1st ,2nd and 3rd John, Lesson Three
By Lane Rogers
I.
We just finished a short study of “if we walk in the light as
He is in the light the blood of Jesus cleanses from all stains.”
The common question asked by many people is, how do we know when we
are in the light?
It is my view that question is not even
appropriate. Walking in the light is not a matter of how many or how
few sins a person commits, but rather a goal or marker we measure or
progress by. So then, the question becomes not whether we sin as we
go through life each day but are we walking 'toward' the light of
God. This is a progressive action. Since we are walking toward, the
implication is that we are making progress and becoming nearer the
light. Some of us will be further along than others on our walk, but
the emphasis is not the progress but the walk.
A. A Unique Way to deal with the Sin Problem. V.8 “we have no sin.”
a. If the matter world is evil then the fleshly body is evil and the entire matter of sin (according to the body) is not our concern. That is just the nature of evil matter.
b. The motives of these people are questionable. Their philosophical predispositions make a nice excuse to sin.
B. The results of such a claim we find in verse 8. “I have fellowship with God because I am keeping God's standard.”
a. Self Deceit (“we deceive ourselves”)
Since they deny sin in their lives, they claim no need of forgiveness for sins.
The claim to be holy people by performance.
b. Living in Error ("the truth is not in them")
c. Walking in darkness and not walking in the light!
C. The Real way to deal with the Sin Problem! V.9. "we should freely confess our sins."
a. Confessing from GK word HOMOLOGEO and means to speak the same thing.
b. It is not making a list of ours sins but rather confessing a sinful state. To confess sin is to admit a standard and we have missed that standard.
c. Sin comes from the GK word HAMARTIA and means at its most basic level to miss the mark.
d. To confess says two things:
1) We admit that there is a standard.
2) It is a request for help from a forgiving God.
4. The God, who is "faithful" (trustworthy) and "righteous" (one who does what is right), will
a....."forgive us our sins"
b....."cleanse us from all unrighteousness" Through His mercy we may have fellowship with Him.
Note: It must be remembered that has covered our sins with the blood of Jesus and that leaves God free to forgive. All of this is contingent on us admitting we are sinners.
C. The Continued State of Denial! V.10, "We Have Not Sinned."
1. The Gnostics still clam that they have not sinned.
2. The consequences of that denial are two-fold:
a. We make God a liar! God has already said that "all of sinned." Rom. 3:23.
b. His Word is not in Us! We then have rejected the Word of God.
3. Any claims as these removes fellowship with God.
THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE (2:1-2)
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1 My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. 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 whole world. 3 And hereby we 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; 5 but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him: 6 he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked. |
A. Our Advocate as Paraclete and Bondsman. "WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER, JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS (V.1)
1. The word "advocate."
a. To call to one's side or one's aid.
b. Suggest the capacity to give aid.
c. Used in court of law for counsel.
2. Jesus is the perfect "advocate" since He is RIGHTEOUS.
a. Without Jesus we are alienated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2)
b. Since Jesus is without sin, He may go to God in our behalf.
c. Jesus is the one who understands our situation perfectly. (Heb. 2:17-18; 4:14-16).
B. Our Advocate as Atoning Sacrifice. "He Himself is the Propitiation for our sins." V.2
a. To be the propitiation is to appease.
b. The pagans offered sacrifices to appease their God's.
c. In the NT, it is God and not man who offers the appeasing sacrifice. (1st John 4:10)
d. Through His death on the cross, Jesus is the means by which God shows mercy on the sinner.
e. This explains how God can be just and still forgive sin. V.9
f. This propitiation may only be accessed by those who believe in Jesus Christ. (1st John 2:2)
In Summary:
There is no darkness but light with God.
We then must admit that we are sinners.
We must use our advocate since He is the propitiation for our sins.
A. WE MUST KNOW GOD TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.
(1) How do we identify the "Him" in this passage.
a. Is it God or Jesus? The father or the Son?
b. In light of the context, it is Jesus the Son of God. (1st John 2:1-2,6).
c. This fits well with John's aim of the letter (1st John 1:3).
(2)He has described the basis of fellowship with the Father .
(3)Now he discusses the basis of fellowship with the Son.
(4)What it means to "know" Jesus
a. As frequently used by John, the word "know" (ginosko) denotes a knowledge that comes by experience. (A personal identification)
b. In this sense it implies that fellowship has taken place.
B. THE BASIS OF CHRISTIAN CONFIDENCE, "If We Keep His Commandments."
1. This is a requirement of fellowship, to keep His teachings. (John 14:21-23).
2. So what about the person who claims to have fellowship with Jesus but does not keep His commandments.....
a. Is a liar, and the truth is not in him (1st John 2:4b)
b. Is just like the fellow who claims to have fellowship while walking in darkness (1st John 1:6)
3. But the person who keeps the words of Jesus, the “love of God” is perfected in Him!
a. This “love of God.”
Is it God's kind of love? (1st John 3:16-17)
Is it God's love for us? (1st John 4:9)
Is it our love for God? (1st John 5:2-3).
4. Such love for God is “perfected” (made whole, complete) only when we keep the commandments of His son (John 14:15, 21,23).
A. Here is how we Can be Sure We are Abiding in Jesus
1. The word '"in" (v.5b) is parallel to the expression "abides in." (v.6a).
2. "Abiding in Jesus" is described by Jesus Himself as similar to:
a. The branch abiding in the vine (John 15:4-5).
b. There is union and attachment between the branch and the vine.
c. From this union comes a sharing.
B. We can be sure, if We "Walked Just as he Walked"
1. The person claiming to have fellowship with Jesus then must walk as Jesus walked.
2. For those who follow His Words are His disciples (John 8:31)
3. And those who are His disciples will be like their teacher (Luke 6:40).
C. In Conclusion
All who say they know Jesus must abide in Him.
And those who really know are those who:
1) Keep His commandments
2) Walk just as He walked.
Lane Rogers