I John 2:19

View Video Blog Right Click Link: I John 2:19

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

THE STUDY:

          Five times in this verse John uses the word us. In the original John writes “from us” four times and “with us” once. He wants to make sure that the reader understands that those whom he calls antichrists have left the church because they really did not belong to the church. The antichrists leave but the members of the church remain. Not those who deny the Christ are important, but the believers. And for this reason, John stresses the pronoun us at the end of every clause.^[1]

          In a negative manner, many of God’s people have experienced someone leaving the church, leaving a marriage, or leaving a ministry. What we find in many (NOT ALL) of these situations is a commitment that has been broken. Not between man and his fellow servants but between man and God. We have to understand there are wolves in sheep clothing amongst the church. We don’t like to admit this but there are and how we handle them is what’s important.

          John omits the details of this situation he is writing about, but we assume that the original readers knew the situation and had vivid memories of the tension that eventually caused the departure of the unbelievers. If you noticed John was more concerned with those who stayed than he was with those who left. John was taking a group of people who has been through a very traumatic time and was rallying the troops (Believers).  

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• I believe 90% of pastor in America have been through a difficult time such as disgruntled members leaving the church. I believe 90% of God’s children have been a part of, involved with, or helped try and salvage a broken marriage. Whatever the situation may be, God will always rally the troops (Believers). He is faithful and just and will make it better than it was due to the faithfulness of those who believe.  

CONCLUSION:

          I read a statistic once that said 95% of people don’t have a problem with Jesus; they have a problem with the church. You can read this two different ways but the fact of the matter is this, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chron. 7:14). If the people who belong to the church of Jesus Christ would emulate the characteristics of Jesus Christ, if the believers would be like Christ in their marriages, we would not have the problems we have today in our churches and society as a whole. Let us be like Jesus and not like the world.

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

---

^[1] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (276). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.