Recap of Chapter 4
In the last chapter we learnt about Abraham, and we read how he was imputed righteousness by God through Faith, by calling upon the name of the Lord!
We are justified by faith, not works, as works cancels out grace, let's now dive into chapter 5 and see what we can learn from this chapter!
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Romans 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"
We are justified in God's sight by faith, and we can have peace with God, knowing that we are not subject to his wrath and fierce anger through our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Romans 5:2 "by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, this grace, was made accessible by him. Wherein we stand, means we now stand in grace, not of our works but inside the Father's grace, this is our position that we must stand in when we come to the Father for Salvation, we must leave our works at the door and stand within God's grace, and because of this grace we are able to rejoice in hope of the glory of God!
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Romans 5:3-4 "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 and patience, experience; and experience, hope:"
Not only do we as believers rejoice in hope, but as believers we too must glory in tribulations as well!
What is Tribulation?
Tribulation means persecution, or a state of great suffering or trouble.
We glory in tribulation also is because tribulation builds character, and saints need to go through such things in order to sanctify ourselves, knowing that tribulation works patience, and through patience, experience, and from experience, hope.
To get a really good understanding of this saying, reading through the book of Job is a perfect example of Job going through tribulation, and through his patience was experience enhanced and through experience, his hope on the Lord strengthened. Job did not renounce the Lord once, even his wife told him to curse God and die!
Jesus also taught that believers will also endure tribulation for his sake, he also explained that whilst we go through these things, that we need to remember that peace is found through him as we are going through such ordeals.
John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
In 2 Corinthians Chapter 1 we read that tribulation can come to anyone, it comes to all, however believers in Christ have Jesus Christ to rely upon in times of tribulation.
2 Corinthians 1:4 "who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."
We must also distinguish between divine punishment and unmerited tribulation, however regardless of what kind of tribulation you are going through, I believe whatever form of tribulation you are going through, we should receive it in all meekness and give praise and all glory to God, we go through this to make us stronger in God.
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Romans 5:5 "and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
And this hope we have, we ought not to be ashamed of; because we know that God poured his love out to all the believers hearts, which we know is by the Holy Spirit, whom is living in us.
Remember what the Apostle Paul said in Romans Chapter 1?
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
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Romans 5:6 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."
When we were yet without strength, meaning man being dead in sins, incapable of saving himself, in due time, meaning at the appointed time as prophesied in the bible, that Christ would die for us, sinners as written in Romans 3:10 "as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:".
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Romans 5:7 "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die."
For scarcely meaning very rarely would someone would die for a righteous man: yet for a good man, by chance, some would even dare to die.
For a good man?
Remember Jesus said, there is one that is good and that is God. Jesus is good, he is God.
Now let's stop and think about this statement, wouldn't it have made more sense or made us feel better, that Jesus died for us because we are righteous?
Compare Old Testament sacrifice, when sin was committed it had to be atoned by a blood animal sacrifice; and even then it was only a temporary covering for the sins committed.
We had to keep doing this to satisfy God's demand for payment of sin by offering sacrifices continually.
But here is the beauty of the New Testament, sacrifice is no longer required. Jesus himself offered his own body as the perfect sacrifice, covering our sins forever!
The mystery, is that God showed us his love that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life. Jesus died for us, even though we were sinners and are undeserving of such a thing.
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Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
As stated previously, that while we were yet sinners every single one of us, Jesus died for us; that is how much God loved us, he commended his love toward us even though we did not deserve it, Jesus died for us even while we were yet in rebellion against God.
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Romans 5:9 "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."
Because believers have been justified or made righteous by his blood, by whose blood?
Our Lord Jesus Christ's blood of course!
Because of the Lord spilt his blood for us, we have now been saved from the wrath of God, believers are not appointed to wrath, but to Salvation.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,"
And because of his blood, his precious blood is what saved us from the wrath of God.
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Romans 5:10 "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."
For when we were enemies of God, sinners who were bound by sin have been reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life, you see; Jesus did it all, he made it possible for us to be reconciled to God, to him we owe everything!
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Romans 5:11 "And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."
Not only have we been reconciled to God by our Lord Jesus Christ, but we also joy in God through him, that word "joy" reminds of what he said in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25). Through Jesus Christ we have now received the atonement.
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Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"
This part of the scriptures is now talking about how death came through one man, Adam and now life has come through one man, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sin entered the world through one man, and the penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23); and so death is passed upon all mankind, for that all have sinned (Romans 3:23).
The sin nature of man has to do with the flesh man. The flesh man is controlled by the desires of the flesh. Man is a spirit who lives in a body of flesh. Man has a free will to do with his life on earth as he wishes.
Because all humanity existed in the loins of Adam, and have through procreation inherited his fallen nature and corruption, it can be said that all sinned in him. Therefore, humans are not sinners because they sin, but rather they sin because they are sinners.
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Romans 5:13 "(for until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law."
Notice the next few verses are in parenthesis, the purposes of parenthesis is to de-emphasis something or to reduce the importance or prominence of something. So these next verses are contained inside the parenthesis!
Paul here is saying that sin was in the world even before the law was given to Moses. He then expounds by saying that sin is not imputed when there is no law.
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Romans 5:14 "Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come."
Sin is not imputed when there is no law, however or in spite of that, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the same manner or similarity of Adam's transgressions or offences.
Instead of man possessing life, man is instead, facing death. Adam had brought death into the scene, God could not allow man to live forever in sickness, agony, and through deterioration of the body and mind.
So God has provided a way out of this terrible mess that man has gotten himself into, by sending the second Adam, i.e. Who is the like figure or a shadow of him that is to come, the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Romans 5:15 "But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many."
For the offence many have died, through Adam many have died, but much more is the grace of God, the gift by grace through one man, the Lord Jesus Christ has proliferated or abound unto many who believe.
By one man's transgression sin entered. Jesus Christ actually took the sin of the whole world upon His body and sin for the Christians died on the cross. Peter says the following:
1 Peter 2:24 "who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."
Jesus provides our righteousness. He made us righteous. We can't make ourselves righteous in God's sight. Jesus made us righteous in God's sight!
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Romans 5:16 "And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification."
Adam brought upon all men condemnation by only one offense, his wilful act of disobedience.
Jesus, however delivers the believers from the condemnation of many offenses unto righteousness, justification through his wilful act of obedience to the Father.
Paul tells the Corinthians this:
1 Corinthians 15:50 "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption."
Jesus did not die for only certain sins which some erroneously teach, he died for all.
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Romans 5:17 "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)"
This is pretty much a repeat of what has been said, through one man's offence death reigned, but those whom are declared righteous by grace shall reign in life by the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Romans 5:18 "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."
Now that we are out of the parenthesis let's continue on from verse 12!
Because all have sinned, for that reason as the offence by one, Adam's transgression, judgement came upon all men to condemnation.
Because of Adam's transgression we have all come to condemnation, I have heard people say that we are not punished for the transgressions of Adam, but our own, but doesn't this scripture prove otherwise?
Through the righteousness of one man, Jesus Christ, the free gift (Salvation) came upon all men unto justification of life.
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Romans 5:19 "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."
Through one man and his act of disobedience resulted in the entire human race becoming sinners, so by the act of obedience of one, many shall be made righteous.
Straightforward scripture there…
You see it is not our obedience that saves us, it is the obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ that saved us, and Salvation is not of ourselves lest any man boast!
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Romans 5:20 "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound"
When the law entered, the offense abounded more, meaning as man became aware of the law, and many became convicted of their sins, made aware of them. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more!
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Romans 5:21 "that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."
Sin reigned until Jesus Christ shed his precious blood on the cross and nailed sin to it.
God's grace (unmerited favour) has provided eternal life, we did not earn it, and it is a free gift.
We can have life eternal, if we will only believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 John 4
Authorized (King James) Version
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1 John 4:1 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
Chapter 3 ended in verse 24 about the Holy Spirit, it seems only fitting that we are now told in chapter 4 that the Holy Spirit isn't the only spirit around.
The bible here is giving us a warning, we are told not to believe every spirit. We are told to TRY every spirit whether they are of God: we are told it is because many false prophets, false teachers have gone out into the world.
These are lying spirits, unclean and full of deceit, speaking through the mouths of these false prophets.
How would you know you're not being deceived?
Are we to believe something is true by a feeling?
A burning in our bosom perhaps?
Scepticism is healthy and may save your life!
Whether you're saved or unsaved you should try to have a healthy scepticism concerning any teaching, to be open minded is to miss the strait gate:
Matthew 7:13-14 " Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
And when you miss the strait gate, meaning the narrow gate, you're on your way to destruction, in other words you're going to end up in hell. Being open to all manner of doctrines and other religions, accepting that all roads lead to heaven, is heresy and sadly, you will end up in hell.
We are warned over and over again not to be deceived, Jesus speaking about end times warns us of the following:
Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."
Matthew 24:23-26 "Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not."
Here he warns us of false saviours, and false prophets; Jesus tells us not to believe in these things, for the only time we shall see the Lord again will be in the like manner that he ascended into heaven.
Anyone who says that they saw Jesus is a liar, even if they claim it to be a vision, should you not question anyone who says they saw the Lord or the Father?
How can you believe a story about a young teenage boy who claims (even though he can't get his story right…) to be in a grove, see two heavenly beings and identifying them as the Father (and no man has seen the father and lived) and the Son…I myself have a teenage boy of 14 and boy can he tell some pretty tall tales himself!
Why would you believe someone who claims to have had a vision about Hell, seen Jesus and tells them to warn people and then contradict every teaching in the Holy Bible?
Paul warns the Corinthians about false teachers:
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."
Paul tells the Corinthians that even Satan himself will transform himself into an angel of light, I've heard people say to me that Satan cannot perform or make something appear pure, or give you a "good" feeling; how would you know?
If the bible is telling us that Satan can transform himself into an angel of light, and his ministers also appear to be righteous, how do we know if we are being deceived?
We are commanded to TRY the spirits, how do we do this?
Paul says the following to the Thessalonians:
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 "Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
The test or to prove is to compare what is being taught with the clear teaching of the Bible.
The Bible alone is the Word of God; it alone is inspired and inerrant. Consequently, the way to test the spirits is to see if what is being taught is in line with the clear teaching of Scripture.
The bible commends a certain group of Christians known as the Bereans who searched the scriptures daily to confirm the things they were taught were true or not.
Acts 17:10-11 "And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."
The Bereans are noted to be more noble than the Thessalonians, why?
Because the received the word or the teachings with all readiness of mind, and then they SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES DAILY.
To test the spirits, is to know how to examine the scriptures, this is God's Word. Rather than accept every teaching, every eagle-eyed discerning Christians should diligently study the Scriptures.
The Christian must show thyself approved, you need to know what the Word of God says to be able to defend yourself against these lying spirits.
2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
The Word of God is to be a lamp and a light to our feet, the Psalmist wrote:
Psalm 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
We must let the light of God's Word shine on the doctrines of the day; the Holy Bible alone is the standard by which all truth must be judged. God's Word is pure and preserved:
Proverbs 30:5-6 "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar."
Psalm 12:6-7 "The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever."
God's Word is pure and preserved, he said every WORD is pure, not CONCEPT, EVERY WORD.
Not only is His Word preserved, kept pure, a lamp, and a light to our feet, but his Word is also known as the Sword of the Spirit:
Ephesians 6:17 "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:"
And it is the two edged Sword used to defend and attack against spiritual wickedness and evil:
Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Just like a soldier who handles a sword in battle, he must train diligently with his sword to be able to defend and attack against his enemies, likewise should all self-professing Christians.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 "(for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"
Our battle is not a physical battle, but a spiritual one:
Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
The Holy Spirit uses the power of the Word to save souls and then to give them spiritual strength to be mature warriors for the Lord in fighting this corrupt, evil and wicked world we live in.
We must put on the Whole Armour of God! (Obviously this would be another article/sermon of its own!)
It's amazing how much you can get from just reading one verse in the bible (and that was just the first verse of chapter 4!), that why you need to be in the Word, and search the scriptures daily because you can learn so much in light of other verses.
Continuing on with the study.
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1 John 4:2 "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:"
John here is telling us, if you will, the first rule to discern if something is of the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God! Every spirit that claims that Jesus is the Messiah is of God!
This eliminates many religions out there, there are many religions out there that outright denies Jesus. Judaism rejects Jesus entirely, but then there are some denominations of Judaism that acknowledge Jesus but refuses to accept that he is the Messiah, but not only that they flat out reject that he is the Son of God as well as his deity: God manifest in the flesh.
Here is the deception, there are many religions that acknowledge Jesus, but hang on, that's not good enough, there were many people named Jesus, in fact how many times have you said you know that guy, or that person but really you have no personal knowledge or relationship with that person.
Many religions will profess Jesus, but they deny who he truly is, Islam denies that Jesus is the son of God, but they say that he was a good teacher, they acknowledge him.
Jehovah witnesses acknowledge Jesus, but they say he was not God, they believe that he is Michael the Arch Angel, Mormon leaders say Jesus was a direct result of a physical union of God the Father and Mary, but he is the eldest spirit brother of us all, and that Lucifer (Satan) is our spirit brother also begotten by heavenly father and mother, I've asked Mormon missionaries if they believe that Jesus is God, but they never answer.
So we have these religions that makes these claims about Jesus, but they deny who he really is and what is written about him in the bible. If you deny any one thing about the Lord Jesus Christ that is taught in the bible then you are deny the true Jesus of the bible, I believe that what the Lord meant when he said, do not believe if they tell you that I am in the desert, or I am in the secret chambers, let no man deceive you!
To confess Jesus as the Christ or Messiah, the Anointed One, is to have Him as your Saviour.
This, to me, is saying, we must believe that the Word of God took on the form of flesh and dwelt among us. Inside that flesh, dwelt the Spirit of God. He was Emmanuel which means, "God be with us". We must know who Jesus is, before we can have faith in Him for salvation.
The Word, this Jesus is God manifest in the flesh, by whom Salvation must be obtained by.
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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."
Anyone who denies what I explained in the previous verse is of that spirit of antichrist, notice this is singular, it is THE antichrist that shall come, this wicked soul that will eventually come to persecute the saints.
The bible says here that this antichrist will spearhead the great Tribulation of the end times, and what is also known as Daniels 70th week, in the midst of this week the antichrist will turn his attention to persecute and slay all Christians, all the true believers in Christ.
This antichrist spirit is here now, and we can see it clearly working in the children of disobedience, and that great city, Babylon which in our day is definitely the United States of America, why do I say this?
Out of all countries in the world, which country has the most apostate churches/religions in the world? America
Which Country houses the United Nations as its headquarters (to bring in the one world global government)? America
Which Country in the world deceives all other countries with its sorceries and tricks (Movies, TV shows, Fashion, Music, Propaganda)? America
Which Country has its presence felt in almost every other nation in the world (Military bases, Embassies, businesses)? America
Is this country NOT modern day Babylon?
Show me another country that fits the bill in Revelation, and that's chapter 18 I'm referring to!
(Would love to do an article on the entire book of Revelation, keep your eyes peeled!).
2 Thessalonians talks about the coming of the antichrist:
2 Thessalonians 2:3-8 "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; 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, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:"
The final Antichrist will not be something new, but will be the ultimate embodiment of all the antichrist spirits that have perverted truth and propagated satanic lies since the beginning.
The man of lawlessness is still to be revealed, but the mystery of lawlessness is already at work.
Once he (the antichrist) receives his deadly wound, Satan will counterfeit (by actually possessing the body of the antichrist himself) a resurrection to fool the world into thinking that he is the messiah.
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1 John 4:4 "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."
True believers have nothing to fear, for even Satan hosts with their perversions can't take them out of the Lord's hand. We belong to God and have overcome them, I have said before in my articles that term overcome is synonymous with being saved: greater is he that is in you, the Holy Spirit leads into sound doctrine for genuine Christians, proving that salvation has actually transpired.
Romans 8:17 "and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
He that is in us is Christ, the Apostle Paul says this in Galatians:
Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
It is Christ in me that overcomes the enemy.
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1 John 4:5 "They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them."
They are of the world, this "they" is speaking of non-believers, they follow after the lust of the flesh, they live in the world, these people live for the things of this world, and they appeal to their own desires and not the things of God.
For this reason, the things of God is foolishness to them from their philosophies to their own selfish desires, they are caught up in the world.
They have no hope, because they base everything they believe on what they can see with their eyes and their other senses. They have eyes to see, and they do not see, and ears to hear, and they hear not.
They place their faith in this world, and they shall perish with this world.
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1 John 4:6 "We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error."
We are of God: Christians will receive this message that John and the other true apostles are bringing. Christians have ears to hear, and they hear; the children of this world will not hear.
For this reason, Christians will know the difference between the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. I can't count how many times I have sat in places listening to sermons, studies and going to churches and to just listen to what people say, and then suddenly my ears tingle, my hairs on the back of my neck raise as if the Holy Spirit within me just raised alarm bells to tell me what I'm hearing is not of the truth.
I can even sit there and listen to so-called Christians talk about their faith and immediately know something is off. This is the Spirit bringing in remembrance of the Word to defend you against false teachers or teachings.
In stark contrast, demonically evil, wickedly inspired teachers either reject the teaching of God's word, even to question the validity without reason is a wicked thing to do.
2 Corinthians 4:2-4 "but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."
God give us a warning to those who will seek to add, change or take away from this book:
Revelation 22:18-19 "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."
I've had the deceived and the wicked say to me, but this is only applying to the book of Revelation!
Seriously, how wicked do you have to be, to think something like that?
Look what is says in other places of the bible then?
Deuteronomy 4:2 "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you."
Deuteronomy 12:32 "What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it."
Proverbs 30:6 "Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar."
Do not tamper with the Lord's Words, these modern bible translators should take heed of the warnings also, one only needs to do a study and background of the so-called older manuscripts which only account for 5% of the majority of texts, and even these older manuscripts don't even agree with themselves in many places let alone agreeing with each other.
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1 John 4:7 "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."
Let us love one another, James calls this the royal law: for love is of God; and everyone that fulfils this royal law is born of God.
James 2:7-9 "Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors."
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1 John 4:8 "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."
Those who do not love do not know God, because God is love. This is a true statement, when you find a person filled with hate, you know that he or she, has never experienced that great unselfish love that God has for each of us.
There is a need in every person to be loved. Some have never realized that anyone loves them. When you find a person in this condition, if you can make them understand that God loves them, they will change.
Too many false prophets will use these verses to show that people who do not love are either unsaved or will use this to teach you can lose your salvation; this is false, this is not a salvation passage!
In light of other clear scriptures that contains the word saved, justified, or salvation you cannot get such a teaching from these verses.
This is why it is important that you make sure you are teaching sound doctrine, if you were to teach from these verses that you have to love, turn from your sins to be saved, you are teaching a works salvation!
Can you honestly say that you as self-professing Christian say you've never hated or disliked anyone?
Can you say to yourself you have stopped sinning?
If you did, you are a liar, the bible says so.
We should love one another, but we will still stumble over our own sins, does that mean you've lost your salvation? No, it's eternal.
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1 John 4:9 "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him."
The Love of God manifested toward us because he sent his only begotten Son into the World so that we might live through him, notice the word "might", not "will", it says might; again not all believers will suddenly have a change in their lives because they got saved.
In fact, there are people who got saved out there who go on living their worldly lives!
Consider the Parable of the Sower Jesus gave in Matthew chapter 13:
Matthew 13:19-23 "When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
Now what I'm about to say to you is important and you need to understand this, there are 4 groups of people here, there are many more scenarios or situations that are not listed here but generally but, ONLY one group is not saved; that's right and that's the first group, the other group Jesus is talking about are all saved, which category do you think you fit into of the 3 saved groups?
If you believe you fit one of them, then you are probably not being truthful to yourself, most Christians would more than likely slip into anyone of these categories throughout our entire lives!
~
1 John 4:10 "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
And in this verse is the whole reason why John was saying those things in the previous verses, the word "herein" is used to introduce something that depends on or arises from what has just been mentioned.
So john is explaining what love is and he says this, it is not because we loved God, but it is because God loved us, and because God loved us, he sent his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ to be what?
The Propitiation for our sins, to be our SAVIOUR, the anointed one who would come to free us from the very thing that imprisons us; sin.
Propitiation can mean atonement, in other words, He paid the penalty for our sins in full, we have no debt to pay, our bill is marked paid in full; the great love of God for man is made real to us in this alone!
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1 John 4:11 "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."
God taught us by example of the unselfish love that we need to have for each other through the Lord Jesus Christ. If the world today needs one thing, it is love.
Take the time to hug someone and say you love them today, greet that stranger you meet on the street, give that person you don't know a smile, let the love that God has shown you shine through you and make someone else's life a little brighter!
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1 John 4:12 "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us."
We know that no man can look upon the face of God and live. Moses came the closest, when he saw the back side of God as He passed by, and because of that, his face glowed for like 3 days and they had to put a veil over his face because it was freaking them out!
We can see God by looking at Jesus, who is the image of the Father. The disciples asked Jesus to show "us the father":
John 14:8-10 "Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."
Jesus told the disciples, if they had seen Him, they had seen the Father. This just meant that the Spirit of God dwelled within Him. Jesus was the manifestation of the Godhead on the earth.
Jesus' actions were not of himself but done to show us the Father, he did nothing of his own will, but the will of the Father; when we are full of God's love, we are full of Jesus. The more "full" of Jesus we are, the more love we have for others.
Love is the heart of Christian witness, nobody can see God loving since His love is invisible. Jesus is no longer physically in the world to manifest the love of God. We as Christians ought to make God's love known through our conduct which is in love so that it may benefit our fellow man, and our own brethren.
How do people know that everything they see around them is from God, and that he loves us that we might all come to him? Through our display of love to one another we can show the world God's Love!
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1 John 4:13 "Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit."
We know this because we dwell in him, and he in us, and why is this possible?
Because God has given us his Spirit, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, when Jesus went to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, He promised to send the Holy Spirit to dwell within each of us.
John 14:16-17 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 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."
John 14:26 "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
John 16:7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."
Romans 8:9 "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."
The fact that we have the Spirit within us, tells us that He has never really left us at all!
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1 John 4:14 "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world."
The purpose of the Father sending his Son, whom is God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16) on the earth was for the salvation of all mankind.
This Jesus, who was the Word of God in heaven, the bread that came down from heaven, took on the form of flesh as the Son of God to save us.
He took on the name Jesus because it means "God is Salvation" or "Saviour". He is our Saviour and our Lord.
~
1 John 4:15 "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God."
Anyone who confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God will dwell in him and he in God. Boom! This is an equivalent Salvation passage.
Whosoever should confess with their mouth that Jesus is the Son of God, God the Holy Spirit will dwell in him! Let's look at the parallel passages:
Romans 10:9-10 "that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Matthew 10:32 "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven."
This is in the very words of Jesus Himself. There is no question, when we confess, to confess is to tell a truth. We know in our heart, and confess with our mouth as proof that we are full of Jesus!
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1 John 4:16 "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."
Our families and friends may turn against us, but we know that God loves us. We need never be lonely or blue; we have the love of God filling us. This is not just an sporadic love, but a love that is forever eternal!
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1 John 4:17 "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world."
He is not suggesting sinless perfection, but rather matured love manifest by confidence in the face of judgment, so that we may stand bold in that day: Jesus is God's Son in whom He was well pleased; we also are God's children (Which we learnt in chapter 3) and the objects of His gracious goodness. Jesus called God Father, so may we, since we are accepted in the Beloved!
To know this love gives us perfect confidence to stand before the Judge of the world on judgment day.
~
1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
As an unsaved sinner, we should have a fear of God, in respect of Judgement and our final destination for those who do not have Christ. All sinners will taste the second death, eternal punishment in the lake of fire.
But those who are in Christ and he is in them, the saved, the children of God are in HIS love, it is his love that makes us perfect and casts the fear from out of us, because of this, Christians will stand boldly at the Judgement seat knowing that they have been made righteous by the blood of the Lamb, because of him, our Lord Jesus Christ, his finished work made it possible.
You can know you have eternal life, you need not fear death; as the Lord said my yoke is easy, and my burden is light…brethren, you do not longer have to fear any longer for the Love of the Lord is always with us.
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1 John 4:19 "We love him, because he first loved us."
Just like in the previous verse, it is His love that we come to love him, he loved us first for this reason we love him!
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1 John 4:20 "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"
This scripture makes me think of what Jesus said, Inasmuch as ye have done it for the least of these, ye have done it unto me. – Matthew 25:40
We cannot express our love for God directly, except in praise. We cannot buy dinner or provide clothing or give money to Jesus. We can, however, buy dinner or provide clothing and money to someone who is hungry, in need of financial assistance or in need of raiment to keep themselves warm in the name of Jesus.
When we love our brothers on the earth, we are in turn loving Jesus who made them.
~
1 John 4:21 "And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also."
The commandment from the Lord to love one another as he loved us, we love him and in turn we love one another; this commandment fulfils the law.
My Brethren love one another.
This pretty much sums up chapter 4.
Go to 1 John Chapter 1 2 3 4 5
1 John 2 Authorized (King James) Version
Diving in chapter 2, we notice John starts out by addressing his audience here, he says "My little Children" this is Johns affectionate phrase to the brethren, to all believers in Christ; so when he says this, he is talking to the justified in Christ.
1 John 2:1-2 "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 and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
John says, my little children, I write to you that you sin not. What does that mean?
The bible teaches us that, even though we are born again, that moment, that instance, that one point in time that we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, in a twinkling of an eye we get saved; but did our body change at that moment, did anything change about our physical selves?
Paul writes to the Galatians in Chapter 5 the following:
Galatians 5:17 "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."
The flesh is at war with the spirit, at the moment of Salvation the spirit is quickened, made alive and now wars against the flesh. What your flesh would do your spirit would not do, even though we have been saved, we will still sin, and if we do sin, John says we have an advocate (supporter) with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous: he is the propitiation of our sins, the word propitiation means to soothe, pacify, to appease, and not just for us only, but for the world also.
That does not mean everyone in the world is forgiven, you have to have the Son, if you don't have the Son, you don't have forgiveness of sins and ultimately; you don't have the Father.
This is a generic term, referring not to every single individual, but to mankind in general. The pardon for sin is offered to the whole world, but received only by those who believe. There is no other way to be reconciled to God.
John reminds us, for that reason we can go on trusting God and not ourselves and not therefore fall into sin.
1 John 2:3-5 "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 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."
Ok, I'm going to stop here to take a moment to explain something, many people will read verse 3 and say, see, we have to KEEP his commandments, and they'll use it to say you have to DO his commandments to promote a works based religion.
My dear friends, Satan has gripped the world in a counterfeit religion, his devices are subtle and if you're not in the inspired Words of God through the KJV bible you will be deceived by the wolves out there. (Don't start me on the modern perversion bibles!)
The common theme we see in all religions besides true biblical Christianity is a network of systems based on works and self or personal effort. This can be seen through their ideas about God or many gods, the afterlife, reincarnation, and exaltation to becoming a god themselves; these diverse religions will always contain (albeit differing in ways) steps you must take "to progress" or "to make it" upon personal effort.
Remember that the diverse religious scene spawned from the tower of Babel (Genesis Chapter 11), where God went down to disperse and confound (confuse) the people because of their ambition to exalt themselves.
Satan loves to sow confusion and contradiction, his subtle attacks on the Word of God can be really hard to detect to the unsuspecting person, but if we KEEP and HOLD dearly to the Words of the Lord we will not be easily deceived. Satan's false belief systems all contain these common elements of personal effort and works.
Unfortunately, we find many self-professing Christians in the same boat, deceived and in ignorance because they are not continually in the Word. Many of these Christians find themselves unable to enter into spiritual rest by the grace of God and finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our saviour and redeemer.
Christians are unable to rest spiritually due to the legalistic prophesying or preaching by these false teachers and is further instigated by the massive influx of modern bibles in which the way they are translated.
Now before I turn this piece into another article of its own, I want to explain what it means to KEEP vs OBEY.
So the KJV Bible renders the reading:
1 John 2:3-5 "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we KEEP his commandments. 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."
The 1984 NIV renders the verse like this:
1 John 2:3-5 "We know that we have come to know him if we OBEY his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does NOT DO what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone OBEYS his word, God's love is truly made complete in him."
And here is the 2011 NIV, notice the subtle changes they made in this edition compared to the 1984 version:
1 John 2:3-5 "We know that we have come to know him if we KEEP his commands. 4 Whoever says, "I know him, "but does NOT DO what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone OBEYS his word, love for God
is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:
OK so what's the difference between KEEP and OBEY? For starters it's a BIG Difference.
Every well trained bible student will use the bible itself to act as its own dictionary, an online concordance can help and also referrals to the underlying Hebrew or Greek text in the KJV's case we can look at the Textus Receptus online.
Now listen, the word translated "TO KEEP" in both Hebrew and Greek does not mean "to obey" or "to do".
The Hebrew word "Shamar" (Strong's #8104) is translated as to keep, to observe, to take heed to, to preserve, to regard, or to be a watchman.
The Greek word "Teereo" (Strong's #5083) is translated to keep, to guard, to watch, to reserve, to hold fast or to preserve.
An example would be this, if I wanted to go swimming, I would take out my wallet, my car keys and ask one someone to keep them for me; in other words I want that person to hang on to them and not lose them!
Take heed, Satan has his hands in the modern bible versions, think about this; we've had if not, the best and inspired version of the bible given to us in the English language in the form of the KJV bible for around 400 years (where millions of saints lost their lives for) and suddenly the Word of God is being attacked by these counterfeits?
This fact alone proves that the KJV is the inspired Word of God in English, otherwise if it were NOT inspired, there would be no reason to bring out other versions would there?
You say money?
Who is the God of THIS world?
Honestly, if your bible version is truly the inspired Word of God, why isn't it being attacked? Why aren't other versions attacking your so-called inspired version? Why are they all attacking the KJV bible?
You might say this is an extreme view but, why don't you do a study for yourself, these changes aren't in your face, that would be stupid of them, these changes are subtle and in very strategic places. Think about it, if Satan were to completely reveal himself and his true motives, would you not run in the other direction immediately?
The NIV translates the Old Testament word "Shamar" as "to obey" 29 times and as "to do" 5 times. It also translates the New Testament word "Tereeo" as "to obey" 21 times and "to do" 3 times.
Satan's hand is at work here to promote a works oriented religion, throw in some careless preaching, and hey! All these people end up in hell…
There is too much at stake to let yourself be deceived, please be vigilant!
To bring this message home, I will give some examples in the Old Testament of where the word "Shamar" is used and see if you can fit "Obey" or "to do" in the statement in place of the English word "KEEP".
Genesis 2:15 "And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to KEEP it."
Genesis 4:9 "And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's KEEPER?"
Isaiah 62:6 "I have set WATCHMEN upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence,"
And some New Testament examples of the word "Teereo" is used, see if you can do the same as before.
John 2:10 "and saith unto him, every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast KEPT the good wine until now."
Acts 12:5 "Peter therefore was KEPT in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him."
The bible also makes a distinction between the words "to keep" and "to do", we find an example in Deuteronomy:
Deuteronomy 5:1 "And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them."
To KEEP and to OBEY are two very different concepts, when the bible tells us to KEEP the commandments of the Word of the Lord, God is telling us NOT to forsake, let go of, forget, or turn away from, God is telling us rather to guard, preserve, hold on to and cling to them.
1 John 2:6 "He that saith he abide in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."
Verse 6, what does this mean? If you remember from verse 5, it said whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
In light of other scriptures, this is telling me that if we say that we abide in him and by God's grace we hopefully will not only keep them but also should do and obey them.
I don't want to go into this in more detail, as this would be an entire 5000+ word article in itself, but I reckon I've put a handle on this subject so we can continue with the rest of the intended bible study.
BTW, John is talking to fellow believers here, moving forward!
1 John 2:7-11 "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. 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."
John is talking to all believers, the word brethren is synonymous with the word believers, which is an archaic term for brother. John says he writes no new commandment, but an old one which ye had from the beginning, and what is this commandment?
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."
So the commandment to love one another, this is not referring to the Laws of Moses or the 10 Commandments; but to love one another is the fulfilment of the Law.
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."
Verse 8 says near the end of the verse it says the darkness is past, and the true light now shines. What does it mean darkness is past?
The Law made us aware of our sins, it showed us that we are living in darkness, dead in sins, the law was there to make us realise that we needed a saviour, and now that saviour has come, the Light, the Life, Jesus Christ.
At the moment of salvation, our sins are forgiven, not just past sins, but ALL sin you will ever commit will be remembered no more, you are no longer in darkness you now have the light, the true light that shines, the Lord Jesus Christ!
1 John 2:9 "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now."
Those who profess that they are in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. This is just saying, those who hate others are not walking in the Light. The perfect Light provided for believers leads us into His perfect love. It does not allow hate of any kind. Hate is of the devil and is surrounded by darkness.
1 John 2:10 "He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him."
Loving your brother causes you to have no desire to do him harm in any way. The lust of the flesh causes sin. The Light of God helps us see things more clearly, and causes us not to lust.
In God all things are clear, so true intimate fellowship is possible in Him and with Him when we are in the light. But we can also have intimate fellowship with one another when we are in the light.
In fact, John indicates that fellowship is only possible in the light. When there is deceit, true fellowship cannot occur.
A friendship can only go as far as there is trust and trust must be based on the truth.
It is impossible to trust when there is deceit, if trust grows in a relationship that has had some deception in it, it is certainly not on the basis of that deception, but on the basis of assurance that the deception has now ended.
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."
The person who hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, we cannot see that person clearly. When we hate even ourselves we cannot see clearly.
And when we proceed to relate to another then out of hate, we proceed blindly. Here is a wonderful reason to turn our troubled relationships over to God.
We cannot possibly move forward when we are looking at a distorted picture of reality.
Hate is a product of the devil.
The devil is in darkness.
This is what Jesus said in John 12,
John 12:35 "Then Jesus said unto them, yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth."
In the darkness, we cannot see clearly and do not see things that cause us to stumble.
In the following next verses (12-14) we read the reason why he is writing this letter…
1 John 2:12 "I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake."
This is John stating his reason for writing the letter to them. Their sins are forgiven, so they are Christians. They are sons of God. They are not full grown, because he calls them little children. God forgave us our sins, because Jesus paid our debt.
What is interesting about this section is that John says he is writing because of things that are already true about each of these groups. He does not say here that he is writing in order to get them to do something new of change the direction of their lives.
It seems to me that he writes to remind them of what is already true about them because of what is true about who Jesus is and what He has done.
John wants to remind them again of this truth, this reality because, I would think, in the midst of their present circumstances they are being tempted to forget.
And remember the little rant I was on about "to keep" and "to obey", and that we established that to keep is to not forsake, let go of, forget, or turn away from, God is telling us rather to guard, preserve, hold on to and cling on to them.
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."
When we look at the three groups this is spoken to, it is the progression of spiritual growth in our belief. We come to Christ as little children.
We grow to young men as we learn more about God, and are better equipped to resist the devil and overcome him. Then lastly, we rest as old men in the knowledge 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."
The difference in this verse is being that the little children are omitted. Those remaining have learned to overcome the devil. They have matured by the study of the Word of God.
They are not overcome of the devil, because they are grounded in the Word of God. Again, speaking of fathers is just a further knowing of God.
Think about it, most of us were taught or heard about God and Jesus, among other things as we were young, I was exposed to God and Jesus at a young age, the seed was sown, but it was delivered by evil trees, those false prophets, I didn't even get become like a little child until 8 months ago (considering I'm in my 30's), you could say I'm a young man now in terms of spiritual growth, the group that has overcome (overcome by the way is synonymous with salvation, getting saved) working our way to become fathers, who are spiritually mature, and as I stated above, the way we achieve this is by constantly reading and studying the Word of God.
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."
One of my favourite verses in the bible, I always use this on people who start to talk about their worldly possessions and the babble on about how when we do good works that God will bless us with material things, God knows what we need, and he will provide them for us.
There is, of course, one sense in which Christians should love the world, since God Himself did and does. - John 3:16
But what it is that is being talked about here is for us to not devote ourselves to the things of this world and forsake the Father, we are to love God first and not put anything before or above him.
Deuteronomy 6:5 "and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might"
Christians are in the world, but not of the world. Our home is in heaven. We need to keep our thoughts and desires set on things above. Jesus said the following in Matthew chapter 6:
Matthew 6:19-23 " Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!"
Loving the world, in this sense, would be trying to please the desires of our flesh. To love the world, would make us a carnal man. Christians should be spirit men. The world and the things of the world are carnal.
This does not mean that we cannot enjoy the families God has given us, or the blessings we have received from Him. It does mean that we should not be caught up in worldly living. God must be first in our lives. We should not be hanging on to the world, but should eagerly await our home in heaven with Him.
No middle ground between these two alternatives exists for someone claiming to be born again. The false teachers had no such singular love, but were devoted to the world's philosophy and wisdom, thereby revealing their love for the world and their unsaved state.
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."
Pretty self-explanatory really, while the world's philosophies and ideas and much that it offers may appear attractive and appealing; that is deception.
Its true and pervasive nature is evil, harmful, ruinous, and satanic. Its deadly theories are raised up against the knowledge of God and hold the souls of men captive.
2 Corinthians 2:3-5 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"
The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are what got Eve in trouble in the garden. She looked, desired, and wanted to be as God. Lust of all kinds fall into the category of flesh and worldliness.
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 physical world will pass away, and the lust thereof, meaning all sin: but he that does the will of God will abide for ever, God's will is permanent and unchangeable. Those who follow God's will abide as His people forever. While God offers eternal life to His children, the present age is doomed.
Denying the Son
In the next handful of verses we are going to read about the warnings of us denying the Son.
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."
John tells us it is the last time, why does he say that?
He said we have heard that antichrist shall come, singular, the Antichrist, this person that is coming is going to be the ultimate opponent of God, God's plans and God's people. - 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 and Mark 13:14
John then goes onto say that there are many antichrists, those false teachers that are seeking to pervert the Gospel of Christ.
That is how we know that it is the last time, meaning we are living in the last time.
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."
This is giving us characteristics of those false prophets, they went out from us, meaning they were among the faithful, amongst the church, but they were not of us; they arose from within the church and departed from true fellowship and lead people out with them.
Many times these false teachers and prophets, who are really opposed to Christ, pretend to be Christians. Can you imagine how much worse for you it would be if you end up in a church full of antichrists?
What about ending up in a church that doesn't believe in the Jesus or God of the bible?
Make up their own views of God according to their own lusts of the flesh?
What about a church that tells you too can become as a god, isn't that what Satan told Eve in the beginning?
What about one that says there certain things you must do behind closed doors, and certain handshakes and passwords that you cannot disclose to the public?
Has God hidden the essential message of salvation in the bible?
Ask yourselves these questions, if you're in anyone of these churches that teach this stuff you should get out of that place very quickly.
1 John 2:20 "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things."
The word "unction" means anointing, this would mean an anointing from the Holy Spirit of God; the Oil of Gladness. The Holy Spirit is our teacher and guide.
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."
John is writing to the church, and not to the world. Notice the word "know" which is so apparent in John's writings, he reminds them that no compromise of the truth will do, this verse says what it says!
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."
Another characteristic of antichrists, whosoever denies that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ is a liar! These people are antichrists, they who deny the Father and the Son.
Their blatant rejection of Him as the Messiah is also a rejection of His incarnate deity.
This includes any perverted unbiblical view of whom the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
1 John 2:23 "Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also."
John goes onto expound on verse 22 that whosoever denies the Son, does not have the Father: but he that acknowledges the Son has the Father as well. You can't have one without the other!
And that just totally kills the Oneness Pentecostals and the Jesus only movement, they say it only Jesus, there is no trinity, there is no 3 in 1 God and stuff like that, but if you don't have the Son, you don't have the Father; a very clear distinction indeed.
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."
The pure gospel message that had been brought to them was to be kept at all cost. Let this gospel message live continually in you.
This is simply saying for us to reject the false message of the antichrist.
To hang on to the teachings of Christ, and bring the Father and the Son into your life.
1 John 2:25 "And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life."
We see from this that eternal life is in Jesus. To have Him is to possess eternal life, which is the promise. You can read more about the promise in my article called "Eternal Security" here.
1 John 2:26 "These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you."
John makes it clear that much of his discourse has been called forth by opponents of conventional teaching. This is identifying another characteristic of false prophets and teachers.
"Them that seduce you" is speaking of those who are opposed to Christ who with flattering words is trying to draw you away from the Truth. John is writing to us to be aware of these false teachers.
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 anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, this is the Holy Spirit, he stays with us, he dwells within us to teach us all things, John says the Spirit will teach us, and that we do not need any man to teach us the things of God.
The Holy Spirit teaches us all things that are true, there is no lies being taught by the Spirit.
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."
For when this day comes, when the Lord appears in the clouds! It shall be a glorious day when the Lord returns!!!
1 John 2:29 "If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him."
If ye know that he is righteous, who? The Lord Jesus Christ, we can know that everyone that does righteousness is born of him…such a wonderful truth!
This concludes Chapter 2.
Go to 1 John Chapter
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