AF-S64-040305 1 John D
Alêtheia Christian Fellowship (Sermon 62, 03-20-05)
a Announcements, Celebration night.
1 John is a microcosim of the entire Bible and as such it explains everything foundational to Christianity. Details and background information are found elsewhere. In this letter, John says, walk like Christ, and so we need the Gospels to know how Christ walked. We need the Old Covenant Books to know why Jesus came and what it means. We need the other New Covenant Books to understand the details and structure of our Theology, but right here in this tiny book you have all the requirements for a right relationship with your Creator. If, if, if, you do this book, you cannot fail!
The test of our religious experience is if it produces a reflection of Jesus Christ in our daily life.
What would Jesus do, is great, but the question is what would He do. That is the real test because so many claim to do what Jesus would do the real test is love.
Do you really love others as much as you love yourself?
John sets the record straight… There is no middle ground! No middle ground at all. It is either Truth or lies, light or dark, love or hate, fellowship or split and the end is either eternal life or eternal death.
Jesus said, wisdom is proved right by her actions. Forest Gump says, “Momma always says,’stupid is as stupid does.’” Actions speak louder than words. Rembrant told a student, when asked questions about technique, “said practice what you already know and you will understand.” It is in doing that we grow.
1 John 2:7
KJV: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.
NASB:Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard.
NLT:Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment, for it is an old one you have always had, right from the beginning. This commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before.
Agaphtoi plural, another term of endearment.
2 John 1:5-6 ~
Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments.
ejntolh<n singular, not the Gospel message itself, but the portion, “to love one another.” as the NLT has it. in this case the old command which they have had ei]cete imperfect
from the beginning means the New command given by Jesus and extolled from the beginning of Christianity.
John 13:34-35 ~ “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Where does it come from?
Deuteronomy 6:5 ~
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Leviticus 19:18 ~
‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.
Matthew 22:37-40 ~
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.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Jesus says in Luke when questioned further that our neighbor is our enemy as well as our friend. If you want to be a Christian it is essential that you understand that it is a sin to be angry or impatiant with others. it is a sin to repay a wrong. Jesus commands us to turn the other cheek. 70 times 7 is more than 490!
We are ordered to forgive and forget! That’s the Lord’s command, I’m not saying it’s easy, in fact it’s impossible without God’s Agapê in us. You are not walking in the light of Truth if you don’t allow people to hurt you. Jesus loved so much He allowed the fullness of attrocities against Him and prayed that the Father would forgive His attackers while they were attacking!
1 John 2:8-11
KJV: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. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 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.
NASB:On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who 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.
NLT:Yet it is also new. This commandment is true in Christ and is true among you, because the darkness is disappearing and the true light is already shining. If anyone says, “I am living in the light” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness. Anyone who loves other Christians is living in the light and does not cause anyone to stumble. Anyone who hates a Christian brother or sister is living and walking in darkness. Such a person is lost, having been blinded by the darkness.
1 John 2:8-11
NASB:On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in (NLT “among”) you, because the darkness is passing (KJV “past”) away and the true Light is already shining. The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his (NLT “Christian”) brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his (NLT “Christian”) brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his (NLT “Christian”) brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going (NLT “is lost”) because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
This command you’ve had from the beginning of your Christian understanding is also the command from the beginning of time and even though it’s nothing new at the same time it is always new in Christ Jesus and in us as we allow Him to manifest Himself through us.
Satan, flesh and all evil has been destroyed by the obedience of Christ the light is in fact shining and can shine in each one of us, yet we remain in this world where darkness is on it’s way out. the victory has been won if-if-if we allow Jesus in our heart.
Now, what is the difference between light and dark?
1-Surrender to God’s program is light, while maintaining your own control is darkness.
2-If you are in darkness you don’t realize it because you are blind to that fact.
3-If you are in the light God’s love in your heart will manifest in your love for other people. Not just Christians, but all people.
4-Therefore, ergo, even though a person in the darkness is deluded through rationalization today you can see if you will where you stand.
Do you love me unconditionally? You may balk, or you may immediately say yes, either answer may be false. After you consider you may realize that you do love me in Christ, or if you can truly be honest with yourself you may realize that you don’t really love me unconditionally. It’s a gauge, how much do you genuinely love others?
There are no alternatives, there is no middle ground! you are either in light or dark, period. This is what Jesus says:
John 3:18-21 ~
“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
Does evil? What is evil? Evil is not the opposite of good as most people understand good. Only God can say what is good and what is evil. People can render opinion on what they think should be acceptable or even noble behavior, but it means nothing!
Nietzsche, knew this and extols the reality that without God there can be no such thing as Good or Evil! Multiculturalism teaches all lifestlyles are valid if genuinely held.
Evil only has meaning as defined by God. God defines evil in the Bible as self.
Self-love, self-deification, selfishness.
Do you know it’s impossible to be unhappy with someone if you are behaving selflessly.
Selflessness is a God thing and allows us to love others even when they are driving spikes into our flesh. Father forgive them!
Biblically, God’s displeasure and the displeasure of Jesus where always the result of spiritual or eternal or Real harm to people. We should be the same. We should be spurred into action when we see spiritual harm. We should fight it within ourselves and we should encourage others and teach where possible and share at every opportunity and pray without ceasing.
Christianity is about love, it’s not about superiority or religiosity, it is about relationship first with God and then with everyone else.
If I were to preach that Homosexuality is a valid lifestyle choice, some would never say anything, but would leave this fellowship and fellowship with me, that’s not love. Some would make a scene, while others would say mean things either publically or privately, that’s not love. Others would pretend it never happened hoping it would just go away and that’s not love either. The only proper way to deal with such an obvious error in Godly love is to come to me and say did we understand you properly? do you realize what you said? Then to gently, lovingly correct me showing me God’s Word and praying with me to gain forgiveness and if I choose to refuse? then you do what God does… You respect my right to choose while never surrendering your integrity and while continually hoping and praying and encorauging me to come to the light.
If people make you grumpy, if you lose you patience, if you hold a grudge you are walking in darkness, but there is good news.
KJV12I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. 13I 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. 14I 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.
1 John 2:12-14 ~ I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake (NLT “because of Jesus”) . I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one (NLT “won your battle with Satan”) . I have written (KJV “I write”) to you, children, because you know (KJV & NLT “have known”) the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you know (KJV & NLT “have known”) Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one (NLT “Satan”).
NLT12I am writing to you, my dear children, because your sins have been forgiven because of Jesus.13I am writing to you who are mature because you know Christ, the one who is from the beginning. I am writing to you who are young because you have won your battle with Satan. 14I have written to you, children, because you have known the Father. I have written to you who are mature because you know Christ, the one who is from the beginning. I have written to you who are young because you are strong with God’s word living in your hearts, and you have won your battle with Satan.
Verb tense 3 times each.
Fathers is identical both times.except the tense of “write”.
Children, fist teknia then paidia. First section about Jesus and the second about God. Of course the Word of God is God’s Word Jesus.
KJV15Love 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. 16For 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. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
1 John 2:15-17
NASB:Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him (NLT “do not have the love of the Father in you”). For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
NLT15Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world. 17And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever.
Love of the Father is a two-way street. If you Love this world you do not love the Father and therefore you do not have the Father’s love in you, therefore you are not a Christian!
James 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
What does it mean to love the world? Again it is being distracted from God’s plan and purpose and getting wrapped up in the temporal.
God knows you need to eat and sleep and make a living. God is not opposed to you enjoying yourself, in fact He desires you to enjoy Him and what He provides. Theer is a massive difference between seeking God first and seeking your own interest first.
1 John 2:18-
18Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
20But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 24Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 26These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
28And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
NASB
18Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. 20But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. 21I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. 24As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
The Promise Is Eternal Life
25This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.
26These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. 27As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.
28Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. 29If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.
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3 18Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the end of the world has come. 19These people left our churches because they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left us, it proved that they do not belong with us. 20But you are not like that, for the Holy Spirit has come upon you,£ and all of you know the truth. 21So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and falsehood. 22And who is the great liar? The one who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Such people are antichrists, for they have denied the Father and the Son. 23Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father either. But anyone who confesses the Son has the Father also.
4 24So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will continue to live in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. 25And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.
5 26I have written these things to you because you need to be aware of those who want to lead you astray. 27But you have received the Holy Spirit,£ and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you all things, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So continue in what he has taught you, and continue to live in Christ.
6 28And now, dear children, continue to live in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame. 29Since we know that God is always right, we also know that all who do what is right are his children.
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