Hello again, I am so glad you have joined us again for the study of John 1,2,&3. We learned a lot about the apostle John last week. He was one of the 12 disciples who followed Jesus, he was a fisherman, son of Zebedee, brother to James, one of the 3 closest disciples to Jesus and he could run faster than Peter, just to name a few. We also know he wrote the book of John and the letters to the church named 1,2 and 3 John and Revelation. We know that he was the only disciple who died a natural death and he was the last disciple alive. We also talked about how John wrote his book and letters w an emphasis on love and a sensitivity and artistry that adds to the more factual accounts in other books of scripture. As we move into chapter 2 of 1 John remember the first 2 verses finish a thought started in chapter 1. The addresses ( the numbers creating chapter and verse ) are added later by scribes and scholars making it easier to locate texts and were not part of the original writings.
1 John.2.1-29.ESV 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. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Propitiation is a big word, beautifully illustrated by our Pastor John, in his sermon on Leviticus Dec 21st. (If you did not hear it or want to listen again here is the link- https://vimeo.com/115119331 ) He talked about Jesus as the sacrificial lamb, whose blood cleanses our sins, as well as the scapegoat, who takes our sins out side of the camp, as far as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:12)
Also notice that He died for the sins of the whole world. Not just believers, but the whole world. Think about how the sin in your life separates you from God. Realize that all of that sin was part of the pain Jesus bore on the cross. Now think of 10 people you know and love and their sin. Add that pain. Then imagine the people in your faith family and add their sins. Now think of all the people who ever have and ever will live and add that sin. No wonder Jesus felt forsaken on the cross. That is a black cloud of evil and wickedness. When I think about those of us who come to notice that fabulous gift He gave us I am so grateful we have eyes to see. When I think of how many people I know are not aware that gift is available and already paid for by His pain, I feel sorrow for them and for Jesus,who suffered whether or not we notice. I am so glad that John writes about love .
3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.
Here our great and wonderful God has John tell us how to show love to Him. Keep HIs commands, obey. Interesting, that is not a word I hear describing love in many romance novels or love songs…..
(5)By this we may know that we are in him:6 whoever says he abides in him(Jesus) ought to walk in the same way in which he(Jesus) walked.
Our actions will match His. What does love look like by Jesus definition?John 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commands.”
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.
The old commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and strength Deut. 6:5. And “you shall love your neighbor as yourself” Lev 19:18. (Pastor TIm’s sermon on Leviticus 19 is a great resource for this verse.https://vimeo.com/116016388)
8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you,
Once again Jesus upped the ante, He took the old covenant and expanded on us.
John.15.12-14.ESV “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. We no longer love as ourselves but lay down our lives for our friends. If Jesus is our friend, there is nothing we will hold back.
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. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 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.
Jesus is the true light in our dark world. Our love, our obedience, shines His light in the darkness.
12I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
13 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.
The words little children refers to believers in Christ and the young men and fathers differentiate between mature and immature believers. It may seem abrupt but this is where we are stopping today. There is a lot of good food for thought here. How does love look in your life? Do you love God enough to obey His commands? How does your love for yourself and others look sacrificial? Ask God to show you who you love well and who you can love better.
That is the end of this week, see you next time! love h
