I John 2:5-6 (Part 3)

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but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

THE STUDY:

          Today’s devotional is filled with some good stuff. But isn’t all of God’s word GOOD STUFF? As we look at verse 6 today we will find something interesting. The first part of the verse reads, whoever says he abides in him ought to walk! I want to key in on the word “ought!” The Greek word used in this passage is opheilei, which means TO OWE. As you can see, it gives this passage a deeper feel for what John is saying. It is not just a suggestion to walk as Jesus walked but a sense of payment. Now we know that our salvation is not something we receive by works (paying it off) but by faith.

          An example of this, in our day and time, would be someone doing you a huge favor, such as coming over and helping you fix your car when it broke down, without accepting payment of any kind. Being an honorable person you would have a sense of some type of reimbursement. John is implying that if we say we are going to remain in (abide) Jesus the lease we can do is walk the way He walked.

          The last word that stands out in this verse is “walk.” The same Greek word is used in both instances, “peripateō” which means: a way a person conducts oneself. John is saying that we owe it to Jesus, for the sacrifice on the cross, to conduct ourselves as he conducted himself while on this earth. This is not out of some type of payment for His sacrifice on the cross but out of love for His sacrifice on the cross. Jesus walked in the light and John believes we should to do the same. Our actions should be that of Jesus, nothing more but definitely, nothing less.

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

•          This morning let us remember the sacrifice Christ made on the cross for you and I.

•          Let us also remember as Christ walked in the light we need to as well.

•          Finally, let our conduct match that which of Jesus. Nothing more, and definitely, nothing less!

CONCLUSION:

          I was filling in one Sunday for the teacher of our young boys’ class. I asked them a simple question, “What do you think Jesus was like?” I was expecting an answer like: He was a good man; He was a poet; He was a carpenter; He was like God. To my surprise one little fellow raised his hand and replied, “I think Jesus was like my Sunday School teacher.”

Has anyone ever compared your demeanor and deeds to those of Jesus?

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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I John 2:5-6 (Part 2)

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“but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

THE STUDY:

          Today we are looking at the phrase “in him truly the love of God is perfected.” I was going to skip over this part but God revealed to me this is one of the most important parts of this verse. What we find in this passage of scripture is something out of character for John. Up to this point John has been saying such things as Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him (Verse 4)! John is basically saying that if you “know” Jesus then you will keep his commandments but if you don’t keep the commandments yet say you know him, you are a liar. We can sense John’s passion in verse four but something else shines through in verse five and six, God’s perfect love. One commentator writes, the obedient child of God is characterized, not by any typical trait or quality of his own personality, but merely as the subject of the work of divine love: as the sphere in which that love accomplishes its perfect work.^[1]

          The Greek expression “the love of God” (rendered “God’s love”) could mean either His love for a Christian or a Christian’s love for God. But the NIV rendering is perhaps the best, particularly in light of John 14:21-23. In that passage an obedient disciple is promised a special experience of the love of the Father and Son. Since a Christian is already the object of God’s saving love, this additional, firsthand realization of the divine affection may be properly said to make God’s love complete in him (cf. 1 John 4:12, 17). That is to say, an obedient believer has a deep, full-orbed acquaintance with “God’s love.” Since God is love (4:16), to know God intimately is to know His love intimately.^[2]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• There are different levels of love that we all experienced in our lives. They all are different in their own little ways. The love for your pet is different from a love for your spouse or your child. A love for a sport is different from a love for a neighbor or friend. We can see in scripture there are different levels of love. Jesus asked Peter, three time, “Do you Love me?” In that passage Jesus uses two different levels of love. Let us remember that no matter what the level, the common denominator should always be “LOVE.”

CONCLUSION:

          While tucking my children in bed one night I was asked this question, “Dad, what do the words, “Cherubim and seraphim” mean?” I took time to tell them that cherubim was a Hebrew word meaning knowledge, and the word seraphim stood for flame, explaining that it some scholars believe the cherubim are angels that excel in knowledge and the seraphim are those who excel in love for God. My youngest son says, “I hope that when I die I will be a seraphim. I would rather love God than to know everything.”

          I hope this morning we realize, sense, and see the Love that God has for us. And, in our response, God realizes, senses, and sees the Love we have for Him. One way of showing God we love him, “Keep the word!”

           

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Vincent, M. R. (2002). Word studies in the New Testament (1 Jn 2:5). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[2] Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (1 Jn 2:5–6). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

I John 2:5-6 (Part 1)

View Video Blog by right clicking the Link: I John 2:5-6 (Part 1)

“but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

THE STUDY:

          Today John is continuing with the understanding that we must match up our actions with what is coming from our mouths. John uses some words that I think are important in the understanding of what he is trying to get across to the reader. This first word is “keeps!” This is a powerful word when we look at its meaning. The Greek word is “tēreō” which means to guard, preserve, or hold fast to. In the Greek/English Lexicon it breaks words down by their various shades of meaning and shows the nuances in word meanings and explains difficult expressions and idiomatic usages of words, and even provides advice on how words might be translated under various conditions. A great tool to have while studying the word of God. It shows the word “keep” actually implies a sense of “obedience.” John is not going back to the aspect of “the Law” and legalism. He is implying something to the effect of obeying or guarding the word near to your heart. Something that would be so precious that you didn’t want to lose it.

          A great example of this is found in marriage ceremonies today. I stood before God, my future spouse, family, and friends and made a vow! In those vows I stated “I will love her, comfort her, honor her, and keep her ….” We recite this word saying to all, who hear, we will hold fast to our wife. How do we hold fast? We do it by being obedient to the vow we made. We make this so precious that we guard it with our heart.

          John is saying to the reader that whoever holds fast to and obeys God’s word, holds it close to their heart and will obey it. John is not speaking to a group of people who didn’t know the word of God. He was addressing individuals who knew the word but didn’t give it the significance or made it so precious that they would do anything not to lose it.

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

•          This word, “Keep” is very powerful when we look at the true meaning of it and how it is used in this passage. Let us remember the importance of our commitment to Christ. Let our words line up with our actions in displaying our love for Jesus.

•          Let us not forget how significant the word of God is in our lives. Let us not fall to the temptation of believing God only wants part of our devotion to Him. If we keep his commands we are holding fast to the fact that He wants all of us!

CONCLUSION:

           Ludwig Nommensen, a pioneer missionary to the Batak tribesmen, was told that he could stay for two years, during which time he studied the customs and traditions that ruled the people. At the end of that time the chief asked him if there was anything in the Christian religion that differed from the traditions of the Batak. “We, too, have laws that say we must not steal, nor take our neighbor’s wife, nor bear false witness,” the chief said.

The missionary answered quietly, “My Master gives the power to keep His laws.” The chief was startled. “Can you teach my people that?” he asked. “No, I cannot, but God can give them that power if they ask for it and listen to His Word.”

The missionary was permitted to stay another six months, during which time he taught just one thing—the power of God. There are now about 450,000 Batak Christians.

Let me encourage you today by saying, we can KEEP God’s word! But it is only by His power and strength, not ours. If you are feeling like you are about to let go and walk away because you just can't do it anymore, TRUST JESUS! Let him take over and see what happens. Hold fast to His word through His strength and power!

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod