1 John 2:28-3:3 "The Name Above All Names"

Study Notes

Abide - John 15 - Season of pruning, our role is to abide. Knowing I’m a child, allows me to abide in Him. Last week - Remain, this week continue to remain.

7th time this verb is used here!

John 15:9 - The image of reclining on Jesus, as he reclines on the Father

Genesis 2 shame vs Revelation 22:20 excitement for Christ’s return.

Romans 8 - No condemnation, here we see confidence and no shame

The wicked, instead are terrified - Isa 2:10-21; Joel 1:15; Joel 2:1, 11; Amos 5:18-20)

Practicing righteousness - moral purity is a fruit of abiding. Purifying yourself, practicing righteousness.

1 John 3:1-3 - Need a new paradigm of father and child.

SEE the love. See it.

How do you see the love of the father? In others, in you, examples?

We’re taking on a family resemblance.

ANE cultures believed children got their character from their father.

Exodus 34:29-35 - Moses was “like” God, but wasn’t all-knowing or anything like that

The Bible does not teach a doctrine of likeness to God in his omniscience, etc. but in his resemblance.

Theology - Born of Him, child of him.

Like Christ in glory (Col 3:4) The beatific vision, the seeing of God and fills beholders with joy, gives us hope, and purifies our lives (1 John 3:3). The standard for holiness is Christ himself; he is both Savior and example for his people.

Pure like he’s pure - It’s a moral purity being referenced here… In the OT, a ritual purity made a way for moral purity. Jesus gives both.

NOTE: The change in voice tense between ch 2 and 3. YOU to WE

The Second Coming of Christ

When he appears - shows up twice in our passage

The greek verb tense (Subjunctive) give us assurance re: the second coming: The time may be uncertain, but the return itself is assured.

The only use of parousia “Coming” in John’s letters - Most commonly referring to the second coming of Christ the Lord

CONFIDENCE

parrsia

found 4 times in 1 John, refers both to confidence at Christ’s coming/judgement (1 John 2:28; 4:17) and confidence in prayer (1 John 3:21; 5:14)

V1 - Speaking of God, but says “him” clearly refering to Jesus. The world did not know HIM. Same movements for verse 2

v2 - Don’t miss the “Beloved” or “Dear friends”

v3 - The only use of the word “HOPE” in all of John’s Letters

Story - What would you do if Jesus walked into this room? Would you go “Oh crap” or would you run to his arms?

Story - What would you do if Becky was here?

Story - Walking in to the room with my kids when they’re doing something wrong, vs when they’re doing something good.

Illustration - Think of all the things you want for your kids, all the things you want to protect them from, build them up into… This is that word from God to you… This is the main thing he as a father wishes for you. to be like him

Illustration - I used to ask God to wait to come back until I was ready. Wait until I get married first, wait until I have my first kid, wait until.... Now I’m ready.

Illustration - Come quickly Lord - Maranatha on the back of my car

MAIN POINT: Sanctification (ABIDE AND PRACTICE)

Define “practicing”

Your identity and reality is fixed and secure

When you practice, you live into that reality.

Purpose of likeness to Christ

Lifestyle, rhythms, shaping things.

1 Tim 4:11 - John 14:21 -

Purity: v3 - We are pure by putting our hope in Jesus. And we become pure like He is pure. (PURITY RITUALS in the OT: Lev 16:19; Lev 14:14, 17, 25, 28, 52; Also Heb 9:14)

Matthew 5:8 ““Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Purity given, but what does it mean to be pure? That’s covered in next weeks’ passage...

“Just as OT rituals set one apart for a special time of service to God or to enter his presence, all of the Christian’s life is to be set apart by a moral consecration in one’s way of life. This is to be in imitation of the example of Jesus Christ, whom Christians will be like when he returns.” - Jobes, K. H. (2014). 1, 2, & 3 John (C. E. Arnold, Ed.; p. 143). Zondervan.

Closing: “We can’t tell people to abide enough...” Free from distraction… Where are you ‘unavailable’ to anyone? Look at the life of Jesus, he did this… where do you go when things get hard? All who are weary and heavy laden - All who are thirsty - come to me and drink, come to me and rest. True rest. 1 John 1:9-2:2 - GOSPEL, don’t sin, but when you do, confess it. 3:1 see the love! be fueled by love, not by fear.

compare the terror of the Lords day for the wicked vs the words of peace here...

--------------

Written around 90 AD to believers in western asia minor by the apostle John. To assure believers of the certainty of their faith and to refute heretical doctrines teaching that Jesus was not fully human and fully divine. To promote JOY. To make clear that persistant unrepentant sin is not the mark of a true christian.

2:28-4:6 reinforce again the three marks of a Christian, OBEDIENCE (today!), love in 3:11-24, and true confession in 4:1-4

Pt. 1 ABIDE (CONFIDENCE NOT SHAME)

Pt. 2 PRACTICE

Pt. 3 GOSPEL