I John 2:21

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I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

THE STUDY:

          We get the sense, again, that John is addressing the readers as a pastor would address his congregation. He writes, “I write to you, not because you do not know the truth.” The readers are fully familiar with the truth in Jesus Christ, so that John has no need to communicate the gospel to them. We assume that John writes these words to the readers to remind them that they are not without the truth. In fact they have the ability to use the truth in their opposition to Gnostic teachers who deny Jesus as the Christ. Does John write his epistle only to combat Gnosticism? No, he writes for the following reasons.

“But [I write] because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth” (italics added). The readers know the truth and they are able to detect the lie by exposing it in the light of the truth. Truth and light are the opposites of the lie and darkness.^[1]

           

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that knowing the truth is one of the most effective ways in combating the lies of Satan. I believe every Christian would say, “Amen” to this but not every Christian is in the TRUTH: the Bible! As a matter of fact statistics show something very alarming. Readership of the Bible has declined from the 1980s overall, from 73% to 59% today. The percentage of frequent readers, that is, those who read the Bible at least once a week, has decreased slightly over the last decade, from 40% in 1990 to 37% today. About one American in seven reports an involvement that goes beyond reading the Bible. Fourteen percent currently belong to a Bible study group. In terms of frequency of readership, 16% of Americans say that they read the Bible every day, 21% say they read it weekly, 12% say they read the Bible monthly, 10% say less than monthly and 41% say that they rarely or never read the Bible.[2]

CONCLUSION:

          Martin Luther revealed to us the priority of the Word of God in ones life. When Luther walked into the presence of Charles V and other powerful persons at the Diet of Worms, April 1521, to answer charges of heresy and to hear a possible death sentence, an old knight was heard to say: “Little monk, I like the step you take but neither I nor any of our battle comrades would take it.”

During a high moment in the trial, Martin Luther exclaimed:

I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other—my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.^[3]

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, let our lives be placed on the foundation of the WORD OF GOD; The TRUTH!

           

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (279). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

[2]www.centerforbibleengagement.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=7

^[3] Jones, G. C. (1986). 1000 illustrations for preaching and teaching (85). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.