Advocate
1 John 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:
John's concern was as a loving older dad towards the church. These things; that God is light and we have fellowship with him and walk in his truth, he has written to help us keep from sin. If we sin we have an advocate, one who defends us against satan's accusations before a just God, Jesus is our advocate. Yes, the penalty for sin is death, and the penalty was paid in full by Jesus the righteous, who died for us. Don't listen to satan who would have you die or in someway pay for your own sins. It is finished on the cross, and by your faith in Jesus you are cleared of all penalties for sin.
1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Jesus is the propitiation, the appeasement to satisfy God's justice. His blood paid for our sins, and for all who will believe.
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
His blood satisfied the requirements of a just God for our sins. Thank you Jesus, you have us covered and protected. Amen
Keep his Commandments
1 John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
If we say we love Jesus and then go against his will, where is the Love? Obedience is required to prove love and devotion. If we know him, we know what pleases him. If we do not know him, we please ourselves or another spirit.
1 John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
We can say we know and love him, and our life will show the evidence of this love. If we do not obey him, we are proven a liar and are living a lie, there is no truth in us. Without God's Spirit we dwell in darkness.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
John 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
It is by keeping the Lord's word that we grow to maturity. The fruit of the spirit are brought forth in our lives.
Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
The commandment of Jesus is to love one another, by this we know we are his.
The Light of Love
1 John 2:7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
The old commandment of love.
Deu 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deu 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
Deu 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
Deu 6:8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
Yes, we are to "impose" our values on our children, in spite of tolerance teaching, which is nothing more than tolerance for sin and a denial of God and our accountability to him.
1 John 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
The true light is Jesus who taught us to love one another. The love of Christ for others.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
1 John 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
1 John 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
1 John 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
Jesus is our light, he gave himself for us and we are to be as he was, giving love to others without their performance or attractiveness. We do not get angry at a brother and stay angry if we are in the light.
In chapter one the light was in relation to fellowship with him by receiving Jesus, the need to confess sins and be cleansed; obeying God and doing his will. Here it refers to the love of God shown towards one another. If we have no love we stumble in darkness. Love is the most important way to show we are of God. Here it refers to loving the brethren, those in Christ Jesus. We are a family of love. Accusings and scoldings are not of God. We are to prefer others of faith above ourselves.
Phil 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Phil 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Lord may your love flow through us to others. Perhaps one of the forms of hate, is total rejection of another child of God. One teacher said, you only love Christ as much as the least of these who are his. We are not rejects, we are his loving servants. We are to share his truth with love.
Levels of Maturity
1 John 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
John is referring to the maturity of believers, those new in the faith are as little children. A young friend is well versed in scriptures. She was recently scolded by an older woman because she had given her advice from the scriptures. Age has nothing to do with spiritual maturity. Many older saints do not open their Bibles, they are the little children of faith as are the younger new believers. Their sins are forgiven but they drink the milk of the word.
Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that
one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and
are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of
righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those
who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Your sins are forgiven but as yet there is little understanding of the word of God.
1 John 2:13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
Little children have known the father. They have called out to him and Jesus came. They know his place of peace . He is their hiding place. As a child rests in the arms of a loving father they find peace in him, father God.
Fathers of faith have known who was from the beginning. Jesus abides in their hearts. Fathers are those mature in the faith who have stood the test of time, in faith with the good fruits of the Spirit of God.
1 John 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
John repeats that the mature Fathers; male and female mature believers, know the Lord.
Young men and women are those who study the word and do battle with satan. They do not overcome by natural strength, but by the word of God. I admire these who study the scriptures, who memorize them, who are used of God as teachers and evangelists, who overcome satan and do exploits for God. I know many of these as dear sons and daughters of faith.
2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Luke 4:12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not
tempt the Lord thy God.
Luke 4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from
him for a season.
Jesus overcame Satan with the word of God spoken by the Holy Spirit. We have this same word as our sword to battle the devil. Notice satan departed, for a season. Satan will return, we resist him with God's word. If he speaks bad thoughts, we cast them down, knowing the truth of God's word. Young men do not fight satan with their own strength. It is God that defends his word, it will accomplish it's purpose.
Love not the world
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
This says it very clearly,the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of God. Yet so few heed this command, so many seek the pleasures and delights of the world, seeking postions of power over others. Many do not seek God's will, to love the world is to serve the god of the world, satan. Jesus spoke of the world as evil.
John 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
James the Lord's half brother spoke of those who love the world to be commiting spiritual adultery.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
When we speak of the world we are not referring to God's creation, the mountains and seas and trees. This refers to the ways of the world. The thoughts and beliefs of those living without God in their lives. Those who are ruled by dark spirits.
Mat 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Living for Jesus keeps us separated from the world's views and idea's
1 Pet 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
What we give up in the world will not compare to what we receive in Christ Jesus.
Mark 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
Mark 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Serve God and avoid the call of the world. We belong to God and are to glorify him.
AntiChrist
1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
The final antchrist is the son of perdition;
2 Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2 Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
2 Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2 Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2 Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2 Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
There is also the spirit of antichrist as John explains in chapter 4.
1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
The spirit of antichrist was found in those who taught that Jesus was only a spirit and did not come in the flesh. If he did not come in the flesh? then there is no blood shed for sins, and we are not justified by the father. If he did not die then their is no resurrection from the dead. Paul speaks of this in 1Corinthians;
1 Cor 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1 Cor 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
1 Cor 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
1 Cor 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1 Cor 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1 Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1 Cor 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
These were those who claimed to believe, but they did not continue. You can be sure these were not in his word. The first step into the world's beliefs is the departure from God's word.
John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Many leave the faith, maybe professing to believe, yet not staying close to Jesus they stray and are soon again in bondage to sin. These become enemies of Christ and his people. They are deceitful, destructive, self righteous and divisive, serving the spirit of darkness.
1 John 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
If we truly belong to Jesus we have an unction (an anointing) of the Holy Spirit. We who belong to God have received a new life through the Holy Spirit. He is the keeping power that teaches us all things of Christ. We are no longer of the old man but of the new creation.
1 John 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1 John 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
This epistle was written to believers. In the world today there are many cults who claim to be Christian who do not see Jesus as he is. Some see "Jesus only," others see the Father and reject Jesus as God the son. Others see another Jesus. Seeing Jesus wrong or opposing him is the spirit of antichrist. Those in this way are fallen away from truth and seek to convince others their error. To be anti is to be against, to take away from. This is satan's ministry of deception. We are not deceived, we worship in Spirit and in truth the Lord Jesus Christ. The truth will keep us free and we have the spirit of truth.
Abide in Him
1 John 2:24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
1 John 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
Hold on to the truth that you have heard from the beginning. For antichrists shall come to try to deceive you. Hold on to the promises of God in Christ Jesus.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
1 John 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1 Tim 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
The annointing of the Spirit of truth keeps us in all truth.
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
1 John 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
We are in Christ, he is our righteousness and our eternal life.
Gary
1John Chapters
1John 3
1John 1 Index
Eaglewings Index