1547

The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet 1547 1 John 2-2

This doesn't sound very "Politically Correct", does it?

The Epistles of John are very enlightening and extremely important to Christians in these last days, especially to God's elect as we shall see, for one must have a thorough understanding of the difference between "light" and "darkness" concerning these times, even between the children of light and the children of darkness!

So far John has made it quite clear that Jesus Christ, the Word of God, is THE Light, which means that there is no other Light!

Where does that leave us stand against all the "Interfaith" proponents in these last days?

We shall discuss this in detail in some of our subsequent studies, but so far it does not sound very "Politically Correct", does it?

So before John goes into the in-depth details of this subject he wants God's elect to be reminded of their place among ALL the children of God, i.e. among all mankind!

To that end, we learned from John in an earlier study that if we say we have not sinned then we make God a liar and His Word is not in us.

How could it be when the Word of God says we are all sinners?

1 John 1:10
If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

There is a difference however in being a sinner, such as one who falls short even if it is many times, and being what is defined as an "habitual sinner" which is one who continues to sin while remaining indifferent to the consequences, i.e. does nothing about it like "confessing it" to Him who has the power to forgive!

Remember what John said in 1 Jn. 1:9?

We are forgiven, i.e. become sinless, ONLY... "IF we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Let's begin chapter 2.

1 John 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:

First of all, we must understand to whom "these things" John is writing are addressed!

You see, John is writing specifically to the "Little Children".

This phrase in the Greek language is a term of endearment and as the Companion Bible points out, it is used "7 Times" in this epistle.

Those of you with an understanding of Biblical numerics know that "7" is the number of Spiritual Perfection which lets those who have eyes to see and ears to hear know that this is specifically addressed to God's Elect.

Let's take a quick look at the characteristics of these "little children" in this 2nd chapter:

[12] ... little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
[13] ... little children, because ye have known the Father.
[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 knowthat it is the last time.
[28] ... little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at his coming.

Here is a breakdown of what we have concerning these "little children":

[12-13] These "dear ones" have known the Father (even "from the beginning", a phrase we will see often in this chapter), and we know that God's elect were "justified" before the foundation of this world according to Romans chapter 8.

[18] These "little children" of "the last time" KNOW that "the antichrist" is coming" and who his little helpers are, even his offspring, according to the parable of the tares and the parable of the fig tree, "WHEREBY they KNOW that we are in the last days"! No other generation could actually document the end times. They could only speculate.

[29] They know to "Stay in His Word" (abide in Him) because they KNOW that those who do not abide in Him, i.e. those who are Biblically illiterate, will not have the "confidence" to remain virgins and consequently they will be as the first woman "taken" in the field, i.e. they will be seduced by the soon coming antichrist and will be so ASHAMED at Christ's (the true Bridegroom's) coming, when, as it is written, they will wish "the mountains to fall on them" rather than face Him (Lk. 23:30, Rev. 6:16).

Therefore, seeing that we are in the last days, if you are one of God's Elect, a "little one", then pay very close attention to these letters of John for as we have seen they are specifically written to you.

With that in mind, let's re-read verse 1:

1 John 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:

"Dear God's Elect, do not blatantly and habitually transgress the laws of God".

(John will write in vs. 3:4 that "sin is the transgression of the law").

The phrase "that ye sin not" means to "habitually" sin which is really to sin without regard, i.e. without repentance.

We KNOW that there will be times when we fall short and do things "which we would not", else we deceive ourselves (vs. 1:8), i.e. lie to ourselves as liars.

The apostle Paul was well familiar with falling short and not meeting the expectations of ourselves as Christians.

Read in Romans chapter 7 what he has to say on the subject.

Here is a summary of it:

Romans 7:19
For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

I can relate to that! Oft times I don't do what I should and oft times I do what I should not!

The point is: We all need to mature in the Word, i.e. grow up and accept the fact that we are not perfect.

We are still sinners and we will continue to screw-up until our "little silver cord is parted" (Eccl. 12:7) and we are released from this sinful flesh.

However, until that time we must strive to do the best we can and try not to sin.

But as John says in verse 1, if we do sin then we know that Jesus Christ, our Comforter, sits at the right hand of the Father and He is able and willing to forgive us our sins IF we ask and don't habitually continue in them without confessing them.

Hey, God's elect know all that, don't they?

Yes they do, BUT John makes it known that these "little ones" had better understand this also:

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

We as God's elect in these last days, are reminded here by the apostle John that Christ did not shed His precious blood to pay the price just for our sins, just for you and me, but ALSO for ANYONE ELSE in the Whole World Wide Community (WWW.COM) who will believe in Him and confess their sins to Him!

That includes all races, colors, and creeds of ALL those who have lived and died in the past, all those who are living now, and all those who are yet to be born!

It is extremely important that we keep this in mind else our light may go dim, as we shall see.

Note: "Propitiation" simply means atonement.

In other words, Jesus Christ was the unblemished sacrificial Lamb of God whose blood was shed to pay the price for all our sins.

He is therefore the propitiation for our sins.

1 John 2:3
And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

It is one thing to say that you believe in Jesus Christ and that you fellowship with Him but it is an entirely different matter to KNOW that you KNOW Him, with NEVER a DOUBT!

How is that possible?

Simply abide in His Word, Fellowship with Him, be a DOER, and Keep His Commandments.

If you do not do that... well... you are kidding yourself as in lying to yourself!

In other words, you are a liar, because you do not really know Jesus Christ.

Didn't you know that Jesus Christ is the Word of God?

[4] He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

This is in contrast to "keeping His Word" in the next verse.

You see, if you will keep His Word, which is to abide in it (study it), which is to fellowship with the Lord, then you will grow and become "mature" (which is what the word "perfected" in the next verse means) and you will cease from being an habitual sinner.

You cannot be both an habitual sinner and have the truth remain in you, i.e. without repentance there is no forgiveness!

[5] But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.

You must mature in the Word and you will come to know Him personally through that fellowship and His love and compassion and willingness to forgive will grow in you.

If you do not fellowship with Him through His Word then you will never get to know Him and He will never get to know you!

Got it?

That is why Christ will say to those church going Christians who have listened to men all of their lives instead of fellowshipping with Him, "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matthew 7:23).

They didn't keep His word and mature!

1 John 2:6
He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Hey, you may have to take some spiritual punches to the jaw and withstand some persecution and suffer for righteousness sake if you decide to walk the walk and keep His commands!

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.

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