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by Warren L Rogers

A. The Background of this Lesson

The Gnostics denied the importance of love, love the brethren.

1. The Gnostics despised the uninitiated (cf. Luke 18:9; John 7:49)

2. Light and darkness are not only moral symbols but also symbols of love.

   a. 1^st John 1:5-7 – light and darkness are synonyms of moral purity and moral impurity.

   b. 1^st John 7-10 – light and darkness are synonyms for love and hate.

3. Love of the brethren is a test of life.

4. Three pillars on which our fellowship with God is firmly planted according to John are:

   a. Moral Purity because God is light.

   b. Love because God is love.

   c. The Incarnation of Christ (the acceptance of the divinity of Christ) because He is the son of God.

Chapter Two 1-6

1. John writes to aid those written in keeping from sin.

   A. If we do sin and we will, we have Jesus.

   B. The Blood of Jesus is sufficient for the entire world.

   C. The way we contact that blood is through obedience.

   D. Obedience tells us who as the truth and who does not.

   E. We then obey out of love

   F. This allows us to walk in the same way Jesus walked.

B. The New-Old Commandment Defined (1^st John 2:7-11)

Understand John's use of new and old and learn the definition of the new commandment measure of love.

1. John's use of the terms new and old (vs.7-8).

   a. The new commandment love was given by Jesus about the year 27 A.D. and is recorded in John 13:34.

   b. John is not making a new commandment as he writes in 96 A.D. but is referring to John 13:34.

2. The Study of the Original commandment of Leviticus 19:18.

   a. This old commandment says to give to your neighbor the same position of importance as you would give to yourself.

   b. This old commandment fulfills the demands of the law (Romans 13:10).

   3. The definition of the two words translated new.

   a. NEO – the most commonly used word and means new in time.

   b. KAINO – can mean “new in time” but also means new in kind.

   1) Example: The new covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-34.

2)This word is KAINO and John uses it to speak of a new commandment.

4. Contrast between the commandment of Leviticus 19:18 and the commandment of John 13:34.

a. Leviticus 19:18 - Love your neighbor as yourself.

b. John 13:34 - Love your neighbor beyond yourself.

c. This new measure of love is self-denying love. (Example: Christ in Philippians 2:1-8)

5. What does it mean to "love one another?"

a. It may be helpful to review a few of the words for love in Greek.

1) "Storge" is family love.

2) "Eros" - carnal, sexual love. This kind of love often exploits, abuses and seeks self gratification. (This was Cain)

3) "Phileo" - love of a dear friend based on the neighborhood concept. This is Leviticus 19:18

4) "Agape" active goodwill toward others, a kind of sacrificial love. It is "agape" love this text commands us to have.

b. It is the same kind of love commandment in John 13:34-35.

c. It is the concern to meet the needs of others that is best by exemplified by the life and death of Jesus. (cf. 1^st John 3:16-17)

d. The AGAPE love that John presents is self denying, sacrificial love (see John 13:34, 15:12-13; 1^st John 3:16; Romans 5:6-8).

6. The sense of the phrase "there is no occasion of stumbling (GK

SKANDALON means to trap of snare), in him" is most likely that the one who loves will not cause stumbling to others.

100. Darkness will retreat as this Light of Love advances.

THE EFFECT OF NOT KEEPING THE COMMANDMENT.

A. One “is in darkness” (9) Anyone who claims to have the light but hates his brother is still in darkness. (1^st John 2:9 NIV).

1. When a person claims to walk in the light but still hates his brother/sister, they are still in darkness.

2. Indeed, he has always been in the darkness.

   a. “Is in darkness until now.”

   b. Despite what they might claim, they have not passed from darkness to light.

   c. Or expressed later, they have not yet passed from death to life (1^st John 3:14). Can't have a new birth on a platform of hatred.

1. He may “think” he has fellow ship with God, that he is saved, but he is blind!

2. He fails to realize the absurdity of his claim to know and love God – cf. 1^st John 4:20.

3. Blinded by darkness (hate), he cannot see that he is on the road to hell.

C. One “Abides in the Light” (v.10a). Whoever loves his brother lives in the light and there is nothing to him to make him stumble (1^st John 2:10 NIV).

1. Meaning that they are in full fellowship with the Father (1^st John 1:7a).

2. And they enjoy the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus (1^st John 1:7b). So, unless we love one another, fellowship and forgiveness is impossible.

D. “There is no cause for stumbling” (v.10b)....and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.

1. Abiding in the light he can see where he is walking.

2. Fellowship with God makes it possible “ to know where he is going.” (unlike the person who hates and must walk in the dark).

3. This does not imply sinlessness.

   a. Remember 1^st John 1:8,10

   b. But as one walks in the light (in fellowship with God) he knows what to do when he sins, and in what direction he should be headed.(1^st John 1:9)

JOHNS CONFIDENCE IN THE TRUE BELIVERS. (1^st John 2:12-14).

A. Three Stages in the Christian Life.

1. The distinction between John's use of the terms TEKNIA and PAIDIA (both translated little children).

   a. TEKNIA (vs. 1,12,28) – all of God's family in Christ.

   b. PAIDAI ( vs. 13,18) new converts.

2. Three categories of people to which John addresses himself (vs.13-14).

   a. Fathers – mature Christians.

   b. Young men – maturing, middle age Christians.

   c. Little children – immature, babes in Christ.

3. The Confidence that John expresses toward these true believers.

   I write to you because:

   a. You know Him who is from the beginning.

   b. You have overcome the evil one.

   c. You know the Father.

4. I have written would probably have reference to the Revelation Letter. He changes the verb tense. Verse 12”I am writing to you. In verse 13, “I have written to you.”

LOVE NOT THE WORLD (2:15-17).

A. Because of what the world is (vs.15a, 16).

1. The World is in the passage....

   a. It is not a reference to the “physical world.”

   b. Meaning God's creation, for it is good! Gen. 1:31

2. It is NOT the “human world”

   a. It is not mankind.

   b. Indeed, God Himself loves the world of men (John 3:16).

   c. RATHER, it is the world of “sin” the world of “evil.”

   1) It is the “sphere” in which sin and evil along with Satan dominate.

   2) Just as the phrase, “the world of sports” describes the domain that sports dominate.

3. Three things in particular make up this “world.”

   a. “The lust of the flesh.”

   1) This is unbridled lust. Gal. 5:19-21

2) Note, that these desires can be expressed both:

a) Sexually (fornication, adultery etc.)

b) Socially, (hatred, contentions and jealousies).

b. “The Lust of the Eyes.”

1) This is the unlawful things we can see.

a) It can be summed up by the word, “covetousness.

b) A modern day expression might be 'materialism.”

c) How serious is this? See Eph. 5:5-7; Col. 3:5-7.

1) This is pride based on things as:

a) Age

b) Experience

c) Ancestry

d) Past accomplishments

e) Money, position and power.

A few Passing observations.

1. Each of these three things often strike different times in our lives.

   a. The YOUNG MEN are most likely to be affected by “lust of the flesh.”

   b. The MIDDLE AGE are most likely to be affected by “lust of the eyes.”

   c. The AGED are most likely to be plagued by the “pride of life.”

2. Because of what loving the “World” does. (v.15b).

   1). It make it impossible to love the Father.

   2). “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

   3). I understand that “the love of the Father” means “for for the Father.”

   4). Instead of “”the Father's love for us.”

   5). John is not the only person to say that if we love the world we cannot love God.

a.) James taught that “friendship with the world is enmity with God.” James 4:4.

b). Jesus said that we cannot serve two Masters (Matthew 6:24).

Our sinful pride may rebel against this thought, but we are not able to love the world and God at the same time.

1. To see why, lets define, “the love of the father.”

   a. What does it really mean for me to love the Father.

   b. According to John, it means that I keep His commandments. (1^st John 5:3).

   c. To this, Jesus agrees, (John 14:15, 21; 15:10).

1. If we love this world, we can't keep God's commandments.

   a. If you are driven by the “lust of the flesh.”

   b. To commit fornication, adultery and the like.

2. If you are overcome by the “lust of the eyes.”

   a. Must always want more and want to hang on to what you have. (1^st John 3:16-17).

   b. Can't keep God's commandments to help the needy?

3. If you are filled with the “pride of life.”

   a. Might consider yourself more important than others.

   b. Cannot imitate Christ. (Phil. 2:3-5)

Because of Where the “World” is going.” (v.17)

1. “This world is passing away.”

   a. This is also true to our lives (1^st Peter 1:24; James 4:13-14).

   b. It is also true concerning all that we leave behind. (2^nd Peter 3:10).

2. In contrast, “he who does the will of God abides forever.”

   a. This is because he will be blessed to enter the heavenly kingdom. (Matthew 7:21).

   b. Even his “works” will follow him. (Revelation 14:13).

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