1 John 2:1-14

Introduction

Cross-eyed story

Healing is here (vs1)

1 John 2:1 ESV

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.

Healing is for all (vs2)

1 John 2:2 ESV

2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Evidence of our healing is based on our growing desire and pursuit of obedience (vs3)

1 John 2:3 ESV

3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

What the word “know” means…

to have assurance (first know) and to have a relationship with (second know)

Matthew 7:22–23 ESV

22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

The neglect of this healing is foolish (vs4)

1 John 2:4 ESV

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

1 John 2:5 ESV

5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

Healing requires discipline (vs6)

1 John 2:6 ESV

6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

To love God is to love God’s law.

What is God’s law?

Exodus 20:1–17 ESV

1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal. 16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

What is the purpose of God’s law?

Mirror: to show our need for the Lord

Shows us what is pleasing to the Lord

Matthew 7:13–14 ESV

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

It is a path that leads to eternal life- the medicine to produce complete healing.

Restraint: to learn what is and is not acceptable

Law of Speed or Murder - to protect us and protect others

Healing not only affects you, but also others (vs7-11)

1 John 2:7–11 ESV

7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

The old commandment is summed up in what John is saying is the “new commandment”

Matthew 22:37–40 ESV

37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

In this passage, Jesus is quoting the old law from Deuteronomy and Leviticus… He was saying both are important!

“Which is the most important: loving God or loving people?” Yes

Two sides of the same coin.

It isn’t a feeling, it is an action- a choice to make.

Seeking people’s well being without expecting anything in return… (Parental love)

Ultimate standard is how well you treat the person you can’t stand… “Love your enemies”

Others focused love!

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Luke 6:35 ESV

35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

The difference is that the old commandment was for Israel only… now it is for you!

Healing is for all!

These commandments are rooted in one particular expression- love.

Love is an uncertain word in english… I could tell you in one conversation that I love you, and tell Caroline that I love her in another… well, you know those are different.

Trust in the healing process (vs12-14)

1 John 2:12–14 ESV

12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Do you need healing today?