September 16, 2020
Like the gospel of John, the book of 1 John is filled with sharp contrasts: light and darkness, truth and falsehood, love and hate. In John’s mind, things are fairly black and white with little if any grey area. In refreshingly simple terms, John writes his first epistle in order to give the people of God a better understanding of how they can know that they are saved, how they can tell the difference between true and false believers. He calls the church to be in a state of continual growth in faith, in obedience, and in love; let’s heed that call together as a church as we read this letter!
In this chapter John gives us several measures by which we can discern a true follower of Jesus from a false one. He says that those who have truly come to know Jesus will keep His commandments, that they will walk in the way that He walked. According to John, anyone who claims to know Jesus but does not submit their lives to Him as Lord is a liar!
Again, John is not advocating some kind of sinless perfectionism for the Christian life (see verse 2). What he is saying is that all who have been truly changed from the inside out by the Holy Spirit, all who have truly come to know and place their faith in Jesus, will look progressively more and more like Him in the way that they live. All who truly love Jesus will express that love by obeying Him; Jesus Himself said as much (John 14:15, 23)!
True knowledge of Jesus, true faith in Jesus, true love for Jesus, always results in transformed living. If you really know Him, you will obey!
1 John 2
Christ Our Advocate
2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
The New Commandment
7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12 I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
Do Not Love the World
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Warning Concerning Antichrists
18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
Children of God
28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Family Discussion Question:
- What are some of the other tests that John gives us in this chapter to help us discern between true and false claims of faith in Jesus? How can we take these tests as a challenge for ourselves?
Dear Heavenly Father,
I want to walk in Your light and follow Your commandments. Please help me continue to abide in You and show by my actions and deeds that I am a child of God. If I say that I love You and do not try to follow in the paths of righteousness, then I am a lier. I ask Your help to always be true to my word. Please help me to not concern myself of the things of this world as they are not from You. I want to do Your will and abide with You forever. Give me wisdom and discernment in all things. Thank you for loving me and continually being by my side. I ask these things in Jesus name. Amen.
Heavenly Father,
Why LORD have you given me another day?
You, Father, have sent your angels to guard me, to strengthen me, and to guide me. You send me the breath I breathe. The very breath I will use to magnify your name. To say thank you for another day.
Oh Father, there are so many hurting. While walking this side of glory, your Son touched some with physical pain. He touched some with mental pain; while touching others with spiritual pain.
LORD, listen, to the cries of your saints. Heal physical pain this day. Grant peace and comfort to those with mental pain. Only you LORD, can touch their spiritual pain.
Father, I know you hear our prayers this day. Hold us under your protection and whisper, “I hear. I forgive. And everything will be O.K.”
Now, let’s be going to find one more soul for your precious son, Jesus Christ. For it is in His name I pray,
Amen
Thank you Lord for Jesus, the maker and keeper of my soul.
AMEN and HALLELUJAH!!! I will always be a child of God. My Lord Cbrist Jesus will give me life everafter. He is.the keeper of my life and my soul. In Jesus name. Amen????
Father, make me an example of your light your light. Let your light shines in and around me. Make me delight in your law with love and not in this world of sin and shame. Amen.
I will abide in Him and not shrink away. I will live in the light.
As I live in the hope of Your return, give me the wisdom and love to reach those around me.
Lord continue to have your light shine on me so that when people see me they continue to notice you in me. I always strive to tell them it is the Holy Spirit in me who has made this God Appointment it was not a accident .
Lord, I want nothing more than your transformation power. I pray your spirit in me will continue to make more more into your likeness, to desire to know you more, obey and live a life of sacrifice for the benefit of others.