A Tour Through John, Lesson 39

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.Forgiveness (v.1) -- this is great news! Not that we should abuse God’s kindness, but in case we do sin (and we all do—let’s be honest), Jesus is right there speaking in our defense.Advocate, counselor, paraklete (v.1).Christ does not rationalize our sin through slick argument, but neutralizing it through his atoning blood. Would that the whole world grasped this and experienced it (2:2)!Some see in verse 2 a promise of ultimate redemption for everybody. This false doctrine is called universalism.And yet 1 John does not teach that everybody will be saved, only that God wants everyone to be saved. The Lord will never force anyone against his or her will.Rather, we should see 2:2 as a reflection of God's heart, longing that all would accept the message of Christ and be saved.3 Now by this we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his commandments. 4 Whoever says, “I have come to know him,” but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; 5 but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him: 6 whoever says, “I abide in him,” ought to walk just as he walked.Verses 3-6 are a clear passage on the commitment the Lord demands.It silences the opposition of those who insist that uncommitted people can be saved.Walking as Jesus did is not walking in sandals or walking on water. As we have seen, the walking of 2:6 is equivalent to the walking in the light of 1:7.There is a tremendous difference between knowing someone and knowing about someone. According to Jesus (Matthew 7:21-23), countless individuals confuse knowing about the Lord with knowing him personally. Obedience is the key. (See also 1 Corinthians 8:3.)There is no contradiction between living as a committed Christian and salvation by grace through the blood of Jesus. In fact, grace is designed to bring us into an obedient relationship with Christ.John speaks of "commandments" (v.4), which for some may be uncomfortable language. Yet Jesus did give us numerous commandments (e.g. Matt 5-7), and expects obedience.7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new commandment that is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says, “I am in the light,” while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.As in marriage, without commitment (faithfulness) the relationship sours and is eventually destroyed.The command about love (v.7ff) was old (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:37-40), but also new, because now we can see clearly what we need to do by imitating God in the flesh (John 13:34). The command to live as Jesus did is all about love (2:5), because the Christian’s life revolves around people.The truth of this command is seen “in him and you”: in the life of Christ and in our life as his body, the church of Christ.Those who had left the fellowship didn't love their brothers. It seems John is saying that those who leave the church, who do not keep their commitment of love to God and the family of God, “hate” their spiritual siblings.Whoever hates his brother is in darkness.There are enemies of the truth (see Acts 13:10) an enemies of the cross (Phil 3:18).Yet Christians do not have personal enemies (persons we hate). That is why bitterness, violence, retaliation, and hatred in all its forms are so opposed to the message of Christ.Ironically, John says that darkness blinds us (v.11).12 I am writing to you, little children,    because your sins are forgiven on account of his name.13 I am writing to you, fathers,    because you know him who is from the beginning.I am writing to you, young people,    because you have conquered the evil one.14 I write to you, children,    because you know the Father.I write to you, fathers,    because you know him who is from the beginning.I write to you, young people,    because you are strong    and the word of God abides in you,        and you have overcome the evil one.  Verses 12-14 are a poem, or song, which became familiar to the first century Christians. The rhyme and rhythm are evident in the Greek original, which is why most translators set it out in verse form.“Children” (v.12) isn't referring to infants or toddlers. It's those of us who have become children of God through the new birth. “My dear children” is one of John’s favorite descriptions of those who are in Christ.Our sins were forgiven through the name of Jesus, but when? At baptism, as Acts 2:38 and 22:16 make clear.The way to overcome the evil one is to let the word of Christ dwell in you (Colossians 3:16; Psalm 119:9). John assures us that the victory is ours! We need to think of ourselves as overcomers.15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; 16 for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.The warning about loving the world (vv.15-17) reminds us of James 4:4.We are to love nothing in the world because it is not possible to serve more than one master (Luke 16:13).What is “worldliness”? The worldly man thinks about everything in relation to himself; the godly man in relation to God. And the bonus for the man who lives for God: eternal life.Those who had left the church for Docetic theology were, despite their religion, worldly to the core. The false Christians left the fellowship. They stopped going to church—the right church, that is. They started up their own!Thought questions:Am I walking in the light? And is there any area of darkness in my life of which I am aware?Do I love my brothers and sisters? Is there hidden resentment or prideful independence that resists correction? Prejudice or hatred in any other form?Can I say with a clear conscience that the word of God lives in me?Am I worldly? What excites me more: my possessions, experiences, and accomplishments, or my walk with the Lord?