Knowing God
Thesis: To teach the hearer that what a person says is often times not that which God states as fact, and that all of our assertions about the Faith can be either verified or denied by the Truth (Jn 17:17; 2 Pet 1:3), the living and active (Heb 4:12), life imparting (Jn 6:63), word of God, that sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17).
Text: 1 John 2:3-11
Introduction,
This week we are going to begin to look into the 1st epistle of John. The penman is believed to be the apostle John even though he is not specifically named as such therein, this conclusion is based upon internal and external evidences, and is widely accepted by most biblical scholars.
Most believe that it was written between AD 80-90, yet there are some evidences that dates it prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, yet it seems to be that it was penned at a time when persecutions were not as prevalent, therefore the subject matter was shifted by the Holy Spirit to more pressing issues.
The 2 main purposes of the epistle are . . .
1) To present to Christians a means by which they can examine themselves and know whether or not they are in possession of eternal life (1 Jn 5:13), if they are in the condition of “being saved” (Lk 13:23; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor 1:18; 15:2; 2 Cor 2:15),
1Jn 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.
2) And to combat the false teachings of the day (which is evident throughout the entire epistle).
By this time this epistle was written there were many differing types of false teachings rearing their ungodly heads, as can be seen in our day also, basically much that was being combated in the 1st century are essentially the same problems we deal with today, there were the . . .
Judaizers (they accepted Christianity with additions from the Law of Moses), we see variations of this today, from a separate priestly class, to observance of the 10 commandments, the keeping of OT holy days, the pomp and ceremony of the old law, altars, and the hope of a physical kingdom of Christ upon this earth, which is the primary focus of the doctrine of premillennialism of which much of the denominational world believes today.
Doceticism (this concerned the nature of Christ, they taught that Jesus only “seemed” to suffer, his body was a phantom, or He was some sort of celestial being, not actual flesh and blood), we see this believed in similar fashion by the oneness Pentecostals, The latter day Saints (Mormons), and to some extent by the JW’s.
Gnosticism (they mixed Christianity with Greek philosophy and mysticism, and asserted that they had some sort of special knowledge, above and beyond the word of God and thus were the truly inspired men of the 1st century), this can be attributed to almost every religious body known to man today, from the pope, to the lowliest tongue speaking disciple of the charismatic movement who believe they receive direct messages from God “contrary” to His word today.
Nicolaitans (they are mentioned twice by name in the Book of Revelation; 2:6, 15; where Jesus states “that He hates their works,” the congregation at Ephesus was commanded to repent from these or else. What they taught was a mixture of Christianity and paganism, and they allowed partaking in some of the social and religious activities of the cultic religions), this is basically what we see in the practice and observance of man made holy days such as Christmas and Easter which are nothing but an admixture of Christian teaching and pagan festivals of old.
Now concerning these false doctrines, we need to remember that there were many differing variations of each of these, and a lot of times they crossed over one into another, so it was hard to distinguish and identify them properly, the point is this, that in the 1st century, when inspired men truly led by God were upon this earth, they allowed nothing but the pure and simple gospel of Christ to be practiced, everything else was taught against (2 Cor 11:3; Gal 1:6-9).
2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward (in; YLT) Christ.
In the 2nd chapter of this epistle the inspired apostle just finished a discourse which started in the 1st chapter on the subject of sin, and how Christians were to receive additional forgiveness after they initially believed and obeyed the gospel.
It seems like some thought that they were impervious to sin, the phrase “if we say” (seen in 1:6, 8, 10) refers to the assertions of false teachers being addressed by the apostle, it seems that they believed that they were not in need of additional forgiveness, and basically John calls them liars, in fact John calls these differing groups of false teachers liars 5 times in this epistle alone; this “is” our approved apostilic example of which to follow (1 Cor 11:1).
Now in the 2nd chapter when we enter into our text it seems that a certain person or persons thought they were faithful when in actuality, they were not, and that is where we will begin, and we will look at . . .
1) Whoever says “I know Him” (1 John 2:3-5)
2) Whoever says “he abides in Him” (1 John 2:6-8)
3) Whoever says “he is in the light” (1 John 2:9-11)
I. WHOEVER SAYS “I KNOW HIM” (1 John 2:3-5)
A. (v 3)
1Jn 2:3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
This is probably not only looking forward in this text, but also backward to the first section which deals with the assertions of the false teachers concerning the need for additional forgiveness of sin
1. “To know HIM” refers to Christ, and this is not simply speaking about having some knowledge about Christ, but rather an intimate knowledge of Him, this word (“know” ginosko) is also a Jewish idiom for marital relations, thus this word would denote a relationship, an intimate relationship, the covenantal relationship, it refers to those who have entered into the New Covenant through the gospel and through it now enjoy intimate fellowship with God.
a. Consider the statement of our Lord in Jn 17:3 (turn there) . . .
Joh 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
b. Thus to know God and Jesus in this sort of sense is equal to possessing eternal life, I would assert that “spiritual life” as opposed to “spiritual death” is similar to “eternal life” while here on earth.
2. Our verse (1 Jn 2:3) probably refers to the Nicolaitans and the Gnostics who stated the only thing necessary for one to possess eternal life was the knowledge of the true God.
a. Contrary to the standard that many hold these days, who would state, “I know I’m saved, I can feel it,” here the apostle gives God’s litmus test for a person to know if one is in a saving relationship with God or not, how? By the evidence of one keeping His commandments. In fact this idea is very similar to what we looked at in Rom 8:5-9a (turn there) . . .
Rom 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.
Rom 8:8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom 8:9a You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.
3. Therefore if God’s Spirit is truly in us we will be submitting to God’s law, we will be keeping His commandments, and the keeping of His commandments is the outward sign of our knowing God, knowing Christ. Keep in mind that keeping His commandments is not that way we come to know God, but rather it is the evidence that we have come to know Him, which in the Christian dispensation begins with belief in the gospel message (1 Cor 15:1-4; 23), “that Jesus died for our sins, was raised from the dead, ascended into Heaven, and our living hope of following Him.”
a. It should also be noted that the word “keep” and “keeps” here in our text are all present active verbs, therefore literally this is saying “if we keep on keeping His commandments” the ISV renders these verses this way (turn back to 1 Jn 2:3-5; ISV) . . .
1Jn 2:3 This is how we can be sure that we have come to know him: if we continually keep his commandments.
1Jn 2:4 The person who says, "I have come to know him," but does not continually keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth has no place in that person.
1Jn 2:5 But whoever continually keeps his commandments is the kind of person in whom God's love has truly been perfected. This is how we can be sure that we are in union with God: (ISV)
4. The question may be asked “which ones” the answer is given in the text, the words “His commandments” seems to refer to our Master’s teachings which He gave while on earth, in fact this looks strikingly similar to what we see in Matthew’s account of the great commission (Mt 28:18-20) . . .
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Mat 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in(to) the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe all (things) that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
a. Therefore this probably refers to Christ’s teaching blocks as seen in the gospel accounts, like in the sermon on the mount, the parables, His teachings on Heaven and Hell, the Lord’s supper, loving each other, loving our enemies, marriage/divorce/remarriage, seeking the kingdom first, laying up treasures in heaven instead of on earth, being God’s salt and light and so on.
b. The bottom line is this “we may believe intellectually that there is a God, we may affirm the truth of His existence, the facts of His attributes, and the reality of His works in creation, and so on, but only those who believe the gospel facts and desire to partake of such to the extent that it leads them to the obedience of faith (Rom 1:5; 16:26), know Him in His saving power.”
B. (v 4)
1Jn 2:4 Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
Likened unto the phrase “if we say” in (ch 1:6, 8, 10), here we see the phrase “whoever says” or “he that says” or ”he that saith” (depending on your version) in the verses 3, 6, 9 of this 2nd chapter, and again this is a refutation of the false teachers of that day.
1. These individuals and their followers maintained that their relationship with the Lord was not severed even though they did not keep His commandments, they may have initially practiced the obedience of faith, faith working through love, but that simply is not enough.
2. Again the verb “keep” here is in the “present active tense” it literally means “he that says I have a saved relationship with God and does not keep on keeping His commandments is a liar, the ISV renders it such . . .
1Jn 2:4 The person who says, "I have come to know him," but does not continually keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth has no place in that person. (ISV)
a. This seems sort of blunt, but it is powerful, therefore making it incapable to be misunderstood, this is very similar to the Lord’s statement in Mt 7:21 . . .
Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who keeps saying to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will get into the kingdom from heaven, but only the person who keeps doing the will of my Father in heaven. (ISV)
b. Does this mean I must dot every “i” and cross every “t”? No! What it means is a person’s walk of life is based on Christ’s commands, that person does not imitate Christ on the Lord’s day, and then imitate Satan on the next. They daily, faithfully, continue in the Faith, and if they stumble, they are convicted by the Spirit dwelling in them, they turn from their sin (Acts 8:22), they confess that sin to God (1 Jn 1:9), and continue being led by the Spirit, thus keeping the commands, thus knowing God, knowing Christ.
c. Also note that it is “the Truth” that is in the person, which is the word of God (Jn 17:17), that sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17), His instrument of choice, which works upon our hearts, as we live our God given lives, again this would be equal to “being led by the Spirit of God” in Rom 8:14 (turn to Rom 8:12-14) . . .
Rom 8:12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
Rom 8:13 For if you living according to the flesh (this is an active verb denoting “practice), you must die (spiritually, which extends into the eternal realms), but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body (again, this is an active verb denoting “practice), you will live (spiritually, again extending into the eternal realms).
Rom 8:14 For all who are being led (present passive tense; i.e. continuously) by the Spirit of God (the entire Godhead), these are sons of God. (That is in comparison to the children of the devil; this passage parallels 1 Jn 3:4-10)
d. Again the teaching is that of “practice” not “perfection,” Christ was perfect for us that we might be released from the condemnation of law, enabling us to press towards the goal of being more like Him with each passing day.
C. (v 5)
1Jn 2:5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
Let us consider the mechanics of the gospel . . . when one hears the gospel message (about the death, burial, resurrection, ascension of Christ, and our hope of following that; 1 Cor 15:1-4; 23) and believes it, they receive the Holy Spirit (Gal 3:2; Eph 1:13; 1 Pet 1:23) . . .
Gal 3:2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
Eph 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-having also believed, were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, (NASB)
1Pe 1:23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
1. Through the Holy Spirit in us God’s love is shed abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5),
Rom 5:5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
a. When God’s love is in our hearts it prompts us to show our love to God and Christ by expressing the “obedience of faith” (Rom 1:5; 16:26), by doing the things He has commanded. Thus God’s love in us is to be the motivator (Jn 14:15, 23), and that love is perfected by our actions, that is what God wants of us, to possess “faith, working through love” (Gal 5:6).
b. Thus the person that “keeps on keeping God’s commands” (denoting “practice”) is the one who is growing towards perfection, maturing in his love of God, this is the same person who can be assured that they are “in God, in Christ.”
c. Starting with belief (faith; Jn 3:16; LITV; 5:24), and moving on to repentance, confession, baptism into Christ for the remission of sins, unto the daily walking and growing in the like precious faith through the renewal (2 Cor 4:16), one can without a doubt “know that they are in Him,”
2. It seems that being “in Christ” is also a process that actually takes place through all that we do according to God’s will contained in the gospel (Eph 4:15)
Eph 4:15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
a. Yet it seems that the flip side is also true, even if we did all that the Lord commanded from the heart, as unworthy servants, believing into Christ, Jn 3:16; LITV), even being baptized into Christ (Rom 6:3; Gal 3:27), but at some point we turn from keeping His commandments, back to our old lives, then it would seem that we are no longer in Him, He would not acknowledge us as His on That Day (Mt 7:23), that is why we need to continue walking after the Spirit, and to encourage each other to do the same, in hope of eternal life, which God, Who cannot lie, promised, before the world began (Tit 1:2).
3. It should be also noted that the word “love” (agape) occurs 18 times in this short epistle, the most of any NT book, 2nd would be 1 Corinthians with 14 times in 16 chapters.
a. Truly the love of God, which comes from His Spirit in us (Gal 3:2; Eph 1:13; Rom 5:5), is to be that motivating foundation behind all we say and DO “in the Lord” the Lord said in John 14:23-24, 15 (turn there) . . .
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home (abode) with him.
Joh 14:24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.
Joh 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
4. In this manner we can know that we “know Him,” and are “in Him.”
II. WHOEVER SAYS “HE ABIDES IN HIM” (1 John 2:6-8)
A. (v 6)
1Jn 2:6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
Again in this verse we see the assertion of these false teachers or false brethren in the statement “whoever says” or “he who says” or “he that saith” they claimed they abided “in Christ” yet they did not live lives like Christ’s, this is a misconception that many hold to this day.
1. Some would say “oh no one can walk like Christ, He was perfect”, now that is true, He didn’t sin (Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22), and we will sin on occasion, and God has provided for that in that we are instructed to repent of our sins (Acts 8:22) and confess them to Him (1 Jn 1:9), but we are commanded to imitate Him to the best of our God given ability (1 Cor 11:1; John 21:19, 22 ) which means that we are to be attempting to do so, not giving it up as a lost cause.
1Co 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
a. In other words we are to live entirely unto God, as did Christ, everything we do is to be as if we are doing it unto God, unto His glory (1 Cor 10:31), our jobs, our pastimes, how we live, what we say, what we do, always with God in view, in obedience, and always motivated by faith in God, and the love of God and others.
b. This is similar to what we see in Noah, Noah walked with God (Gen 6:9), God was always in view as he lived the life God gave him, and God saved him, while the rest of the world was condemned, in like manner Jesus led a life, His walk of life always had God in view, and God saved Him, even though He died a terrible death, God took Him out of Hades, reunited Him with his body, raised that body, and He was taken up into Heaven.
2. We can read the gospel accounts, and see what Jesus plainly taught and did, how He interacted with people, this is our lot, we are to DO IT! This “IS” what’s commanded.
a. This word “ought” (to walk) here is not a suggestion as we might define it today, this is the word “opheilo” and it means “is bound, a debt owed” most versions mistranslate this word, the ISV render this verse correctly as thus (1 Jn 2:6; ISV) . . .
1Jn 2:6 The one who says that he abides in him must live the same way he himself lived. (ISV)
b. Thus the person that does not live the way Christ lived, does not abide in Him, this is what these claimed, this is what many today claim, they claim they abide in Christ but fall far short, not because they can’t, but because they won’t even attempt to.
c. They won’t give their entire lives to God because they love God and others, they won’t defend the truth at any and all cost, they won’t tell others repent and believe in the gospel, they won’t tell others when they sin, and to sin no more, they won’t tell others to fear the God that will throw them into Hell, they won’t tell them that if they cannot forsake (renounce) all they cannot be a Christian, the list goes on and on, the religious world has softened the gospel, and so much so, that very few have the power of it (the gospel) working in them as God has purposed (Rom 1:16)
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
B. (v 7)
1Jn 2:7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.
This (the command to imitate Jesus) is no new thing, we can read the gospel accounts and see that Jesus sought out disciples (learners), and instructed them to “follow Me” in fact this phrase occurs 20 times in the gospel accounts . . .
Mat_4:19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Mat_8:22 And Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead."
Mat_9:9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him.
Mat_10:38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Mat_16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Mat_19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
Mar_1:17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men."
Mar_2:14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him.
Mar_8:34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Mar_10:21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
Luk_5:27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, "Follow me."
Luk_9:23 And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Luk_9:59 To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."
Luk_18:22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
Joh_1:43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."
Joh_10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
Joh_12:26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
Joh_13:36 Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward."
Joh_21:19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, "Follow me."
Joh_21:22 Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!"
1. Jesus said “I am the way” in Jn 14:6, this statement, if nothing else, implies that the life He lived is the way to God, and there is no other acceptable way.
a. Therefore walking like Christ is no new commandment, they had been commanded it since they first heard the gospel preached to them, yet certain individuals were teaching something different, today many people are teaching something different, a different gospel, which is no gospel indeed (Gal 1:7-9).
Gal 1:7 which is not another gospel only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema (accursed).
Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preaches unto you any gospel other than that which you received, let him be anathema (accursed).
b. This (the different gospel which we see today) basically came about from the days when Christianity first became the state religion of the Roman Empire (AD 325), at that time unconverted people without the Spirit, that did not love God nor keep his commandments were thrust into Christianity, they were told they would be saved from the fires of Hell if they did “thus and so” and that is simply not true, the whole concept of a clergy/laity system is foreign to the NT (i.e. those who are holy and those who are not so holy), a person must be born again to get to Heaven (Jn 3:3-8), and as you can see by these verses, that type of religion will not get one to Heaven as clearly stated in Heb 12:14 (turn there). . .
Heb 12:14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
c. Does this (“the holiness”) refer to just a small portion of one’s life, just on the Lord’s Day/Sunday and back like the world for the rest of the week? The inspired Peter didn’t write so (look at 1 Pet 1:14-16; ISV) . . .
1Pe 1:14 As obedient children, do not be shaped by the desires that used to influence you when you were ignorant.
1Pe 1:15 Instead, be holy in every aspect of your life, just as the one who called you is holy.
1Pe 1:16 For it is written, "You must be holy, because I am holy." (ISV)
C. (v 8)
1Jn 2:8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.
But there is a sense in that this old commandment is new, first, it is new in that Christ called it new, (John 13:34).
Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
1. The level of which we (His followers) are commanded to imitate Christ and His love for God and humanity is new (John 15:13)
Joh 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
a. And this level “is” to be practiced by all His followers, His imitators, as affirmed in 1 John 3:16 (look there).
1Jn 3:16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought (opheilo; is bound, a debt that is owed) to lay down our lives for the brothers.
b. So this is basically a reminder to all that read this, and to these false teachers, that a total commitment to God and others, even to the point of losing your physical lives, based upon love is required.
c. And this total commitment was in Christ, and it will be in you if you truly “abide in Him” because the power of the gospel when allowed to work in one’s heart, takes away the darkness, the selfishness caused by sin, and is replaced by the light manifested by love which motivates one to shine as a light in the world being Christ like, living like Christ, Christ said concerning His disciples (Mt 5:13-16) . . .
Mat 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
Mat 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Mat 5:15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
Mat 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
2. So let us end with a recap of the mechanics of the gospel to help us better understand God working in our lives . . .
a. We receive the Holy Spirit when we learn of and believe in the gospel of Christ (Gal 3:2; Eph 1:13), that Christ died for our sins, that He was raised form the dead, that He ascended into Heaven, and our living hope belief that we will follow Him (1 Cor 15:1-4; 23).
b. When we receive the Holy Spirit, through Him, the love of God is poured out into our hearts (Rom 5:5).
c. When the love of God is in us it prompts us to obey the commands of Christ (Jn 14:15).
d. When we obey the commands of Christ, God loves us and then the Father and Son abide with us also (Jn 14:23).
e. Then with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we think like God, not men, we love God and men, and we are enabled to walk (live) like Christ being led by the Spirit.
f. Therefore, let us not resist this, because it can easily be done (1 Cor 14:32), God does not force His will on us, but rather enables us to choose and do it (Rom 6:16-18), because it is God working in and through us of our own God given free will (Phili 2:12-13), for whoever wills can drink of the water of life freely (Rev 22:17).
III. WHOEVER SAYS “HE IS IN THE LIGHT” (1 John 2:9-11)
A. (v 9)
1Jn 2:9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.
Again here we see that phrase “whoever says” “he who says” “he that saith,” it must refer to some type of error that was being practiced, even though it’s easily seen that the teachings in this epistle, by the apostle of love, are clearly the one gospel that has been preached from the beginning, starting with the earthly ministry of Christ, in its fullness at Pentecost, including all the Truth that was once for all time delivered in the completed NT.
1. But as we know, man tends to forget, he tends to want to return back to “his” ways, he needs constant reminders of God’s Way, for the world around him is continually pulling at him, constantly undoing what the gospel of Christ has does for him in the way of a spiritual metamorphosis, the renewal (Rom 12:2; Tit 3:5).
a. Let us consider the phrases “in the light” and “in darkness” what does those things mean? I believe the scriptures give us the answer (turn to Jn 3:19-21)…
Joh 3:19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
Joh 3:20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
Joh 3:21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."
b. Now turn to Acts 26:16-18 . . .
Act 26:15 And I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
Act 26:16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you,
Act 26:17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you
Act 26:18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
c. Now look at 2 Cor 4:3-4 . . .
2Co 4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
2Co 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
d. I think we can conclude that the light is God, Jesus Christ and the gospel and darkness is a life apart from that, which is in actuality a life led by Satan, here are a few more verses that affirm this (Jn 8:12; 12:35; 46; 1 Pet 2:9; Eph 5:8).
Joh 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Joh 12:35 So Jesus said to them, "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
Joh 12:46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Eph 5:8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
2. So who is the hating brother that wrongly thought they were in the light (living a life aligned with the gospel of Jesus Christ)? I would tend to believe it would be the false brethren that have been refuted thus far in this epistle, when one is told that they are so far out in left field that they are lost it is likely to manifest anger in the person that is the target of such refutes, this is similar to Paul’s statement in Gal 4:16 . . .
Gal 4:16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?
a. The loving thing to do is to always tell one when he is in error, if you don’t, his spiritual blood is upon your head, you are partially responsible (Ezek 3:17-21; Acts 18:6; 20:26-27; 1 Cor 11:1),
b. We need to understand that the Way, the Faith, Christianity is for a large part directed at others, Christians are responsible for others, yet after the child of God declares the Truth, that responsibility is fulfilled, and it will bring one of two results. . .
1) A hardening of hearer’s heart, which oftentimes results in hatred and anger towards the Truth bringer (as in the case here), or
2) An opening of one’s heart, which results in repentance and the obedience of faith, and thereby salvation.
3. But the one who hates his brother because of his righteous acts of obedience to God are nothing more that imitators of Cain, and are in the darkness, as seen in 1 John 3:12 (turn there; 1 Jn 3:11-15) . . .
1Jn 3:11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
1Jn 3:12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.
1Jn 3:13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.
1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.
1Jn 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
B. (v 10)
1Jn 2:10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.
The Christian that speaks the Truth in love (Eph 4:15), along with the brother that listens to the one speaking the Truth in love, attempting to pull him out of the error of his ways, taking that refuting to heart, examining one’s self (2 Cor 13:5), and readjusting to the truth of the gospel, both of these brothers abide in the light.
1. A person may be in error, and have a good and honest heart, but when that person is told the Truth (Jn 17:17), and if that person rejects it for whatever reason, that person ceases to be an honest person in the sight of God.
a. But the person that truly demonstrates the love of God and others will examine all evidences brought before them, and will be open to them, to this person, the “asker, seeker and knocker”, there will be little if any occasion for stumbling, this person will be constantly moving towards God, not away.
b. I do want to add that many times someone will hear the Truth and immediately reject it, because of prior teachings, because of bad attitudes, because of Satan. But within time, often times slowly, that person comes to believe and accept what God teaches on that certain subject, I believe this is what takes place most of the time, so we need to be patient in these circumstances.
C. (v 11)
1Jn 2:11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
But here again we return to the hating brother, this person is blinded by the god of this world, Satan (2 Cor 4:3-4) . . .
2Co 4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
2Co 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
1. Satan works through one’s own opinions, desires, his wants, his stubbornness, instead of submission to God’s will through God’s Spirit working in that person, this type of person is constantly stumbling because he has closed his spiritual eyes to the truth, this type of person is those spoken of numerous times in the NT as fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy in Isa 6:9-10 (turn to Mt 13:14-15) . . .
Mat 13:14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: "'"You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive."
Mat 13:15 For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.'
a. Look at the next 2 verses for the flip-side (Mt 13:16-17) . . .
Mat 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
b. Immediately after these words Jesus tells the parable of the sower (Mt 13:18ff), as an explanation of why some just don’t listen, we need to have a good and honest heart, that good ground (Luke 8:11) to plant the seed, the word of God, that sword of the Spirit in, it needs to always be open to the Truth (John 17:17), and we need to respond to that Truth, by actions (turn to Mt 21:28-31) . . .
Mat 21:28 " . . . A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.'
Mat 21:29 And he answered, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind and went.
Mat 21:30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go.
Mat 21:31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.
c. This goes right back to this epistle of 1 Jn, it’s not when we “say”, but when we “obey” God, from the heart, then are we truly “in the light as He is in the light,” (now turn to Rom 6:17-18).
Rom 6:17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard (“tupos” pattern, form) of teaching to which you were committed,
Rom 6:18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
d. When our hearts prompts us to manifest the “obedience of faith” (Rom 1:5; 16:26), “then” we have fellowship with Him and the rest of the faithful (1 John 1:7), and “then” we are cleansed from all sin and have that hope of eternal life, as it is written (1 Jn 5:13) . . .
1Jn 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.
Conclusion,
1. First we looked at “whoever says, I know Him” (1 John 2:3-5)
2. Then we looked at “whoever says “he abides in Him” (1 John 2:6-8)
3. And lastly we looked into “whoever says “he is in the light” (1 John 2:9-11)
4. And the common denominator in all these assertions, they just “said,” they didn’t “do” the will of the Father.
5. The Holy Spirit said through James (Ja 1:22) . . .
Jas 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
6. The way to become a doer of the word is plainly laid out in the NT, these commands are clearly laid out for any and all to believe in, and obey . . .
One is to . . .
Hear the Word of God (Acts 2:37; Rom 10:17)
Rom 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
This is how the Father plants the word, the seed of the kingdom, within that good ground, the good, honest, and open heart
One is to . . .
Believe that Jesus is the resurrected (Rom 10:9), Divine Christ (John 8:24), Who is Master over all (Mt 28:18); and that God rewards those that earnestly seek after Him (Heb 11:6), Paul and Silas told the Philippian jailor. . .
Act 16:31 . . . "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved,"
“Belief” (faith) is the point wherein one crosses over from spiritual death to spiritual life, it is the point where a
person enters into the process of “being saved” (Lk 13:23; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor 1:18; 15:2; 2 Cor 2:15), the Lord
Jesus put it this way in Jn 5:24 . . .
Joh 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
One must not stop there, to do so would be to manifest demon like faith (Ja 2:19), but one needs to continue in the Faith, in the process of “being saved” . . .
One is to . . .
Repent of sins, (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3, 5) Jesus stated . . .
Luk 13:3 . . . except you repent, you shall all in like manner perish.
Repentance is a change in mind that results in a changed life
One is to . . .
Confess Jesus as the Christ before men (Acts 8:37; Rom 10:9), the eunuch said . . .
“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
So must you, you must confess that good confession as did Timothy in 1 Tim 6:12,
through this you are partaking in the continuing Great Commission
One is to . . .
Be baptized (immersed), which doth also now save us (1 Pet 3:21), it washes away our sins (Acts 22:16) immersed into Christ (Gal 3:27) into the death of Christ (Rom 6:3) where His precious blood was shed (John 19:34), unto (for) the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38; 22:16); this is the point wherein one is to be dead to self and alive to God (Rom 6:3-11)
And finally one is to . . .
Strive to live a holy life (1 Pet 1:15), not perfect, but faithful, being renewed day by day (2 Cor 4:16),
Putting off that old man, and putting on the new (Eph 4:22-24; Col 3:5-10), being constantly in a state of
spiritual growth, showing forth God’s love through your life as a Christian (only; 1 Pet 4:16), as the bible
teaches . . .
And being not “one that says” but rather “one that does” the will of the Father in order that you may
enter into the eternal phase kingdom of heaven, Jesus said in Mt 7:21 . . .
Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who keeps saying to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will get into the kingdom from heaven, but only the person who keeps doing the will of my Father in heaven. (ISV)