1 John Chapter 2
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
I think it would have served Johns message better if verses 1 and 2 were the last 2 verses for chapter 1. That being said, isn't it interesting that he said I write to you so that you won't sin. Why would John say this if it were not a possibility? John understood that we having been born again and translated out of darkness into the light, now having a divine nature by which the law has been fulfilled in us through Christ, could now keep God's commandments.
Further more if we stumble and fall we have an advocate or upholder, Jesus, because he was the atonement for our sins! This is why Hebrews 6 it says that it is impossible for us to be renewed again unto repentance, Jesus is not going to be crucified again and be put to an open shame. In other words, if I stumble or make a mistake as a born again child of God I am not translated back into darkness, but my righteous standing is upheld by Christ! Seek first the Kingdom of God (the born again divine nature) and the righteousness of Christ and all else will be added unto you. Paul taught this same message in Romans, and the religious rulers replied, "shall we therefore sin that grace may abound?" Paul replied "God forbid!" But we know that Jesus was crucified ONCE and there is no remembrance of sin.
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Jesus said if you keep two commandments you will keep them all. Love God, and love your brother as yourself. Now John, understanding that it would be impossible to love our brother, had we not received the testimony of God concerning Jesus and been born again focuses on the evidence of being translated out of darkness into the light.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Now I have kept the word of God that was first taught by Jesus and then by his disciples. I have been born again through the finished work of the cross. I have His divine nature. I am a son of God and if God is love then so am I! I am His offspring! I received the incorruptible seed and that seed only produces the image of the tree it came from! Therefore I can walk as He walked! God is not withholding anything from me, but has given all things to me that pertain to life and Godliness!
7 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. 8 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. 9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 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.
Again this is the message of Christ! It is not new, it is the message that has been from the beginning, but has now been revealed in us, because Jesus has risen from the dead and quickened us out of darkness into the light!
12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. 13 I 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. 14 I 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.
Here John is making a clear statement that he is writing to everyone in the church. The message is the same for all, and all that have believed have become children of God. The standing that you have in the church is not important, the love of God is what matters.
15 Love 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. 16 For 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. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
John is saying that if you love the things of the world, recognition, money etc. these things are not of God. We seek a greater kingdom, and this is where we find our peace and joy. Jesus said that the world would hate us because we belong to Him.
18 Little 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. 19 They 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. 20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
We know that there are people in the world today that are influenced by the spirit of antichrist, false prophets and false teachers, but don't worry about any ones position in life or even in the "church". As children of God we have received his divine nature and the Holy Spirit has been sent to us! Therefore God is my teacher and I hear His voice. He speaks in many different ways and through different mediums. I am not saying that we should not have teachers, but rather learn that we are taught by the anointing and are not deceived by those who would exalt themselves. God once spoke through an "ass"! One person is not above another when it comes to the body of Christ for we are all one with Him and in Him, if in fact you have been born again.
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 24 Let 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. 25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
Once again John refers to the simplicity of the gospel. This is the message that Jesus came in the flesh and was the sacrificial lamb. He was raised from the dead and when we accept this He quickens or translates us out of darkness into the light. I have received eternal life and it is the light that now illuminates my mind.
26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27 But 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. 28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
Again, we need not that any man teach us because as a child of God, God is my teacher. This is the message and the fulfillment of the prayer that Jesus prayed in John 17, that I have been born again by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and received the glory that was in Jesus and I have been made one with Christ and with God because the incorruptible seed has been sown into me making me a son of God! I now have confidence before him and I am not ashamed because as He is so am I!
