In the previous post, we covered II John. Today we will cover III John.
III John is the shortest book in the Bible when measured by number of words.
The debate concerning this letter centers around the identity of "Gaius". IF this letter is written to someone mentioned in the New Testament, then there are three possibilities:
Macedonia during the "Diana of Ephesus" episode (Acts 19:28-9)
" 28 And when they heard this they were filled with wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
29 And the city was filled with the confusion: and they rushed with one accord into the theatre, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel."
Corinth (Romans 16:22-23)
"22 I Tertius, who write the epistle, salute you in the Lord.
23 Gaius my host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the treasurer of the city saluteth you, and Quartus the brother."
Derbe (Acts 20:4)
"4 And there accompanied him as far as Asia, Sopater of Beroea, the son of Pyrrhus; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus."
John wrote this letter to Gaius to:
1. commend a group of Christians led by Demetrius to go on a mission to preach the gospel
2. to warn Gaius against the group led by Diotrephes, who refuses to cooperate with the leaders.
III JOHN
"1 The elder unto Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.
2 Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."
(First, this is John's style to state an effect tied directly to a cause with the phrase "even as". Second, John has mentioned the three areas that we all need to focus on: soul, health, and finances. However, notice that John makes the soul the cause, with physical health and physical resources being effects. John sees the soul as a DRIVER. John sees health and finances as HURDLES.)
"3 For I rejoiced greatly, when brethren came and bare witness unto thy truth, even as thou walkest in truth.
4 Greater joy have I none than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth."
(These two verses mesh perfectly with I John and II John. John writes about walking in the Truth and how this gave John the greatest joy to hear about.)
"5 Beloved, thou doest a faithful work in whatsoever thou doest toward them that are brethren and strangers withal;
6 who bare witness to thy love before the church: whom thou wilt do well to set forward on their journey worthily of God:
7 because that for the sake of the Name they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles."
(John mentions love and Fellowship...that this group went on a journey for the sake of the Name...to evangelize others.)
"8 We therefore ought to welcome such, that we may be fellow-workers for the truth."
(John says that we ought to welcome people like this so that we can be a part of the community for the Truth. This is the Second Command...and it is the result of doing the First Command.)
"9 I wrote somewhat unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not."
(Here is the mention about writing to Diotrephes AND John and his group NOT being received BECAUSE Diotrephes desires PREEMINENCE.)
"10 Therefore, if I come, I will bring to remembrance his works which he doeth, prating against us with wicked words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and them that would he forbiddeth and casteth them out of the church."
(John says he will confront this matter face-to-face IF John comes to visit. John even mentions that Diotrephes is forbidding and casting people out of the church that are believers.)
(On a separate note, I read a book by Frank Viola last week that addressed "churches" that exclude believers for ANY reason, even for doctrinal reasons. He proves the point that a group of people who EXCLUDE believers for ANY reason are NOT a church...they are actually a "sect". The Greek word for "sect" is Strong's #139 hairesis - "a choice, i.e. (spec.) a party or (abstr.) disunion:-heresy [which is the Gr. word itself], sect.")
(Notice, the person commiting heresy is the one making a choice to cause disunion by EXCLUDING someone. The person being INCLUSIVE is NOT heretical. It appears people today have lost the understanding of heresy...)
"11 Beloved, imitate not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: he that doeth evil hath not seen God."
(This verse could have come DIRECTLY from I John!)
"12 Demetrius hath the witness of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, we also bear witness: and thou knowest that our witness is true.
13 I had many things to write unto thee, but I am unwilling to write them to thee with ink and pen:
14 but I hope shortly to see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be unto thee. The friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name."
(John supports Demetrius with phrasing directly out of I John and then closes his letter like he did in II John...with many things he is not going to write, but will talk about face to face.)
SUMMARY
III John is consistent with I John and II John. This letter is more focused on a specific issue within the church that John says he will deal with directly.
Tomorrow, we will begin our Series on Abuse...
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Monday, November 30, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
II John
In the previous post, we concluded and summarized our Series on I John. Today we will cover II John.
II John is the shortest book in the Bible when measured by number of verses. There is some debate whether this letter is written by the same author of I John, however, I believe there ought to be little doubt about that.
II JOHN
"1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth;
2 for the truth's sake which abideth in us, and it shall be with us for ever:"
There are a lot of theories as to the identity of this lady. The reality is that we do not know for sure the identity of this lady and her children. However, notice this lady is referred to as "elect". We have seen during the Romans Series, that "elect" means selected in response to the excellence of the person. God does NOT MAKE people "elect" against their will. God selects people in response to the decisions of the individual.
Also, in the same spirit as I John, the author of this letter continues the same philosophical techniques. For instance, he states that the REASON he loves the elect lady in truth is because the Truth abides in him (and will be forever)...AND all those that know this Truth would ALSO LOVE the elect lady in truth. Again, the Truth is the Holy Spirit.
"3 Grace, mercy, peace shall be with us, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love."
John BLATANTLY states three effects of God abiding in us: grace, mercy, and peace. All three are consistent with I John. All three would be HOW believers would love other believers.
"4 I rejoice greatly that I have found certain of thy children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father.
5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote to thee a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
6 And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it."
Again, we see the emphasis on loving one another as a commandment from God that we ought to walk in.
"7 For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, even they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist."
Again, we see the emphasis on Jesus coming in the flesh and those who oppose it are antichrist.
"8 Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward."
This sentence meshes perfectly with the last sentence of I John. Guarding yourselves from idols AND looking to yourselves so that you receive a full reward are one in the same.
Notice, this implies you can receive a partial reward...
Salvation and Reward are separate.
Salvation is the result of God initiating the influence upon the heart, and the individual choosing to let God be reflected through the Holy Spirit in their life. You are either saved or you are not. There is NO partial Salvation. God gets ALL the credit for Salvation because it is Righteousness from God that saves us.
Reward is initiated by us. This is righteousness from us that gets equaled out through Justice. We can choose to have some to all of our Reward NOW. There are different percentages of Reward. Since Reward is in our control, we need to do a work (guard ourselves) in order to receive the FULL REWARD.
"9 Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son."
This letter follows the same form of abiding and having God, however, the emphasis is on the TEACHING of Christ. It looks like this letter is expanding on the summary of John's model with TEACHING.
"10 If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and give him no greeting:
11 for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works."
WOW! John is saying NOT to receive someone into your house who does NOT bring the TEACHING of Christ. This does NOT mean that you judge this person or NOT meet with them. It means you do NOT bring them into your house.
"12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write them with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be made full.
13 The children of thine elect sister salute thee."
John closes his letter by stating he has many things to write (so this letter just hits the high points). Like the beginning of I John, he states his objective is to help her joy be made full.
SUMMARY
This letter adds TEACHING to the model from I John. In fact, this letter can serve as a short summary of I John because John covers the major points:
1. The Truth abides in believers...those who know God.
2. Loving one another is a commandment from God that believers walk in.
3. Jesus came in the flesh and those who oppose it are antichrist.
4. Look to yourselves (guard yourselves from idols) so that you receive a full reward.
On Monday, we will finished this Series with III John.
Next Post
II John is the shortest book in the Bible when measured by number of verses. There is some debate whether this letter is written by the same author of I John, however, I believe there ought to be little doubt about that.
II JOHN
"1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth;
2 for the truth's sake which abideth in us, and it shall be with us for ever:"
There are a lot of theories as to the identity of this lady. The reality is that we do not know for sure the identity of this lady and her children. However, notice this lady is referred to as "elect". We have seen during the Romans Series, that "elect" means selected in response to the excellence of the person. God does NOT MAKE people "elect" against their will. God selects people in response to the decisions of the individual.
Also, in the same spirit as I John, the author of this letter continues the same philosophical techniques. For instance, he states that the REASON he loves the elect lady in truth is because the Truth abides in him (and will be forever)...AND all those that know this Truth would ALSO LOVE the elect lady in truth. Again, the Truth is the Holy Spirit.
"3 Grace, mercy, peace shall be with us, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love."
John BLATANTLY states three effects of God abiding in us: grace, mercy, and peace. All three are consistent with I John. All three would be HOW believers would love other believers.
"4 I rejoice greatly that I have found certain of thy children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father.
5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote to thee a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
6 And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it."
Again, we see the emphasis on loving one another as a commandment from God that we ought to walk in.
"7 For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, even they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist."
Again, we see the emphasis on Jesus coming in the flesh and those who oppose it are antichrist.
"8 Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward."
This sentence meshes perfectly with the last sentence of I John. Guarding yourselves from idols AND looking to yourselves so that you receive a full reward are one in the same.
Notice, this implies you can receive a partial reward...
Salvation and Reward are separate.
Salvation is the result of God initiating the influence upon the heart, and the individual choosing to let God be reflected through the Holy Spirit in their life. You are either saved or you are not. There is NO partial Salvation. God gets ALL the credit for Salvation because it is Righteousness from God that saves us.
Reward is initiated by us. This is righteousness from us that gets equaled out through Justice. We can choose to have some to all of our Reward NOW. There are different percentages of Reward. Since Reward is in our control, we need to do a work (guard ourselves) in order to receive the FULL REWARD.
"9 Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son."
This letter follows the same form of abiding and having God, however, the emphasis is on the TEACHING of Christ. It looks like this letter is expanding on the summary of John's model with TEACHING.
"10 If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and give him no greeting:
11 for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works."
WOW! John is saying NOT to receive someone into your house who does NOT bring the TEACHING of Christ. This does NOT mean that you judge this person or NOT meet with them. It means you do NOT bring them into your house.
"12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write them with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be made full.
13 The children of thine elect sister salute thee."
John closes his letter by stating he has many things to write (so this letter just hits the high points). Like the beginning of I John, he states his objective is to help her joy be made full.
SUMMARY
This letter adds TEACHING to the model from I John. In fact, this letter can serve as a short summary of I John because John covers the major points:
1. The Truth abides in believers...those who know God.
2. Loving one another is a commandment from God that believers walk in.
3. Jesus came in the flesh and those who oppose it are antichrist.
4. Look to yourselves (guard yourselves from idols) so that you receive a full reward.
On Monday, we will finished this Series with III John.
Next Post
Thursday, November 26, 2009
I John 5:19-21
Happy Thanksgiving!
This month's Series looked at I John verse by verse. (Here is the link to the beginning of the Series: I John Introduction.)
Yesterday's post covered I John 5:14-18. Here is the summary:
John presented three implications of his PROOF:
1. We ought to have confidence (boldness) that when we ask anything according to God's will, He WILL hear us.
2. We can ask God for the ability to repair a brother who sins against another person. We cannot absolve people who have sinned in a manner that results in the loss of their Salvation...THAT sin is between the sinner and God.
3. Those born of God guard themselves by God's Spirit in them and the wicked one (devil) will not touch them.
Today, we will conclude and summarize I John.
I JOHN 5:19-21
"19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one.
20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
21 My little children, guard yourselves from idols."
Verse 19 says that not only do we KNOW THAT we are of God...we also KNOW THAT the whole world is following the evil one. Throughout this letter, John has focused on those walking in the light (believers) and those walking in darkness (the world). John now concludes that we KNOW THAT we are believers AND we KNOW THAT the whole world is walking in darkness.
Verse 20 says that we KNOW THAT Jesus has come in the flesh AND we KNOW THAT Jesus has given us an UNDERSTANDING! This entire letter was written to correct people who didn't believe Jesus came in the flesh...that is, people who did not believe Jesus was fully man. Now, not only does John say we KNOW THAT Jesus came in the flesh, we also KNOW THAT we have an understanding. This contradicts people who attempt to use I John to say that we can't know or aren't supposed to know about the things of God well enough to SPECIFICALLY explain them.
The understanding is the new commandment...that we are in God through allowing the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and direct our lives. THIS is the key to eternal life!
Verse 21 is the final verse and throws many people. John says to guard yourselves from idols...AS HIS LAST STATEMENT. What does this mean?...especially as a last statement.
John just concluded that we KNOW THAT we are believers and that through the Holy Spirit we have Truth. Idols impart NO UNDERSTANDING. Idols do NOT have Truth.
As we saw in yesterday's post, the greatest idol we have to guard against is OURSELVES.
Ultimately, everyone is either taking direction from God OR they are taking direction from themselves. The enemy DECEIVES us by getting us to follow our own flesh. This feels good to us! This does NOT feel like the enemy to us. As long as a person does NOT UNDERSTAND the HOW/WHY, they can attempt to feel good about what feels/appears to be a Right WHAT.
When people can't explain God's Nature, then they are in danger of following something other than God...which are idols.
When people think that God's Nature is opinion, then people make up their own gods (idols)...and these idols are ACTUALLY themselves.
John's final instruction is to guard yourself from things you do NOT understand...BECAUSE you OUGHT to UNDERSTAND God well enough to KNOW THAT you know God.
SUMMARY
John's model in the first two chapters was:
God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all
If we have Fellowship with God then we will:
-walk in the light
-have fellowship with each other
-confess our sins
-be cleansed by Jesus' blood
We are lying if we say:
-we have Fellowship with God and walk in the darkness
-we have no sin
If we say that we have not sinned:
-we are calling God a liar
-His Word is NOT in us
John continued to add to this model over the next two chapters until he could summarize it with respect to LOVE.
"And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him." (I John 4:16)
This made John's definition for love CRITICAL to determining whether we are a believer or not. Here is John's definition for love:
LOVE is a QUANTITATIVE ACTION that SPECIFICALLY involves GIVING.
LOVE is Profitable.
LOVE is a Right WHAT (giving) with a Right HOW/WHY.
Love is the giving of a value WITHOUT being afraid of losing the value. This means two things...
1. Love must involve giving WITHOUT EXPECTING anything in return from the one to which we are giving. If we have ANY expectations, then we will have fear that we have loss the value.
This is the Right HOW of love.
2. Love must involve giving AND KNOWING we will get it back SOME WAY. Remember, love is Profitable...so we know we are going to gain. The ONLY way to gain, is if we get something back that is MORE valuable to us.
This is the Right WHY of love.
The only reason we are able to love is if God loves through by the Holy Spirit...which means God abides in us and we are believers.
Ultimately, the lesson of I John can be summarized in three sentences:
1. Our sin does NOT determine our Salvation...we ALL sin.
2. Our response to our sin determines our Salvation...do we take direction from the Holy Spirit, which means, do we confess and repent?
3. Our response to others' sins determines our Salvation...do we judge or love them?
That final point may comes as a shock to some believers. Our RESPONSE to the sin of others shows if we are being directed by God or ourselves.
If we are directed by God, we do the Truth in Love. We can appeal to the person with understanding and give them a value. If we are directed by our flesh, we will judge these people so that we FEEL good about ourselves. We saw several examples in this week's posts of how sins between people can turn into a Salvation issue. Let's conclude by looking at a powerful example from a previous Series...
Job's Comforters
JOB 42
"7 And it was so, that, after Jehovah had spoken these words unto Job, Jehovah said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
8 Now therefore, take unto you seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt-offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you; for him will I accept, that I deal not with you after your folly; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath."
-Before Job repented, God's judgment was frustrated by Job. Now Job's repentance allows God to bring about His judgment!
-Notice, God addresses Eliphaz! Eliphaz WAS the leader of the three friends.
-God's wrath is kindled against the three friends because of what they spoke about God. Specifically, God calls it "the thing". You may want to review what these three friends say. It begins with Eliphaz's First Speech. If you just want a review, look at the Summary of the Three Rounds post.
What was THE thing? The thing was that these three friends weren't contrastive and they abused causality: They declared Job guilty (effect) but they couldn't supply the reason (cause). Remember:
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7)
This verse from Galatians is saying that sowing (cause) and reaping (effect) are one...they are halves of a whole. The verse goes further by saying that people who do not believe this are mocking God (causality is His principle) and the people themselves are deceived. In this verse, deceived comes from a Greek word meaning "to roam from safety, truth". We've seen that it is not safe for your mind or body to choose to roam from the truth. It is "folly" to senselessly roam from a God-given truth like causality.
-Job spoke THE thing that is right about God. Job knew causality existed and all Job wanted to know is the WHY behind the suffering (effects) he was experiencing. There is nothing in this verse that says EVERYTHING Job had said was right. Just that Job said THE thing that was right. A true interpretation of the Book of Job ought to correctly identify THE thing God is talking about...
In addition, God is speaking after Job has repented. Actually, Job has confessed and repented. This causes God not to keep a record of wrongs...and as Job says about himself disappearing and melting away, so did those wrong things he said. Trying to say that God would punish Job for ANYTHING he said that was wrong AFTER Job confessed and repented would demonstrate a COMPLETE misunderstanding of atonement, salvation, forgiveness, etc. Be careful!
It is ABUSE to judge someone AND NOT be able to EXPLAIN WHY the person is being judged. Job's friends judged Job WITHOUT REASON and God said it became a Salvation issue because they were ACTUALLY speaking something WRONG about God...they were stating that God would judge someone without REASON...that God was UNJUST!
In December, the Series will cover ABUSE. We will see that ALL ABUSE is the effect of a WRONG thought pattern. We will see that people who ABUSE are speaking something WRONG about God and ACTUALLY endanger their Salvation.
Be careful NOT to judge others. However, if you do judge others, you had better have a RIGHT REASON behind your judgment, or you are in danger of losing your Salvation.
We still have two more days in November...and two more books to cover. Tomorrow, we will cover II John.
Next Post
This month's Series looked at I John verse by verse. (Here is the link to the beginning of the Series: I John Introduction.)
Yesterday's post covered I John 5:14-18. Here is the summary:
John presented three implications of his PROOF:
1. We ought to have confidence (boldness) that when we ask anything according to God's will, He WILL hear us.
2. We can ask God for the ability to repair a brother who sins against another person. We cannot absolve people who have sinned in a manner that results in the loss of their Salvation...THAT sin is between the sinner and God.
3. Those born of God guard themselves by God's Spirit in them and the wicked one (devil) will not touch them.
Today, we will conclude and summarize I John.
I JOHN 5:19-21
"19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one.
20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
21 My little children, guard yourselves from idols."
Verse 19 says that not only do we KNOW THAT we are of God...we also KNOW THAT the whole world is following the evil one. Throughout this letter, John has focused on those walking in the light (believers) and those walking in darkness (the world). John now concludes that we KNOW THAT we are believers AND we KNOW THAT the whole world is walking in darkness.
Verse 20 says that we KNOW THAT Jesus has come in the flesh AND we KNOW THAT Jesus has given us an UNDERSTANDING! This entire letter was written to correct people who didn't believe Jesus came in the flesh...that is, people who did not believe Jesus was fully man. Now, not only does John say we KNOW THAT Jesus came in the flesh, we also KNOW THAT we have an understanding. This contradicts people who attempt to use I John to say that we can't know or aren't supposed to know about the things of God well enough to SPECIFICALLY explain them.
The understanding is the new commandment...that we are in God through allowing the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and direct our lives. THIS is the key to eternal life!
Verse 21 is the final verse and throws many people. John says to guard yourselves from idols...AS HIS LAST STATEMENT. What does this mean?...especially as a last statement.
John just concluded that we KNOW THAT we are believers and that through the Holy Spirit we have Truth. Idols impart NO UNDERSTANDING. Idols do NOT have Truth.
As we saw in yesterday's post, the greatest idol we have to guard against is OURSELVES.
Ultimately, everyone is either taking direction from God OR they are taking direction from themselves. The enemy DECEIVES us by getting us to follow our own flesh. This feels good to us! This does NOT feel like the enemy to us. As long as a person does NOT UNDERSTAND the HOW/WHY, they can attempt to feel good about what feels/appears to be a Right WHAT.
When people can't explain God's Nature, then they are in danger of following something other than God...which are idols.
When people think that God's Nature is opinion, then people make up their own gods (idols)...and these idols are ACTUALLY themselves.
John's final instruction is to guard yourself from things you do NOT understand...BECAUSE you OUGHT to UNDERSTAND God well enough to KNOW THAT you know God.
SUMMARY
John's model in the first two chapters was:
God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all
If we have Fellowship with God then we will:
-walk in the light
-have fellowship with each other
-confess our sins
-be cleansed by Jesus' blood
We are lying if we say:
-we have Fellowship with God and walk in the darkness
-we have no sin
If we say that we have not sinned:
-we are calling God a liar
-His Word is NOT in us
John continued to add to this model over the next two chapters until he could summarize it with respect to LOVE.
"And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him." (I John 4:16)
This made John's definition for love CRITICAL to determining whether we are a believer or not. Here is John's definition for love:
LOVE is a QUANTITATIVE ACTION that SPECIFICALLY involves GIVING.
LOVE is Profitable.
LOVE is a Right WHAT (giving) with a Right HOW/WHY.
Love is the giving of a value WITHOUT being afraid of losing the value. This means two things...
1. Love must involve giving WITHOUT EXPECTING anything in return from the one to which we are giving. If we have ANY expectations, then we will have fear that we have loss the value.
This is the Right HOW of love.
2. Love must involve giving AND KNOWING we will get it back SOME WAY. Remember, love is Profitable...so we know we are going to gain. The ONLY way to gain, is if we get something back that is MORE valuable to us.
This is the Right WHY of love.
The only reason we are able to love is if God loves through by the Holy Spirit...which means God abides in us and we are believers.
Ultimately, the lesson of I John can be summarized in three sentences:
1. Our sin does NOT determine our Salvation...we ALL sin.
2. Our response to our sin determines our Salvation...do we take direction from the Holy Spirit, which means, do we confess and repent?
3. Our response to others' sins determines our Salvation...do we judge or love them?
That final point may comes as a shock to some believers. Our RESPONSE to the sin of others shows if we are being directed by God or ourselves.
If we are directed by God, we do the Truth in Love. We can appeal to the person with understanding and give them a value. If we are directed by our flesh, we will judge these people so that we FEEL good about ourselves. We saw several examples in this week's posts of how sins between people can turn into a Salvation issue. Let's conclude by looking at a powerful example from a previous Series...
Job's Comforters
JOB 42
"7 And it was so, that, after Jehovah had spoken these words unto Job, Jehovah said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
8 Now therefore, take unto you seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt-offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you; for him will I accept, that I deal not with you after your folly; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath."
-Before Job repented, God's judgment was frustrated by Job. Now Job's repentance allows God to bring about His judgment!
-Notice, God addresses Eliphaz! Eliphaz WAS the leader of the three friends.
-God's wrath is kindled against the three friends because of what they spoke about God. Specifically, God calls it "the thing". You may want to review what these three friends say. It begins with Eliphaz's First Speech. If you just want a review, look at the Summary of the Three Rounds post.
What was THE thing? The thing was that these three friends weren't contrastive and they abused causality: They declared Job guilty (effect) but they couldn't supply the reason (cause). Remember:
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7)
This verse from Galatians is saying that sowing (cause) and reaping (effect) are one...they are halves of a whole. The verse goes further by saying that people who do not believe this are mocking God (causality is His principle) and the people themselves are deceived. In this verse, deceived comes from a Greek word meaning "to roam from safety, truth". We've seen that it is not safe for your mind or body to choose to roam from the truth. It is "folly" to senselessly roam from a God-given truth like causality.
-Job spoke THE thing that is right about God. Job knew causality existed and all Job wanted to know is the WHY behind the suffering (effects) he was experiencing. There is nothing in this verse that says EVERYTHING Job had said was right. Just that Job said THE thing that was right. A true interpretation of the Book of Job ought to correctly identify THE thing God is talking about...
In addition, God is speaking after Job has repented. Actually, Job has confessed and repented. This causes God not to keep a record of wrongs...and as Job says about himself disappearing and melting away, so did those wrong things he said. Trying to say that God would punish Job for ANYTHING he said that was wrong AFTER Job confessed and repented would demonstrate a COMPLETE misunderstanding of atonement, salvation, forgiveness, etc. Be careful!
It is ABUSE to judge someone AND NOT be able to EXPLAIN WHY the person is being judged. Job's friends judged Job WITHOUT REASON and God said it became a Salvation issue because they were ACTUALLY speaking something WRONG about God...they were stating that God would judge someone without REASON...that God was UNJUST!
In December, the Series will cover ABUSE. We will see that ALL ABUSE is the effect of a WRONG thought pattern. We will see that people who ABUSE are speaking something WRONG about God and ACTUALLY endanger their Salvation.
Be careful NOT to judge others. However, if you do judge others, you had better have a RIGHT REASON behind your judgment, or you are in danger of losing your Salvation.
We still have two more days in November...and two more books to cover. Tomorrow, we will cover II John.
Next Post
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
I John 5:14-18
This month's Series looks at I John verse by verse. (Here is the link to the beginning of the Series: I John Introduction.)
Yesterday's post covered I John 5:7-13. Here is the summary:
CAUSE: Knowing that we have eternal life
EFFECT: Joy made full
I realize I'm repeating myself, but this is the MOST IMPORTANT topic in the world because it involves your eternal salvation, so: HOW do we KNOW THAT we have eternal life and are going to Heaven?
IF we LOVE one another...BECAUSE the only way we could do this is to allow God to do it through us by the Holy Spirit.
This Series helped me realize that there are people who claim to be believers, however, their lack of love for others PROVES they are NOT believers. In fact, their focus on being NOT loving is what PROVES they are making progress in darkness.
John's PROOF is over. He has come full circle with a powerful and non-contradictory conclusion.
The rest of I John 5 presents three implications from this PROOF...three things that are EFFECTS of this PROOF.
We will cover this today...
I JOHN 5:14-18
"14 And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us:
15 and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him."
IMPLICATION #1
We ought to have confidence (boldness) that when we ask anything according to God's will, He WILL hear us.
This implication now seems obvious to us...if we have boldness towards God it is because we know Him and if we know Him it is because the Holy Spirit is inside of us. Therefore, if we ask according to God's will it must be the Holy Spirit asking, so we KNOW THAT God hears us BECAUSE the Holy Spirit (God's Spirit) is speaking through us. God DEFINITELY hears His Spirit!
"16 If any man see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: not concerning this do I say that he should make request.
17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death."
First, a sin "not unto death" is a sin against people. This affects Reward, not Salvation. We have covered this previously: "Sinning Against People".
We have also seen this is WHY "love covers a multitude of sins"...giving to others without expecting them to pay back would cover the sins we do to people.
John also reiterates the doctrine concerning sin in verse 17. All unrighteousness is sin...however, NOT all sin leads to loss of Salvation.
Salvation depends on Righteousness. Reward depends on righteousness. Righteousness (Big "R") is God's influence through us by the Holy Spirit, while righteousness (small "r") is from ourselves.
UnRighteousness results in loss of Salvation (death). Unrighteousness results in loss of reward (value).
Righteousness is initiated by God through the Holy Spirit.
"righteousness" is initiated by us.
John is saying there are sins that DON'T result in loss of salvation...sins against other people. Peter says love covers a multitude of sins. LOVE covers the sins we do to other people because those sins involve reward (value) and love is giving of a value without expecting anything in return from the person you are giving to. So, if we sin against people (take value through being unjust), we can cover this sin by loving (giving a value).
However, John has PROVEN in this letter that our response to others PROVES whether we are believers or not!
Love is giving without expecting anything in return. It is possible for us to give apart from God, however, our flesh will constantly expect something (even the littlest bit) in return. It is ONLY possible to not expect ANYTHING in return if it is God doing the giving through us...which is LOVE.
If we love others, then God is flowing through us AND this ONLY occurs if we are believers.
If we do NOT love others, then God is NOT flowing through us AND this PROVES we are NOT believers.
It isn't the sinning against others that causes us to lose our Salvation (we all sin against others).
It is our RESPONSE to our sinning against others that determines if we have lost our Salvation or not. Our response PROVES whether we are walking in the light or walking in darkness...whether God is directing our actions or whether our flesh is directing our actions.
We have seen other Biblical passages that link our response to others and our Salvation. For example, during the I Corinthians Series, we saw:
"12 And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ." (I Corinthians 8:12)
The discussion concerning that verse looked at people who believe in "One Way Justice"...people who believe they ought to be compensated for every injustice done to them AND who believe they don't have to pay for the injustices they've done to others. Let's look at these people in light of I John. First, here are a couple of background passages...
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote this in "Life Together":
"In confession a man breaks through to certainty. Why is it that it is often easier for us to confess our sins to God than to a brother? God is holy and sinless, He is a just judge of evil and the enemy of all disobedience. But a brother is sinful as we are. He knows from his experience the dark night of secret sin. Why should we not find it easier to go to a brother than to the holy God? But if we do, we must ask ourselves whether we have not often been deceiving ourselves with our confession of sin to God, whether we have not rather been confessing our sins to ourselves and also granting ourselves absolution."
Jonathan Fries wrote this in "The First Chapter of My Life Synopsis":
"If God is an opinion, then we make our own God."
People who believe in "One Way Justice", abuse others and avoid confessing and repenting to the people they abuse. They convince themselves they are confessing and repenting to God, however, if they did, God would tell them to confess and repent to the person they hurt. To bring the sin into the light coming through the believer they abused. Instead, their flesh convinces them they have repented...and the person who believes in "One Way Justice" is ACTUALLY worshipping themselves...as are every person who cannot explain God's Nature.
God is light and in Him there is no darkness AT ALL. This means that God is ALWAYS COMPLETELY Right and ALWAYS COMPLETELY Just. This is the ONLY non-contradictory explanation AND the ONLY explanation that agrees with God's Word. Every other explanation is opinion and ACTUALLY a person's attempt to worship themselves.
IMPLICATION #2
We can ask God for the ability to repair a brother who sins against another person.
John says God will give, to the person who asks, "life" (the ability to repair) for the person who has sinned against another. We have the ability to ask God how to help people who have sinned against others!
Notice, this goes in line with loving. We can get involved with a brother who sins by helping them repair...NOT condemning or judging them. That wouldn't be loving...and would PROVE we aren't believers.
Implication #1 involved us being able to ask God for things according His Will. John is saying this second implication is something we can ask for because it is according God's Will.
However, John is ALSO saying that WE cannot absolve people who have sinned in a manner that results in the loss of their Salvation...THAT sin is between the sinner and God. Even though it is in God's Will that the sinner attains Salvation, we cannot pray against the will of the individual. We can't pray a person into Salvation against their will.
"18 We know that whosoever is begotten of God sinneth not; but he that was begotten of God keepeth himself, and the evil one toucheth him not."
IMPLICATION #3
Those born of God guard themselves by God's Spirit in them and the wicked one (devil) will not touch them.
This verse begins with the statement that those who are begotten of God (allow the Holy Spirit to direct their actions) do NOT sin...THEN John adds the other half of the reality: even those who are taking direction from the Holy Spirit are going to sin because they are NOT perfect and will eventually do something wrong. EVEN THEN, the people who take direction from God (are begotten of God) keep themselves and the evil one can't touch them...the person still attains Salvation. WHY?
BECAUSE of their RESPONSE to their sin! The person will confess and repent to God AND God's leading them will come out in their actions...they will confess and repent to other believers.
The devil can't take the Salvation of a person who is killing their own flesh and allowing God's Spirit to direct their actions (grace). Throughout this letter, we have seen that John CLEARLY believes the Salvation of the individual is COMPLETELY up to the individual. God WANTS ALL people to be saved. The individual chooses to lose this Salvation. It is NOT God's fault. It is COMPLETELY the fault of the individual.
SUMMARY
John presented three implications of his PROOF:
1. We ought to have confidence (boldness) that when we ask anything according to God's will, He WILL hear us.
2. We can ask God for the ability to repair a brother who sins against another person. We cannot absolve people who have sinned in a manner that results in the loss of their Salvation...THAT sin is between the sinner and God.
3. Those born of God guard themselves by God's Spirit in them and the wicked one (devil) will not touch them.
Tomorrow, we will conclude and summarize I John.
Next Post
Yesterday's post covered I John 5:7-13. Here is the summary:
CAUSE: Knowing that we have eternal life
EFFECT: Joy made full
I realize I'm repeating myself, but this is the MOST IMPORTANT topic in the world because it involves your eternal salvation, so: HOW do we KNOW THAT we have eternal life and are going to Heaven?
IF we LOVE one another...BECAUSE the only way we could do this is to allow God to do it through us by the Holy Spirit.
This Series helped me realize that there are people who claim to be believers, however, their lack of love for others PROVES they are NOT believers. In fact, their focus on being NOT loving is what PROVES they are making progress in darkness.
John's PROOF is over. He has come full circle with a powerful and non-contradictory conclusion.
The rest of I John 5 presents three implications from this PROOF...three things that are EFFECTS of this PROOF.
We will cover this today...
I JOHN 5:14-18
"14 And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us:
15 and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him."
IMPLICATION #1
We ought to have confidence (boldness) that when we ask anything according to God's will, He WILL hear us.
This implication now seems obvious to us...if we have boldness towards God it is because we know Him and if we know Him it is because the Holy Spirit is inside of us. Therefore, if we ask according to God's will it must be the Holy Spirit asking, so we KNOW THAT God hears us BECAUSE the Holy Spirit (God's Spirit) is speaking through us. God DEFINITELY hears His Spirit!
"16 If any man see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: not concerning this do I say that he should make request.
17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death."
First, a sin "not unto death" is a sin against people. This affects Reward, not Salvation. We have covered this previously: "Sinning Against People".
We have also seen this is WHY "love covers a multitude of sins"...giving to others without expecting them to pay back would cover the sins we do to people.
John also reiterates the doctrine concerning sin in verse 17. All unrighteousness is sin...however, NOT all sin leads to loss of Salvation.
Salvation depends on Righteousness. Reward depends on righteousness. Righteousness (Big "R") is God's influence through us by the Holy Spirit, while righteousness (small "r") is from ourselves.
UnRighteousness results in loss of Salvation (death). Unrighteousness results in loss of reward (value).
Righteousness is initiated by God through the Holy Spirit.
"righteousness" is initiated by us.
John is saying there are sins that DON'T result in loss of salvation...sins against other people. Peter says love covers a multitude of sins. LOVE covers the sins we do to other people because those sins involve reward (value) and love is giving of a value without expecting anything in return from the person you are giving to. So, if we sin against people (take value through being unjust), we can cover this sin by loving (giving a value).
However, John has PROVEN in this letter that our response to others PROVES whether we are believers or not!
Love is giving without expecting anything in return. It is possible for us to give apart from God, however, our flesh will constantly expect something (even the littlest bit) in return. It is ONLY possible to not expect ANYTHING in return if it is God doing the giving through us...which is LOVE.
If we love others, then God is flowing through us AND this ONLY occurs if we are believers.
If we do NOT love others, then God is NOT flowing through us AND this PROVES we are NOT believers.
It isn't the sinning against others that causes us to lose our Salvation (we all sin against others).
It is our RESPONSE to our sinning against others that determines if we have lost our Salvation or not. Our response PROVES whether we are walking in the light or walking in darkness...whether God is directing our actions or whether our flesh is directing our actions.
We have seen other Biblical passages that link our response to others and our Salvation. For example, during the I Corinthians Series, we saw:
"12 And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ." (I Corinthians 8:12)
The discussion concerning that verse looked at people who believe in "One Way Justice"...people who believe they ought to be compensated for every injustice done to them AND who believe they don't have to pay for the injustices they've done to others. Let's look at these people in light of I John. First, here are a couple of background passages...
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote this in "Life Together":
"In confession a man breaks through to certainty. Why is it that it is often easier for us to confess our sins to God than to a brother? God is holy and sinless, He is a just judge of evil and the enemy of all disobedience. But a brother is sinful as we are. He knows from his experience the dark night of secret sin. Why should we not find it easier to go to a brother than to the holy God? But if we do, we must ask ourselves whether we have not often been deceiving ourselves with our confession of sin to God, whether we have not rather been confessing our sins to ourselves and also granting ourselves absolution."
Jonathan Fries wrote this in "The First Chapter of My Life Synopsis":
"If God is an opinion, then we make our own God."
People who believe in "One Way Justice", abuse others and avoid confessing and repenting to the people they abuse. They convince themselves they are confessing and repenting to God, however, if they did, God would tell them to confess and repent to the person they hurt. To bring the sin into the light coming through the believer they abused. Instead, their flesh convinces them they have repented...and the person who believes in "One Way Justice" is ACTUALLY worshipping themselves...as are every person who cannot explain God's Nature.
God is light and in Him there is no darkness AT ALL. This means that God is ALWAYS COMPLETELY Right and ALWAYS COMPLETELY Just. This is the ONLY non-contradictory explanation AND the ONLY explanation that agrees with God's Word. Every other explanation is opinion and ACTUALLY a person's attempt to worship themselves.
IMPLICATION #2
We can ask God for the ability to repair a brother who sins against another person.
John says God will give, to the person who asks, "life" (the ability to repair) for the person who has sinned against another. We have the ability to ask God how to help people who have sinned against others!
Notice, this goes in line with loving. We can get involved with a brother who sins by helping them repair...NOT condemning or judging them. That wouldn't be loving...and would PROVE we aren't believers.
Implication #1 involved us being able to ask God for things according His Will. John is saying this second implication is something we can ask for because it is according God's Will.
However, John is ALSO saying that WE cannot absolve people who have sinned in a manner that results in the loss of their Salvation...THAT sin is between the sinner and God. Even though it is in God's Will that the sinner attains Salvation, we cannot pray against the will of the individual. We can't pray a person into Salvation against their will.
"18 We know that whosoever is begotten of God sinneth not; but he that was begotten of God keepeth himself, and the evil one toucheth him not."
IMPLICATION #3
Those born of God guard themselves by God's Spirit in them and the wicked one (devil) will not touch them.
This verse begins with the statement that those who are begotten of God (allow the Holy Spirit to direct their actions) do NOT sin...THEN John adds the other half of the reality: even those who are taking direction from the Holy Spirit are going to sin because they are NOT perfect and will eventually do something wrong. EVEN THEN, the people who take direction from God (are begotten of God) keep themselves and the evil one can't touch them...the person still attains Salvation. WHY?
BECAUSE of their RESPONSE to their sin! The person will confess and repent to God AND God's leading them will come out in their actions...they will confess and repent to other believers.
The devil can't take the Salvation of a person who is killing their own flesh and allowing God's Spirit to direct their actions (grace). Throughout this letter, we have seen that John CLEARLY believes the Salvation of the individual is COMPLETELY up to the individual. God WANTS ALL people to be saved. The individual chooses to lose this Salvation. It is NOT God's fault. It is COMPLETELY the fault of the individual.
SUMMARY
John presented three implications of his PROOF:
1. We ought to have confidence (boldness) that when we ask anything according to God's will, He WILL hear us.
2. We can ask God for the ability to repair a brother who sins against another person. We cannot absolve people who have sinned in a manner that results in the loss of their Salvation...THAT sin is between the sinner and God.
3. Those born of God guard themselves by God's Spirit in them and the wicked one (devil) will not touch them.
Tomorrow, we will conclude and summarize I John.
Next Post
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
I John 5:7-13
This month's Series looks at I John verse by verse. (Here is the link to the beginning of the Series: I John Introduction.)
Yesterday's post covered I John 5:1-6. Here is the summary:
I John chapter 5 begins John's summary of his letter. As he states his conclusions, he works his way back through his entire letter...like one giant Feedback Loop.
Everyone that loves God (First Command) also loves those begotten of God (Jesus and EVERYONE that is born of God...BELIEVERS)...which is the Second Command.
We KNOW THAT we love believers when we do the First Command (love God) because the effect of the First Command is the Second Command (loving others).
God's commandments are not grievous BECAUSE we have God dwelling in us (WHY) and following the commandments is only possible by God flowing through us (HOW). Our faith in God brings victory over the world (spirit of antichrist).
John rhetorically asks who can overcome the world other than someone who believes in Jesus Christ.
"6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood."
Today, we will see how John's conclusion continues from this fact that Jesus came by water and blood AND John reaches back to the beginning of this letter.
I JOHN 5:7-13
"7 And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is the truth."
Remember how this entire book of I John began? Read this again with new eyes...
I JOHN 1:1-4
"1 That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of life
2 (and the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare unto you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us);
3 that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ:
4 and these things we write, that our joy may be made full."
John begins by stating in the first verse that "we" have witnessed the Word of life (Jesus) and how it being manifested also bears witness to the Father. Throughout this letter, John has been introducing a "new commandment"...a new aspect that the believers didn't deal with before. This new aspect was referenced but not named until the later chapters. In verse 6 of I John 5, John BLATANTLY says the SPIRIT (which is the new aspect) bears witness...AND is TRUTH.
John begins this entire letter stating his objective is to have our joy be made full by having fellowship with the aspects that bear witness to the Truth.
John began with two aspects (Father and Word). He finishes by adding a third aspect: Spirit. John has shown that all three bear witness to the Truth. This point is actually made throughout the entire letter, however, John does NOT call this new aspect the Holy Spirit until now. Now, he is able to conclude his PROOF:
"8 For there are three who bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and the three agree in one."
DOCTRINE!!! The Trinity. I could write pages on these two verses...the point for now is that we have three Witnesses in Heaven (Spiritual) AND we have three witnesses in earth (Physical). John is going to use an IF/THEN to make his final point...
"9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for the witness of God is this, that he hath borne witness concerning his Son."
IF: we receive the (physical) witness of men
THEN: the (spiritual) witness of God is greater and OUGHT to be received MORE.
"10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning his Son.
11 And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."
When we are born of God (have the Holy Spirit in us) we have God's witness in us. Those who do NOT believe God are saying God is a liar...because they don't believe the Witness God gave us: the Holy Spirit.
The ENTIRE POINT the Witness (Holy Spirit) is making to us is: God gave us eternal life; this life is Jesus (the ULITMATE ability to repair). Everything the Holy Spirit says to us is focused on us being fully convinced of this to the point that it comes out in our actions.
"12 He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life.
13 These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God."
We ought to KNOW THAT we have eternal life NOW!!! This is NOT something we have to wait until Judgment Day to find out. This is NOT something that we can't know or aren't supposed to know now...like Calvinists' preach.
THIS WAS THE REASON WHY JOHN WROTE THIS LETTER.
SUMMARY
CAUSE: Knowing that we have eternal life
EFFECT: Joy made full
I realize I'm repeating myself, but this is the MOST IMPORTANT topic in the world because it involves your eternal salvation, so: HOW do we KNOW THAT we have eternal life and are going to Heaven?
IF we LOVE one another...BECAUSE the only way we could do this is to allow God to do it through us by the Holy Spirit.
This Series helped me realize that there are people who claim to be believers, however, their lack of love for others PROVES they are NOT believers. In fact, their focus on being NOT loving is what PROVES they are making progress in darkness.
John's PROOF is over. He has come full circle with a powerful and non-contradictory conclusion.
The rest of I John 5 presents three implications from this PROOF...three things that are EFFECTS of this PROOF.
We will cover this tomorrow...
Next Post
Yesterday's post covered I John 5:1-6. Here is the summary:
I John chapter 5 begins John's summary of his letter. As he states his conclusions, he works his way back through his entire letter...like one giant Feedback Loop.
Everyone that loves God (First Command) also loves those begotten of God (Jesus and EVERYONE that is born of God...BELIEVERS)...which is the Second Command.
We KNOW THAT we love believers when we do the First Command (love God) because the effect of the First Command is the Second Command (loving others).
God's commandments are not grievous BECAUSE we have God dwelling in us (WHY) and following the commandments is only possible by God flowing through us (HOW). Our faith in God brings victory over the world (spirit of antichrist).
John rhetorically asks who can overcome the world other than someone who believes in Jesus Christ.
"6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood."
Today, we will see how John's conclusion continues from this fact that Jesus came by water and blood AND John reaches back to the beginning of this letter.
I JOHN 5:7-13
"7 And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is the truth."
Remember how this entire book of I John began? Read this again with new eyes...
I JOHN 1:1-4
"1 That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of life
2 (and the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare unto you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us);
3 that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ:
4 and these things we write, that our joy may be made full."
John begins by stating in the first verse that "we" have witnessed the Word of life (Jesus) and how it being manifested also bears witness to the Father. Throughout this letter, John has been introducing a "new commandment"...a new aspect that the believers didn't deal with before. This new aspect was referenced but not named until the later chapters. In verse 6 of I John 5, John BLATANTLY says the SPIRIT (which is the new aspect) bears witness...AND is TRUTH.
John begins this entire letter stating his objective is to have our joy be made full by having fellowship with the aspects that bear witness to the Truth.
John began with two aspects (Father and Word). He finishes by adding a third aspect: Spirit. John has shown that all three bear witness to the Truth. This point is actually made throughout the entire letter, however, John does NOT call this new aspect the Holy Spirit until now. Now, he is able to conclude his PROOF:
"8 For there are three who bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and the three agree in one."
DOCTRINE!!! The Trinity. I could write pages on these two verses...the point for now is that we have three Witnesses in Heaven (Spiritual) AND we have three witnesses in earth (Physical). John is going to use an IF/THEN to make his final point...
"9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for the witness of God is this, that he hath borne witness concerning his Son."
IF: we receive the (physical) witness of men
THEN: the (spiritual) witness of God is greater and OUGHT to be received MORE.
"10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning his Son.
11 And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."
When we are born of God (have the Holy Spirit in us) we have God's witness in us. Those who do NOT believe God are saying God is a liar...because they don't believe the Witness God gave us: the Holy Spirit.
The ENTIRE POINT the Witness (Holy Spirit) is making to us is: God gave us eternal life; this life is Jesus (the ULITMATE ability to repair). Everything the Holy Spirit says to us is focused on us being fully convinced of this to the point that it comes out in our actions.
"12 He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life.
13 These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God."
We ought to KNOW THAT we have eternal life NOW!!! This is NOT something we have to wait until Judgment Day to find out. This is NOT something that we can't know or aren't supposed to know now...like Calvinists' preach.
THIS WAS THE REASON WHY JOHN WROTE THIS LETTER.
SUMMARY
CAUSE: Knowing that we have eternal life
EFFECT: Joy made full
I realize I'm repeating myself, but this is the MOST IMPORTANT topic in the world because it involves your eternal salvation, so: HOW do we KNOW THAT we have eternal life and are going to Heaven?
IF we LOVE one another...BECAUSE the only way we could do this is to allow God to do it through us by the Holy Spirit.
This Series helped me realize that there are people who claim to be believers, however, their lack of love for others PROVES they are NOT believers. In fact, their focus on being NOT loving is what PROVES they are making progress in darkness.
John's PROOF is over. He has come full circle with a powerful and non-contradictory conclusion.
The rest of I John 5 presents three implications from this PROOF...three things that are EFFECTS of this PROOF.
We will cover this tomorrow...
Next Post
Monday, November 23, 2009
I John 5:1-6
This month's Series looks at I John verse by verse. (Here is the link to the beginning of the Series: I John Introduction.)
Yesterday's post covered I John 4:17-21. Here is the summary:
LOVE is a QUANTITATIVE ACTION that SPECIFICALLY involves GIVING.
LOVE is Profitable.
LOVE is a Right WHAT (giving) with a Right HOW/WHY.
Love is the giving of a value WITHOUT being afraid of losing the value. This means two things...
1. Love must involve giving WITHOUT EXPECTING anything in return from the one to which we are giving. If we have ANY expectations, then we will have fear that we have loss the value.
This is the Right HOW of love.
2. Love must involve giving AND KNOWING we will get it back SOME WAY. Remember, love is Profitable...so we know we are going to gain. The ONLY way to gain, is if we get something back that is MORE valuable to us.
This is the Right WHY of love.
Remember, perfect LOVE casteth out FEAR. Fear and love are COMPLETELY incompatible. Giving without expecting AND giving knowing that it will result in more BOTH remove ANY possibility of punishment...loss of value...fear.
John states that loving believers is PROOF that God dwells in us and that we have Righteousness...that we are making progress (ACTION) in the light. Notice, John ends with two foundational principles: Righteousness (being a believer/loving God) and loving our brother.
John then references the commands that he referenced earlier to show that he has PROVEN them TRUE. What were the two commands?
First Command: Love the Lord thy God
Second Command: Love your neighbor.
John has gone through an EXTREMELY powerful philosophical proof. Unlike Paul, John does NOT use the scriptures to prove his points. He is doing this COMPLETELY logically...and it ALL checks out WITHOUT contradiction.
Now we are ready for John to bring the ENTIRE PROOF to a POWERFUL conclusion in the final chapter of I John...
I JOHN 5:1-6
"1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him."
This is a summary sentence built on the foundation of the previous four chapters:
"believeth" means fully convinced, both in understanding and experience...which means it comes out in one's actions.
Summary: Everyone that loves God (First Command) also loves those begotten of God (Jesus and EVERYONE that is born of God...BELIEVERS)...which is the Second Command. In fact, John BLATANTLY states this in the next verse!
"2 Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments."
Summary: We KNOW THAT we love believers when we do the First Command (love God) because the effect of the First Command is the Second Command (loving others).
"3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."
SUMMARY: Loving God means we keep His commandments (First: Love God. Second: Love others).
John has added another conclusion onto this often PROVEN first conclusion: God's commandments are not grievous (heaviness, weight, burden, trouble).
John is drawing his final conclusions and working his way back through I John. It cannot be stressed enough the importance of loving one another. John's conclusion is that we are believers if we keep God's commandments which is to love one another. THIS IS THE MEASURE!
Remember John 13:34-35?
"34 A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
These words are out of Jesus' Mouth! How will ALL MEN KNOW that we are Jesus' disciples? If we have love one to another.
ANYONE who ignores this measure from Jesus' Mouth ought to be very careful. Not only did Jesus say this, but John has spent this ENTIRE book PROVING this point. Realizing this is one of the ultimate conclusions, look again with new eyes at how Chapter 2 of I John begins:
"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."
AND
"8 Again, a new commandment write I unto you, which thing is true in him and in you; because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shineth.
9 He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother, is in the darkness even until now.
10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him.
11 But he that hateth his brother is in the darkness, and walketh in the darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes."
John began the second chapter essentially quoting Jesus' "new commandment" and then PROVING that EVERYTHING about our believing God is PROVEN by our love for one another. It looks to me like having a non-contradictory definition for "love" would be a HUGE priority.
However, we still haven't seen HOW/WHY God's commands are NOT grievous.
The next verse contains John's SUMMARY CONCLUSION...the point that he has really been working towards:
"4 For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith."
Summary: God's commandments are not grievous BECAUSE we have God dwelling in us (WHY) and following the commandments is only possible by God flowing through us (HOW). Our faith in God brings victory over the world (spirit of antichrist).
"5 And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"
Summary: John rhetorically asks who can overcome the world other than someone who believes in Jesus Christ.
"6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood."
Now John has worked his way back to the first chapter of I John...
SUMMARY
I John chapter 5 begins John's summary of his letter. As he states his conclusions, he works his way back through his entire letter...like one giant Feedback Loop.
Everyone that loves God (First Command) also loves those begotten of God (Jesus and EVERYONE that is born of God...BELIEVERS)...which is the Second Command.
We KNOW THAT we love believers when we do the First Command (love God) because the effect of the First Command is the Second Command (loving others).
God's commandments are not grievous BECAUSE we have God dwelling in us (WHY) and following the commandments is only possible by God flowing through us (HOW). Our faith in God brings victory over the world (spirit of antichrist).
John rhetorically asks who can overcome the world other than someone who believes in Jesus Christ.
"6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood."
Tomorrow, we will see how John's conclusion continues from this fact that Jesus came by water and blood AND John reaches back to the beginning of this letter.
Next Post
Yesterday's post covered I John 4:17-21. Here is the summary:
LOVE is a QUANTITATIVE ACTION that SPECIFICALLY involves GIVING.
LOVE is Profitable.
LOVE is a Right WHAT (giving) with a Right HOW/WHY.
Love is the giving of a value WITHOUT being afraid of losing the value. This means two things...
1. Love must involve giving WITHOUT EXPECTING anything in return from the one to which we are giving. If we have ANY expectations, then we will have fear that we have loss the value.
This is the Right HOW of love.
2. Love must involve giving AND KNOWING we will get it back SOME WAY. Remember, love is Profitable...so we know we are going to gain. The ONLY way to gain, is if we get something back that is MORE valuable to us.
This is the Right WHY of love.
Remember, perfect LOVE casteth out FEAR. Fear and love are COMPLETELY incompatible. Giving without expecting AND giving knowing that it will result in more BOTH remove ANY possibility of punishment...loss of value...fear.
John states that loving believers is PROOF that God dwells in us and that we have Righteousness...that we are making progress (ACTION) in the light. Notice, John ends with two foundational principles: Righteousness (being a believer/loving God) and loving our brother.
John then references the commands that he referenced earlier to show that he has PROVEN them TRUE. What were the two commands?
First Command: Love the Lord thy God
Second Command: Love your neighbor.
John has gone through an EXTREMELY powerful philosophical proof. Unlike Paul, John does NOT use the scriptures to prove his points. He is doing this COMPLETELY logically...and it ALL checks out WITHOUT contradiction.
Now we are ready for John to bring the ENTIRE PROOF to a POWERFUL conclusion in the final chapter of I John...
I JOHN 5:1-6
"1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him."
This is a summary sentence built on the foundation of the previous four chapters:
"believeth" means fully convinced, both in understanding and experience...which means it comes out in one's actions.
Summary: Everyone that loves God (First Command) also loves those begotten of God (Jesus and EVERYONE that is born of God...BELIEVERS)...which is the Second Command. In fact, John BLATANTLY states this in the next verse!
"2 Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments."
Summary: We KNOW THAT we love believers when we do the First Command (love God) because the effect of the First Command is the Second Command (loving others).
"3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."
SUMMARY: Loving God means we keep His commandments (First: Love God. Second: Love others).
John has added another conclusion onto this often PROVEN first conclusion: God's commandments are not grievous (heaviness, weight, burden, trouble).
John is drawing his final conclusions and working his way back through I John. It cannot be stressed enough the importance of loving one another. John's conclusion is that we are believers if we keep God's commandments which is to love one another. THIS IS THE MEASURE!
Remember John 13:34-35?
"34 A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
These words are out of Jesus' Mouth! How will ALL MEN KNOW that we are Jesus' disciples? If we have love one to another.
ANYONE who ignores this measure from Jesus' Mouth ought to be very careful. Not only did Jesus say this, but John has spent this ENTIRE book PROVING this point. Realizing this is one of the ultimate conclusions, look again with new eyes at how Chapter 2 of I John begins:
"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."
AND
"8 Again, a new commandment write I unto you, which thing is true in him and in you; because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shineth.
9 He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother, is in the darkness even until now.
10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him.
11 But he that hateth his brother is in the darkness, and walketh in the darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes."
John began the second chapter essentially quoting Jesus' "new commandment" and then PROVING that EVERYTHING about our believing God is PROVEN by our love for one another. It looks to me like having a non-contradictory definition for "love" would be a HUGE priority.
However, we still haven't seen HOW/WHY God's commands are NOT grievous.
The next verse contains John's SUMMARY CONCLUSION...the point that he has really been working towards:
"4 For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith."
Summary: God's commandments are not grievous BECAUSE we have God dwelling in us (WHY) and following the commandments is only possible by God flowing through us (HOW). Our faith in God brings victory over the world (spirit of antichrist).
"5 And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"
Summary: John rhetorically asks who can overcome the world other than someone who believes in Jesus Christ.
"6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood."
Now John has worked his way back to the first chapter of I John...
SUMMARY
I John chapter 5 begins John's summary of his letter. As he states his conclusions, he works his way back through his entire letter...like one giant Feedback Loop.
Everyone that loves God (First Command) also loves those begotten of God (Jesus and EVERYONE that is born of God...BELIEVERS)...which is the Second Command.
We KNOW THAT we love believers when we do the First Command (love God) because the effect of the First Command is the Second Command (loving others).
God's commandments are not grievous BECAUSE we have God dwelling in us (WHY) and following the commandments is only possible by God flowing through us (HOW). Our faith in God brings victory over the world (spirit of antichrist).
John rhetorically asks who can overcome the world other than someone who believes in Jesus Christ.
"6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood."
Tomorrow, we will see how John's conclusion continues from this fact that Jesus came by water and blood AND John reaches back to the beginning of this letter.
Next Post
Friday, November 20, 2009
I John 4:17-21
This month's Series looks at I John verse by verse. (Here is the link to the beginning of the Series: I John Introduction.)
Yesterday's post covered I John 4:15-16. Here is the summary:
John has added to his model by stating that people who abide in love PROVE they are believers...they PROVE that they abide in God and God abides in them.
Now that John has FORMALLY added LOVE to his model, he can explain SPECIFICALLY the WHY/HOW of love.
Today, we will conclude I John 4 and find out John's definition for love...
I JOHN 4:17-21
"17 Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world."
Notice, our love is made perfect in an ACTION: that we have boldness in the day of judgment. WHY would we have boldness in the day of judgment?
John says BECAUSE as He is, even so are we in this world. Having the Holy Spirit in us NOW makes us "like" Jesus as He is NOW. Remember, Jesus said He had to go away so the Holy Spirit would come. Jesus said we would do GREATER things than Him BECAUSE of the Holy Spirit.
Furthermore, John has PROVEN different things connected with being bold before God...
I John 2:28 said:
"28 And now, my little children, abide in him; that, if he shall be manifested, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming."
John stated that abiding in Him resulted in being able to have boldness before Him at His coming. We now know this is ONLY done through taking direction from the Holy Spirit inside of us.
I John 3:21-22 said:
"21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God;
22 and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight."
In that post, we saw that John's model for LOVE was:
LOVE is a QUANTITATIVE ACTION that SPECIFICALLY involves GIVING.
LOVE is Profitable.
LOVE is a Right WHAT (giving) with a Right HOW/WHY. However, John has not explained the Right HOW/WHY yet.
The next verse allows us to look at the Right HOW/WHY for love. Let's look at the next verse in I John 4...
"18 There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love."
Thre is A LOT in this one verse...
PERFECT LOVE removes FEAR.
John states that fear has punishment...which is the loss of a value. We have seen that love involves giving. However, this giving CANNOT be concerned AT ALL with the loss of a value...otherwise it is fear.
John is stating the HOW of LOVE!
Love is the giving of a value WITHOUT being afraid of losing the value. This means two things...
1. Love must involve giving WITHOUT EXPECTING anything in return from the one to which we are giving. If we have ANY expectations, then we will have fear that we have loss the value.
2. Love must involve giving AND KNOWING we will get it back SOME WAY. Remember, love is Profitable...so we know we are going to gain. The ONLY way to gain, is if we get something back that is MORE valuable to us.
Remember, perfect LOVE casteth out FEAR. Fear and love are COMPLETELY incompatible. Giving without expecting AND giving knowing that it will result in more BOTH remove ANY possibility of punishment...loss of value...fear.
WHY don't we expect to get anything in return?
WHY would we expect to become Profitable?
As John wrote from the beginning of this letter: God is light and in Him there is no darkness AT ALL.
God is ALWAYS COMPLETELY Right and ALWAYS COMPLETELY Just.
We KNOW that God will equal everything out through Justice. We KNOW that the value will return to us eventually through God. If it returns at judgment (when we are bold before Him), then it is an eternal value...which is MUCH MORE Profitable than anything we can give today!
Remember:
-I Corinthians 13:3 has Paul stating that if he gives but does not do it by love, then it profiteth him nothing. Love is more than just the action of giving...it involves an attitude that does NOT expect anything in return from the person you are giving to. It is not fearful of losing something.
-John quoted Jesus as saying greater love hath no man than he gives his life for a friend. (John 15:13) Notice, if you give your life, there is NO WAY to expect the person to pay you back! The ONLY way to get paid back is through God!
-Jesus defined love as giving and not expecting anything in return from the person you gave to in Luke 6:34-35.
Giving without expecting anything in return from the one to which you give is the ONLY definition that fits the words of Jesus, Paul, and John!
"19 We love, because he first loved us."
MAJOR DOCTRINE!!! John has wrapped up his model on "God is Love". Love is ONLY possible if it is God's love through us. We don't have the ability to love within ourselves. We couldn't do it FIRST. God HAD to FIRST love us IN ORDER for us to be able to love Him. God had to FIRST love us IN ORDER for us to be able to love ANYONE.
God had to FIRST give us a value IN ORDER for us to be able to give ANYTHING to ANYBODY.
Take some time to really state what you believe the definition of love is BECAUSE it is THE MEASURE for determining if someone is a believer.
"20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, cannot love God whom he hath not seen.
21 And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also."
I John 4 ends with John stating the commandment we have from Him: loving God and loving his brother.
John states POINT BLANK: How can someone who does NOT love his brother who he sees (doesn't require faith) SAY that he loves God?...who he hasn't seen (which requires faith).
This is a HUGE POINT: IF a person does NOT love believers in ACTIONS, then he is NOT a believer.
CHAPTER 4 SUMMARY
John states that loving believers is PROOF that God dwells in us and that we have Righteousness...that we are making progress (ACTION) in the light. Notice, John ends with two foundational principles: Righteousness (being a believer/loving God) and loving our brother.
John then references the commands that he referenced earlier to show that he has PROVEN them TRUE. What were the two commands?
First Command: Love the Lord thy God
Second Command: Love your neighbor.
John has gone through an EXTREMELY powerful philosophical proof. Unlike Paul, John does NOT use the scriptures to prove his points. He is doing this COMPLETELY logically...and it ALL checks out WITHOUT contradiction.
Now we are ready for John to bring the ENTIRE PROOF to a POWERFUL conclusion in the final chapter of I John.
Next Post
Yesterday's post covered I John 4:15-16. Here is the summary:
John has added to his model by stating that people who abide in love PROVE they are believers...they PROVE that they abide in God and God abides in them.
Now that John has FORMALLY added LOVE to his model, he can explain SPECIFICALLY the WHY/HOW of love.
Today, we will conclude I John 4 and find out John's definition for love...
I JOHN 4:17-21
"17 Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world."
Notice, our love is made perfect in an ACTION: that we have boldness in the day of judgment. WHY would we have boldness in the day of judgment?
John says BECAUSE as He is, even so are we in this world. Having the Holy Spirit in us NOW makes us "like" Jesus as He is NOW. Remember, Jesus said He had to go away so the Holy Spirit would come. Jesus said we would do GREATER things than Him BECAUSE of the Holy Spirit.
Furthermore, John has PROVEN different things connected with being bold before God...
I John 2:28 said:
"28 And now, my little children, abide in him; that, if he shall be manifested, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming."
John stated that abiding in Him resulted in being able to have boldness before Him at His coming. We now know this is ONLY done through taking direction from the Holy Spirit inside of us.
I John 3:21-22 said:
"21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God;
22 and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight."
In that post, we saw that John's model for LOVE was:
LOVE is a QUANTITATIVE ACTION that SPECIFICALLY involves GIVING.
LOVE is Profitable.
LOVE is a Right WHAT (giving) with a Right HOW/WHY. However, John has not explained the Right HOW/WHY yet.
The next verse allows us to look at the Right HOW/WHY for love. Let's look at the next verse in I John 4...
"18 There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love."
Thre is A LOT in this one verse...
PERFECT LOVE removes FEAR.
John states that fear has punishment...which is the loss of a value. We have seen that love involves giving. However, this giving CANNOT be concerned AT ALL with the loss of a value...otherwise it is fear.
John is stating the HOW of LOVE!
Love is the giving of a value WITHOUT being afraid of losing the value. This means two things...
1. Love must involve giving WITHOUT EXPECTING anything in return from the one to which we are giving. If we have ANY expectations, then we will have fear that we have loss the value.
2. Love must involve giving AND KNOWING we will get it back SOME WAY. Remember, love is Profitable...so we know we are going to gain. The ONLY way to gain, is if we get something back that is MORE valuable to us.
Remember, perfect LOVE casteth out FEAR. Fear and love are COMPLETELY incompatible. Giving without expecting AND giving knowing that it will result in more BOTH remove ANY possibility of punishment...loss of value...fear.
WHY don't we expect to get anything in return?
WHY would we expect to become Profitable?
As John wrote from the beginning of this letter: God is light and in Him there is no darkness AT ALL.
God is ALWAYS COMPLETELY Right and ALWAYS COMPLETELY Just.
We KNOW that God will equal everything out through Justice. We KNOW that the value will return to us eventually through God. If it returns at judgment (when we are bold before Him), then it is an eternal value...which is MUCH MORE Profitable than anything we can give today!
Remember:
-I Corinthians 13:3 has Paul stating that if he gives but does not do it by love, then it profiteth him nothing. Love is more than just the action of giving...it involves an attitude that does NOT expect anything in return from the person you are giving to. It is not fearful of losing something.
-John quoted Jesus as saying greater love hath no man than he gives his life for a friend. (John 15:13) Notice, if you give your life, there is NO WAY to expect the person to pay you back! The ONLY way to get paid back is through God!
-Jesus defined love as giving and not expecting anything in return from the person you gave to in Luke 6:34-35.
Giving without expecting anything in return from the one to which you give is the ONLY definition that fits the words of Jesus, Paul, and John!
"19 We love, because he first loved us."
MAJOR DOCTRINE!!! John has wrapped up his model on "God is Love". Love is ONLY possible if it is God's love through us. We don't have the ability to love within ourselves. We couldn't do it FIRST. God HAD to FIRST love us IN ORDER for us to be able to love Him. God had to FIRST love us IN ORDER for us to be able to love ANYONE.
God had to FIRST give us a value IN ORDER for us to be able to give ANYTHING to ANYBODY.
Take some time to really state what you believe the definition of love is BECAUSE it is THE MEASURE for determining if someone is a believer.
"20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, cannot love God whom he hath not seen.
21 And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also."
I John 4 ends with John stating the commandment we have from Him: loving God and loving his brother.
John states POINT BLANK: How can someone who does NOT love his brother who he sees (doesn't require faith) SAY that he loves God?...who he hasn't seen (which requires faith).
This is a HUGE POINT: IF a person does NOT love believers in ACTIONS, then he is NOT a believer.
CHAPTER 4 SUMMARY
John states that loving believers is PROOF that God dwells in us and that we have Righteousness...that we are making progress (ACTION) in the light. Notice, John ends with two foundational principles: Righteousness (being a believer/loving God) and loving our brother.
John then references the commands that he referenced earlier to show that he has PROVEN them TRUE. What were the two commands?
First Command: Love the Lord thy God
Second Command: Love your neighbor.
John has gone through an EXTREMELY powerful philosophical proof. Unlike Paul, John does NOT use the scriptures to prove his points. He is doing this COMPLETELY logically...and it ALL checks out WITHOUT contradiction.
Now we are ready for John to bring the ENTIRE PROOF to a POWERFUL conclusion in the final chapter of I John.
Next Post
Thursday, November 19, 2009
I John 4:15-16
This month's Series looks at I John verse by verse. (Here is the link to the beginning of the Series: I John Introduction.)
Yesterday's post covered I John 4:12-14. Here is the summary:
We KNOW that we dwell in God (are believers) because His Spirit works through us to love others...which is the ONLY way we can love. Today's passage ALSO presents John's proof that God exists.
John has shown how LOVE is PROOF that God exists and is abiding in us. John has PROVEN that we KNOW THAT we know God if we love one another.
With each passage, we see that LOVE is critical to KNOWING THAT we know we are believers.
However, John still hasn't given his specific definition for love.
I JOHN 4:15-16
"15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God."
WARNING: Do NOT take this verse out of context.
With EVERYTHING we have read up to this point, it is wrong to state that all one has to do is confess Jesus is the Son of God as PROOF that God abides in him and he in God. This sentence is occurring inbetween the "bracketed God is love" verses. The entire point of this chapter is that LOVING others PROVES we are abiding in God and God is abiding in us.
In fact, from the VERY BEGINNING, John stated:
"6 If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:" (1 John 1:6)
John has CONSISTENTLY stated that our actions (effects) are PROOF of our beliefs (causes) REGARDLESS of what we say. Stating I John 4:15 by itself would contradict I John 1:6, as well as several other verses from I John.
Therefore, John is stating I John 4:15 as part of a PROOF. Let's look at the next sentence...
"16 And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him."
The "love which God hath in us" is that we KNOW and BELIEVED (fully convinced) is Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Remember, "believed" means "fully convinced"...which means UNDERSTAND and EXPERIENCE. Our beliefs are PROVEN by our actions. So, again, we PROVE we believe the love which God has in us when it comes out in our actions...when we love others.
John then concludes this week's section by stating "God is love" AND he that abides in love abides in God and God abides in him.
SUMMARY
John has added to his model by stating that people who abide in love PROVE they are believers...they PROVE that they abide in God and God abides in them.
Now that John has FORMALLY added LOVE to his model, he can explain SPECIFICALLY the WHY/HOW of love.
Tomorrow, we will conclude I John 4 and find out John's definition for love...
Next Post
Yesterday's post covered I John 4:12-14. Here is the summary:
We KNOW that we dwell in God (are believers) because His Spirit works through us to love others...which is the ONLY way we can love. Today's passage ALSO presents John's proof that God exists.
John has shown how LOVE is PROOF that God exists and is abiding in us. John has PROVEN that we KNOW THAT we know God if we love one another.
With each passage, we see that LOVE is critical to KNOWING THAT we know we are believers.
However, John still hasn't given his specific definition for love.
I JOHN 4:15-16
"15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God."
WARNING: Do NOT take this verse out of context.
With EVERYTHING we have read up to this point, it is wrong to state that all one has to do is confess Jesus is the Son of God as PROOF that God abides in him and he in God. This sentence is occurring inbetween the "bracketed God is love" verses. The entire point of this chapter is that LOVING others PROVES we are abiding in God and God is abiding in us.
In fact, from the VERY BEGINNING, John stated:
"6 If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:" (1 John 1:6)
John has CONSISTENTLY stated that our actions (effects) are PROOF of our beliefs (causes) REGARDLESS of what we say. Stating I John 4:15 by itself would contradict I John 1:6, as well as several other verses from I John.
Therefore, John is stating I John 4:15 as part of a PROOF. Let's look at the next sentence...
"16 And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him."
The "love which God hath in us" is that we KNOW and BELIEVED (fully convinced) is Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Remember, "believed" means "fully convinced"...which means UNDERSTAND and EXPERIENCE. Our beliefs are PROVEN by our actions. So, again, we PROVE we believe the love which God has in us when it comes out in our actions...when we love others.
John then concludes this week's section by stating "God is love" AND he that abides in love abides in God and God abides in him.
SUMMARY
John has added to his model by stating that people who abide in love PROVE they are believers...they PROVE that they abide in God and God abides in them.
Now that John has FORMALLY added LOVE to his model, he can explain SPECIFICALLY the WHY/HOW of love.
Tomorrow, we will conclude I John 4 and find out John's definition for love...
Next Post
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
I John 4:12-14
This month's Series looks at I John verse by verse. (Here is the link to the beginning of the Series: I John Introduction.)
Yesterday's post covered I John 4:10-11. Here is the summary:
John states that if God loved us then we ought to love others BECAUSE we are able to do it...BECAUSE God is doing it through us towards others AND God WANTS to love others through us. John also stated this process results in Salvation for the individual.
We now see how Biblical Grace, Love, and Salvation work together without contradiction. However, we still don't know SPECIFICALLY John's definition for love.
Today, we will continue learning more about John's definition for love...
I JOHN 4:12-14
"12 No man hath beheld God at any time: if we love one another, God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us:
13 hereby we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father hath sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world."
Verse 12 is a "faith verse".
Remember, faith is the belief in something that you can't see and/or belief in something that hasn't happened yet. Faith is built by understanding and/or experience.
John is PROVING that the proof that God exists will NOT come by SEEING Him. Remember, John is showing us how we can KNOW THAT we know God. This presupposes that God exists. John realizes this and wants to deal BOTH with God existing AND God abiding in us.
John has removed the possibility that we will prove God's existence by seeing Him. John moves on to an IF/THEN...
IF: we love one another
THEN: God abides in us AND His love is perfected in us
Then, verse 13 states the PROOF that He abides in us and we abide in Him: God has given to us His Spirit.
John has previously PROVEN that the ONLY reason we are able to have God's Spirit in us is BECAUSE Jesus has come in the flesh to be the propitiation for our sins.
Verse 14 states that John and others have SEEN that Jesus came in the flesh to be the saviour of the WORLD. (Again, this is another verse showing that God not only intended for ALL to be saved, but has provided the means for EVERYONE who has ever existed to be saved.)
SUMMARY
We KNOW that we dwell in God (are believers) because His Spirit works through us to love others...which is the ONLY way we can love. Today's passage ALSO presents John's proof that God exists.
John has shown how LOVE is PROOF that God exists and is abiding in us. John has PROVEN that we KNOW THAT we know God if we love one another.
With each passage, we see that LOVE is critical to KNOWING THAT we know we are believers.
However, John still hasn't given his specific definition for love.
Next Post
Yesterday's post covered I John 4:10-11. Here is the summary:
John states that if God loved us then we ought to love others BECAUSE we are able to do it...BECAUSE God is doing it through us towards others AND God WANTS to love others through us. John also stated this process results in Salvation for the individual.
We now see how Biblical Grace, Love, and Salvation work together without contradiction. However, we still don't know SPECIFICALLY John's definition for love.
Today, we will continue learning more about John's definition for love...
I JOHN 4:12-14
"12 No man hath beheld God at any time: if we love one another, God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us:
13 hereby we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father hath sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world."
Verse 12 is a "faith verse".
Remember, faith is the belief in something that you can't see and/or belief in something that hasn't happened yet. Faith is built by understanding and/or experience.
John is PROVING that the proof that God exists will NOT come by SEEING Him. Remember, John is showing us how we can KNOW THAT we know God. This presupposes that God exists. John realizes this and wants to deal BOTH with God existing AND God abiding in us.
John has removed the possibility that we will prove God's existence by seeing Him. John moves on to an IF/THEN...
IF: we love one another
THEN: God abides in us AND His love is perfected in us
Then, verse 13 states the PROOF that He abides in us and we abide in Him: God has given to us His Spirit.
John has previously PROVEN that the ONLY reason we are able to have God's Spirit in us is BECAUSE Jesus has come in the flesh to be the propitiation for our sins.
Verse 14 states that John and others have SEEN that Jesus came in the flesh to be the saviour of the WORLD. (Again, this is another verse showing that God not only intended for ALL to be saved, but has provided the means for EVERYONE who has ever existed to be saved.)
SUMMARY
We KNOW that we dwell in God (are believers) because His Spirit works through us to love others...which is the ONLY way we can love. Today's passage ALSO presents John's proof that God exists.
John has shown how LOVE is PROOF that God exists and is abiding in us. John has PROVEN that we KNOW THAT we know God if we love one another.
With each passage, we see that LOVE is critical to KNOWING THAT we know we are believers.
However, John still hasn't given his specific definition for love.
Next Post
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
I John 4:10-11
This month's Series looks at I John verse by verse. (Here is the link to the beginning of the Series: I John Introduction.)
Yesterday's post covered I John 4:8-9. Here is the summary:
Remember, towards the end of I John 3, we saw John's preliminary explanation for love:
LOVE is a QUANTITATIVE ACTION that SPECIFICALLY involves GIVING.
LOVE is Profitable.
LOVE is a Right WHAT (giving) with a Right HOW/WHY. However, John has not explained the Right HOW/WHY yet.
I John 4:9 agrees with John's preliminary explanation for love. God sending His only begotten Son into the world is a quantitative action that specifically involves giving.
The EFFECT of this action (us living through Him) is Profitable.
Today, we will see continue to learn the Right HOW/WHY associated with John's definition for love...
I JOHN 4:10-11
"10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
John continues to explain the Right HOW/WHY that defines love. John states that another example of love is God loving us by sending His Son as a propitiation for our sins.
Again, notice this is an ACTION. God gave to us. What EXACTLY did He give to us? What does "propitiation" mean?
This was the same word John used in I John 2:2...
Here is an excerpt from that post:
I JOHN 2
"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."
It is only two verses, but there is a lot here...
-"My little children" means this section is written to new believers.
-John states the reason he has written these thing is so that these new believers may not sin. However, we know that people are going to sin...so John is trying to help people do the best they can at NOT sinning. John's solution is to have Fellowship with God and all the effects mentioned in I John 1 will follow.
-John then ALSO helps people after they sin by stating that if you sin, you have an Advocate: CHRIST.
(Excerpt from "I John 2:1-7")
The verses from I John 4 that we are looking at today sync up with the foundational verses in I John 2. Jesus being the propitiation for our sins allows us to attain Salvation AND avoid sinning. This is a HUGE point!
WHATEVER explanation you have for Salvation, it ought to deal with sin so that it results in Salvation AND prevent the person from sinning WHILE they are doing the explanation you have for Salvation.
Let's take a brief look at two models for Salvation. If you are interested in looking at this issue in depth, we did an entire Series on Salvation. Here is the link for the beginning of that series: "Salvation Series Introduction: Resolution".
UNMERITED FAVOR
Most "Christians" follow the man-made traditional explanation of grace: unmerited favor. There are Greek words for this concept of unmerited favor and they are NOT in the Bible.
Unmerited favor believes that God gives us value we don't deserve to cover our sins. So, the result is we are back to even. There is NO Righteousness that is accumulated. Jesus said our Righteousness needed to EXCEED the righteousness of the Pharisees in order to get into Heaven. Unmerited favor does NOT result in Salvation according to Jesus.
Worse yet, believing in unmerited favor would require the individual to believe we have to reimburse God for what He has given to us OR the individual has to believe that God violates Justice.
Notice that unmerited favor is ONLY necessary when we sin. So we have to sin IN ORDER to get this "grace". Unmerited favor does NOT help us avoid sinning!
Here is a summary from a post from the Salvation Series: "Unmerited Favor":
"Unmerited favor" does NOT result in Righteousness and therefore can't result in Salvation.
"Unmerited favor" violates Justice.
"Unmerited favor" is a man-made tradition that is making the Word and Will of God of NONE effect.
Remember yesterday's post with the verse (Ephesians 2:7) previous to today's focus where Paul speaks about God showing the exceeding riches of His grace in ages to come? Why would we need to cover sins in Heaven?...yet there will be grace in Heaven.
BIBLICAL GRACE
Biblical Grace is "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life."
We saw that John called this "an anointing from the Holy One" in the same passage that warned us about "antichrists"!
God influences our heart through the Holy Spirit. We choose to allow this influence to reflect off of us and be carried out in our life by the Holy Spirit OR do something in our own strength. This is Fellowship with God!
We do NOT get credit for the resulting work. We get credit for choosing to allow God to flow through us. We don't obtain Reward through Grace, we obtain Salvation through Grace.
It is like taking medicine for an ailment. The medicine cures us. We are only responsible for whether we take the medicine or not. It would be foolish and prideful to state that we cured ourselves. No...the medicine cured us. However, we have to chose to take the medicine or we don't get cured at all. All we can do is PREVENT ourselves from getting cured.
According to Ephesians 2:8, Salvation is by grace through faith. Allowing grace through us results in Righteousness that is God's. I represent this Righteousness with a capital "R". This Righteousness is necessary for Salvation.
Our works result in righteousness which results in Reward. This righteousness is like filthy rags compared to the Righteousness that comes from God and leads to Salvation.
Biblical Grace begins with God giving to us and us choosing to let God reflect off of us. The resulting Profitability is attributed to God, NOT us. God supplied it AND God gets the resulting value. This does NOT violate Justice.
Notice, Biblical Grace is GIVEN to us and can ONLY reflect off of us if we are humble...if we confess and repent. This is how Biblical Grace deals with sin. Also, notice doing this process helps us avoid sinning. John repeatedly states that a person CANNOT sin if they are abiding in God and allowing Him to direct our actions...Fellowship with God...which is Biblical Grace!
Here is a summary from a post from the Salvation Series: "Biblical Grace":
We attain Salvation by choosing to let God work through us. This is a cause that results in Righteousness that we can't boast about because the ONLY way it happens is if we humble ourselves...which is the OPPOSITE of ANYTHING we can do in our strength!
How can ANYONE boast about being humble?
How is humbling one's self an accomplishment?
Notice, this doesn't violate Justice!
Now, notice the second verse from today's passage: if God loves us we ought to love others. If God is flowing through us, the result ought to be that we love others. If we are in Fellowship with God, we ought to be in Fellowship with others who are in Fellowship with God. Basically, we ought to be grace to others.
Can we be grace to others? Can we give unmerited favor to others? Isn't it prideful to think we have the favor that saves others?
However, we would be able to be a godly influence (grace) to others if we allow God to flow through us to others.
The letter from Paul that presents the Salvation Process (Ephesians 2:8-9) also has a verse about being grace to others!
"29 Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear." (Ephesians 4:29)
Edifying means PROFITABLE.
Paul is saying that what proceeds out of our mouth OUGHT to be an influence that fits the specific and unique need of the person to the point of making them Profitable...and Paul called it "grace".
SUMMARY
John states that if God loved us then we ought to love others BECAUSE we are able to do it...BECAUSE God is doing it through us towards others AND God WANTS to love others through us. John also stated this process results in Salvation for the individual.
We now see how Biblical Grace, Love, and Salvation work together without contradiction. However, we still don't know SPECIFICALLY John's definition for love.
Tomorrow, we will continue learning more about John's definition for love...
Next Post
Yesterday's post covered I John 4:8-9. Here is the summary:
Remember, towards the end of I John 3, we saw John's preliminary explanation for love:
LOVE is a QUANTITATIVE ACTION that SPECIFICALLY involves GIVING.
LOVE is Profitable.
LOVE is a Right WHAT (giving) with a Right HOW/WHY. However, John has not explained the Right HOW/WHY yet.
I John 4:9 agrees with John's preliminary explanation for love. God sending His only begotten Son into the world is a quantitative action that specifically involves giving.
The EFFECT of this action (us living through Him) is Profitable.
Today, we will see continue to learn the Right HOW/WHY associated with John's definition for love...
I JOHN 4:10-11
"10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
John continues to explain the Right HOW/WHY that defines love. John states that another example of love is God loving us by sending His Son as a propitiation for our sins.
Again, notice this is an ACTION. God gave to us. What EXACTLY did He give to us? What does "propitiation" mean?
This was the same word John used in I John 2:2...
Here is an excerpt from that post:
I JOHN 2
"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."
It is only two verses, but there is a lot here...
-"My little children" means this section is written to new believers.
-John states the reason he has written these thing is so that these new believers may not sin. However, we know that people are going to sin...so John is trying to help people do the best they can at NOT sinning. John's solution is to have Fellowship with God and all the effects mentioned in I John 1 will follow.
-John then ALSO helps people after they sin by stating that if you sin, you have an Advocate: CHRIST.
(Excerpt from "I John 2:1-7")
The verses from I John 4 that we are looking at today sync up with the foundational verses in I John 2. Jesus being the propitiation for our sins allows us to attain Salvation AND avoid sinning. This is a HUGE point!
WHATEVER explanation you have for Salvation, it ought to deal with sin so that it results in Salvation AND prevent the person from sinning WHILE they are doing the explanation you have for Salvation.
Let's take a brief look at two models for Salvation. If you are interested in looking at this issue in depth, we did an entire Series on Salvation. Here is the link for the beginning of that series: "Salvation Series Introduction: Resolution".
UNMERITED FAVOR
Most "Christians" follow the man-made traditional explanation of grace: unmerited favor. There are Greek words for this concept of unmerited favor and they are NOT in the Bible.
Unmerited favor believes that God gives us value we don't deserve to cover our sins. So, the result is we are back to even. There is NO Righteousness that is accumulated. Jesus said our Righteousness needed to EXCEED the righteousness of the Pharisees in order to get into Heaven. Unmerited favor does NOT result in Salvation according to Jesus.
Worse yet, believing in unmerited favor would require the individual to believe we have to reimburse God for what He has given to us OR the individual has to believe that God violates Justice.
Notice that unmerited favor is ONLY necessary when we sin. So we have to sin IN ORDER to get this "grace". Unmerited favor does NOT help us avoid sinning!
Here is a summary from a post from the Salvation Series: "Unmerited Favor":
"Unmerited favor" does NOT result in Righteousness and therefore can't result in Salvation.
"Unmerited favor" violates Justice.
"Unmerited favor" is a man-made tradition that is making the Word and Will of God of NONE effect.
Remember yesterday's post with the verse (Ephesians 2:7) previous to today's focus where Paul speaks about God showing the exceeding riches of His grace in ages to come? Why would we need to cover sins in Heaven?...yet there will be grace in Heaven.
BIBLICAL GRACE
Biblical Grace is "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life."
We saw that John called this "an anointing from the Holy One" in the same passage that warned us about "antichrists"!
God influences our heart through the Holy Spirit. We choose to allow this influence to reflect off of us and be carried out in our life by the Holy Spirit OR do something in our own strength. This is Fellowship with God!
We do NOT get credit for the resulting work. We get credit for choosing to allow God to flow through us. We don't obtain Reward through Grace, we obtain Salvation through Grace.
It is like taking medicine for an ailment. The medicine cures us. We are only responsible for whether we take the medicine or not. It would be foolish and prideful to state that we cured ourselves. No...the medicine cured us. However, we have to chose to take the medicine or we don't get cured at all. All we can do is PREVENT ourselves from getting cured.
According to Ephesians 2:8, Salvation is by grace through faith. Allowing grace through us results in Righteousness that is God's. I represent this Righteousness with a capital "R". This Righteousness is necessary for Salvation.
Our works result in righteousness which results in Reward. This righteousness is like filthy rags compared to the Righteousness that comes from God and leads to Salvation.
Biblical Grace begins with God giving to us and us choosing to let God reflect off of us. The resulting Profitability is attributed to God, NOT us. God supplied it AND God gets the resulting value. This does NOT violate Justice.
Notice, Biblical Grace is GIVEN to us and can ONLY reflect off of us if we are humble...if we confess and repent. This is how Biblical Grace deals with sin. Also, notice doing this process helps us avoid sinning. John repeatedly states that a person CANNOT sin if they are abiding in God and allowing Him to direct our actions...Fellowship with God...which is Biblical Grace!
Here is a summary from a post from the Salvation Series: "Biblical Grace":
We attain Salvation by choosing to let God work through us. This is a cause that results in Righteousness that we can't boast about because the ONLY way it happens is if we humble ourselves...which is the OPPOSITE of ANYTHING we can do in our strength!
How can ANYONE boast about being humble?
How is humbling one's self an accomplishment?
Notice, this doesn't violate Justice!
Now, notice the second verse from today's passage: if God loves us we ought to love others. If God is flowing through us, the result ought to be that we love others. If we are in Fellowship with God, we ought to be in Fellowship with others who are in Fellowship with God. Basically, we ought to be grace to others.
Can we be grace to others? Can we give unmerited favor to others? Isn't it prideful to think we have the favor that saves others?
However, we would be able to be a godly influence (grace) to others if we allow God to flow through us to others.
The letter from Paul that presents the Salvation Process (Ephesians 2:8-9) also has a verse about being grace to others!
"29 Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear." (Ephesians 4:29)
Edifying means PROFITABLE.
Paul is saying that what proceeds out of our mouth OUGHT to be an influence that fits the specific and unique need of the person to the point of making them Profitable...and Paul called it "grace".
SUMMARY
John states that if God loved us then we ought to love others BECAUSE we are able to do it...BECAUSE God is doing it through us towards others AND God WANTS to love others through us. John also stated this process results in Salvation for the individual.
We now see how Biblical Grace, Love, and Salvation work together without contradiction. However, we still don't know SPECIFICALLY John's definition for love.
Tomorrow, we will continue learning more about John's definition for love...
Next Post
Monday, November 16, 2009
I John 4:8-9
This month's Series looks at I John verse by verse. (Here is the link to the beginning of the Series: I John Introduction.)
Yesterday's post covered I John 4:7. Here is the summary:
John begins his explanation of LOVE by stating that since love is of God AND we know God, believers should intentionally love one another.
Once again, the critical question is: What is John's definition for LOVE?
Today, we will begin looking at the most quoted verses in I John...the ones that give John's definition for LOVE.
I JOHN 4:8-9
"8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him."
I John 4:7 stated that those who know God ought to love others BECAUSE love is of God. The subsequent verse (I John 4:8) is the contrastive conclusion: those that do NOT love, do NOT know God. WHY? Because "God is love".
"God is love" is the most quoted phrase from I John. However, John states "God is love" TWICE. John FIRST states "God is love" in I John 4:8 (today's passage).
John is going to continue building from this Statement until he arrives at the conclusion that "God is love" the SECOND time he states it. EVERYTHING in between these bracketed Statements (that "God is love") is John's definition for love!
For now, it is important to realize John makes his FIRST Statement that "God is love" as a contrastive conclusion to I John 4:7. John is stating that those who do NOT love, do NOT know God BECAUSE since God is love, these people would love if they did know God.
John still hasn't BLATANTLY and SPECIFICALLY explained his definition for love...and that is what the subsequent verse begins to do. I John 4:9 states an example of God's love manifesting in us:
God sent His only begotten Son into the world. (WHY?) So that we might live through Him.
God's love was demonstrated by Him sending His only begotten Son into the world. This is the CAUSE.
The EFFECT of this CAUSE is that we are able to LIVE (ABIDE) through Him (through the Holy Spirit which is Biblical GRACE).
John has already PROVEN that those who know God have God abiding in them and PROVE they are abiding in God by allowing God to direct their actions through the Holy Spirit. This conclusion has been repeatedly PROVEN throughout this letter.
Now John is adding to this PROOF. John is saying that God's LOVE is the CAUSE of this repeatedly proven EFFECT. It is now time for John to focus on this CAUSE...
SUMMARY
Remember, towards the end of I John 3, we saw John's preliminary explanation for love:
LOVE is a QUANTITATIVE ACTION that SPECIFICALLY involves GIVING.
LOVE is Profitable.
LOVE is a Right WHAT (giving) with a Right HOW/WHY. However, John has not explained the Right HOW/WHY yet.
I John 4:9 agrees with John's preliminary explanation for love. God sending His only begotten Son into the world is a quantitative action that specifically involves giving.
The EFFECT of this action (us living through Him) is Profitable.
Tomorrow, we will see continue to learn the Right HOW/WHY associated with John's definition for love...
Next Post
Yesterday's post covered I John 4:7. Here is the summary:
John begins his explanation of LOVE by stating that since love is of God AND we know God, believers should intentionally love one another.
Once again, the critical question is: What is John's definition for LOVE?
Today, we will begin looking at the most quoted verses in I John...the ones that give John's definition for LOVE.
I JOHN 4:8-9
"8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him."
I John 4:7 stated that those who know God ought to love others BECAUSE love is of God. The subsequent verse (I John 4:8) is the contrastive conclusion: those that do NOT love, do NOT know God. WHY? Because "God is love".
"God is love" is the most quoted phrase from I John. However, John states "God is love" TWICE. John FIRST states "God is love" in I John 4:8 (today's passage).
John is going to continue building from this Statement until he arrives at the conclusion that "God is love" the SECOND time he states it. EVERYTHING in between these bracketed Statements (that "God is love") is John's definition for love!
For now, it is important to realize John makes his FIRST Statement that "God is love" as a contrastive conclusion to I John 4:7. John is stating that those who do NOT love, do NOT know God BECAUSE since God is love, these people would love if they did know God.
John still hasn't BLATANTLY and SPECIFICALLY explained his definition for love...and that is what the subsequent verse begins to do. I John 4:9 states an example of God's love manifesting in us:
God sent His only begotten Son into the world. (WHY?) So that we might live through Him.
God's love was demonstrated by Him sending His only begotten Son into the world. This is the CAUSE.
The EFFECT of this CAUSE is that we are able to LIVE (ABIDE) through Him (through the Holy Spirit which is Biblical GRACE).
John has already PROVEN that those who know God have God abiding in them and PROVE they are abiding in God by allowing God to direct their actions through the Holy Spirit. This conclusion has been repeatedly PROVEN throughout this letter.
Now John is adding to this PROOF. John is saying that God's LOVE is the CAUSE of this repeatedly proven EFFECT. It is now time for John to focus on this CAUSE...
SUMMARY
Remember, towards the end of I John 3, we saw John's preliminary explanation for love:
LOVE is a QUANTITATIVE ACTION that SPECIFICALLY involves GIVING.
LOVE is Profitable.
LOVE is a Right WHAT (giving) with a Right HOW/WHY. However, John has not explained the Right HOW/WHY yet.
I John 4:9 agrees with John's preliminary explanation for love. God sending His only begotten Son into the world is a quantitative action that specifically involves giving.
The EFFECT of this action (us living through Him) is Profitable.
Tomorrow, we will see continue to learn the Right HOW/WHY associated with John's definition for love...
Next Post
Friday, November 13, 2009
I John 4:7
This month's Series looks at I John verse by verse. (Here is the link to the beginning of the Series: I John Introduction.)
Yesterday's post covered I John 4:5-6. Here is the summary:
John proved that ONLY those who know God are able to DISCERN between the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error. Those who don't know God are unable to DISCERN between the two.
Discernment is NOT being able to determine the difference between a Right WHAT and a Wrong WHAT. This is actually called "judgment"...the ability to determine the value of a WHAT.
Discernment is a gift from God that tells you WHY/HOW something is Right or Wrong. (The Holy Spirit is a gift from God.)
Gifts from God are profitable to ALL...actually to OTHERS.
"Profiting others"...that reminds me, today's post will begin looking at John's definition of LOVE.
I JOHN 4:7
"7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God."
John begins addressing LOVE by first stating to us to: love one another.
His REASONS WHY?
-Love is of God
-EVERYONE that loves is begotten of God
-EVERYONE that loves knows God
There are a couple of powerful implications from these three reasons.
First, love is an action that is done with UNDERSTANDING. Since John is telling us to LOVE others, this must be something that can be done intentionally. The ONLY way a person can do something intentionally is if they UNDERSTAND the cause.
Second, loving one another PROVES that you KNOW God! John has been presenting the foundation for this implication since the beginning of his letter. John has shown us that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. John has shown us that those who are begotten of God do Righteousness. John has been stating that we KNOW THAT we know God when we do His Commands, both of which begin with LOVE.
The First Command (Love the Lord thy God...) is the Cause and is done by people who are believers. The Second Command (Love one another...) is the Effect of the First Command and is PROOF a person is doing the First Command. Loving one another is PROOF the person is a believer. Loving one another is PROOF the person knows God.
SUMMARY
John begins his explanation of LOVE by stating that since love is of God AND we know God, believers should intentionally love one another.
Once again, the critical question is: What is John's definition for LOVE?
On Monday, we will begin looking at the most quoted verses in I John...the ones that give John's definition for LOVE.
Next Post
Yesterday's post covered I John 4:5-6. Here is the summary:
John proved that ONLY those who know God are able to DISCERN between the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error. Those who don't know God are unable to DISCERN between the two.
Discernment is NOT being able to determine the difference between a Right WHAT and a Wrong WHAT. This is actually called "judgment"...the ability to determine the value of a WHAT.
Discernment is a gift from God that tells you WHY/HOW something is Right or Wrong. (The Holy Spirit is a gift from God.)
Gifts from God are profitable to ALL...actually to OTHERS.
"Profiting others"...that reminds me, today's post will begin looking at John's definition of LOVE.
I JOHN 4:7
"7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God."
John begins addressing LOVE by first stating to us to: love one another.
His REASONS WHY?
-Love is of God
-EVERYONE that loves is begotten of God
-EVERYONE that loves knows God
There are a couple of powerful implications from these three reasons.
First, love is an action that is done with UNDERSTANDING. Since John is telling us to LOVE others, this must be something that can be done intentionally. The ONLY way a person can do something intentionally is if they UNDERSTAND the cause.
Second, loving one another PROVES that you KNOW God! John has been presenting the foundation for this implication since the beginning of his letter. John has shown us that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. John has shown us that those who are begotten of God do Righteousness. John has been stating that we KNOW THAT we know God when we do His Commands, both of which begin with LOVE.
The First Command (Love the Lord thy God...) is the Cause and is done by people who are believers. The Second Command (Love one another...) is the Effect of the First Command and is PROOF a person is doing the First Command. Loving one another is PROOF the person is a believer. Loving one another is PROOF the person knows God.
SUMMARY
John begins his explanation of LOVE by stating that since love is of God AND we know God, believers should intentionally love one another.
Once again, the critical question is: What is John's definition for LOVE?
On Monday, we will begin looking at the most quoted verses in I John...the ones that give John's definition for LOVE.
Next Post
Thursday, November 12, 2009
I John 4:5-6
This month's Series looks at I John verse by verse. (Here is the link to the beginning of the Series: I John Introduction.)
Yesterday's post covered I John 4:4. Here is the summary:
John proves that we have overcome the spirits of this world (antichrists) BECAUSE He that is in us is GREATER than he that is in the world. This is ONLY possible if Biblical Grace is the divine influence upon the heart (THROUGH the Holy Spirit), and its reflection in the life (BY the Holy Spirit).
We have seen that John has called those who are against this anointing (Biblical Grace through the Holy Spirit) "antichrists". So we have overcome these people who are against the anointing (antichrists) BY the anointing from the Holy One (Biblical Grace through the Holy Spirit abiding in us).
I JOHN 4:5-6
"5 They are of the world: therefore speak they as of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he who is not of God heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error."
In the previous verses covered in yesterday's post, John PROVES that those who have the anointing from the Holy One are able to overcome those who deny the anointing. Those who have the anointing are led of God through the Holy Spirit and KNOW THAT they know God. Those who deny the anointing are walking according to the world.
Today's two verses are powerful conclusions. John is BLATANTLY stating that those who deny the anointing are of the world and THEREFORE speak of the world AND the world hears them.
John is also BLATANTLY stating in a CONTRASTIVE manner that we are of God and those who are of God hear us AND those that are NOT of God do NOT hear us. Then John states that BY THIS reason we ALONE know the Spirit of Truth AND the spirit of error.
John just proved that ONLY those who know God are able to DISCERN between the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error. Those who don't know God are unable to DISCERN between the two.
However, there is a greater point in these verses that strikes close to home for me...
More and more, I'm realizing that "Modeling God" was written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is revelatory.
This means, the ONLY way to UNDERSTAND "Modeling God" is through the Holy Spirit.
I have had plenty of people state that they think it is 85-90% right (even people who have attacked me)...but the last bit is "too intellectual" to be immediately understood. Some people claim that last bit is just plain wrong.
When you ask them WHY it is wrong, they can't answer. The most telling response sounds something like this: Most people agree with me that it is just wrong.
Are these "people" of the world or of God? Clearly they hear and understand each other. However, if they were of God, wouldn't they UNDERSTAND the Spirit of Truth AND the spirit of error? Wouldn't they be able to objectively explain their beliefs?
I have had plenty of people, who are definitely NOT intellectual, instantly "get" "Modeling God" and use it to teach others. In fact, they have used it to correct religious "leaders".
Believing that "Modeling God" is "too intellectual" would lead a person to try harder in their own strength to "get it". That NEVER seems to work.
However, people who are led of the Spirit, and actively ask God for the ability to understand "Modeling God", find themselves "getting it". In fact, last night I was with a Bible Study group that is going through "Modeling God". They are a group of believers who are mostly 50 years and older. They are NOT intellectuals. They have years of experience with man-made traditions. Exactly the wrong crowd to "get" "Modeling God"...or so I thought.
They are in the last chapters of "Modeling God" and they have some amazing stories about the journey of growth they are on. They shared with me stories about certain concepts in the book that made them mad, confused, or frustrated. They told me how they asked God for understanding before they would go to bed...and how they would wake up the next day with a clearer picture.
They are a humble group who can consider they were wrong. I'm NOT saying they admitted they were wrong. I'm NOT saying they thought they were wrong. They actually approached God from the perspective that they MAY be wrong...and God was able to speak to these humble people through the Holy Spirit. They were able to get revelatory understanding that has changed their lives for the better!
This group has seen a lot of changes in the church in America over the last 30-40 years that grieves them. They were able to give me a greater context and understanding of what a book like "Modeling God" can mean to people WHO ARE DIRECTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
This process has made me realize how damaging a book like "Modeling God" can be to people who feel they are listening to the Holy Spirit, but ACTUALLY are NOT being led by the Holy Spirit.
These people PROVE they are NOT led of the Holy Spirit when they do NOT love believers AND they cannot EXPLAIN their beliefs...just like John stated in I John!
John consistently shows throughout this letter that those who are led of the Spirit not only KNOW God, but they KNOW THAT they know God...they can OBJECTIVELY explain their beliefs. The BIGGEST PROOF that someone is NOT being led of the Holy Spirit is they can't give the definitions for the WORDS they use to describe their beliefs. I have A LOT of examples of this from people who have done the greatest damage.
John states that what people SPEAK and who is able to HEAR them depends on whether they are of the world or of God. Notice, this all depends on WORDS! We think in terms of WORDS. We communicate in terms of WORDS. WORDS are important.
I believe "Modeling God" is written according to WORDS given to me by the Holy Spirit...and that a person's intellect has NOTHING to do with their ability to understand "Modeling God". It COMPLETELY depends on a person's heart and how much they rely on the Holy Spirit. If their goal is UNDERSTANDING, they will reach out to me. If their goal is to justify themselves, they will come up with rationalizations why they don't have to speak with me.
This has made me realize that I need to stop initiating and encouraging people to read "Modeling God". I need to wait for people to be led by the Holy Spirit towards growing in doctrinal understanding. These people will seek me out...
SUMMARY
John proved that ONLY those who know God are able to DISCERN between the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error. Those who don't know God are unable to DISCERN between the two.
Discernment is NOT being able to determine the difference between a Right WHAT and a Wrong WHAT. This is actually called "judgment"...the ability to determine the value of a WHAT.
Discernment is a gift from God that tells you WHY/HOW something is Right or Wrong. (The Holy Spirit is a gift from God.)
Gifts from God are profitable to ALL...actually to OTHERS.
"Profiting others"...that reminds me, tomorrow's post will begin looking at John's definition of LOVE.
Next Post
Yesterday's post covered I John 4:4. Here is the summary:
John proves that we have overcome the spirits of this world (antichrists) BECAUSE He that is in us is GREATER than he that is in the world. This is ONLY possible if Biblical Grace is the divine influence upon the heart (THROUGH the Holy Spirit), and its reflection in the life (BY the Holy Spirit).
We have seen that John has called those who are against this anointing (Biblical Grace through the Holy Spirit) "antichrists". So we have overcome these people who are against the anointing (antichrists) BY the anointing from the Holy One (Biblical Grace through the Holy Spirit abiding in us).
I JOHN 4:5-6
"5 They are of the world: therefore speak they as of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he who is not of God heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error."
In the previous verses covered in yesterday's post, John PROVES that those who have the anointing from the Holy One are able to overcome those who deny the anointing. Those who have the anointing are led of God through the Holy Spirit and KNOW THAT they know God. Those who deny the anointing are walking according to the world.
Today's two verses are powerful conclusions. John is BLATANTLY stating that those who deny the anointing are of the world and THEREFORE speak of the world AND the world hears them.
John is also BLATANTLY stating in a CONTRASTIVE manner that we are of God and those who are of God hear us AND those that are NOT of God do NOT hear us. Then John states that BY THIS reason we ALONE know the Spirit of Truth AND the spirit of error.
John just proved that ONLY those who know God are able to DISCERN between the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error. Those who don't know God are unable to DISCERN between the two.
However, there is a greater point in these verses that strikes close to home for me...
More and more, I'm realizing that "Modeling God" was written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is revelatory.
This means, the ONLY way to UNDERSTAND "Modeling God" is through the Holy Spirit.
I have had plenty of people state that they think it is 85-90% right (even people who have attacked me)...but the last bit is "too intellectual" to be immediately understood. Some people claim that last bit is just plain wrong.
When you ask them WHY it is wrong, they can't answer. The most telling response sounds something like this: Most people agree with me that it is just wrong.
Are these "people" of the world or of God? Clearly they hear and understand each other. However, if they were of God, wouldn't they UNDERSTAND the Spirit of Truth AND the spirit of error? Wouldn't they be able to objectively explain their beliefs?
I have had plenty of people, who are definitely NOT intellectual, instantly "get" "Modeling God" and use it to teach others. In fact, they have used it to correct religious "leaders".
Believing that "Modeling God" is "too intellectual" would lead a person to try harder in their own strength to "get it". That NEVER seems to work.
However, people who are led of the Spirit, and actively ask God for the ability to understand "Modeling God", find themselves "getting it". In fact, last night I was with a Bible Study group that is going through "Modeling God". They are a group of believers who are mostly 50 years and older. They are NOT intellectuals. They have years of experience with man-made traditions. Exactly the wrong crowd to "get" "Modeling God"...or so I thought.
They are in the last chapters of "Modeling God" and they have some amazing stories about the journey of growth they are on. They shared with me stories about certain concepts in the book that made them mad, confused, or frustrated. They told me how they asked God for understanding before they would go to bed...and how they would wake up the next day with a clearer picture.
They are a humble group who can consider they were wrong. I'm NOT saying they admitted they were wrong. I'm NOT saying they thought they were wrong. They actually approached God from the perspective that they MAY be wrong...and God was able to speak to these humble people through the Holy Spirit. They were able to get revelatory understanding that has changed their lives for the better!
This group has seen a lot of changes in the church in America over the last 30-40 years that grieves them. They were able to give me a greater context and understanding of what a book like "Modeling God" can mean to people WHO ARE DIRECTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
This process has made me realize how damaging a book like "Modeling God" can be to people who feel they are listening to the Holy Spirit, but ACTUALLY are NOT being led by the Holy Spirit.
These people PROVE they are NOT led of the Holy Spirit when they do NOT love believers AND they cannot EXPLAIN their beliefs...just like John stated in I John!
John consistently shows throughout this letter that those who are led of the Spirit not only KNOW God, but they KNOW THAT they know God...they can OBJECTIVELY explain their beliefs. The BIGGEST PROOF that someone is NOT being led of the Holy Spirit is they can't give the definitions for the WORDS they use to describe their beliefs. I have A LOT of examples of this from people who have done the greatest damage.
John states that what people SPEAK and who is able to HEAR them depends on whether they are of the world or of God. Notice, this all depends on WORDS! We think in terms of WORDS. We communicate in terms of WORDS. WORDS are important.
I believe "Modeling God" is written according to WORDS given to me by the Holy Spirit...and that a person's intellect has NOTHING to do with their ability to understand "Modeling God". It COMPLETELY depends on a person's heart and how much they rely on the Holy Spirit. If their goal is UNDERSTANDING, they will reach out to me. If their goal is to justify themselves, they will come up with rationalizations why they don't have to speak with me.
This has made me realize that I need to stop initiating and encouraging people to read "Modeling God". I need to wait for people to be led by the Holy Spirit towards growing in doctrinal understanding. These people will seek me out...
SUMMARY
John proved that ONLY those who know God are able to DISCERN between the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error. Those who don't know God are unable to DISCERN between the two.
Discernment is NOT being able to determine the difference between a Right WHAT and a Wrong WHAT. This is actually called "judgment"...the ability to determine the value of a WHAT.
Discernment is a gift from God that tells you WHY/HOW something is Right or Wrong. (The Holy Spirit is a gift from God.)
Gifts from God are profitable to ALL...actually to OTHERS.
"Profiting others"...that reminds me, tomorrow's post will begin looking at John's definition of LOVE.
Next Post
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
I John 4:4
This month's Series looks at I John verse by verse. (Here is the link to the beginning of the Series: I John Introduction.)
Yesterday's post covered I John 4:2-3. Here is the summary:
John PROVES that every spirit that has a Right WHAT ("Jesus is the Christ") with a Right HOW/WHY ("Jesus is come in the flesh") has to be from God.
John PROVES that every spirit that has a Wrong WHAT ("Jesus is NOT from God") cannot be from God.
Why?
Because God is light and in Him there is no darkness AT ALL.
Today, we will continue with John's next conclusion...
I JOHN 4:4
"4 Ye are of God, my little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world."
In the previous verses, John contrasted those spirits that come from God and those that don't. Now that he has made us aware there are spirits from God (that we follow) and there are spirits from God that oppose us, he tells us that we have overcome these "antichrist" spirits. WHY?
BECAUSE greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world.
He that is in us is the Holy Spirit. (Which John still hasn't BLATANTLY named yet.)
We have seen that this is GRACE.
Here is a summary of the preceding link:
Biblical Grace is "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life."
We saw that John called this "an anointing from the Holy One" in the same passage that warned us about "antichrists"!
God influences our heart through the Holy Spirit. We choose to allow this influence to reflect off of us and be carried out in our life by the Holy Spirit OR do something in our own strength.
We do NOT get credit for the resulting work. We get credit for choosing to allow God to flow through us. We don't obtain Reward through Grace, we obtain Salvation.
It is like taking medicine for an ailment. The medicine cures us. We are only responsible for whether we take the medicine or not. It would be foolish and prideful to state that we cured ourselves. No...the medicine cured us. However, we have to chose to take the medicine or we don't get cured at all. All we can do is PREVENT ourselves from getting cured.
Salvation is by grace through faith. Allowing grace through us results in Righteousness that is God's. I represent this Righteousness with a capital "R". This Righteousness is necessary for Salvation.
Our works result in righteousness which results in Reward. This righteousness is like filthy rags compared to the Righteousness that comes from God and leads to Salvation.
Most "Christians" follow the man-made traditional explanation of grace: unmerited favor. There are Greek words for this concept and they are NOT in the Bible.
Unmerited favor believes that God gives us value we don't deserve to cover our sins. So, the result is we are back to even. There is NO Righteousness that is accumulated. Jesus said our Righteousness needed to EXCEED the righteousness of the Pharisees in order to get into Heaven. Unmerited favor does NOT result in Salvation according to Jesus.
Worse yet, believing in unmerited favor would require the individual to believe we have to reimburse God for what He has given to us OR the individual has to believe that God violates Justice.
Biblical Grace begins with God giving to us and us choosing to let God reflect off of us. The resulting Profitability is attributed to God, NOT us. God supplied it AND God gets the resulting value. This does NOT violate Justice.
I have been accused of believing that we must reimburse God for grace. Actually, I have written that Biblical Grace does NOT violate Justice and would NOT require reimbursement. I have stated that a belief in unmerited favor (which is NOT Biblical Grace and is actually a man-made concept) would violate Justice OR require reimbursement.
As you can see, the person who accused me of believing that we must reimburse God for grace either can't interpret simple text (like the previous explanation) and is projecting his definition of grace onto my explanation of what grace is NOT or he is stating he believes in a man-made traditional explanation of grace that violates Justice and does NOT result in Salvation according to Jesus.
Notice, unmerited favor is theoretically given in the EXACT SAME AMOUNT as the sin. This would make "grace" EQUAL to sin. It would make "grace" EQUAL to the influence that is in the world.
However, John states that GREATER is He that is in you than he that is in the world. Biblical GRACE would be a consistent flow of anointing from the Holy One that would FAR EXCEED the sin a person could do and the influence from the world.
Remember Romans 5?
"20 And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:
21 that, as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Paul states that grace abounds MORE EXCEEDINGLY. Paul also states that grace reigns THROUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS unto eternal life (Salvation)! Does this sound like "unmerited favor" to you?
SUMMARY
John proves that we have overcome the spirits of this world (antichrists) BECAUSE He that is in us is GREATER than he that is in the world. This is ONLY possible if Biblical Grace is the divine influence upon the heart (THROUGH the Holy Spirit), and its reflection in the life (BY the Holy Spirit).
We have seen that John has called those who are against this anointing (Biblical Grace through the Holy Spirit) "antichrists". So we have overcome these people who are against the anointing (antichrists) BY the anointing from the Holy One (Biblical Grace through the Holy Spirit abiding in us).
Next Post
Yesterday's post covered I John 4:2-3. Here is the summary:
John PROVES that every spirit that has a Right WHAT ("Jesus is the Christ") with a Right HOW/WHY ("Jesus is come in the flesh") has to be from God.
John PROVES that every spirit that has a Wrong WHAT ("Jesus is NOT from God") cannot be from God.
Why?
Because God is light and in Him there is no darkness AT ALL.
Today, we will continue with John's next conclusion...
I JOHN 4:4
"4 Ye are of God, my little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world."
In the previous verses, John contrasted those spirits that come from God and those that don't. Now that he has made us aware there are spirits from God (that we follow) and there are spirits from God that oppose us, he tells us that we have overcome these "antichrist" spirits. WHY?
BECAUSE greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world.
He that is in us is the Holy Spirit. (Which John still hasn't BLATANTLY named yet.)
We have seen that this is GRACE.
Here is a summary of the preceding link:
Biblical Grace is "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life."
We saw that John called this "an anointing from the Holy One" in the same passage that warned us about "antichrists"!
God influences our heart through the Holy Spirit. We choose to allow this influence to reflect off of us and be carried out in our life by the Holy Spirit OR do something in our own strength.
We do NOT get credit for the resulting work. We get credit for choosing to allow God to flow through us. We don't obtain Reward through Grace, we obtain Salvation.
It is like taking medicine for an ailment. The medicine cures us. We are only responsible for whether we take the medicine or not. It would be foolish and prideful to state that we cured ourselves. No...the medicine cured us. However, we have to chose to take the medicine or we don't get cured at all. All we can do is PREVENT ourselves from getting cured.
Salvation is by grace through faith. Allowing grace through us results in Righteousness that is God's. I represent this Righteousness with a capital "R". This Righteousness is necessary for Salvation.
Our works result in righteousness which results in Reward. This righteousness is like filthy rags compared to the Righteousness that comes from God and leads to Salvation.
Most "Christians" follow the man-made traditional explanation of grace: unmerited favor. There are Greek words for this concept and they are NOT in the Bible.
Unmerited favor believes that God gives us value we don't deserve to cover our sins. So, the result is we are back to even. There is NO Righteousness that is accumulated. Jesus said our Righteousness needed to EXCEED the righteousness of the Pharisees in order to get into Heaven. Unmerited favor does NOT result in Salvation according to Jesus.
Worse yet, believing in unmerited favor would require the individual to believe we have to reimburse God for what He has given to us OR the individual has to believe that God violates Justice.
Biblical Grace begins with God giving to us and us choosing to let God reflect off of us. The resulting Profitability is attributed to God, NOT us. God supplied it AND God gets the resulting value. This does NOT violate Justice.
I have been accused of believing that we must reimburse God for grace. Actually, I have written that Biblical Grace does NOT violate Justice and would NOT require reimbursement. I have stated that a belief in unmerited favor (which is NOT Biblical Grace and is actually a man-made concept) would violate Justice OR require reimbursement.
As you can see, the person who accused me of believing that we must reimburse God for grace either can't interpret simple text (like the previous explanation) and is projecting his definition of grace onto my explanation of what grace is NOT or he is stating he believes in a man-made traditional explanation of grace that violates Justice and does NOT result in Salvation according to Jesus.
Notice, unmerited favor is theoretically given in the EXACT SAME AMOUNT as the sin. This would make "grace" EQUAL to sin. It would make "grace" EQUAL to the influence that is in the world.
However, John states that GREATER is He that is in you than he that is in the world. Biblical GRACE would be a consistent flow of anointing from the Holy One that would FAR EXCEED the sin a person could do and the influence from the world.
Remember Romans 5?
"20 And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:
21 that, as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Paul states that grace abounds MORE EXCEEDINGLY. Paul also states that grace reigns THROUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS unto eternal life (Salvation)! Does this sound like "unmerited favor" to you?
SUMMARY
John proves that we have overcome the spirits of this world (antichrists) BECAUSE He that is in us is GREATER than he that is in the world. This is ONLY possible if Biblical Grace is the divine influence upon the heart (THROUGH the Holy Spirit), and its reflection in the life (BY the Holy Spirit).
We have seen that John has called those who are against this anointing (Biblical Grace through the Holy Spirit) "antichrists". So we have overcome these people who are against the anointing (antichrists) BY the anointing from the Holy One (Biblical Grace through the Holy Spirit abiding in us).
Next Post
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
I John 4:2-3
This month's Series looks at I John verse by verse. (Here is the link to the beginning of the Series: I John Introduction.)
Yesterday's post began John's next Feedback Loop (I John 4:1). Here is the summary:
John begins the latest Feedback Loop by stating that we shouldn't believe every spirit, but prove the spirits whether they are from God or not.
The way to prove whether a spirit is from God or not is whether the spirit supplies the Right HOW/WHY.
Today, we will see John's practical application for the way to prove whether a spirit is from God or not.
JOHN 4:2-3
"2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the spirit of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already."
In the previous verse (I John 4:1), John states that we should not believe every spirit, but prove whether it is of God. John immediately follows by explaining HOW to prove whether the spirit is of God or not.
John states that EVERY spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.
Notice, this does NOT say that every spirit that confesses that "Jesus is God" is of God. "Jesus IS God" is a Right WHAT. However, remember that deception is a Right WHAT with a Wrong (OR NO) HOW/WHY. Simply stating that "Jesus is God" does NOT prove the spirit is of God.
John showed that every spirit that confesses a Right HOW/WHY (Jesus Christ is come in the flesh) is of God.
Notice, "Jesus Christ" is a declaration that Jesus is the Messiah (The Anointed One)...so THAT is the Right WHAT. "Jesus Christ is come in the flesh" is the Right WHAT with a Right HOW/WHY.
Remember, John wrote this letter SPECIFICALLY to address Gnosticism...the belief that Jesus did NOT come in the flesh! John is PROVING that Gnosticism is DECEPTION!
John also states that EVERY spirit that does NOT confess Jesus (is the Christ) is NOT of God. Notice, "Jesus is NOT of God" is a Wrong WHAT!
This verse is referring back to I John 2:18. In THAT passage, John PROVED to us that there are many antichrists in the world. Again, John is referring back to something he has already PROVEN to support his latest conclusion.
Remember also, John is speaking of SPIRITS. We don't war against flesh and blood (people).
SUMMARY
John PROVES that every spirit that has a Right WHAT ("Jesus is the Christ") with a Right HOW/WHY ("Jesus is come in the flesh") has to be from God.
John PROVES that every spirit that has a Wrong WHAT ("Jesus is NOT from God") cannot be from God.
Why?
Because God is light and in Him there is no darkness AT ALL.
Next Post
Yesterday's post began John's next Feedback Loop (I John 4:1). Here is the summary:
John begins the latest Feedback Loop by stating that we shouldn't believe every spirit, but prove the spirits whether they are from God or not.
The way to prove whether a spirit is from God or not is whether the spirit supplies the Right HOW/WHY.
Today, we will see John's practical application for the way to prove whether a spirit is from God or not.
JOHN 4:2-3
"2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the spirit of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already."
In the previous verse (I John 4:1), John states that we should not believe every spirit, but prove whether it is of God. John immediately follows by explaining HOW to prove whether the spirit is of God or not.
John states that EVERY spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.
Notice, this does NOT say that every spirit that confesses that "Jesus is God" is of God. "Jesus IS God" is a Right WHAT. However, remember that deception is a Right WHAT with a Wrong (OR NO) HOW/WHY. Simply stating that "Jesus is God" does NOT prove the spirit is of God.
John showed that every spirit that confesses a Right HOW/WHY (Jesus Christ is come in the flesh) is of God.
Notice, "Jesus Christ" is a declaration that Jesus is the Messiah (The Anointed One)...so THAT is the Right WHAT. "Jesus Christ is come in the flesh" is the Right WHAT with a Right HOW/WHY.
Remember, John wrote this letter SPECIFICALLY to address Gnosticism...the belief that Jesus did NOT come in the flesh! John is PROVING that Gnosticism is DECEPTION!
John also states that EVERY spirit that does NOT confess Jesus (is the Christ) is NOT of God. Notice, "Jesus is NOT of God" is a Wrong WHAT!
This verse is referring back to I John 2:18. In THAT passage, John PROVED to us that there are many antichrists in the world. Again, John is referring back to something he has already PROVEN to support his latest conclusion.
Remember also, John is speaking of SPIRITS. We don't war against flesh and blood (people).
SUMMARY
John PROVES that every spirit that has a Right WHAT ("Jesus is the Christ") with a Right HOW/WHY ("Jesus is come in the flesh") has to be from God.
John PROVES that every spirit that has a Wrong WHAT ("Jesus is NOT from God") cannot be from God.
Why?
Because God is light and in Him there is no darkness AT ALL.
Next Post
Monday, November 09, 2009
I John 4:1
This month's Series looks at I John verse by verse. (Here is the link to the beginning of the Series: I John Introduction.)
Friday's post summarized I John 3. Here is the summary:
John has PROVEN that doing His commandments, which BOTH involve LOVE, is HOW we KNOW THAT we abide in Him and He abides in us through the Holy Spirit. This completes this Feedback Loop.
This PROOF COMPLETELY depends on John's definition for LOVE.
John began his explanation for LOVE towards the end of this Feedback Loop. It is now time for John to SPECIFICALLY gives his explanation for LOVE. John will PROVE his definition for LOVE by using (what else?) a Feedback Loop.
Today, we will begin looking at John's next Feedback Loop...
I JOHN 4:1
"1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
Since the last chapter ended with our PROOF (WHY) and METHOD (HOW) of being children of God are by the Holy Spirit, John begins this chapter making sure we KNOW which Spirit to follow...
Notice, this verse focuses on SPIRITS, NOT people!
John writes NOT to believe EVERY spirit, but to PROVE the spirits whether they are of God. What does "prove" mean?
"prove" is Strong's #1381 dokimazo - "from 1384; to test (lit. or fig.); by impl. to approve: - allow, discern, examine"
Strong's #1384 dokimos - "from 1380; prop. acceptable (current after assayal), i.e. approved:-approved, tried."
Strong's #1380 dokeo - "a prol. form of a prim verb doko of the same mean.; to think: by impl. to seem (truthfully or uncertainly)"
John is saying that it will take DISCERNMENT and THINKING to determine whether the spirit is TRUTHFUL (and therefore from God) or is NOT truthful (and therefore NOT from God).
The REASON (WHY) John warns us is that there are many FALSE PROPHETS that have gone out into the world.
During the Spiritual Warfare Series, we covered DISCERNMENT and HOW to know if someone is a PROPHET or not. Here are the links:
Deception
Discernment
Prophets
The summary of those links are that:
Deception is a Right WHAT with a Wrong (OR NOT) HOW/WHY.
Truth is a Right WHAT with a Right HOW/WHY.
People who speak the Right WHAT with a Wrong (OR NO) HOW/WHY are attempting to deceive you...regardless how nice they appear or if they are in leadership.
Discernment is NOT being able to determine the difference between a Right WHAT and a Wrong WHAT. This is actually called "judgment"...the ability to determine the value of a WHAT.
Discernment is a gift from God that tells you WHY/HOW something is Right or Wrong.
Gifts from God are profitable to ALL...actually to OTHERS.
Profit comes from truth...from understanding...from thinking...from identifying the Right HOW/WHY.
Discernment is the ability to determine the HOW/WHY so that things can be judged accurately.
Discernment is the ability that helps us avoid being deceived.
Therefore, discernment is profitable to all.
Prophets speak for the benefit of a group of people.
Prophets do NOT speak for their own benefit.
Prophets are determined by the Right HOW/WHY...the WHAT is NOT the key to determining if someone is a prophet or not.
SUMMARY
John begins the latest Feedback Loop by stating that we shouldn't believe every spirit, but prove the spirits whether they are from God or not.
The way to prove whether a spirit is from God or not is whether the spirit supplies the Right HOW/WHY.
Next Post
Friday's post summarized I John 3. Here is the summary:
John has PROVEN that doing His commandments, which BOTH involve LOVE, is HOW we KNOW THAT we abide in Him and He abides in us through the Holy Spirit. This completes this Feedback Loop.
This PROOF COMPLETELY depends on John's definition for LOVE.
John began his explanation for LOVE towards the end of this Feedback Loop. It is now time for John to SPECIFICALLY gives his explanation for LOVE. John will PROVE his definition for LOVE by using (what else?) a Feedback Loop.
Today, we will begin looking at John's next Feedback Loop...
I JOHN 4:1
"1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
Since the last chapter ended with our PROOF (WHY) and METHOD (HOW) of being children of God are by the Holy Spirit, John begins this chapter making sure we KNOW which Spirit to follow...
Notice, this verse focuses on SPIRITS, NOT people!
John writes NOT to believe EVERY spirit, but to PROVE the spirits whether they are of God. What does "prove" mean?
"prove" is Strong's #1381 dokimazo - "from 1384; to test (lit. or fig.); by impl. to approve: - allow, discern, examine"
Strong's #1384 dokimos - "from 1380; prop. acceptable (current after assayal), i.e. approved:-approved, tried."
Strong's #1380 dokeo - "a prol. form of a prim verb doko of the same mean.; to think: by impl. to seem (truthfully or uncertainly)"
John is saying that it will take DISCERNMENT and THINKING to determine whether the spirit is TRUTHFUL (and therefore from God) or is NOT truthful (and therefore NOT from God).
The REASON (WHY) John warns us is that there are many FALSE PROPHETS that have gone out into the world.
During the Spiritual Warfare Series, we covered DISCERNMENT and HOW to know if someone is a PROPHET or not. Here are the links:
Deception
Discernment
Prophets
The summary of those links are that:
Deception is a Right WHAT with a Wrong (OR NOT) HOW/WHY.
Truth is a Right WHAT with a Right HOW/WHY.
People who speak the Right WHAT with a Wrong (OR NO) HOW/WHY are attempting to deceive you...regardless how nice they appear or if they are in leadership.
Discernment is NOT being able to determine the difference between a Right WHAT and a Wrong WHAT. This is actually called "judgment"...the ability to determine the value of a WHAT.
Discernment is a gift from God that tells you WHY/HOW something is Right or Wrong.
Gifts from God are profitable to ALL...actually to OTHERS.
Profit comes from truth...from understanding...from thinking...from identifying the Right HOW/WHY.
Discernment is the ability to determine the HOW/WHY so that things can be judged accurately.
Discernment is the ability that helps us avoid being deceived.
Therefore, discernment is profitable to all.
Prophets speak for the benefit of a group of people.
Prophets do NOT speak for their own benefit.
Prophets are determined by the Right HOW/WHY...the WHAT is NOT the key to determining if someone is a prophet or not.
SUMMARY
John begins the latest Feedback Loop by stating that we shouldn't believe every spirit, but prove the spirits whether they are from God or not.
The way to prove whether a spirit is from God or not is whether the spirit supplies the Right HOW/WHY.
Next Post
Friday, November 06, 2009
I John 3:23-24
This month's Series looks at I John verse by verse. (Here is the link to the beginning of the Series: I John Introduction.)
Yesterday's post summarized I John 3:19-22. Here is the summary:
John is beginning to bring this Feedback Loop to a conclusion.
John referenced being bold before Him as the conclusion for HOW we can KNOW THAT we are of the truth.
Previously, John was beginning his explanation for love and told us to love in DEED and TRUTH. Today's post showed us HOW we can KNOW THAT we are of the truth...which would allow us to KNOW THAT we are TRULY LOVING.
Today, we will see HOW John concludes this Feedback Loop which added LOVE and doing His commandments to the foundation of abiding in Him through His Spirit...
I JOHN 3:23-24
Yesterday's post concluded with the following verses...
"21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God;
22 and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight."
We saw that we can KNOW THAT we are of the truth if our heart does NOT condemn us.
We saw that we can receive whatsoever we ask of Him BECAUSE we are being led of His Spirit, which would lead us to keep His commandments. So, keeping His commandments is HOW we can KNOW THAT we are of the truth.
The concluding verses of I John 3 deal SPECIFICALLY with His commandment:
"23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he gave us."
Verse 23 is the First Command AND the Second Command!
First Command: Love the Lord thy God...is PROVEN by believing in the name of His Son Jesus Christ.
Second Command: Love your neighbor...is PROVEN by loving one another.
Verse 24 is the conclusion of this Feedback Loop:
People who do the First and Second Command KNOW THAT they abide in Him...AND He abides in these people. Then John BLATANTLY states HOW we KNOW THAT He abides in us: through the Holy Spirit!
SUMMARY
John has PROVEN that doing His commandments, which BOTH involve LOVE, is HOW we KNOW THAT we abide in Him and He abides in us through the Holy Spirit. This completes this Feedback Loop.
This PROOF COMPLETELY depends on John's definition for LOVE.
John began his explanation for LOVE towards the end of this Feedback Loop. It is now time for John to SPECIFICALLY gives his explanation for LOVE. John will PROVE his definition for LOVE by using (what else?) a Feedback Loop.
On Monday, we will begin looking at John's next Feedback Loop...
Next Post
Yesterday's post summarized I John 3:19-22. Here is the summary:
John is beginning to bring this Feedback Loop to a conclusion.
John referenced being bold before Him as the conclusion for HOW we can KNOW THAT we are of the truth.
Previously, John was beginning his explanation for love and told us to love in DEED and TRUTH. Today's post showed us HOW we can KNOW THAT we are of the truth...which would allow us to KNOW THAT we are TRULY LOVING.
Today, we will see HOW John concludes this Feedback Loop which added LOVE and doing His commandments to the foundation of abiding in Him through His Spirit...
I JOHN 3:23-24
Yesterday's post concluded with the following verses...
"21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God;
22 and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight."
We saw that we can KNOW THAT we are of the truth if our heart does NOT condemn us.
We saw that we can receive whatsoever we ask of Him BECAUSE we are being led of His Spirit, which would lead us to keep His commandments. So, keeping His commandments is HOW we can KNOW THAT we are of the truth.
The concluding verses of I John 3 deal SPECIFICALLY with His commandment:
"23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he gave us."
Verse 23 is the First Command AND the Second Command!
First Command: Love the Lord thy God...is PROVEN by believing in the name of His Son Jesus Christ.
Second Command: Love your neighbor...is PROVEN by loving one another.
Verse 24 is the conclusion of this Feedback Loop:
People who do the First and Second Command KNOW THAT they abide in Him...AND He abides in these people. Then John BLATANTLY states HOW we KNOW THAT He abides in us: through the Holy Spirit!
SUMMARY
John has PROVEN that doing His commandments, which BOTH involve LOVE, is HOW we KNOW THAT we abide in Him and He abides in us through the Holy Spirit. This completes this Feedback Loop.
This PROOF COMPLETELY depends on John's definition for LOVE.
John began his explanation for LOVE towards the end of this Feedback Loop. It is now time for John to SPECIFICALLY gives his explanation for LOVE. John will PROVE his definition for LOVE by using (what else?) a Feedback Loop.
On Monday, we will begin looking at John's next Feedback Loop...
Next Post
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