|
by
Howard Watson
Verses one and two speak of the Apostle John's love for the young
Christians in faith: "My little children;" that they avoid
sinning in their lives and that they rely upon their advocate(paraketos),
our helper/intercessor, the Lord Jesus Christ, who cleanses them
from sins of the past and the practice of sinning in their present
lives.
His blood cleanses the child of faith because in His death on Calvary's
cross, He gave His blood as the propitiation ("hilasmos,"
a satisfactory covering for our sin). Further, His life giving blood
in the death of the cross is sufficient to bring redemption/forgiveness
of the sins of the whole world of mankind. That includes everyone
of all time, races, or status, who will, in faith, turn in faith's
obedience to Christ Jesus as the Son of God who has come to be their
Savior and Lord.
I have committed my life's sin to Christ Jesus for forgiveness and
new life today in Him. Have you repented/turned to God in Christ
Jesus and asked Him to save you and to give to you new life from
above in the new birth of the Holy Spirit?
VERSES THREE AND FOUR
The children of God must show their relationship with God their
Father by their godly lives. That they know God is evident by their
daily conduct of righteousness and love. A true genuine, sincere
faith relationship with God the Father is shown by a loving yielding
to the will of the Father. Knowing the Father's unfailing love enables
us to bridge the valleys, mountains and chasms of the cold world's
hate and evil.
Verse five says that those who keep God's word in faith's obedience
fulfill the meaning of His love in actions of blessing and merciful
gracious love.
The Greek term used for word here is "logon" from "lego:"
to say, to speak, to declare, to express. John used the same word
in the Gospel of John, chapter one, concerning the word made flesh,
which was Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus was, in His earthly life, the
full expression of God, as the only begotten Son of God. So now,
we believers who have been born from above are being changed into
expressions of God's love to the world about us, by God's Holy Spirit's
indwelling presence.
Oh, what a knowledge and blessing we have, to enjoy and live as
Christ's witnesses here, now, this today.
VERSE SIX speaks of our abiding ("menein" present active
from "meno" to dwell, stay, rest, settle) in Christ. This
is continuing to remain in Christ/God and, therefore,in obedience
to His will for our life. We must live/walk a life of fellowship
with God and Christ by His Spirit's direction.
We show this obedience by not hating but loving our fellow Christians.
We will pray for the blessings of our brethren. We will give aid
to our brethren. We will admonish our brethren. We will forgive
our brethren (note verses 7-11).
The one hating his brother is not living in the light of Christ
but is living in darkness ("peripatei", present tense,
active voice, indicative mood, to walk to conduct your life at this
time in darkness). This is spiritual darkness as if blind and not
seeing where he is going.
Without other persons (including Christians and unbelievers)our
fellowship and spiritual works would not have opportunity for service
and ministry in the love of God. We do need people even if they
hate us.
Verse twelve reminds us that we were sinners without true fellowship
with our loving God and Christ, but now we are growing/maturing
saints who are being sanctified and set apart to God for His service.
All this is because of our being forgiven ("apheontai",
perfect passive indicative from "aphieni" to release,
to forgive). God has completely forgiven and released us from the
penalty of our sins in Christ's death on the cross in our stead.
This verse is addressed to "my little children 'teknia'."
This is a term of endearment. John loves his people whether they
are young or old, new or old saints.
Verse thirteen addresses the group called the fathers "patres".
These would be the older Christian men of faith and practice. They
have personal knowledge of the one who is from the beginning. Probably
these men had seen Jesus, had eaten with Him, and had received His
teachings both before and after the cross and His resurrection.
Jesus is also spoken of as the beginning in Revelation 1:8; 22:13.
Jesus is before all things as the head of all creation with the
Father and Holy Spirit. Verse thirteen also addresses the young
men, as they have completely/perfectly overcome ("nenkekate",
perfect, active, indicative), the evil/wicked one (the Devil/Satan),
who guides people into wickedness from their evil hearts.
Verse fourteen repeats the call to the young children, the fathers
and the young men. The children are cleansed/forgiven and now know
the loving heavenly Father of mercy and grace; whereas the fathers
also have the personal knowledge of the Father from the beginning
of the ministries of Christ's discipleship. The young men are conquerors
in the strength supplied by the word of God abiding in them. The
word of God is our Sword by which we overpower the Devil/Satan as
described by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6.
I John 2:15-17
Our love ("agapate" present, active) is not to be for
the world ("kosmos" the world system as guided by evil).
The person who loves the world is without true consuming interest
in God the creator of all things or in Christ the Lord. The world's
attractions, wealth, pleasures, position/power, control his/her
life and goals. The opposite is true of the one who loves "agape"
the Lord God, who is the center of the Christian's life. We love
Christ Jesus and, with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we look
for His coming when we shall reign with Him in glory forever.
When a person's heart is set upon the world and its' lusts, his
eyes see only the things which offer physical/fleshly or carnal
satisfactions. He has a false sense of self- importance.
The physical body will age and lose its' prowess and zest for the
world's great pleasures. But this aging and changing of the physical
body does not affect the believer in Christ Jesus because of the
central love "agape" for our eternal living God and His
gift of abundant life in Christ Jesus. This abundant life is not
dependent upon fleshly carnalities for its' spiritual well-being.
So the lusts of the world will fail those who love "agape"
the world. But those who love "agape" God and do His bidding
will grow in abundance of life and there will always be a new morning.
Verses EIGHTEEN TO TWENTY-NINE.
John truly loves the dear children of faith because we are the children
of God through Jesus Christ. We are one in Christ, equally part
of the family of God whether Jew or Gentile, bond or free. He says
it is the last hour("ora" one-twelfth part of a day, a
specific point of time, a short time). This is linked to the antichrists
or antichrist of which there are many. We might think John was mixed
up on this time of the antichrists. But there are those who have
opposed Jesus as the Christ from the beginning of the earthly ministry
of Jesus as God's anointed Son.
This opposition to Jesus as the Messiah could only happen after
the birth, ministry, death, resurrection and accension of Jesus
to the Father. And in this last period of time Jesus is rejected
by the antichrists, those who do not love Jehovah God in truth and
spirit. Many world rulers have not accepted Jesus' forte of preaching
the Gospel of spiritual peace from the heart of God, but do just
the opposite and conquer and rule by the gun and military might
in their own name. Individuals with this attitude will do as Judas
and go their worldly earth- seeking ways.
In verse twenty John directs the truth seekers to follow the Holy
Spirit sent in their hearts by the spiritual anointing to give them
inward understanding and knowledge. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit
causes us to confess Jesus as the Son of God who lived among men
in all His great power. The antichrist denies the truth of the deity
of Jesus as God's virgin-born Son. As the son of Mary (Man of flesh)
He was the Spirit anointed/lead sinless Son of God.
Christians must abide ("meneto" from "meno"
to remain, stay, dwell) and rest upon the firm foundation of faith
in Jesus alone as their heaven sent Lord and Savior(verse 24). Our
functioning as the blessed children of God is based upon our daily
abiding in our committment to Jesus as our total Lord, who saves
and keeps us in His pure love and grace.
Life eternal "zoen ten aionion" belongs to the true children
of God who are peacefully abiding in the full love and powerful
presence of God's Holy Spirit within their hearts while living among
the lost and dying of this short time in the world. It is the anointing
of verses twenty and twenty-seven which is our special Comforter
and Teacher for living in this last time.
Verses twenty-eight and twenty-nine confirm the results of abiding
in the Faith of Christ as a victory sign for His glory at His coming.
Then before the Lord of glory we shall rejoice with the wonderful
blessing of our presence with Him. Remember our righteousness comes
now in the last time from Jesus and not our fleshly works which
do not glorify God. Those who are born from above (John 3) are known
from the pure, holy righteousness of saintly living.
|
