Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire (I John 4:20)

No Video Blog For this Devotional

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

THE STUDY:

This morning we are going to focus in on the first section of this verse, “he is a liar.” The word liar is used seven times by John in his writings (2 – The Gospel, 5 – I John). This word was not necessarily used to speak about someone who is lying as much as pointing out someone who is opposed to God.

In the OT and Jewish tradition God is considered the truthful and inherently faithful one (cf. Num 23:19; 1 Sam 15:29; Ps 33:4). Therefore, ψεύστης is usually used of the attitude of opposition to God and the inclination toward what is worthless.^[1]

Even though unloving people may be publicly identified with the church, failing the love test relegates them to a category reserved for serious offenders. The designation liar applies to those who disobey God’s commands (2:4) and who deny that Jesus is the Christ (2:22). Liars are antichrists (2:22), who deny God and Christ.^[2]

                   

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that to confess “LOVE FOR GOD” is to confess “LOVE FOR OUR BORTHER.” If we profess hatred for our brother then we are opposed to GOD.

CONCLUSION:

           Love for God cannot remain a warm feeling in our hearts that moves vertically to heaven but horizontally fails to reach our fellow man. Genuine love for God and for our neighbor extends both ways.

God created man in his own image and likeness (Gen. 1:26–27). He requires us to love man because we are made in that image.^[3]

          This morning let us reveal our Love for God by loving our fellow believers. Remember, those who don’t believe are watching and if they see us spewing animosity toward others, they are seeing a liar.

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

---

^[1] Balz, H. R., & Schneider, G. (1990-). Vol. 3: Exegetical dictionary of the New Testament (499). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans.

^[2] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (152). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

^[3] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (342). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

I John 2:22-23 (Part 1)

View Video Blog Right click Link: I John 2:22-23 (Part 1)

Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.

THE STUDY:

 I find it interesting the fact that John asked a question and then answered it in the same sentence. This is done in today culture. We use this technique if we are really trying to stress a point. We see this on TV in those police shows. They say to the crook, “Who stole the jewels?” And before the crook can answer, the cop says, “You did!” They know he did it; they just wanted him to confess. John may be doing the same thing in this verse.

From the general context, we cannot say that John is speaking to Jewish opponents who refused to accept Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah. John is opposing Gnostic teachers who taught that Jesus was a man who lived and died. During Jesus’ public ministry, the Gnostics said, the Christ descended upon him and gave him divine power from the time of his baptism to the time of his suffering. At the conclusion of Jesus’ suffering, Christ departed. To the Gnostics, then, Jesus was not the Christ. And John says that the person who proclaims this teaching is a liar. More than that, says John, he is the antichrist.^[1]

         

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• This morning we walk away with the understanding that issues of this nature need to be addressed. Sometimes they can be handled behind closed doors in a very mild manner. But then there are times when we will have to address these types of issues publically. No one likes confrontation, but if the Gospel of Jesus Christ is being lied about, like John, someone needs to take the pastoral stance.

CONCLUSION:

          I see, more and more every day, the attempted to water down the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I hear so many excuses, which may be good excuses, in the world’s eyes, but in the realm of the Gospel it could lead to a false doctrine. I have seen good people turn from their upbringing, their beliefs, even their faith in order to appease others. Church, let us not compromise the Gospel to appease man. Look for the lies in the world today and rebuke them and continue on in the truth.

           

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 (281). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

I John 2:4

View the Video Blog by right clicking this link:  I John 2:4

“Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,”

THE STUDY:

          This morning we need to take a step back and see what John is saying in this verse. In that days, John was addressing people who were claiming to “know” Jesus. Claiming it is one thing but when our actions, words, and motives don’t line up with what we claim we are misrepresenting Jesus. John may have been writing this in regard to the fact that the Gnostics, who claim to “Know” Jesus, were not following the teachings of Jesus.

          When we make a claim such as “I know him” and yet we do not keep his commandments we are negatively affecting ourselves and those who are watching us as well. John pulls out one of his big words to reveal who we really are when we do such a thing, “A LIAR!” We lie to ourselves as well as to others when we claim to know Jesus but we don’t follow his commandments.

          The word “liar” is used only ten times in the N.T. Seven times John uses this word (2 in the Gospel and 5 times in I John). John uses the same word to describe Satan as “father of lies” (John 8:44). We can sense that John is revealing to the readers the fact that if they “know Jesus” but yet they don’t keep his commandments then they are not of God but of evil. The word liar is defined as an attitude of opposition to God and the inclination toward what is worthless. It is not a matter of untrue or incorrect words, but rather of a person’s opposition to God.^[1]

The statement, ‘the truth is not in him’, is synonymous with ‘he is a liar’. Underlying this whole verse is the recognition that people can’t have an authentic relationship with God if they do not obey his commands.

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

•         What needs to be understood concerning this passage of scripture is the fact that claiming one thing but yet doing the opposite is not only negatively affecting those who are being lied to but the liar as well.

•         We cannot have the peace of God dwelling inside of us if we are professing to “know him” but not keeping the commandments.

CONCLUSION:

          Let me leave you with this thought. Next to the one who does not pay his bill, the doctor’s most annoying patient is the one who refuses to follow orders. Recently it was estimated that between 16 to 90 percent of all patients leave half-empty pill bottles, cheat on diets, continue to smoke, or never return for checkups despite careful prescriptions and cautious advice. ^[2]

          I believe if these statistics were reversed we would have a healthier nation. However, what happens is we tell the doctor we have been or we are going to do all of the things recommended by him/her, yet we leave knowing we haven’t or we will adhere to the doctors recommendations.

          This is where the problem is with our walk with Jesus. We cannot look at His commandments as recommendations but directives. They are not suggestions but requirements. If we say we are doing them but yet we are not, WE ARE LIARS! Let us not be liars but obedient followers of Jesus Christ. This not only will positively affect us but those around us as well.

           

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

---

^[1] Balz, H. R., & Schneider, G. (1990-). Vol. 3: Exegetical dictionary of the New Testament (499). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans.

^[2] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times. Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.