1 John, Chapter 2
© Copyright 1998 Darroll Evans-all rights
reserved
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:
The phrase, "My little children,"
is a natural result of John’s love for the Church.
John is writing this letter to those that
have accepted Christ Jesus to exhort them to be cautious.
As Paul wrote to the Church at
Rom
6:14 For sin shall not have dominion
over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Being under grace, we have been forgiven of
all sins past, present, and future.
But, being forgiven does not mean that the
sin nature cannot raise its ugly head from time to time!
When we look to the law (rules and
regulations) we look away from Christ and the grace of God!
Rom
7:9 For I
was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and
I died.
The Ten Commandments were meant to point out
sin!
The Ten were not meant to bring salvation!
Read the Ten!
You will not find the word “salvation”!
If you could follow them fully, you would be
saved by them, but you cannot follow them fully!
All humans, except Jesus, have broken all the
commandments!
James
2:10 For whosoever shall keep the
whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
That is why “we” need grace and an Advocate!
Saint or sinner, we have an Advocate with God
the Father. Our Advocate is Jesus Christ.
Any person may call to Christ, and He will
act as their Advocate with the Father.
John 3:16 "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. (NKJV)
John 6:37 "All that the Father gives Me
will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
(NKJV)
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.
Christ Himself is the atoning sacrifice for
all sins, for all time, for all people.
Jesus’ sacrifice was not just for our
(Christians) sins. Christ Jesus provided the sacrifice for the sins of the
whole world.
Do you believe His sacrifice effective?
Or, did you know that Christ Jesus took upon Himself
the sins of all mankind?
Isaiah 53:4-6
4 Surely
he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows:
yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But
he was wounded for our transgressions, he
was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was
upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All
we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one
to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
On the cross, Christ Jesus
became the sacrifice for the sins of all mankind!
1 John 2:1-2 tells us that
Christ Jesus is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also
for the sins of the whole (Gr. holos-ὅλος)
world.
He took upon Himself the sins
of all mankind, the whole cosmos. That speaks of the complete creation.
Many Christians would rip 1
John 2:2 from the pages of the Bible if they could!
Does 1 John 2:2 mean, as some
tell us, that mankind has been saved, but most just don’t know it?
Absolutely not!
On the cross, Christ bought
the field that is the earth containing mankind!
On the cross, Christ swept
our houses clean!
Salvation is not just having
your “house” swept clean.
Matt 13:44-46
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth
and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth
that field.
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man,
seeking goodly pearls:
46 Who,
when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and
bought it.
Notice that the man in this
parable wanted the treasure, and to get it, he bought the entire field!
Christ Jesus paid in full the
price for the entire field!
Luke 15:8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose
one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently
till she find it?
The woman swept the house as
Christ Jesus did in mankind order to claim that single coin!
“Salvation” and “having our sins paid for” are
separate issues!
Because most Christians live in the carnal
here and now, they do not accept the completeness of His sacrifice!
2 Cor
5:19-20
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not
imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of
reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us:
we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
And yet, the Church carries the message that
all have sinned and most shall burn for eternity in a Lake of Fire!
Most Churches proclaim two messages:
1.
That we are
eternal beings!
2.
That sinners are
doomed to eternal torment!
Both are bogus messages!
When Christ proclaimed, “It is finished”,
“Paid in full”, He was not being poetic!
Jesus Himself said, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10)
1 John 2:3 And
hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
Satan has caused many to doubt their
salvation.
John provides a self-test to determine our
sincerity before God.
The test is simple.
We are to keep His commandments!
Is he referring to
the Ten?
We shall soon find
the answer!
1 John 2: 4-6
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is
not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the
love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth
in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
The person that says, "I am a
Christian," but does not keep Christ's commandment to love, is a liar!
If a person keeps Christ's words, God's love
has truly been established in that person.
“Perfect” does not mean sinless!
“Perfect” indicates one who is consecrated to
Christ!
1 John 2: 7-8
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.
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.
John is not writing a new commandment!
He is restating and old commandment!
John is not advocating a return to legalism.
The truth is in Christ, because he is Truth!
John
14:6 Jesus saith
unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,
but by me.
1 John 2: 9-11
9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
10 He that loveth his brother abideth
in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
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.
Any person who says that he lives in the
light and yet hates his brother is still living in the darkness of sin!
Does that refer to physical siblings?
Matt
12:48-50
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who
is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is
my brother, and sister, and mother.
Anyone who tells Christians that the sinners
of the world are their “brothers” is a liar!
1 John 2: 12 I write unto you, little
children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
This letter was written to the saved in
Christ!
All our sins "have been" (Gr. apheoontai-afewntai)forgiven.
Our sins are not forgiven for our sakes.
Our sins are forgiven for the sake of Christ
Jesus who gave His life as an atoning/reconciling sacrifice.
1 John 2: 13-14
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.
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.
“[F]athers” are
those of mature faith!
Many have difficulty believing that they have
“overcome the wicked one!”
In this passage we find the secret to
overcoming!
If you know God the Father, you are an
overcomer!
If you know God the Father, you know God the
Son, and God the Holy Spirit!
That intimacy is overcoming!
Now set of rules, regulations, and laws will
give you overcoming faith!
That faith is a gift from God!
It is imputed to you though Christ Jesus!
Gal
2:16 Knowing that a man is not
justified by the works of the law, but by the
faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that
we might be justified by the faith of
Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall
no flesh be justified.
1 John 2: 15-17
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.
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.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust
thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
We are not to love the world.
We are not to lust after the things of the
world.
If anyone does that then the love of God is
not resident in him.
Do you know any lustful
"Christians?"
All things desired by this world have their
origin in sin.
The world is passing away!
There shall be a new heaven and a new earth!
Rev
21:1a And I saw a new heaven and a
new earth:
The old shall be replaced by the new!
One day there shall be no “old” things!
Rev
21:5 And he that sat upon the throne
said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these
words are true and faithful.
1 John 2: 18-19
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.
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.
We hear much today about this being the last
days.
That attitude has been with us since Christ
Jesus was taken up with the promise of His soon return.
Paul put his beliefs in a simple way.
1 Thessalonians 4: 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that
"we" which are alive and remain unto the coming of the
Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (KJV)
Paul, in fact all Christians are to expect
the imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
John told his reader, "It is the last
hour {time}."
As proof of that John pointed to the coming
of Antichrist.
He wrote that as you have heard that
antichrist is coming, many antichrists have already appeared.
Today, antichrists are present in the
Churches!
Departing from churches and departing from the Church are separate issues!
There are no antichrists in the Church, but
many churches are filled with
them!
1 John 2: 20-21
20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
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.
“Unction” is a professional “preacher” word!
All it means is “anointing!”
John's letter was written because the ones he
was writing to those who understood, or have fellowship with Christ!
Truth is not based in lies.
Lies give birth to lies.
Truth gives birth to truth.
1 John 2: 22-24
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth
that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not
the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath
the Father also.
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.
One who is a liar before God is the one who
denies that Jesus is the Christ, God anointed Son.
That also is the description of antichrist.
Here in verse 22, we find that the Greek
definite article is used with the word for antichrist! That usually points to a
specific person or group!
Within verse 22, the literal translation of
the opening of the “b” section is “He is the
antichrist (Gr. O antichristos-O anticritoV),…
Jesus told the religious hypocrites of His
day...
John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil,
and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the
beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he
lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
(NIV)
Notice that the native language of liars is
not English, German, or French!
The native language of liars is lies!
If the Truth is in us, we will speak truth!
(Yes, I know that Truth is capitalized!)
Whoever denies the Son does not have
fellowship with the Father!
Whoever confesses the Son has fellowship with
both the Father and the Son!
1 John 2:25 And
this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
Christ has promise Life forevermore to all
who trust in Him!
1 John 2: 26-29
26 These things have I written unto you concerning
them that seduce you.
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.
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.
29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth
righteousness is born of him.
John knew that Satan and his demons were
around us trying their best to deceive us!
That is their job!
The only way to stand is not in our power but
in the power that God has placed within us, The Holy Spirit.
The anointing we have received from God in
alive and well within us!
In that respect, we have no need for anyone
to teach us!
His anointing, as it flows unhindered,
teaches us all things concerning our work for Christ!
Here, John is speaking to those of mature
spirits in Christ!
Immature Christians need teachers!
Teachers are those who can make the Bible
come alive in the hearts of the called of God!
The only great Teacher of Truth is the Holy
Spirit!
We all are to "abide in" Christ
Jesus, so that when He appears, we may have confidence in His love for us, not
being found "ashamed" at His coming.
The Greek word translated “ashamed” indicates
a spiritual disfigurement!
Here are the facts.
Christ is righteous, and everyone that does
what is righteousness is "born again" in the Father because of the
Son.