1st Dear Children of all Ages, the Entire Group (2:12,14)

2nd To You Father’s, the Senior Elders of the Group (2:13,14)

3rd To You Young Men, New Members or Young Married and Unmarried (2:13,14)

1 John 2:12 I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. NIV

2:12 I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. NKJV

I am Writing to You

  Now John gives another reason, why we will “not sin” (1 John 2:1), is because we know for sure that our sins have been forgiven. Because God has been gracious to us, we wish to be gracious to others.

Dear children

  The word children was an expression that Jesus used, “My children, I will be with you only a little longer” (John 13:33). Paul also used a similar expression, “dearly loved children” (Eph 5:1) and “dear children” (1 Cor 4:14; Gal 4:19).

  Perhaps John heard Jesus use this term among his disciples and repeats it in his letters. John did not distinguish those of his fellowship by their talents in music, education, or trade skills. They were all together his dear children.

1st Group John is Writing To: All Ages of the Family, Men, Women and Children

       What beautiful assurance, all from the grace of God.  This is a point of celebration, at every religious gathering. We now have no guilt and move into fullness of peace that can “be yours in abundance” (1 Pet 1:2).  All due to “Jesus Christ the Righteous One” (1 John 2:1) has by the cross provided full and blanket forgiveness with “fellowship” “with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

Forgiveness is Foundational for Faith

  It is the starting place every day and our assurance throughout the day. It is the reason why we can forgive and “walk in the light, as He is the light” and “have fellowship with one another” (1 John 1:7).

       All this forgiveness is for his name’s sake, an expression that means forgiveness pleases both the Father and the Son. It is their honor code that they will not hold the one who confesses their sins as guilty, instead they are “faithful and just and will forgive us of our sins” (1 John 1:9).

Why are We Forgiven?

       The experience of being forgiven of our sins was an important teaching to John and the Apostles:

• Because: The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

• Because: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

• Because: He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2

• Because: This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10

• Because: God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. 2 Cor 5:19

• Because: He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 1 Pet 2:24

• Because: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor 5:21

• Because: But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:8

Woman at the Well with Jesus

  This privileged woman who met Jesus at Jacob’s well, had a private interview with Jesus asked Him. “Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

  Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water [Jacob’s well] will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:12,13). There is only one source of living water, it is forgiving, and at the same time it imparts a divine inheritance.

Water Is an Illustration of the Ever-Flowing Source of Forgiveness

  At the present time our thirst and hunger for God is satisfied as: He makes us to lie down in green pastures. As He leads us beside the still waters. As He restores our soul. As He leads us into the paths of righteousness. For His name’s sake. (Ps 23).

  When we approach the cross of Christ, where there was a “flow of blood and water” (John 19:34), we find complete justification-forgiveness in full. We are made right before God, on the bases of faith in the atoning blood of Christ. Not by law that demands obedience, but by faith.

  The blood of Christ is just a symbol of the amazing goodness of God, so that He can transfer to the confessing sinner, the perfect right to “be called children of God” (1 John 3:1). It is that the forgiven sinner is, by their faith, becomes a receiver of a vast inheritance for “whoever... drinks my blood has eternal life” (John 6:54). 

  To drink this blood, is to accept forgiveness in full.  It means afterwards, that God creates new influences inside the confessing sinner, which make them different than before. All the changes that come into the heart and life practice of the believer in Christ, is the results of “the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16). This God-given salvation, through His power—brings to us the undeserved gift of eternal life.

Why Does Faith in the Cross of Christ, Impart to us Forgiveness and Eternal life.

  It is not paperwork where God signs a promise to adopt us. It is not by faith that is shallow, with words only. It because “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (1 John 5:1). The expression of “born of God” is reference to being born again, as Jesus said, “no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again…born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:3,5). This is the experience of being cleansed of sin, where we lose our natural tendences to walk in the darkness of sin. Instead, we want to be “children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness” (1 Thess 5:5).

  In confession at the cross, by faith alone, we receive a Divine element, from the cross that becomes alive inside us. We receive it by a miracle. We cannot see or hear it happening to us. But as time passes, we become “a new creation” where our old self that use to cling to darkness of guilt, “has gone, the new is here” (2 Cor 5:17).

  The cross where water for understanding the Gospel and blood for forgiveness, imparting to us the right to inherit eternal life—passes to us a new power to “set you [us] free from the law of sin and death” (Rom 8:2). Giving us the Spirit of God, to dwell in us, to be with us, to aide us, comfort us, lead us, guide us, teach us and most of all implants the vine of fruitful love for God and others.  Thank God for the power that is more powerful than death, as Jesus promised “everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day” (John 6:40).

“Thanks Be to God for His Indescribable Gift!” (2 Cor 9:15).

  Thanks be to God for the cross, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor 1:18). Right now, on your knees, come to the fountain that will alter your DNA, creating in you a love for God, for truth, for light, for what is good and kind. For a love for Scriptures, for prayer and a need to grow into maturity where we dislike all darkness and love the truth and the light of the gospel. “Let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord” (Ps 106:48). For “my blood is real drink” (John 6:55).

1 John 2:13a I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him [God] who is from the beginning. NIV

2:13a I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. NKJV

I am Writing to You

  Now John gives another reason why we “will not sin” (1 John 2:1), is because we know that Jesus Christ was with the Father from eternity. Thus, all that he teaches is truth, not earth based, not philosophy from a great person, not from a committee of individuals—No way. It comes from out of this world, out of our time and space, before from all human or animal life. Thus, it bears a credential that does not need human approval. It is the truth. As a result, we accept the invitation to really come to know Him who comes from the beginning of time.

  We consider this understanding is significant, when we seek God and His Son for wisdom and guidance for our daily lives. The wisdom given, the path chosen for us to walk is best known from the One that has timeless existence. 

Who Is from the Beginning: Both Father & Son

       John is referencing what he wrote in the opening of his Gospel of John. “In the beginning was the Word [Christ], and the Word [Christ] was with God, and the Word [Christ] was God. He [Christ] was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him [Christ], and without Him [Christ] nothing was made that was made. In Him [Christ] was life, and the [His] life was [is] the light of men. And the [His life] light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:5).

Father’s That Know God

  If we were to ask the Fathers, in John’s "fellowship" (1 John 1:3), to describe what it means to them—to really know God.  What might they say? In a short and simple answer, altogether they would reply, we know God because we love God, and we know that He loves us.  “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8). This is the simplest answer one could possibly give.

  Today, if we were to ask a committed Christian how they would describe God? What might we receive as an answer? What do you think?

Father’s Senior Leadership

  John addresses the senior leadership of the church, to those who the younger members look up to, for example

       The expression you know God, indicates that they were not new believers. Twice John says that they had known God from the beginning (2:13,14). They knew for certain, and it was not guessing work. They were men often in prayer in loved Scriptures. These senior leaders had integrity; they could teach the way of the Lord.  Perhaps these men had worked with John in an earlier part of his ministry, and he remembers them fondly.

  The Apostle John is the only one that used this expression “you know him.” John does not call them with church titles, such as Elders or Bishops. John recognizes the leaders of this group as Fathers, as men that knew the Lord Jesus personally and as Father’s they are good examples for all ages in the fellowship. What a privilege to belong to a fellowship like this!

  Perhaps, if all church leaders were chosen on this bases, not just professional men with Ph. D’s in theology, there would be healthier churches.

1 John 2:13b I am writing to you, young men [young people], because you have overcome the evil one. NIV

2:13b I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked [one]. NKJV

2:13b I am writing to you, young people, that you have conquered the evil one NET Bible

I am Writing to You

       Now John gives another reason why we “will not sin” (1 John 2:1), we know how to defeat the evil one that would lead us into sin. When the Evil One offers us the pleasure of “darkness” (1 John 1:5,6), we prefer the “true light” (1 John 2:8)—all the time, any time, every day, every month, every year of our lives. “Whether we are awake or asleep” (1 Thess 5:10), we wish to live with God and his Son.

The Evil One

       This phrase is a reference to Satan. In the prayer of Jesus to his Father he said, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one” (John 17:15). John uses this title for Satan in reference to Cain “who belonged to the evil one” (1 John 3:12). John echoes the prayer of Jesus saying, “We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them” (1 John 5:18). What a promise this is! God will keep me safe from the evil one, in my workplace, among family that belong to the evil one. That God will protect our children, our marriages, our homes, from the evil one. For “the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19).

       Lord, we pray, save us from the influence of the evil one in the media we are exposed to, the various places we move about in our careers. Put a hedge of divine light on us so the evil one cannot harm us. “You have hedged me behind and before and laid Your hand upon me” (Ps 139:5 NKJV).

Fathers, Leadership of the Church

  The last public prayer of Jesus he asked his Father to “keep them” his followers “safe from the evil one” (John 17:15). John continues from the senior members of their fellowship, giving encouragement, not reproof or correction.

This is a recommendation to the “fathers”, it is a complement to them, for a job well done. To train the young people how to overcome the Devil and all the temptations that the evil one sends to the inexperienced—Is commendable. Few churches have accomplished such a goal. Most often in Western churches they lose the majority, 50% or more, of their youth! This is a sad truth. But not to this fellowship, their young people knew how to overcome temptations from the evil one.

 Young Men, Who Have Overcome Evil

  John’s encouragement is very positive, saying that these young men, had come off victorious in their battle against evil temptations. This was not a weak youth group, which struggles with sins of the flesh over the internet. Instead, they learned for themselves how to recognize and resist evil temptations.

  Someone might say, they did not have the temptations of the internet, such as our youth have today. No, they had something far worse. They lived in the sexually permissive society of Greeks and Romans, where prostitution was legal on the streets and enshrined in some temples.

  When these young men would read what John is writing to them, they would double their attention to call on God for strength to resist temptation that often entraps young men. Their personal confidence in God, who has made them victors would be encouraging, because of the Apostle John’s confidence in them.

1 John 2:14a I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. NIV

I am Writing to You

  Amazing, John addresses the entire fellowship group. All his dear children, men, women and children. All of them have come to know the “one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph 4:6). They know that He loves them. He cares for them and has chosen them to be His adopted children. They know this together and they know this individually. The whole congregation was alive, they had “receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess 5:9).

Commendation to the Fellowship of Believers

       The first commendation John gave to the entire fellowship, all his dear children, was they all had experienced forgiveness from God. It was very personal to them; they could express it freely and openly, as John said, “your sins have been forgiven” (1 John 2:12).

  Now John adds another commendation, they know God the Father. This was reminiscent of Jesus’ prayer to his Father, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). John had taught them to be focused on essentials—what it means to really know, who God the Father is to them, personally. Their faith hears the words of God as “a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Lk 17:5). These dear children of God, that John trained, paid close attention to what Jesus taught.

  This was the doctrine that John was so proud of them. Not the many conflicting doctrines that churches demand from their members. He was not glad that they paid more tithes and offerings. He was not glad for the ever-increasing numbers of their “fellowship” (1 John 1:3).  He was not glad for the correct understanding of prophecy and last day events. He was not glad that they used the right Hebrew name for God. He was not glad they sang with or without instruments. He was not glad they had a correct view of the trinity, or they spoke in tongues or did not speak in tongues.

Instead, John was glad they knew God the Father, personally, all together in agreement and could share this with others.  

A Call for Us to Know God

  So many people don’t know God, who “is light and in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). They believe that God is the cause of bad weather, wars that brings destruction and sudden death, as from a fallen airplane or a thousand other reasons. They know the truth, that “the Father himself loves you” (John 16:27).

  This fellowship could say they knew who God the Father really IS: This was very important to John for his children to know God for themselves.

• “God is for me” (Ps 56:9)

• “God is my refuge” (Ps 62:8)

• “Surely God is good” (Ps 73:1)

• “God is light” (1 John 1:5)

• “God is love” (1 John 4:8)

• “God is my strength” (Ps 73:26)

•  “God is full of compassion” (Ps 116:5)“God is with us” (Isa 8:10)

• “God is truthful” (John 3:33)

• “God is love” (1 John 4:16)

• “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23)

• “If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom 8:31)

• “God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship” (1 Cor 1:9)

•  “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Cor 9:8)

  “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son” (John 3:16). God sees all humans born, since the first birth, by name, at one glance, in is infinite mind. And he loved us, all of us. In his love he has planned for our rescue from “the Evil One” (1 John 2:13).

  “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time” (2 Tim 1:9).

1 John 2:14b I write to you, fathers, because you know him [God] who is from the beginning. NIV

2:14b I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. NKJV

I am Writing to You

       Because the leaders of this fellowship know God, they can instruct the group, what they have experienced for themselves. They know that “truly God is good…to those who are pure in heart” (Ps 73:1).

I write to You Fathers, Personally

       John is repeating what he told the fathers, the Elders in the last verse. John repeats, from the above verse, not only for emphasis. John wishes to remind them of the importance of them knowing God.

  John is referring to having a sound understanding of the gospel story, the life of Jesus and His “commands.” As John had just written about the importance of knowing God through His Son: “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands…obey his words” (1 John 2:3,4).

The idea that the fathers of this “fellowship” had a strong testimony of what they knew to be truth.  On the way to the garden to pray, just before the cross, Jesus told his disciples, that they must “testify, for you have been with me from the beginning” (John 15:27). They had seen, heard and understood the life and ministry of Jesus, since the days of John the Baptist. They had a unique training among all other followers of Jesus since they were chosen to be not just disciples but “apostles” (Lk 6:13). These fathers, senior leaders, in John’s fellowship had similar training.

  John reminds them of the training he gave them, all about the life of Jesus, from the beginning to the resurrection. John gave them eyewitness accounts, first person stories that they were to guard and impart to others. What these fathers know was so certain that John could remind them they knew Jesus from the beginning. Thus, they know all about God the Father that was so important to Jesus during his lifetime. 

  In the prayer of Jesus to His Father, just before his arrest and trial said, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do” (John 17:3,4).

1 John 2:14c I write to you, young men [young people], because you are strong, and the word of God lives [abides] in you, and you have overcome [conquered] the evil one. NIV

1 John 2:14c I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one. NKJV

I am Writing to You

       John gives another reason we “will not sin” (1 John 2:1), because they have become strong from Scriptures and God abides in them, in their life. Thus, the evil one had no power over them.

These Young People Knew Two Secrets

  The first secret, they were to be strong, to walk in the light, as “God is light” (1 John 1:5). They were to distinguish between “light” and “darkness”, between “love” and “hate,” knowing their sins are “forgiven” and their hearts have been “cleansed” (1 John 1:5,6). They were to set a strong example, for the future of the fellowship will soon rest on their leadership.

  Imagine this youth group, before all the books on and about the Bible that exist today. Before all the devotional U-tubes, movies, at least a million or so religious web pages, on every possible subject. Which would create wonder among these first-century believers. Yet they had none of these advantages, but they had learned the gospel and knew it inside and out. They knew how to pray.  Their fellowship made them strong, as a group they were not fearful of any temptation of the flesh. They stood together and they were strong in Scriptures.

  Many youths today cannot give the names of the letters of Paul. They cannot tell you even one sentence of Colossians or first Thessalonians or where in the Scriptures we can find details about the ministry of the Spirit.

  To our knowledge, the majority of Youth Ministries have good songs, short devotionals, a few good Bible verse and a lot of talk, talk and more talk. If the youth were strong in the word of God, we would lose none. If they know the four major letters of Paul: Ephesians, Colossians, Romans and Galatians. Along with the Gospel of John and his letters, we would have strong young people that would have the skills of defeating the evil one.

  This can only be done if the fathers, their leaders, of their fellowship are themselves firm in the word of God. They know God. They know Scriptures and can teach them, verse by verse.

  As important as is education and knowledge of the Word, unless God lives in us, through His Spirit, all this education will be in vain. Paul writes about this experience, “if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you” (Rom 8:11). These young men were “filled with the Spirit” (Eph 5:18). The ministry of the Spirit that lives in you, was the second secret to defeating the evil one. 

Paul’s Advice to Young Men

  Writing to pastor Titus Paul said, “Encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything they set an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us” (Titus 2:6-8).

Warnings About Love the World

To all the Children the Fellowship of Believers

Church Fathers & Young People

1 John 2:15 (#1) Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 2:16 For everything in the world—the (2#) lust [desires] of the flesh, the (3#) lust [desires] of the eyes, and the (4#) [boastful] pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 2:17 The world and its desires pass away [perish], but (5#) whoever does the will of God lives [abides] forever. NIV

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. 2:16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 2:17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. NKJV

1# Do not love the world—anything and everything

2# The lust-desires of the flesh—their desires pass away

3# The lust-desires of the eyes—their desires pass away

4# The boastful pride of life—their desires pass away

5# Those who do the Will of God—will live forever

  John expands sin into four specific temptations so that his “Dear Children” (1 John 2:1,12,14) can see the true danger of a self-focused and selfish life and not put their love exclusively on anything material in this world. Instead, they were to seek the Will of God in all they own and possess, then they will live forever. 

  As John will describe later, our love is to be focused on God, the words of His Son and his disciples. If they are focused on things that perish the result will be the loss of both temporal and eternal. This is the ever-present temptation coming from our world. To over value its honor, its wealth, its acclaim, its possessions, its favor, its royalty, its land, and goods, and for some men the women they possess—as most essential. As the results our love and interest are centered on our temporal possessions as if they were ours forever.

John does not water down his message about these four dangers. Neither have we soften this stark warning.

  Love for “the fleeting pleasures” (Heb 11:25) of this world, even at its best moments, is diametrically opposite of “the joy given by the Holy Spirit” (1 Thess 1:6). Sure, the pleasure that lust of the flesh gives can be satisfying and rewarding for the moment. However, these pleasures are at their best and longest, nothing compared to the peace and joy we can receive from the presence of God in our lives. “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Ps 16:11 NKJV).

1# Do Not Love the World: So What can we Love in our World?

1)    We can love each other, in the fellowship of believers (2:9-11; 3:11,14,23’ 4:7,8,11,12…)

2)    We can love the “Word of God” (2:14) and we can love God (2:5)

3)    Husbands are to love their wives (Eph 3:25) and the family that come from their love for each other. “He who loves his wife loves himself” (Eph 5:28), thus we are to care for our physical bodies and our minds to keep them in good health for the good of our families.

4)    Women are to love their husbands and children (Titus 2:4). Which includes her home and what she needs to care for her family she loves.

5)    We are to love in life what is noble, pure, lovely and praiseworthy (Phil 4:8). This includes many things in life that have a good purpose. Which could be a good garden, car or truck, tools to work with to provide income for the family we love. We are to love our pets, our dogs, cats or our horses.

6)    We are to love the influence of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Col 1:8).

7)    We are to know that we are loved and chosen by God (1 Thess 1:4; 2 Thess 2:13). We will value life and opportunities that God has given to us, viewing them as gifts of God’s love

8)    We are to be lovers of the good (2 Tim 3:3). We are to love things that are useful and good. Our tools of our trade, our musical instruments, our library of good books and most of all our Bibles.

9)     We are to love wisdom (Pro 4:6).

10)  We are to love prayer and thankfulness (Col 4:2)

11)  We are to love peace, for God blesses the peacemaker (Matt 5:9)

12)  We are to love our enemies (Matt 5:43)

  This is not an exhaustive list, there are many more useful things to love for our homes, our families, our employment and occupation for we are to “work hard with our own hands” (1 Cor 4:12), so that we “may have something to share with those in need” (Eph 4:28).

Unselfish Pure Love VS Lust of the Flesh & Eyes

True Loyal Pure love:

• It is focused on what is best for each other, with honesty and careful attention to the needs of each other. 

• True love cares for each other, always wishing the best for the other. 

• True love acknowledges that all they own belongs to God and at his disposal for the benefit of others. 

• Pure love cares from its heart, with desire to be a blessing to others. 

• Pure love is received from a God of Love and thus gives blessings that come from God, through the one that has pure love, into the ones they love. 

•  Pure love has a healing power to it, which comes from the great healer and physician, the Son of God and God Himself.

Lust of the Flesh: 

•  Is very temporally pleased with stolen objects, sometimes just in the mind. Lust can think they love at one moment and the next become murderous.

• However, lust will never lead to love.

• Lust steals from others, often unknown by them in selfish harmful ways.

• Lust does not heal, does not create peace, does not create trust.

•  Lust is not truthful.

• Lust works in the dark of the soul.

• Lust will, unless confessed, separate from the love of God.

• Forbidden lust will crowd out love for those we should love.

• Lust is a thief. A dark thief. A lying thief. Often a perverted thief. A secret thief, often hidden in the hearts of those we trust.

• Lust is a serpent that bites both ways, the one that lusts and the one lust has deceived and violated. Lust is not good, not just, not faithful, or not peaceful.

•  Lust is criminal and cruel at heart. But lust is patient, waiting to reveal brass knuckles of force and submission.

• Lust is anti-Christ and very adapt to masquerading as a Christian.

True Loyal Pure Love:

• It is displayed by its living fruits. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Gal 5:22,23).  An application to these fruits is: “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged” (1 Cor 13:4,5 NLT).

• These nine “fruits of the Spirit” are our High Calling. They are of greater value then theology about the trinity, end time prophecies, condition of the dead or the call for judgment of the world. They stand as the supreme description for what love really is. What God is like. What love looks and acts like. They cause the kings of darkness, of lust and hate to hide their faces.

• True, loyal and pure love are the best qualities of a person. They are the basic elements that make neighborhoods safe and communities prosperous. They are refreshing to the inner soul, and their influence generates a pleasing feeling inside a person. Even secular minded individuals see the merit, feel the goodness that springs from the practice of these fruits. It leads many to give away large portions of their wealth to charity, to be kind to the undeserving.

• To the believer, pure love is given to them by God. It gives them an assurance that God is transforming their hearts to be like Jesus. As Johns says, “in this world we are like Jesus” (1 John 4:17).

Lust of the Flesh:

• It has very little interest in the fruits of true love, especially patience.

• Lust demands something for themselves, it is very self-focused. Lust only pretends to love.

• Lust is more concerned about its goals, which are pleasure and the power of possession of the forbidden.

• Lust is focused on gratification of self, often deceiving the objects of their lust. It takes everything of worth from a person and gives nothing of value. Nothing they are publicly proud of.

• Lust weakens the soul, debases the soul and is the single largest invitation with a door wide open for evil, false or unclean spirits to enter and take up residence. They bring more lust, more fake pleasure from achieving its ends. They draw cobwebs around the heart of the soul, so every part of the body is in tune with the pleasure of lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of their life accomplishments above others. They become entrenched. “With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed” (2 Pet 2:14).

• 
  

True Loyal Pure Love:

• They never have to hide something they are ashamed of.

• True love is loyal, faithful, and not secretive to the ones they love. They hold them near; they hold them dear and love them with tenderness and earnestness. They are careful with their feelings and make every effort to accommodate themselves to the needs of the other. They reach out first to initiate contact, not waiting for the other to apologize or acknowledge themselves. 

• True love is protective of the character of the ones they love.

Lust of the Flesh:

• Holds an element of wanting something that belongs to someone else. It has hidden agendas and motives that are dark and forbidden.

• Lust carries out its purposes under the cover of family and society.

True Loyal Pure Love:

• It is never stolen fruit.

• It never takes to itself fruit that is immature or innocent .

• True love deeply cares and does everything it can, to help and uplift the other.

• True love is unselfish; it bears the burdens with and behalf of the other. It is “humble and gentle…patient, bearing with one another” (Eph 4:2), in love.

• True Love endeavors to “speak(ing) the truth in love” (Eph 4:15).

• True love supports interest, concerns, the needs and the comfort of each other. They do this delightfully.

Lust of the Flesh

• Often strikes out with violence when their desires are not fulfilled.

• Lust is often sexually abusive, and at its worst, murderous.

• Lust carries around a lot of guilt, the product of lust.

• Lust must pretend to love, pretend to care about others. Its purposes are for self-interest and not in the best interest of the other.

True love:

• Young married couples will experience wholesome forms of romantic possession of each other, strong physical desires that are not stolen, because they belong to each other. Good husbands love “their wives as their own bodies” (Eph 5:28). Meaning they are sensitive to the wishes of their wives, not forcing unwanted pregnancies on her.

• It is a mutual possessive experience, with warm embracing love. There is no shame between them. They love each other with the favor and blessing of God who said, “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate” (Matt 19:6). While lust separates, love joins together for the long term—looking forward to loving more and more as time passes. Love strives for eternal love that is, love anticipates an eternity to love.

• There are good forms of love, in marriage, that contain elements of romance that covet each other’s love. This is openly discussed in the book Song of Solomon and Proverbs.

May your fountain be blessed,

and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

A loving doe, a graceful deer—

may her b….. satisfy you always,

may you ever be intoxicated with her love.

Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?

Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman? (Prov 5:18-20)

True Love:

• Marriage has a narrow focus, only for each other and later for all their family including the family of God. True love will embrace the family of their wives or husbands, as much as their own family, with sweetness. True love has open arms to distant relatives, because love knows no bounds, except propriety, modesty and humility that always has the best and highest interest in the other.

Lust of the Flesh:

• It is the exact opposite of love for God, and it has closed eyes to the beauty of the gospel. They see beauty in money and in things that make them feel good.

Lust of the Flesh

• The “serpent, the one being called the devil and Satan, the one deceiving the whole world” (Rev 12:9). It was the one that tempted Eve. He told her that good will come to her in eating this fruit, from the forbidden tree. So, Eve “saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food an. pleasing to the eye, and. so desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it” (Gen 3:6). Some are led to think that forbidden lust is so pleasurable that good will come.

• The Serpent will present to you a lustful picture and urge you to go ahead, eat this wonderful fruit and live forever. But all it takes is one bite, and you become as good as dead. Satan well knows this and never misses an opportunity to press a fresh temptation that appeals to lust of the flesh, which is not true pure love. It comes from his Satanic love, his favorite tool to destroy souls, forever and ever. It is his best fishing lore, even to reel in the big fish of clergy and bishops, adding one more to Satan’s count of lost souls. He offers millions, daily to eat the forbidden fruit of “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die” (Gen 2:17). Today this tree is forbidden sexual lust that abuses oneself and others for profit, gain and satisfaction, becoming addicted

Lust of the Flesh

• Leads away from home to the “neighbor’s wife” (Ex 20:17). Lust is greedy at its core. It is supported by dishonesty, it is secretive, never satisfied. Lust will lead to selfish pleasure that denies family love, neglecting their spouse and children. Lust creates darkness and soon turns the one who enjoys lust into perfect darkness. Which occurs when lust feels right, this is perfect darkness.  

• Does not arise from love to God or love of family, they are opposites. One cannot love God, be “born of the Spirit” (John 3:6), enjoy the “peace of God” (Phil 4:7) or worship God in praise and thanksgiving, while they permit shameful lust to x-ray others. While they allow jealousy for another man’s wife or another woman’s husband. Sadly, lust filled individuals are seeking true love in the wrong places, resulting in darkness that moves into their lives, like a nest of spiders who build their web all throughout the thought patterns of their lives, making it very difficult to escape.

• Comes from the fallen nature, which is greedy, having “eyes full of adultery” (2 Pet 2:14), It is all forms of sexual abuse, adultery, immorality, pornography, incest, or any attraction to something that is unnatural, such as adults to children. Or teachers toward their students. Pastors to their parishioners. Supervisors to their employees.

• Lust of the flesh is debasing. It is crude, painful and humiliating to others. It is the opposite “love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Tim 1:5). It is the opposite of love described in 1 Corinthians 13.

The Most Serious Warning: From Jesus About Forbidden Lust

       John opened his letter remembering Jesus. He “looked at” and he “heard” Him teach (1 John 1:1). It is very likely that John remembered Jesus words on the Sermon on the Mount. As a new disciple, he would be very near to Jesus, at his right hand, taking in his every word.

  Jesus did not brush lust aside, as of minor importance. He saw into the future judgment day when many will be deprived of citizenship of the Holy City New Jerusalem, on account of King Lust that was not confessed, but practiced and enjoyed. For outside, among those who lose eternal life, are those who “love and practices a lie” (Rev 22:15 NKJV). Lust is born on wings of deception. It is devious, ever changing its color and intensity. It forked tongue darts into the air, ready to bite the unarmed, untrained children of the world.  

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’ [7th Commandment]. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

“If your right eye causes you to stumble [into lust], gouge it out and throw it away [don’t look]. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

“And if your right hand causes you to stumble [into lust], cut it off and throw it away [don’t touch]. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. (Matt 5:27-30) Sermon on the Mount

  Jesus speaks with an authority of God in Heaven when he said: “I tell you.”  We should take his instruction about the dangers of lust, which can cause one to lose eternal life in hell. It is subject that church leaders should give space to teachings and preaching. For Christians can deceptively believe that if they have faith in Jesus they will be saved, even while they practice forbidden lust throughout the day.

  Everybody that was listening to Jesus would understand His symbolic illustrations. Their homes were most often a single square room. Families would sleep together in the same room, which may include visitors and other relatives. Sanitation was most often pits dug in the ground that could be shared between homes.

  In a parable Jesus talked about persistence in prayer and our need to keep praying in spite of the difficulties. The man in the parable replied to a knock at his door saying, “Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed” (Lk 11:7). This was a common way of sleeping, privacy as the world universally practices it today, was non-existent.

Although lust was discouraged by the culture of respect, living arrangements could be a source of trouble. The listeners of Jesus would know exactly what a wandering eye in the day or hand in the night would mean.

  Jesus had very high respect for family virtue, which he would not tolerate the least indiscretion, but instead maintain the highest moral values.

If Jesus would be asked to write a statement of faith, lustful behavior, would be near the top of the list of fundamental beliefs. Instead, most organize Christian religions, start with belief in the Trinity or the rapture, followed by their unique doctrines that set them apart as the true church. Which has nothing to do with forbidden Lust that will send the whole body into hell.

  We doubt that if a sincere lover of God and his Word will be sent into hell if they have a little different view on the trinity or worship with loud or soft music, than some other orthodox statements of faith. But lust, unconfessed, is a ticket to the station called hell, “the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt 25:41).

What Jesus Declared Lust to be True in the Sermon of the Mount

  Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’” Which is the 7th Commandment, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Jesus says lust effects the whole body. It involves and harnesses our feelings, and emotions. It is never a single affair, a one-time activity. Lust demands repetition. It demands more lust and more time to spend on lust.  It is never harmless and innocent, when directed away from the channel of marriage.

  Jesus explains, “If your right eye causes you to stumble [fall down],” Jesus is specifically speaking to His committed followers. In the expression stumble, meaning not intending fall prey into lust. Lust begins with first eyes that see the object they lust after, then the hand wishes to touch and claim as their property.

What was Jesus’ Solution to Prevent Falling Prey to Sinful Lust

  Speaking symbolically, Jesus said gouge out your eye and throw it away. Jesus draws a strong word picture of the strength of lust. Many, many, millions of strong spiritual men or women have fallen head long into the insatiable desires in the nest of lust. That promises delights but instead delivers hell.

  To throw away what the eye looks at means to turn your eyes from the scenes that could create lust. For it is not something to play around with, it is stronger than human power to resist. If a picture or video creates lust, throw it away as far as possible. Burn it. If an office secretary is a source of lust, tell your spouse. Protect yourself, but do not allow the first approach of lust, for lust will compromise the strength of your life and soul. Forbidden lust is never ever true love, but most often confused with strong feelings.

  Lust is nearly always in a rush. Lust looks to immediate, as soon as possible, gratification. Lust does not like patience. Out of control lust, fed by what the eyes look at, often leads to rapes and murders. Lust is a viper whose venom is spread into the whole body with bands of steel.

Jesus knows that lust will very quickly gain a vice grip hold on a person. Lust is a highway to hell. It offers delight, it envisions the deep satisfaction of desires—but delivers nothing that is fruitful and lovely.

  Lust often grows in secret. Jesus said at his public trial, “I said nothing in secret” (John 18:20). Because a day will come “when God judges people’s secrets” (Rom 2:16). There lust will receive its due reward.

  Lust demands pleasure, which finds outlet in drugs that deliver a chemical pleasure. True love is refreshing, while lust is degrading and abusive.

  True love does not lust after another pretty face.  It is where “husbands…love their wives as their own bodies…Just as Christ does the church” (Eph 5:28,29). True love is a super strong spiritual tie, which binds each other to the greatest love in the universe, the love of Christ for each of them.

Lust Is a Serpent in the Home Garden

  Lust will deceive you into thinking that your devotional life, your love for your family, is strong enough to resist lust. Therefore, a little bit of mental imagination is thought to be harmless. But lust is fire so hot that no human can withstand, very long, its attractive red-hot flames, while nurturing it in their minds and hearts.

  Lust is the king of lies. It lies to the one who thinks lust will fulfill their desires. Every step-in the path of lust is dark, unfulfilling. It only creates a further restless heart that is never really satisfied with what they have or patient for arrangements God will provide in the future.

Jesus’ Advice—The Offending hand cut it off and Throw Far Away

  Lust finds an outlet on the internet and adult movies. Pedophiles would not be in jail today, if they cut off the source, their pictures. Stay away from the sources of the lust. Put the hands to work, to bless others with a helping hand, and to personally be of service with others. Love your wife, love your husband, with all the passion and feelings that a good marriage provides.

  If lust is toward a neighbor’s wife or husband, at every encounter with this temptation, turn away, calling on the name of the Lord. Jesus has given clear witness as to the danger of keeping the attractive view of lust in sight. If Eve at the garden, had run from the thought of eating the fruit that God had forbidden, the temptations of Satan would have been nullified. As James said, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Our resistance cannot be in our own strength; it must be the power of the Spirit of God. Ask God to deliver you as you pull away from the source of temptation.

“I made a covenant with my eyes

not to look lustfully at a young woman.”

Job 31:1

Do not lust in your heart for her beauty

or let her captivate you with her eyes.

Prov 6:25

Above all else, guard your heart,

for everything you do flows from it.

Prov 4:23

Flee from sexual immorality.

All other sins a person commits are outside the body,

but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.

1 Cor 6:18

Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,

and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

Rom 13:14

Victory Over Lust

       John has not left the battle with demon lust to ourselves. He has told us first “confess our sin” in faith knowing that God “will forgive us our sin (1 John 1:9). But more than this, the best part is the internal change that God will provide because he “forgives us our sins and [will] purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Purification is a God given Spirit accomplishment, power to say no to demon lust and yes to be “pure in heart” (Matt 5:8).

       “You must be born again” or “born from above” (John 3:3). You must “have an anointing from the Holy One” (1 John 2:20). God has made provision that we can be re-born, re-created with new desires of holiness, with total disgust with the former way of life. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, that alone has the right and power to drive into silence the demanding voice of lust, uncovering it for the darkness it is. “But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want” (Gal 5:16-17 NET Bible)

The Lust-Desires of the Eyes—Their Desires Pass Away

  The focus on material things that their money has purchased is where many find their esteem and self-worth. Supreme love for material things can cause us to lose the rich feeling and knowledge that we are loved by God and are His children, John says, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1). But lust of the eyes will say, see what mansion I live in, see my cars, my investment, my successful business, look at all the expensive clothes and shoes I own. Look at my vast estate and all the money it makes for me.  

John is applying the lesson Jesus taught on the day disciples were ordained as apostles.  He said, “If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back” (Lk 6:29,30).

  The wisdom of this passage is we are to be aware of an obsession with material things. All over the world, there is a thirst for materialism. A strong desire to have more things, electronics, cars, property and clothes. Our love for things is to be a loose love, a love that does not hold on to them as eternal treasure. If we should lose some of our material possessions, we may miss them, but our attachment to God is far greater. The things we own are of less importance, they serve a purpose, and if asked to share where possible, our possessions are just temporary. Should we die, we won’t own them anymore, someone else will.

Listen to Jesus

  Jesus did not use His power to create wealth for himself or others. One man, seeing all the power of Jesus was thinking of what this could do for him. He told Jesus “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus reading his mind told the man, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Matt 8:19,20). Meaning if you follow “me,” I often have nowhere to sleep at night but on the ground, because I don’t have much money.

  “Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Lk 6:20)

  This is an absolute, non-negotiable spiritual quality, to be an apostle. First the obvious, they were not to accumulate wealth. They were not to depend on money, to regard it as the greatest asset in teaching the gospel. Even when Jesus sent out his disciples to teach, he said, “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt” (Lk 9:3), as a graphic lesson to not think of your success as asset based, but the power of God is more displayed in the simple, not the grand.

  Jesus began his ministry tipping upside down the “tables of the money changer” (Matt 21:12). When Jesus taught “No one can serve two masters…You cannot serve both God and money. The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus” (Lk 16:13,14). Money was very important these temple pastors, it was a sign of God’s blessing.

  Listen to Jesus he says, “Truly I tell you; it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through [squeeze through] the eye [hole] of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God” (Matt 19:21-24).

       So why is it so hard for some rich men to make it to heaven? Because he is self-centered on his money and possession, he is devoted to material things, also called lust, desires of his eyes, what he wants all for himself. Thus, he is unwilling to, mentally and spiritually, become detached from them, almost any of them.  His self-image is his wealth. His eyes give him self-approval as he looks at his high-end model sports car, his speed boat, that he stores in his garage.

       For example, we may love our car, it is important to us. But love for our car is to be a small love, the greater love is to be for God, for our marriage, children and other believers in our fellowship.

       Material things can lie to us. They can cast a spell on us, they cause one to even murder another so as the preserve them, just for ourselves. Material things often take on our self-image, who we are. We are wealthy, blessed above others, thus we swell with pride that is the opposite of humility.  We have many things, and we love to add more things to our collection. We love counting our collections.

       The antidote to accumulation of wealth, devotion to houses and lands is to be willing to lose them. To be willing to give them away, should the time and a reason occur, in the will of God. In prayer, ask God to detach you from them, from the love and dependence on them, as if they could give you eternal life. As if they could love you, although we may love them.

  The camel stands for our many possessions that are loaded on top of the camel. To go through a narrow place, a knitting needle’s eye, we have to leave our possessions and our camels and go alone to meet God. We may claim to be a believer in God, but this is likely to be a false assumption. While we, in heart and soul, are lovers of our material things. While we become “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Tim 3:4). Lovers of our possessions more than the presence of the Spirit in our lives. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21).

       Remember that everything we own will pass away. First after our death, all our possession will be given away to another. Our houses, cars and bank accounts become the property of someone else. Over time our one-time treasures, we love and claimed to be all our own, will age and will end up in the trash heap outside of town.

       Second all our possessions will be destroyed at the Second Coming of Jesus,  “On that Day the heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will melt and disintegrate, and the earth and everything in it will be burned up” (2 Pet 3:10 Complete Jewish Bible)

   They are not permanent, love for God and others is the only thing we take to heaven. Instead, our greatest wealth in life is to “know Him better” (Eph 2:17).

Pride of Life, Boastful

  Pride of life is all focused-on self, resulting in the loss of humility, which is first and foremost requirement to enter heaven (see Matt 18:1-3). It is a general feeling of deserving honor because of our many talents such as skill in music, arts, leadership, education, and love of our own self-accomplishments.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Syndrome.

  One day the King was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” (Dan 4:29,30). After a very humbling experience of losing his mind, after seven years the King had a different perspective on life saying, “I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (Dan 4:27).

  The materialistic teaches that the more one owns is what matters in life. All that we are, all that we own creates a false pride, which leave little room to need God’s grace. Making it nearly impossible to “Humble yourselves before the Lord” (James 4:10).

Pride of who we are creates arrogance and an air of superiority. Pride of life makes is hard to be “humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Eph 4:2). “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble” (James 4:6).

Do Not Love the World

Love Not the World

On a Google search there is a list of “What’s Trending,” those who love the world, keep themselves current on what everyone else is doing. They want to watch current movies, follow the actions of movie stars, and listen to the most popular music. This is the nature of those who know not God. They cannot say, “Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!” (1 Chorn 16:29). If we do love the world we cannot say, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10), because the will of the world will prevail.

For the most part, those who the world love to praise, the “love for the Father is not in them.” Believers should always remember, the world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. The world’s desires are its trends, its customs and what the world holds as the highest value. Its popular music and movie stars, its popular clothes and styles that come and go.

Lovers of the world are not interested in doing the will of God, they want their own ways. They are proud of themselves. They copy their lives after those whom the world loves, who are rich and famous. They are proud of all their worldly achievements, on their own, disinterested in the will of God for themselves.

Lovers of the World

  Lovers of the world are not nourished by the “True Vine” (John 15:1). Instead, they are taking nourishment from the false vines of the world’s lustful pleasures and its boastful pride in oneself.  

The love of the world is a trap. For the world is not ashamed of lust of the flesh and pride of life. Those of the world, embellish these things. They put in first place things that don’t matter at all. They praise people, which do not love God.

  Sure, we live in this world, sure we love many of the useful things of life, that God has graciously given us. But we don’t love the things of the world that are not refreshing to our souls. As we live in this world we don’t want the world’s things, to draw us away from our faith in God.

  The things that God has given to us, for our families, and the needs of others, are held in trust. We are thankful for every gift that God has given us. We know our value is not in what we own, but who owns us. We are sheep of the Lord’s pasture. We acknowledge you own it all, The “Mighty One, God, the Lord” says that “every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills” (Is 50:1,10).

In Tune with the World

  It is a fact that those in tune with the world’s movies and music will not be able to praise God from whom all blessings flow. If music or a movie interferes with our love for God and our desire to praise and thank Him for all the gifts he has bestowed on us. We should avoid that music or movie, for it will rob you of spiritual strength. It will leave you without the “shield of faith” (Eph 6:16) and the “sword of the Spirit” (Eph 6:17).  

Natural Beauty of the World

  Let’s be clear. Believers do love the beauty of the world, its forest of trees, its lawns of green grass, its mountains and valleys. They do love the fruits of their labor, the garden, the neat homes and the dinner table. They do love people in the world, they love the useful things that make life easier, such as the dishwasher and washing machine. There are hundreds of things that lovers of God also love in the world. However, they know this earth is not their home for “they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one” (Heb 11:16).

  Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them” (Heb 11:16). As they use and depend on the electronics of this world, they are not a substitute for the will of God or their devotion to God or the love of God in their hearts.  

1 John 2:18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 2:19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us [Apostles & true disciples]. NIV

2:18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. NKJV

Dear Children

       This is the sixth time John used this greeting, his Dear Children.  Each time John affirms an important truth. And this time John starts with a solemn note, that he believes, in a general sense, it is the last hour. Because there are so many false teachers who are not “true to the faith” (Acts 14:22). They draw away followers from Christ. Thus, John calls them antichrist.

Key Terms to Describe Antichrist

       Antichrist is not just one person, but many have already come.

       More will come in the last hour, just before the coming of our Lord.

       Antichrist don’t belong to us, mentioned five times. They don’t follow the teachings of the Apostles and John’s “our fellowship” (1 John 1:3)

       Antichrist left the Apostles, they went out from us, showing that they don’t belong to us anymore. As former believers in the gospel, they have turned their teachings into something that is not supported by the Christ of the Apostles.

What Is an Anti-Christ

• In short, antichrist is an opponent or adversary to Christ. They may appear to be in favor of Christ; they may speak a lot about Christ and His Apostles. However, they do not really belong to us, the disciples. They teach a different gospel then Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter and Paul. They deceive, mislead, and draw to themselves as being able to discern truth from error. John says, “I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray” (1 John 2:26).

• Antichrists substitute themselves, their teachings, their organization, their prophet, or church leaders to support their version of the Gospel. They bring in ideas that are not clearly taught by Christ as more important than what Jesus and his disciples taught.

• Antichrists claim to have the right from heaven to create new testing truths. That divert attention from Christ and the true gospel to new claims and requirements. They do not teach a gospel that “you heard from the beginning” and “As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father” (1 John 3:11; 2:24). Antichrist have created new interpretations of the gospel as recorded in the New Testament. They do not hold to “the truth that is in Jesus” (Eph 4:21), but instead, in their different view they claim is the truth.

• Antichrist will encourage others to put their faith in themselves, their team, their church and condemn those who don’t follow them. They can make very strong claims to possessing truth but remember “no lie comes from the truth” (1 John 2:21).

• Antichrist are known for making boastful claims as having the only correct view of truth.

• Anti-Christ, they were believers in Christ, but they went out from us, that is the Apostles. They show that they are not of us. By this John is not referring to Buddhism, Muslim's or Hindu’s, for they never were believers in Christ.  

Anti-Christ, They Were Once with Us, Now They Have Left Us

       Jesus warned the disciples that after he leaves, they should “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, [pretending] but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matt 7:15).  John understood that “false prophet’s” that Jesus has warned them about, could also be called antichrist. Because they did not teach the truth about Jesus, but their own new ideas, which are false truth.

  In that they went out from us, from the fellowship of believers, by teaching an altered or changed way of salvation, which Jesus describes as false prophets in sheep’s clothing. They look and act like Christians. They hold the Bible and place a cross on their clothes. They may claim to be trained at a Seminary in theology. They may claim to be ordained ministers. However, they want a following to honor themselves, not Christ, demanding loyalty.

  They wish money to be given to support their organized faith. Often, they discourage members from reading other literature, except their own, and refuse to admit that anybody else has truth.

Paul’s Final Advice to the Elders in Ephesus

  When Paul met with the Elders of Ephesus, for the last time, he warned them saying, “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men [believers] will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:29-30). They substitute new teachings that are in error, which are not in the Gospels to develop a network of followers.

  John, knew from being with Jesus, that many of these false prophets, claiming to teach the way of the Lord, will continue to increase till the Lord returns to earth. The only way to know the difference who the antichrist is, is to compare their teachings with the Apostles, point by point.

  Anyone that replaces new teachings that are not in the Gospels is an antichrist. Later John tells us about false spirits that “are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint [perspective, ideas] of the world, and the world listens to them. “We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us” (1 John 4:4,5), that is the Apostles.

Christ Jesus Has Been Given By God the Father—Supremacy

  And he [Christ] is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so   that in everything he might have the supremacy” (Col 1:18). The whole body of Christian believers, worldwide, Christ hold supremacy in all authority. Every religious leader should remember this and never ever make themselves the center of attention.

  As our head, he deserves prime time attention, as the chief doctrine above and beyond all other topics and doctrines.

  Jesus said, “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world [Satan] will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (Jon 12:31,32). Notice that the only way Satan is defeated, is brought to judgement and condemned—is by lifting up Christ. The antichrist may pretend to lift up Christ, but instead point to their customs, their decrees, the counsels, their doctrines, and their authority. These things take a priority over what Jesus and his Apostles have plainly taught.

  When Martin Luther (1483-1546) appeared and started to teach Biblical Justification by Faith, he was hindered by the power of long-established church authority, with large amounts of money and civil influence.

Last Hour on Earth     

  John does not mention anything about wars, destructive weather patterns, as signs of the end.

  To John the Apostle, the sign we are near the coming of the Lord, there will be an increasing number of false teachers he calls Anti-Christ. They teach, they preach, something other then what Christ or his Apostles taught. Practically, this means that we should look over carefully at our own Christian fellowship, with prayer, comparing what they teach with Jesus and His Apostles.

  False teachers are known for date setting, on the calendar when Jesus will return to earth. We should expect the coming of the Lord at any time. For we have been plainly told by Jesus, Paul and Peter that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (1 Thess 5:2; Matt 24:43; 2 Pet 3:10). Meaning that it will be a surprise when we are not expecting it.

  One of the reasons why there will be an increase in false gospel teachers before the coming of Christ, is that Christians at large are shallow in their Biblical understanding. There are much more distractions today, coming from the media, high Schools and colleges that are antagonistic to Christian values.

Last Hour…Many More Antichrist Will Come

       This is John’s prophecy. It is like Jesus’ prediction about events before He returns, “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many (Matt 24:4,5). They come in Messiah-like-authority, combining truth with small amounts of error. Then building themselves up with their authority, claiming it comes direct from God or one of His angels. They are very good deceivers, creating an empire with their names at the center. Just as Jesus predicted, “false christ’s and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matt 24:24).  

       What John adds to Jesus words, saying that that as the end approaches there will be an increase of anti-Christ in the world. The point is that as we wait for the coming of the Lord, we should expect many Anti-Christ. That is many ministers or churches claiming to speak on behalf of God, yet they misrepresent Him, while they claim to be teaching the way of truth.

       By way of example, Paul was concerned about the Corinthian fellowship that they would accept lies in the place of truth. He told them, “I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. Or if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!” (2 Cor 11:3,4). Even in Paul’s time, he said there were impersonators that pretended to be the Apostle Paul, who claimed to be “allegedly from us” (2 Thess 2:2), that is being part of Paul’s team.

  False teachers can be very bold in their lying claims to teach the correct way of the Lord. Making it appear truthful. Often antichrist ministers will gather large amounts of money and make a display of grand churches, this should not be regarded as evidence that the Apostles support it.

  This false gospel is powerless to support genuine faith. Paul wrote to the Romans, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation” (Rom 1:16). A different gospel, taught by a person that claims to be a follower of Jesus, but adds or subtracts from what Jesus taught, is dangerous. Because the power of God is absent. It is crafted in deceit, that sadly, really does deceive millions.  

This Is the Last Hour—It is Always the Last Hour

It is Dangerous to Put Off the Coming of the Lord

  Jesus taught us that His coming will surprise us, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour [at a time] you do not expect” (Matt 24:44). Like a thief comes when everyone is asleep and unaware of their approach, till they wake up and find their home being robbed.

  Jesus taught us in a parable about those who delay his coming, saying, “But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites” (Matt 24:50,51). All the more reason to not put the coming of the Lord far off in the distance.

  John tells his dear friends that this is the “Last Hour,” meaning the Lord’s return is soon. Every generation must look upon their life on earth as near the time of the Second Coming, or they will delay it and not be found ready.

Jesus Has Given us a Way to Identify Anti-Christ

       Jesus has given us a one sentence parable. “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher” (Luke 6:40).

       All believers are students, and Jesus is their teacher. A fully trained teacher is one who has spent time with the master, to learn his ways.

Students of Jesus have no right whatsoever to promote any added test, not required by Jesus or his Apostles, for acceptance by Christ. Or teach new requirements to live by faith in Christ. They cannot create new rules, predict new prophecies or demand something not practiced by the Early Church, for they are not above their teacher.

       If a Christian leader should tell you to eat certain foods, to please God. Don’t follow them, for “Jesus declared all foods clean” (Mark 7:19). This does not mean that all foods are healthy, but instead food does not create sin to be confessed. For “food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do” (1 Cor 8:8).

  Meaning that food, the vegan or vegetarian diets, is not a means for sanctification. Because it is the Spirit that sanctifies us (1 Peter 1:2). There are many non-Christian vegetarians such as the Indian religions like Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Their diet does not make them followers of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

1 John 2:18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 2:19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us [Apostles & true disciples]. NIV

2:18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. NKJV

Dear Children

       This is the sixth time John used this greeting, his Dear Children.  Each time John affirms an important truth. And this time John starts with a solemn note, that he believes, in a general sense, it is the last hour. Because there are so many false teachers who are not “true to the faith” (Acts 14:22). They draw away followers from Christ. Thus, John calls them antichrist.

Key Terms to Describe Antichrist

• Antichrist is not just one person, but many have already come.

• More will come in the last hour, just before the coming of our Lord.

• Antichrist don’t belong to us, mentioned five times. They don’t follow the teachings of the Apostles and John’s “our fellowship” (1 John 1:3)

• Antichrist left the Apostles, they went out from us, showing that they don’t belong to us anymore. As former believers in the gospel, they have turned their teachings into something that is not supported by the Christ of the Apostles.

What Is an Anti-Christ

• In short, antichrist is an opponent or adversary to Christ. They may appear to be in favor of Christ; they may speak a lot about Christ and His Apostles. However, they do not really belong to us, the disciples. They teach a different gospel then Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter and Paul. They deceive, mislead, and draw to themselves as being able to discern truth from error. John says, “I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray” (1 John 2:26).

• Antichrists substitute themselves, their teachings, their organization, their prophet, or church leaders to support their version of the Gospel. They bring in ideas that are not clearly taught by Christ as more important than what Jesus and his disciples taught.

• Antichrists claim to have the right from heaven to create new testing truths. That divert attention from Christ and the true gospel to new claims and requirements. They do not teach a gospel that “you heard from the beginning” and “As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father” (1 John 3:11; 2:24). Antichrist have created new interpretations of the gospel as recorded in the New Testament. They do not hold to “the truth that is in Jesus” (Eph 4:21), but instead, in their different view they claim is the truth.

• Antichrist will encourage others to put their faith in themselves, their team, their church and condemn those who don’t follow them. They can make very strong claims to possessing truth but remember “no lie comes from the truth” (1 John 2:21).

• Antichrist are known for making boastful claims as having the only correct view of truth.

• Antichrist, they were believers in Christ, but they went out from us, that is the Apostles. They show that they are not of us. By this John is not referring to Buddhism, Muslem’s or Hindu’s, for they never were believers in Christ.  

Anti-Christ, They Were Once with Us, Now They Have Left Us

       Jesus warned the disciples that after he leaves, they should “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, [pretending] but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matt 7:15).  John understood that “false prophet’s” that Jesus has warned them about, could also be called antichrist. Because they did not teach the truth about Jesus, but their own new ideas, which are false truth.

  In that they went out from us, from the fellowship of believers, by teaching an altered or changed way of salvation, which Jesus describes as false prophets in sheep’s clothing. They look and act like Christians. They hold the Bible and place a cross on their clothes. They may claim to be trained at a Seminary in theology. They may claim to be ordained ministers. However, they want a following to honor themselves, not Christ, demanding loyalty.

  They wish money to be given to support their organized faith. Often, they discourage members from reading other literature, except their own, and refuse to admit that anybody else has truth.

Paul’s Final Advice to the Elders in Ephesus

  When Paul met with the Elders of Ephesus, for the last time, he warned them saying, “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men [believers] will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:29-30). They substitute new teachings that are in error, which are not in the Gospels to develop a network of followers.

  John, knew from being with Jesus, that many of these false prophets, claiming to teach the way of the Lord, will continue to increase till the Lord returns to earth. The only way to know the difference who the antichrist is, is to compare their teachings with the Apostles, point by point.

  Anyone that replaces new teachings that are not in the Gospels is an antichrist. Later John tells us about false spirits that “are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint [perspective, ideas] of the world, and the world listens to them. “We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us” (1 John 4:4,5), that is the Apostles.

Christ Jesus Has Been Given By God the Father—Supremacy

  And he [Christ] is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so   that in everything he might have the supremacy” (Col 1:18). The whole body of Christian believers, worldwide, Christ hold supremacy in all authority. Every religious leader should remember this and never ever make themselves the center of attention.

As our head, he deserves prime time attention, as the chief doctrine above and beyond all other topics and doctrines.

  Jesus said, “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world [Satan] will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (Jon 12:31,32). Notice that the only way Satan is defeated, is brought to judgement and condemned—is by lifting up Christ. The antichrist may pretend to lift up Christ, but instead point to their customs, their decrees, the counsels, their doctrines, and their authority. These things take a priority over what Jesus and his Apostles have plainly taught.

  When Martin Luther (1483-1546) appeared and started to teach Biblical Justification by Faith, he was hindered by the power of long-established church authority, with large amounts of money and civil influence.

Last Hour on Earth     

  John does not mention anything about wars, destructive weather patterns, as signs of the end.

To John the Apostle, the sign we are near the coming of the Lord, there will be an increasing number of false teachers he calls Anti-Christ. They teach, they preach, something other then what Christ or his Apostles taught. Practically, this means that we should look over carefully at our own Christian fellowship, with prayer, comparing what they teach with Jesus and His Apostles.

  False teachers are known for date setting, on the calendar when Jesus will return to earth. We should expect the coming of the Lord at any time. For we have been plainly told by Jesus, Paul and Peter that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (1 Thess 5:2; Matt 24:43; 2 Pet 3:10). Meaning that it will be a surprise when we are not expecting it.

  One of the reasons why there will be an increase in false gospel teachers before the coming of Christ, is that Christians at large are shallow in their Biblical understanding. There are much more distractions today, coming from the media, high Schools and colleges that are antagonistic to Christian values.

Last Hour…Many More Anti-Christ Will Come

       This is John’s prophecy. It is like Jesus’ prediction about events before He returns, “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many (Matt 24:4,5). They come in Messiah-like-authority, combining truth with small amounts of error. Then building themselves up with their authority, claiming it comes direct from God or one of His angels. They are very good deceivers, creating an empire with their names at the center. Just as Jesus predicted, “false christ’s and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matt 24:24).  

       What John adds to Jesus words, saying that that as the end approaches there will be an increase of anti-Christ in the world. The point is that as we wait for the coming of the Lord, we should expect many Anti-Christ. That is many ministers or churches claiming to speak on behalf of God, yet they misrepresent Him, while they claim to be teaching the way of truth.

       By way of example, Paul was concerned about the Corinthian fellowship that they would accept lies in the place of truth. He told them, “I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. Or if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!” (2 Cor 11:3,4). Even in Paul’s time, he said there were impersonators that pretended to be the Apostle Paul, who claimed to be “allegedly from us” (2 Thess 2:2), that is being part of Paul’s team.

  False teachers can be very bold in their lying claims to teach the correct way of the Lord. Making it appear truthful. Often antichrist ministers will gather large amounts of money and make a display of grand churches, this should not be regarded as evidence that the Apostles support it.

  This false gospel is powerless to support genuine faith. Paul wrote to the Romans, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation” (Rom 1:16). A different gospel, taught by a person that claims to be a follower of Jesus, but adds or subtracts from what Jesus taught, is dangerous. Because the power of God is absent. It is crafted in deceit, that sadly, really does deceive millions.  

This Is the Last Hour—It is Always the Last Hour

It is Dangerous to Put Off the Coming of the Lord

  Jesus taught us that His coming will surprise us, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour [at a time] you do not expect” (Matt 24:44). Like a thief comes when everyone is asleep and unaware of their approach, till they wake up and find their home being robbed.

  Jesus taught us in a parable about those who delay his coming, saying, “But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites” (Matt 24:50,51). All the more reason to not put the coming of the Lord far off in the distance.

  John tells his dear friends that this is the “Last Hour,” meaning the Lord’s return is soon. Every generation must look upon their life on earth as near the time of the Second Coming, or they will delay it and not be found ready.

Jesus Has Given us a Way to Identify Anti-Christ

       Jesus has given us a one sentence parable. “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher” (Luke 6:40).

       All believers are students, and Jesus is their teacher. A fully trained teacher is one who has spent time with the master, to learn his ways.

Students of Jesus have no right whatsoever to promote any added test, not required by Jesus or his Apostles, for acceptance by Christ. Or teach new requirements to live by faith in Christ. They cannot create new rules, predict new prophecies or demand something not practiced by the Early Church, for they are not above their teacher.

       If a Christian leader should tell you to eat certain foods, to please God. Don’t follow them, for “Jesus declared all foods clean” (Mark 7:19). This does not mean that all foods are healthy, but instead food does not create sin to be confessed. For “food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do” (1 Cor 8:8).

  Meaning that food, the vegan or vegetarian diets, is not a means for sanctification. Because it is the Spirit that sanctifies us (1 Peter 1:2). There are many non-Christian vegetarians such as the Indian religions like Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Their diet does not make them followers of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

1 John 2:20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 2:21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth …

...1 John 2:27 As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains [abides] in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit [no lie in it]—just as it has taught you, remain [abides] in Him [Son and the Father]. NIV

2:20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 2:21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth… 2:27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. NJKV

2:20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. 2:21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth… 2:27 As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. NAS

There are Eleven “You’s” in NIV and NKJV

       John assures his “dear friends” [1 John 2:7] with overwhelming positiveness, from his knowledge of this “fellowship” (1 John 1:3). They have all, men, women, children—have experienced “an anointing from the Holy One” (v. 20).

       Twice the Anointing experience is called not a “lie” or a “counterfeit” (v. 21,27), because it comes from “abiding or remain in Him” (v. 27) because “you have an anointing from the Holy One” (v. 20).

  Twice in the NIV “you do know it” and “you know about” the “anointing is real” (v. 21,27). Thus, you are able to know the difference between a “lie” and the “truth” (v. 21). You know what is “real” or “counterfeit” (v. 27).

  Because all in this “fellowship” (1 John 1:3), have experienced “the anointing” (v. 27). It is very personal with many “You’s,” as if John is thinking of their names and faces, as he writes this letter.

The Anointing that Teaches us is of the Spirit

       This is what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit. “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 said to you” (John 14:26). To John the anointing that will “teach you about all things” (v 27) is a direct reference to the Holy Spirit.

The Holy One Sends the Anointing

  This is a title that Peter used about Jesus, “Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68,69). In other words, there is no counterfeit or lies in the life and teaching of Jesus. His origin is from God, not of a human family, but from the “Holy One of Israel” (Ps 71:22).

After the resurrection, “when the disciples were together…Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”  After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again, Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:19-22).

  The Holy One is first a direct reference to Jesus, “the Holy One of God.” For Jesus was first anointed with the Spirit from God the Father, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him” (Acts 10:38).

  Furthermore, it was Jesus, the Holy One of God, that first gave the Holy Spirit to the disciples, prior to Pentecost.

The Anointing

  The anointing is the gift of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus, the Holy One of God promised to give to us. He said, “I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me” (John 15:26). The Spirit of Truth is another name for the Holy Spirit, which John identifies as holding no lies and is not a counterfeit for the truth. Indicating that there will come into believers a counterfeit Spirit that teaches lies.

  The anointing teaches us about Jesus. Hours before his arrest Jesus told his disciple that “The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will and teach you all things (v. 2:27) will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26).

  John calls the Anointing truth, and you will know it to be the truth. John makes a strong point that this truth has no lie in it at all. For “God is not human, that he should lie” (Num 23:19). Because the Spirit that comes from God, does not make up new truths, as the Antichrist does. Later in the next chapter John contrast the “Spirit of Truth” with the “Spirit of falsehood” and “the spirit of antichrist” (1 John 4:6,3).

 Jesus called the Holy Spirit, also the Spirit of truth, because the Spirit brings an awareness of truth as found in Jesus. False teachers, in the end lead to something that Jesus did not teach, “the truth that is in Jesus” (Eph 4:21).

You Know the Truth—Because you are Anointed

  The Greek word for truth means to see, to know, to perceive, to discern and to be aware. The anointed are spiritually aware; they see or perceive with the eyes or the mind. It extends beyond physical sight including mental perception and understanding. The truth has no lies in them, no false doctrines, unsupported or twisted from their foundation from Jesus or his Apostle.

Truth and hope are very closely connected. Hope is Spirit given assurance that there are answers to prayer and a resurrection from the dead.

       The truth is about God, about His son, the Messiah, who declared “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). And “the truth of the gospel” (Gal 2:5,14). They know the truth that God desires “true worshipers” who “will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks” (John 4:23).

The Holy One—An Internal Witness

  Jesus has enabled the anointed to see, to understand the meaning of His life, death, and resurrection. It is first and foremost about Jesus, the Sermon of the Mount, the Sermon on the Bread of Life and his parables. Peter said “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). This is the truth “the truth that is in Jesus” (Eph 4:20,21). The anointing brings with it an awareness of the witness of Jesus from the Spirit, who lives in us, teaching us the will of God.

       By our observation of sincere young people recently baptized, they have an internal awareness, and witness that teaches them right and wrong. They are internally driven to prayer and to Scripture to know the will of God for their lives. No one has to teach them about God or His Son, they know who they are, from an internal witness.

Is This Your Experience?

       Do you know without a shadow of doubt that God loves you and you love Him. Do you know that, you could not, no you cannot deny God’s existence in your life. It is real as life itself. This is the work of the Spirit’s anointing. This anointing enhances our lives, gives us joy, love, peace, and a living hope. “We know that He [God] live lives in us: We know it by the Spirit, He [God] gave us.” (1 John 3:24).

  Sometimes a person may wander from their faith as time passes, but Jesus promised that the Spirit will “help you and be with you forever” (John 14:16). Their lives are not their own, as they might think.

  If they get taken in by falsehoods, like the Prodigal Son, they will come back to God to become with even more devoted than before. They come to appreciate, as they look back on their lives, the unseen and unsought protection. This leads them to deeper repentance and renewal of the love of God for them personally.

  Jesus has promised not to lose us: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, no one will snatch them out of my hand” And the Father has promised not to lose us: “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:29,30)

Anointing Makes us a Temple

  The Spirit takes his seat in us making us a “temple (1 Cor 6:19), a place for God to “abide in you,” deep inside us, in our own spirits, for “the Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Rom 8:16).

  Their eyes have been opened. Just like On the Road to Emmaus, after the resurrection. Jesus walked with them, but they did not know it. “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him” (Lk 24:30,31), then they could understand the Scriptures.

Spirit Abides in us as our Teacher who Teaches us All Things

       Jesus said that the Spirit “he lives [abides] with you and will be in you” (John 14:17). One of the many purposes of the Spirit is to teach us. Jesus said, “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26).

       This is the only way to escape the many deceptions, the many claims of false teachers, saying they have the truth. It is by being anointed by the Holy Spirit. For we are to be "taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words” (1 Cor 2:13), so that  “you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God” (Col 1:10).

  It is a privileged gift, a wonderful blessing from our Father God to keep us safe from being led astray and remain abiding in Christ. “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He [God] anointed us, set his [God’s] seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (2 Cor 1:21,22).

       The anointing is the gift of the Spirit, “We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives” (Col 1:9). The gift imparts spiritual wisdom to know the truth.

  For the Spirit is called the “Spirit of truth” (John 14:17; 15:26). “The Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13). This anointing is applied to our hearts that gives us discernment to differentiate truth from counterfeit, clearly with certainty.

Nature of the Spirit—To Reveal Jesus to Us

       Testifying all about Jesus is the chief work of the Spirit. The principal work of the Spirit is not to teach us to speak in unknown languages. Jesus, John or Peter, never taught that unknown languages is the evidence that we are Spirit filled. This is an example of a counterfeit truth, having some truth but mixing it with falsehoods.

·       The Spirit comes from or proceeds from God the Father (John 15:26)

·       Jesus ask God to send us the Spirit (John 14:16; 16:7)

·       The Spirit is to abide with us forever (John 14:16)

·       The Spirit dwells with us and in us (John 14:17)

·       The Spirit will never speak on His own (John 16:13)

·       The Spirit is called the Spirit of truth (John 14:17; 16:13)

·       The Spirit will guide us, lead us, and cause us to understand, all truth that we need, thus glorifying Jesus (John 16:13,14).

·       The Spirit will testify all about me (John 14:26; 15;26), said Jesus.

·       The fruit of the Spirit is love and the Spirit is focused on Jesus, life, teachings and what he wants us to do, his commands. (John 14:15, 21, 23, 24; 15:9)

·       “All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you” (John 16:15).

1 John 2:22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ [Messiah of the world]. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. 2:23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges [confess] the Son has the Father also. NIV

2:22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 2:23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. NKJV

Whoever Denies the Christ

       The negative word is used denies or rejects was used three times in this passage. Jesus used this same word, “Whoever, confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. Whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” (Matt 10:33). To confess Christ before men means to make a public confession of faith.

In the Context of This Chapter

  John started a new topic about living in the “last hour” where there are many antichrists coming into Christian fellowships (1 John 2:18). Then John showed how we will not be deceived by the many antichrists that are present and will come, due to the “anointing from the Holy One” (1 John 2:20-21,27). As the results they know the truth of the true gospel and know that there are no lies in it (1 John 2:21). They can tell the difference between the true and the false Bible teachers and pastors.

There are Two Parts to this New Type of Antichrist

1st Part: The denial that Jesus is the Christ as  the “Saviour of the world” (1 John 4:14)

  This antichrist will deny that Jesus teaches us the way of the Lord. 

  There are many religious groups that deny Christ as the Messiah. By way of example there of Hindus, Buddhist and Muslims that do not accept Jesus who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6 NKJV)

2nd Part: Denying the Father and the Son

  This antichrist teaches that the Father and Son are not equal. That is the Father was somehow, superior to the Son he sent into the world, this is a lie. This antichrist John is describing, seeks to disrupt this unbreakable union between the Father and His Son. As Jesus told Philip, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Whom John called “the word of life…eternal life which was with the Father and has appeared to us’ (1 John 1:1,2).

  The truth is that they are equal but are distinctly different. One is the Father God and the other is the Son of God. But in both the Son and the Father there is eternal life. “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began” (John 17:3-5).

  Even while possessing human nature, Christ was equal to the Father. His humanity never separated His divine nature. “For God [the Father] was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in him [His Son]” (Col 1:19).

  Jesus, “Who, being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage” (Phil 2:6). As a man, Jesus laide aside the glory of His true nature. Jesus was always from the birth to his resurrection, was the Son of Man and the Son of God, God’s beloved only Son.

The Antichrist Denies the Testimony of God About His Son

       They teach there are many paths to God. Thus, they disregard God’s testimony which said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matt 17:5).

       John addresses this issue saying, “WE accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it the testimony of God, when He has given to his Son” (1 John 5:9).

Jesus is not just the Son of God—but the only Son of God, giving to him a unique status. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

       The expression “begotten” is in reference to the human birth of Jesus, God had a hand in the conception, making baby Jesus still one with the Father. “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself” (John 5:26)

The First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD

  It was convened by Emperor Constantine I to address the heresy of Arianism, which questioned the divinity of Jesus Christ. The Nicaean Creed declared that the Father and the Son are of the same substance. Arianism declared that Christ was begotten, thus less then the Father in nature.

We are thankful to Constantine for the lasting results of the Nicaean Creed. 

  Through the centuries it has been regarded as the truth. It has created a distinct separation between Christian faith and non-Christian faith, holding that Jesus is not the Son of God sent to earth for the saving of all mankind, still holding on his native divinity.

1 John 2:24 As for you [my dear children], see that what you have heard from the beginning remains [abides, dwells] in you. If it does, you also will remain [abide, dwell] in the Son and in the Father. 2:25 And this is what he [Christ] promised us—eternal life. 2:26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.

2:24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 2:25 And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life. 2:26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. NKJV

  John continues teaching his dear children how not to be led astray by the many Anti-Christ that have come into Christian fellowships and the world at large

The Beginning Abides in You

       John is not asking his Dear Children to look backward to the beginning at creation in Genesis chapter one. Instead, John wants them to remember the coming of the Messiah into this world. The single most important event since creation. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (1 John 1:1-2,14).

The Beginning at John the Baptist

       The beginning starts with the ministry of John the Baptist that pointed to the coming Messiah. “The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:  ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way’—“a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” (Mark 1:1-3).

  John wanted his Dear Children to be very grounded in the beginning, the coming of the Messiah. So, there is no doubt as Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68).

Promise of Eternal Life

       The theme of eternal life, when by faith we receive the Son of God, is the best gift the God can give. It is part of Himself, his nature, His being, His existence. His authority in the cosmos, His power to create anything from nothing—God freely shares with us, unselfishly, willingly when we receive His Son. Because “eternal life [comes] through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 5:21). It is God’s eternal gift, a gift that keeps on giving forever and ever—"the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23). The redeemed of the Lord, don’t deserve eternal life, no we don’t. This is the reason God’s gives from His abundance. We “receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:17).

  God is determined to open to us His presence. Under the condition that we “remain” or abide during our life here on earth in the Son and the Father. God with us, in us and we in Him by faith.

       What is amazing is that God wished to give such an important gift to us, from Himself, despite our weaknesses of our flesh, our repeated failures to live up to what we know is honorable.  And a hundred other flaws, mistakes that we humans are prone to yield to. God is still glad to dwell in us. While with us, He plans to give us something of self—eternal life and eternal love.

From the Beginning

       Before Pentecost, the disciples wanted to choose a replacement for Judas. This was their criteria: “Therefore it is necessary for them to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us” (Acts 1:21-22). From the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus.

Beginnings are Very Important to John

1)    The opening sentence of this letter John recalls the beginning. Where he “saw, “heard,” looked at,” and “touched” the “Word of Life” (John 1:1).

2)    John reminds his dear friends that he is not giving them “a new command” because what John is telling them is “since the beginning.” That is, if we hate a believer in our fellowship, we are living in darkness. (1 John 2:7-9).

3)    “For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another” (1 John 3:11).

4)    “And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another” (2 John 1:5).

5)    “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love” (2 John 1:6).

Beginnings are to Abide With the “Anointed” (2:2-21,27)

       It is one thing to know about the beginning of Jesus ministry. His birth, life, and resurrection. This knowledge is fundamental and essential. Many believers have been taught this since childhood. They know the stories. They can repeat the accounts and events of Jesus life as well as many Old Testament stories. But John is not talking about, just knowing about the life of Jesus and His Apostles.

       Instead, John wants his children to have these stories abide, remain in them. This is only possible through receiving the Holy Spirit from the “Holy One” (1 John 2:20). For Jesus Christ is the only one who can ask His Father, in our behalf, to give us the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said, “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide [remain] with you forever—the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells [lives] with you and will be in you” (John 14:16,17). 

  This is a picture of a Spirit Filled Believer. They are anointed by the indwelling of the Spirit. The Spirit is with them, every morning, evening, and all through-out the day. They know it, they feel the Spirits presence. Which freely brings out of their mouths, praise, and thanksgiving for every blessing they have and every time they can do good. They thank God all the time. Every day they freely, aloud to God in prayer say, I love you, Lord. Like Peter who said to Jesus three times, “Lord, you know that I love you” (John 21:15-17).

  Then follows the presence of “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding” (Phil 4:7), will fill your hearts and lips. This peace of God, you will carry around with you, as a witness. This is evidence of the Spirit’s presence.

  We read a story of the Muslim young woman that was trained since a child that Jesus is false and the Bible is untrustworthy. She had never seen a Bible or even met a Christian. The word Christian was forbidden. She was riding in the backseat of a luxury vehicle when a lady with no head scarf was crossing a street dropped her bag, and out of it fell a Bible. What fixed her gaze at this lady was the peace that was seen on her face. She had no peace, even though she pleaded with Allah for peace. Later she found Jesus, or really it was Jesus that found her and gave her peace.

  For the Spirit to remain in us. We need to be sensitive to what grieves the Spirit. John has already identified three things that grieve the Spirit, “lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). Watching movies that have sexual or ungodly actions, even if it is done by a TV hero. Even if done by a sports hero, who has no love for God in their lives. It will rob you of the Spirit’s peaceful presence. And you will know it. If not, the Spirits presence will become more distant.

  For God and His Son to remain in us, we must constantly be refreshed with love. We cannot criticize others behind the back, while they are unaware of your feelings. This will create a disconnect from the Spirit’s peace.

  John says that if we love ungodly things of the world. If we love materialism and think that the things money can buy is most satisfying— “the love of the Father” (1 John 2:15) is not in us. And neither is “the love of the Spirit (Rom 15:3).

1 John 2:28 And now, dear children, continue [abide] in him [Father and Son], so that when he [Christ with the Father] appears [visible to us] we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. 2:29 If you know that he [God] is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of Him [God]. NIV

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

Abide In Him

  The Greek Word for abide is menó meaning “To remain, to abide, to stay, to continue, to dwell, to endure and to be present.” The NIV translates it as to continue, which in our opinion, gives it a weaker meaning.

  John gives us several ways to understand the Greek word of abiding. These are very important because they will enable us to be ready for the second coming of Jesus. To be among those who say “this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation” (Isa 25:9).

   To abide in Christ and His Father, is the only way to not be ashamed when they appear to the earth. “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed” (Rev 16:15). Those who are not ready for the Second Coming that Jesus promised to us, are those who are not abiding in him, through means of the “anointing” of the Spirit (1 John 2:27).

The first way to understand how to abide in Him: Is to copy the teachings of Jesus throughout our time on earth. “Whoever claims to live [abide] in him must live [walk] as he did” (1 John 2:6). In the simplest terms, to stay close to the words, teachings, and the life of Jesus with love. When you do so, you will find yourself practicing good deeds all over your neighborhood and toward your spouse and family. For “as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Gal 6:10).

The second way to understand how to abide in Him: Is for us to love our “brother or sister” then we will “live [abides] in the light, and there is nothing that can cause them to stumble” (1 John 2:10). We cannot abide in Christ and the Father in us, unless we love one another. Treat each other good, with kind eyes, caring hands, friendly spirit, having honest values with each other, coming from a benevolent love.

The third way to understand how to abide in Him: Is to be “strong” in the “Word of God,” by this means “God lives [abides] in you, and you have overcome the evil one (1 John 2:14). To abide in Him goes both ways, God in us and through the Word, we in Him. This reason above all other reasons shows the importance of being gospel centered in personal study, teachings and preaching.

The fourth way to understand what it means to abide in Him: Is by John’s strong affirmation that “If we love one another, [then] God lives [abides] in us, and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live [abide] in him and he in us. He has given us His Spirit” (1 John 4:13).

   We cannot abide in God, without loving one another, because God’s love abides inside us. If we don’t know for sure that the Love of God as working inside us, then we should stop everything and start at the beginning. With confession of sins, bathing our humility with much prayer, to be “born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).

The fifth way to understand what it means to abide in Him: Is to rest, trust and rely on the love of God for us, because we know something for sure, that “God is love, whoever lives [abides] in love lives [abides] in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16). The preparation for the Second Coming is to be rooted in having the love of God abide in us. God’s love is dynamic, it changes us, moves us, convicts us, imparts to us, assures us that we are His child, imparts to us love and more love and more love. “For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies” (Ps 57:10).

For great is your love toward me;

you have delivered me from the depths,

from the realm of the dead

Ps 86:13

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever.

With my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations

Ps 89:1

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

So great is his love for those who fear him

Ps 103:11

The Born of God Seek to Practice Righteousness

  When we are truly abiding in Christ, we know that God is righteous in everything that he does. We know this, not only because we read about it in Scriptures. We know it for ourselves, because when we are in Christ Jesus by faith, with the Spirit’s “Anointing” (1 John 2:27) we naturally “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matt 5:6). When we have failed the Lord we love, when we have failed to love others as we know we should—we are grieved and approach God with sorrow of repentance.

  When we are Born of God, we become very sensitive to any injustice and failure to love. We easily grieve when we make mistakes, when our conscience tells us we are guilty in word or misdeed. We immediately confess and seek forgiveness.

  But more, we want to be cleansed so that we avoid those same mistakes. All this is due to the anointing of the Spirit that abides in us. Thus, we know that God is righteous, and we seek to act in righteous ways.

  John warns us that if a believer does not seek to act in righteous ways, to love to do good, they are not abiding in Him. It is as simple as that.

   Written by:  Brothers & Sisters in Scripture Fellowship

End of 1 John Chapter 2

1 John Chapter 1

1 John Chapter 3

1 John Chapter 4

1 John Chapter 5

Read & Study More

Ephesians Chapter 1

Ephesians Chapter 2

Ephesians Chapter 3

Ephesians Chapter 4

Ephesians Chapter 5

Ephesians Chapter 6

Colossians 1

Colossians 2

John 3:1-8

Luke 6

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