THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN -CHAPTER 2
I JOHN 2:1 - A FRIEND OF THE ACCUSED
"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous"
John uses the family term "my little children" to warn us that the grace and mercy of God, does not give us license to sin. Rather, he has written "these things ... that ye sin not". Paul says it this way; "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? ...Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through
Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom 6:1-3,11)
God’s provision of cleansing and Sacrifice is crowned by the gift of an Advocate a pleader, intercessor, a friend of the accused who is called to speak in his favor. These names have the meaning of one who pleads, convinces, convicts in a great controversy, who strengthens on the one hand and defends on the other. Scofield’s footnote says "Advocacy is that work of Jesus Christ for sinning saints, which He carries on with the Father whereby, because of the eternal efficacy of His own sacrifice, He restores them to fellowship"
In Romans 8:34 Paul states the truth explicitly: Christ "at the right hand of God......He intercedes for us". In Hebrews it says Christ has "entered into heaven. to appear in the presence of God on our behalf", a merciful and faithful High Priest, ever living to make intercession for us. The emphasis in Hebrews upon the qualifying sinlessness of the High Priest is echoed in John’s title for the Advocate, "the Righteous One".
What it means is that Jesus "represents us" before the Father. Advocacy is a comfort to the family, just as mother used to intercede for us some times to our earthly father when we had done wrong. We made a mistake if we thought mother’s intercession meant we could then continue to do wrong and not be punished.
vs 2 - GOD’S APPEASEMENT
"And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world"
Jesus is the means of appeasement, of propitiation, or expiation, concerning our sin. John’s language here is plainly sacrificial, the expiatory offerings of Judaism, illumine the meaning, and it reflects the idea in John’s gospel "the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29) and Jesus "appeared to take away sin (I John 3:5). This is the third part of god’s threefold provision for our sin. The first two parts we have already discussed; Cleansing and Advocacy. Presently John will add love as the source of expiation. God’s purpose
is not to just forgive and leave us were we are, His discipline, His light bearing upon our newly sensitive minds and hearts, and above all the constant experience of fellowship with Him, produce a cumulative and unceasing refinement of conscience and sanctification of character that makes sinners into saints.
vs 3 - WHO ARE THE REAL CHRISTIANS ?
"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments"
The Church was becoming confused -- Who are the real Christians ? Many of their best friends had separated themselves from the Apostolic fellowship.
Who should they fellowship with? John answers their questions by writing "They went out from us, but they were not of us" (I John 2:19). John states in this verse the real Christians are those who keep His commandments (His Word). Later he adds that the real Christians, also "have the witness of the Spirit" (I John 3:24 and 5:10) and "love the Brethren" (I John 3:14 and 4:20,21).
Since Christianity can be counterfeited, what real proof do we have that we are fellowshipping with real Christians? John says that real Christians will walk as Christ walked. Ye shall know them by their fruits. The real test of what you know is how you live. Professed insights that do not control behavior are exposed as mere theoretic opinions, and not convictions. Only by obedience to the truth we say we have, can we be ourselves be sure we are not misled. The test we usually apply to ourselves is that of feeling: the feeling of sincerity, of joy and peace and confidence. John affirms that we know whether we have truly arrived at an understanding of the gospel, and the knowledge of the Lord, by its practical effect upon ourselves to desire to do God’s will and the creation in us of the will to obey His Word. If Christ is in us, we will do what He would have done. Let’s name some things Jesus did when He was here on earth:
vs 4 - WHO ARE THE DECEIVED ?
"He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him"
Jesus said "Not every one who says to me Lord, Lord; shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father". To know Him thus means to obey Him. Whoever claims, therefore, to "know Christ" and yet does not watchfully keep His commandments is stating that he is patently false or a liar. He thinks he is spiritually wise, knowledgeable, instructed: but he does not yet know the elementary principle of Christianity - that Jesus is Lord. I hear many people who do not go to Church say the reason they do not go is that there are to many hypocrites in the Church. Now we know that is no excuse for them, but it points out that even the lost people recognize that if you are really a Christian you will "walk the walk and not just talk the talk".
To escape the error of salvation by works, many church members today have gotten rid of obedience. People want to believe without intending to obey. People are so deceived today, that they think to believe the word means to obey. They have substituted knowing for doing! God’s promises, which every one likes to hear, only needs to be believed; since a promise appeals to our understanding. On the other hand a command needs to be obeyed; since it appeals to our will. "Real faith and obedience are forever joined" Bill Agee
vs 5 - KEEPING HIS WORD
"But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we know Him"
On the other hand, whoever does keep the word of Christ, even though they make no great claim to spiritual understanding, show by their obedience that in them love towards God has reached its full maturity and fulfills its end. We expect John to say that "whoever keeps His word, in him truly is KNOWLEDGE perfected", but that would be asserting far too much and playing directly into the hands
of those who made knowledge and not character the primary matter in religion. Paul says it in (I Cor 8:1) "..we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth". For both apostles, loving obedience is the only proof that we know Jesus as living Savior and Lord. Even Jesus said, "If a man love me, he will keep my words" and "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loved me" (John 14:21 & 23).
Chapt 2 vs 6 - ABIDING IN CHRIST
"He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked"
In John 15:1-8 the Lord Jesus taught the secret of spiritual victory. He said, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches; He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing". There is no way "to walk even as he walked" except by abiding in Christ, being in touch with Him, knowing His
will, feeling His heartbeat, being wholly committed to His will and work!
Then Jesus revealed why many do not have victory, it is because there are two types of branches, the professors and the possessors. Christ Himself is the true vine, and we are His branches. He said "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit". The idea is that the Father does different things to the two types of branches.
First; What Vine are you attached to?
Ask yourself, How many things do I attach myself to for my well-being? Some people think their vine is their Individual Retirement Account, College degrees, popularity, business connections, possessions, or social relationships. Some people think the church is their vine. They attach themselves to a system of religion. But our vine should be Jesus Christ. Attending a church is not necessarily evidence of a vine-branch relationship. In fact, it can be a parasitic relationship. Sometimes people are like parasites because they attend Church only for what it will do for them. If the Church quits doing for them they quit. Not even a Sunday School Class or a Bible-study group or a Church can be a substitute for Jesus Christ as your sustenance for living.
Second consider the Branches:
1. The Professing Branches: "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away" A fruitless branch cannot represent a Christian. Jesus said, "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so, every good tree bringeth forth good fruit .. Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them" Math 7:16-17,20. In verse 2 "in me" sounds like the people who don’t bear fruit are Christians.
But these are those who are superficially attached(parasites). In Rom 11:20 Paul pictured Israel as an olive tree However, some of the branches of that tree weren’t saved. Verse 20 says "Because of unbelief they were broken off".
2. The Possessing Branches: "Every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit". Every believer in Christ gets purged because "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" Heb 12:6 If you could look at your problems as a divine procedure for becoming more fruitful, you might be tempted to pray for trouble! The Greek word
translated "purgeth" (kathairo) means "to clean". Extrabiblical Greek literature uses the word to refer to cleansing grain (separating it from the waste material). What instrument does God use to purge us? Jesus said "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you". Have you ever noticed how much more sensitive you are to the Word of God when you’re in trouble? Trouble opens our eyes to receive the divine "purging" performed by the Word
Third consider the meaning of Abiding:
The word "Abide" simply means "to remain". The mark of a Christian is that He or She remains (or lasts). Not by their own strength because it would mean that their salvation was based on their ability to "hang in there". Rather, remaining in Christ is evidence that a person is saved. It is like the good soil, the seed remained in the ground and grew, it was not plucked out by the birds, or choked by the thorns, or killed by the heat of the day.
Abiding means Lasting. It means keeping the faith. It means being faithful. It means staying true. It means remaining in Christ. The wonderful part of it is that Jesus said "Abide in me, and I will abide (remain) in you".
I have abided with my wife for almost forty six years, but even more amazing is the fact she has abided with me for that length of time. Jesus can and will abide with us for all eternity!
Remember that the Lord Jesus wants souls saved. That is what He died for. That is what the Great Commission means. Christ came to "seek and to save that which was lost" again, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners". If I abide in Christ, my aim, my purpose, my burden, my business, my work, will be the same as His! And my fruit will be the fruit He wants. The fruit of a Christian is another Christian. If we are not a witness, then the Bible makes it clear that we do not abide in Christ. Our heart is not at one with His heart. Whatever our
activity, whatever our reputation, however sanctimonious we feel, we do not abide in Christ, if we do not witness. That is why the lost call many church members hypocrites, they know that we should be Christ like and be witnesses. They know we should walk as He walked.
vs 7 - THE OLD "NEW" COMMANDMENT
"Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning."
Anxious to not arouse pride or offend, John repudiates any thought of imposing a novel demand, inventing some new gospel requirement. There are too many such new thoughts embroidering the apostolic gospel as it is. But John reminds his readers of the Master’s own "new" commandment TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER". Love is that power of moral understanding which, almost with the certainty of instinct, discovers the way through the maze to those "good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them".
vs 8 - THE TRUE LIGHT
"Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth"
All the same, speaking of commandments, John will remind his readers of the new commandment, belonging essentially to the new age which now steadily advances, the commandment new from Him and new also to them: to love one another. This is the law of the age of light, the mark of the children of light, the true light which, since Christ, is already shining. By it you may distinguish those who are truly in the light, and those who merely think and claim they are.
vs 9 - THE TRUE DARKNESS - SELF DECEPTION
"He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now"
Self justification and self deception are closely related. Those who claim to know the whole truth and to even to have a corner on the truth, often deride and abuse those who believe differently. The test, according to John is the ability to love even those you disagree with. Know-it-all people do not impress God and His word says "pride cometh before a fall" Hate, always involves pride, self justifying ego, or selfish desires; none of which pleases God. We often hide our own sins by magnifying the sins of others.
vs 10 - HOW TO KEEP FROM STUMBLING
"He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him"
John did not agree with the Gnostics, as Christians we are to hate the Sin (false doctrine), but love the sinner. The quickest way to stumble as a Christian is to hate those who believe differently than we. The Bible says; "Love covers a multitude of sin". The light of God is love and those who are blinded with the false doctrines of the world, will never see the truth without love. That means we are to love the Catholics, love the Pentecostals, love the Methodists, and even love the lost! That doesn’t mean we have to agree with them, or do what they do, or believe what they believe, but we must not hate them or we will surely stumble.
vs 11 - HOW TO LOSE YOUR WAY
"But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes"
Whatever our pretensions to enlightenment, he who lacks love is living in the dark, moving around in darkness, stumbling, lost, and blinded. There is no darkness deeper than hate, and no hatred darker than religious hate. Of all the bitter lessons of the twentieth century, none is more plain than this: that victory is not enough, that revenge solves no problems. National hostility, racial rivalry, class hatred, ideological bitterness, family quarrels and personal feuds, all mend nothing. He who hates his brother is in darkness, he does not see where he is going, what lies ahead, or where his attitudes will come out; the darkness of an unloving heart gets into the mind, the conscience, the eyes and the very soul. Hate blinds men to facts, to people, to reality,
and to all good sense. It is because self-seeking governs men that life
becomes so entangled.
Chapt 2 vs 12 - THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN
"I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake."
The most powerful, and perhaps the most prevalent, impulse toward Christian faith arises from a sense of guilt and helplessness in the struggle with evil. The good news of Christ is the news of free pardon to all who repent and believe. This free forgiveness of grace is set against the laborious attempts of those who, whether in pride or in despair, strive to earn God’s favor through the keeping of some law or standard. Whatever standard we set for ourselves, it is far short of God’s standard, and therefore, we left with only one hope, the
grace and mercy of God. "Little children" confess and turn away from your sin, and trust in the mercy and grace of God who will be "faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness".
vs 13 - THE STRENGTH OF EXPERIANCE
"I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father."
A true appreciation of just how much Christ has given us and done for us is the surest of all safeguards against slipping away from faith to some superficial substitute. Paul told the Galatians about their peril in turning to "another gospel", when he said "Did your receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing with faith?... Did you experience so many things in vain?". In this verse, John appeals to the various levels of Christian experience to remind his readers how much is at stake if they turn away from the things they have heard
at the beginning, how much they stand to lose if they secede! In the fathers, the blessings of the Gospel have matured as "good wine kept until afterward". We look to mature experience for a largeness of view, a calm, untroubled depth of conviction, a clear-eyed judgement upon life, which youth cannot have. The spiritual wisdom and depth of knowledge that only come with lengthening spiritual experience are the especial blessing of the mature. Youth, on the other hand, rejoices in its strength, and most of all in its strength for conflict, in the joy of victory.
vs 14 - THE DIFFERENCE OF EXPERIENCE
"I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one".
The difference of "fathers" and "young men" is the difference of wisdom and the soldiers in the Christian army. As the reward of the fathers is advancing knowledge, the fruit of experience,so the reward of the young men is victory, the prize of strength. How is it that the young have the spiritual strength for victory? The young men conquer because they are strong, and they are strong because God’s word is ever in their hearts, "the Word of God, which abideth in" them. Yet all can be surrendered by disloyalty, by letting slip the things once heard and believed.
vs 15 - A DANGEROUS LOVE AFFAIR
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him"
Love means time, it is what we give ourselves to, the bible teaches us that love is the highest attribute man can attain. It is greater than faith, and greater than hope (I Cor 13). But misplaced affection can be very dangerous.
Paul said, "Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world" Love for the world takes us away from God’s service. What a privilege to be able to serve the Lord along side the apostle Paul and to be included as one of the hero’s of faith in the bible. Instead of being a blessing to untold generations of people, Demas forsook that blessing to have temporary pleasure in the world.
Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt because she could not break from the world. She left her own husband to turn back to her friends and possessions. Lot’s two unmarried daughters were taken out of Sodom but Lot could not get Sodom out of his daughters. They got Lot drunk and had sex with their own father. Lot also lost his married daughters and sons-in-law (Gen 19:14) because he had lost his testimony and "he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law". What did Lot do wrong? He "pitched his tent toward Sodom" He could of had the counsel of the great man of faith Abraham, but instead put business first.
Many people today leave the fellowship of the Church and godly friends to make more money. Then he called the wicked his brethren. When the sodomites would have raped the holy angles sent to deliver him, Lot said, "I pray you brethren, do not so wickedly" (Gen 19:7). Lot never intended to move into Sodom, he only "pitched his tent toward Sodom". Little by little Lots conscience was dulled, he was not quite as offended by the wickedness of the city after he became accustomed to it. How subtle, how stealthy, is the ruin wrought by evil company.
The rich farmer died as a fool because he lived only for this world (Luke 12) He had lived his whole life to make money and save money, then just when he decided to "take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry" God said "this night thy soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" Paul warns that those who covet after money "have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" The love of money
caused the rich young ruler to turn away from Christ (Mark 10).
vs16 - ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."
This is the divine summary of all the world consists of. The world "Kosmos in Greek, is the present world system and refers to the order or arrangement under which Satan has organized the world of unbelieving mankind upon his cosmic principles of force, greed, selfishness, ambition, and pleasure" (Scofield).
The lust of the flesh: for rest, for food, for pleasure, all are good if the priority is first given to God. "seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto thee". In Math 4, the devil waits until Jesus has fasted forty days and forty nights, then he said "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread". But Jesus answered and said "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God". Do you notice how tired we are when it is time to pray or visit? We say we need our rest, but if it were something that brought us pleasure, we would be ready to go. In fact the devil uses our natural needs against us, by waiting until we are weak, then tempting us.
The lust of the eyes: to see the wonders of the world, the beauty of nature, the latest movie or television show; anything to keep us from reading the Word of God, or attending church. In verse 8 of Math 4, the devil took Jesus unto an exceeding high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and then said "All these things will I give thee, if thou will fall down and worship me", after which Jesus replied "Get thee hence Satan; for it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve"
The pride of life: In II Tim 3:12, the bible says that in the last days "Men shall be lovers of their own selves". Perhaps it will be more pronounced, but it was pride that caused the devil himself to fall. when he said "I will exalt my throne above the throne of God". The Pharisee loved himself and went home unjustified (Luke 18) We are proud to be Americans, and proud to be sooners, and proud to belong to Bethel Baptist Church, but does our pride cause us to do foolish things? In vs 5 of Math 4, the devil took Jesus up into the Holy city and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said, "If thou be the Son of God; cast thyself down; for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning thee; and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone" at which Jesus said, "It is written Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God". Do you know the bible says "Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall"? What do we have that we have not received of Him ?
vs 17 - THE TEMPORARY VS THE PERMANENT
"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that
doeth the will of God abideth forever"
The issue is no less one of sane self-preservation. For to build on sands that drift is to invite disaster: to love things that are bound to pass is to determine beforehand, with open eyes, that the heart shall at last be left barren and bereaved; to lay up as one’s treasure that which moth and rust and burglary will take from you is to ensure a final bankruptcy. The world has no future, says John, nor have they who love it and live for it. The transitory nature of the world imposes the obligation not to cling to it or follow its ways. In other words the urgency of the last days demands that Christians love each other more and the world far less!
