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.

I John 2:20

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But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.

THE STUDY:

          This morning we are going to look at verse 20. John was combating the Gnostic view which emphasized their own special reception of the Spirit. John responds by emphasizing that only those who have received true anointing are the ones who hold fast to what has been given them, namely, the correct confession of Jesus as the Christ.

          We, as believers in Christ, will face this in our world today. There are organizations and cultish clans teaching a theology that is very close to the Gospel of Christ but it is a false doctrine. There are groups that claim to be Christians but in their teachings they are adding to or taking away from the Gospel of Christ.

          How do we recognize these teachings? How do we combat these false doctrines? We do this through our Knowledge of Christ and his teachings. Some translate this verse “and you all know” (NASB) while others translate it “and all of you know the truth” (NIV) The bottom line is we will know Christ by reading and studying his word while walking with Him daily.

 

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• This morning we walk away with the understanding that there is only one true God. We know this through our walk with Him, through our devotional time with Him, and through our anointing by Him.

CONCLUSION:

The world today has so many things to offer. When I was in High School I had three sports to participate in; football, basketball and baseball. That was it! But in today’s world our children have so many choices when it comes to sports. Religion is not different in today’s culture. There are so many different religions to choose from, so many gods to worship. But there is only one true God.

           

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

I John 2:19

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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

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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 (276). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

I John 2:18

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Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.

THE STUDY:

           Again, John addresses the reader in an intimate way by calling them “Children.” This is also referring to John as a pastor leading his flock. The phrase, “the last hour” is something that is viewed in many different ways. The dominant sense of the expression last days, in the New Testament, is that of a period of suffering and struggle preceding a divine victory. Hence the phrase here does not refer to the end of the world, but to the period preceding a crisis in the advance of Christ’s kingdom, a changeful and troublous period, marked by the appearance of “many antichrists.”^[1]

          Antichrist refers to someone who stands against Christ, or one who stands instead of Christ.^[2] While the false Christ is merely a pretender to the Messianic office, the Antichrist “assails Christ by proposing to do or to preserve what he did, while denying Him.” Antichrist, then, is one who opposes Christ in the appearance of Christ.^[3]

          To bring this into our world today, we face difficulties each and every day. We know, as believers, that during these periods of suffering and struggles there is a divine victory coming. We can rest assured that as a follower of Jesus we have VICTORY! But with this understanding, we need to be warned to the fact that there will be attacks by the antichrist.

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We can walk away with the understanding that in this day and time we will have sufferings and struggles. But VICTORY is ours! We have read the end of the Bible, Jesus wins!

CONCLUSION:

          The cocoon of the emperor moth is flask-shaped. In order for the perfect insect to appear it must force its way through the neck of the cocoon in hours of intense struggling. It is believed that the pressure to which the moth’s body is subjected is a provision of nature for forcing the juices into the vessels of the wings.

          A person was witnessing this struggle once, and out of pity took the point of some scissors and snipped the confining threads to make the exit easier, but the moth’s wings never developed, and it spent its brief span of life crawling instead of flying through the air on rainbow wings.

          Look not with false pity on God’s children who suffer. As men we are inclined to be shortsighted. God would have us inspire their courage in the midst of it by remembering His love, and then looking for the glory to come out of it. ^[4]Let us look at the struggles of life as a time for building up instead of ripping down. The antichrist in the world wants to take the credit for the victory but the one who gets the praises for the victory in our lives should be Jesus.

         

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Vincent, M. R. (2002). Word studies in the New Testament (1 Jn 2:18). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[2] Vincent, M. R. (2002). Word studies in the New Testament (1 Jn 2:18). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[3] Vincent, M. R. (2002). Word studies in the New Testament (1 Jn 2:18). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[4] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times. Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

I John 2:17

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And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

THE STUDY:

           This morning we need to look at the brief existence of worldly people, pleasures, and desires. If we place our interest in that which is here today and gone tomorrow, we reap a harvest of instability, stumbles in the darkness of sin and, because we have cast our lot with the world and face a similar end. “For this world in its present form is passing away” (I Cor. 7:31).

However, the child of God is secure, for he possesses eternal life. [Let me be sure you understand, this is not the teachings of “Eternal Security” but the teachings of a continual personal relationship with Christ. In this relationship we can have the promise of being one of God’s eternal children.] What a contrast! The person who loves the world soon passes away, “but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” John echoes Jesus’ words: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21; also I Peter 4:2). When the will of man is in harmony with the will of God, the Christian has fellowship with the Father and the Son that lasts forever ^[1]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that our focus, interest, desires, and passion needs to be that of God! The world offers many things and there is nothing wrong with having these things. The problem arises when those worldly things supersede our relationship with Christ.  

CONCLUSION:

          I remember purchasing these nice chairs that went with the decor of the kitchen. They were these high bar stool chairs that were cast iron. My wife loved how they fit nicely up under the high counter top in the kitchen. My wife would not let our children sit on them and eat or drink anything. Living in the parsonage, we would have people over from time to time and they would bring their children. This would cause my wife to get a little nervous when it came time to eat. The kids would always want to eat at the counter.

          Long story short, those same chairs now sit down stairs in the basement. Over time those chairs have lost their value in my wife’s eyes. It wasn’t until my wife realized those chairs were becoming more to her than the will of God. She realized it was more important to build relationships than build a nicely decorated house.

          This morning, if there is any worldly things that may be taking the place of the Will of the Father, remove it and get things back in the order that was originally intended, God first, family, second, everything else third!

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 (272–273). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

I John 2:16 (Part 3)

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For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

THE STUDY:

          John lists the third tendency in words that cannot be translated easily. Translators provide a number of equally valid versions. Here are some representatives:

“The pride of life” (KJV, NKJV, RSV)

“The boastful pride of life” (NASB)

“All the glamour of its life” (NEB)

“The life of empty show” (NAB)

“Pride in possessions” (ESV)

“The boasting of what [man] has and does” (NIV)

The reason for these numerous variations lies in two Greek words: “boast” and “life.” The first word means the boasting of a braggart or impostor (compare James 4:16). This boasting may even approach the point of arrogant violence. The second denotes life with respect to actions and possessions. The person who brags about his deeds and goods expresses “lust for advantage and status.”^[1]

          What I tend to find in a person who boast about what he or she has materially is a person who is insecure about themselves. They find their identity in the material things they have and fill or replace that which is missing inside their heart. As a believer we know what is missing; Jesus. Finding contentment in Christ fills the void that has been missing since the fall of man. We cannot replace that with the world. If we try to do this, John tells us we are not from the Father but ….. from the world.

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away with the understanding this morning that the void that has been in our hearts and lives for all these many years can only be filled with the original occupant, Jesus Christ. Nothing else will suffice.

CONCLUSION:

          Paul tells us to live victoriously and to avoid excesses of the flesh. Moody once illustrated this truth as follows: “Tell me,” he said to his audience, “How can I get the air out of this glass?” One man said, “Suck it out with a pump.” Moody replied, “That would create a vacuum and shatter the glass.” After many impossible suggestions, Moody smiled, picked up a pitcher of water, and filled the glass. “There,” he said, “all the air is now removed.” He then went on to show that victory in the Christian life is not by “sucking out a sin here and there,” but rather by being filled with the Spirit.

          My prayer for you today is that you not try and fill that void in your life with material things of this world but with the original occupant of that void, Jesus Christ!

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 (272). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

I John 2:16 (Part 2)

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For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

THE STUDY:

           Friday we started into verse 16 and discussed the issue of the world. John reveals three aspects; cravings, lust, and boasting. Friday we addressed the issues of craving. Today we are going to look at lust. John writes, For all that is in the world …. the desires of the eyes, and brings out an issue that many don’t like to admit to or talk about; lust!

          The NIV translates this passage with the words “craving” and “lust” but in the Greek they are the same word. To help us better understand, the NIV translators decided to use different words to express Johns thoughts. Nothing wrong with this, it just needs to be mentioned.

John is speaking with the understanding that the world may look good and may tempt us to desire it instead of God but this is not the longing of God. It is not a sin to desire a nice house, car, better job, or a lot of money. Where the problem lies is the heart. When we desire these things “in our heart” more so than desiring a healthy relationship with God, we have a problem. As a matter of fact John says someone who desires what they see more so than desiring God is not from the Father. Remember, John is dealing with a group that believes in God but they also believe they have a “more excellent way” to spiritual things. This group was bent more toward the world than the ways of Jesus.

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

What we can walk away with this morning is the understanding that the world may entice, intrigue, or even bait us into seeing good in it more so than seeing good in God. But let us never take our eyes off Jesus. Let us never forget how sin entered into the world, by Adam and Eve, and Satan tempting them with power and beauty, “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” (Gen. 3:6)

CONCLUSION:

          This was a letter to Dear Abby: “Since I am a pastor with 43 years’ experience, I’d like to offer this suggestion to the inexperienced young minister who didn’t know how to handle a very bold woman in his congregation who had designs on him. “Whenever I noticed a romantic twinkle in the eye of a woman in my congregation, I always checked to make sure it wasn’t caused by a reflection from the gleam in my own. The Rev. Walter Cowen.”^[1]

          Let us be watchful of Satan’s temptations and keep our EYES ON JESUS!

         

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times. Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.