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The Letters of John
BC Weekly Digest Monday, May 11 1998 In this issue: 1 John 2:25 1 John 2:25 1 John 2:26 1 John 2:27 1 John 2:26,27 1 John 2:25 1 John 2:25 (OPV) 25 And this is the promise which He promised us: eternal life! === 2:25 "The promise which He promised us" A Christian's life is built on the promises of God. Paul mentions this promise of eternal in his letter to Titus: "Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal; but in his own seasons manifested his word in the message, wherewith I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior" (Titus 1:1-3 ASV). "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which [the Lord] promised to them that love him" (James 1:12 ASV). 2:25 "Eternal life" John began his letter speaking about "the Word of Life" they had heard, seen, observed and handled, "and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was revealed to us" (1 John 2:1,2). Love is characteristic of those who have this promise: "We know that we have passed from death into life because we love the brethren. He who does not love, remains in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him" (1 John 3:14,15 OPV). John wrote this letter so believers could know they have eternal: "And the testimony is this, that God gives us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son, has life. He who does not have the Son of God, does not have life. I have written these things to you so you may know that you have eternal life -- to the ones who believe in the name of the Son of God" (1 John 5:11-13 OPV). "And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding that we might know the True One, and we are in the True One, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the True God, and eternal life" (1 John 5:20 OPV). Roy Davison ------------------------------ 1 John 2:25 1 John 2:25 2:25 "And this is the promise which He promised us: eternal life!" == It is indeed the grand promise of God, eternal life with Him in Heaven. It is going to be a great place for Christians! There will be no pain, no sickness, no sorrow or heartache there. There will be no more disappointments in His presence. "For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes" (Rev 7:17 KJV). "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Rev 21:4 KJV). Howard Justice ------------------------------ 1 John 2:26 1 John 2:26 (OPV) 26 These things I have written to you concerning those who are misleading you. === 2:26 "These things I have written to you" It may be helpful to summarize the "wrong" things John refutes in this letter: Walking in darkness (1:6). Saying we have no sin (1:8,10). Not keeping the Lord's commandments (2:4). Hating our brother (2:9,11; 4:20). Loving the world (2:15). The lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life (2:16). Denying that Jesus is the Christ (2:22). Denying the Father and the Son (2:23). Practicing sin and lawlessness (3:4,8,9,10). Continuing in sin (3:6;5:18). Not loving our brother (3:10,14; 4:8). Closing our heart against a brother in need (3:17). Loving only in word but not in deed (3:18). Not confessing Jesus (4:3). Not listening to the apostles (4:6). Not believing God (5:10). 2:26 "Those who are misleading you" To keep from being misled, we must be careful who we follow. Jesus uses the same word when He warns: "Take heed that no man lead you astray. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray" (Matt 24:4,5 ASV //Mark 13:5,6; Luke 21:8). "And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray" (Matt 24:11 ASV). "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect" (Matt 24:24 ASV). Paul uses the same word when he warns the Corinthians: "Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals" (1 Cor 15:33 ASV). We can be led astray by the wrong company. Many people seek more companionship these days from the TV than from real people. How good are our TV companions? Are they leading us astray? Does the above list describe them? Go back through the list and think about it. Roy Davison ------------------------------ 1 John 2:27 1 John 2:27 (OPV) 27 But as for you, the anointment which you received from Him remains in you, and you have no need for someone to be teaching you. But since His anointment teaches you about all things and is true and is no lie, just as He taught you, remain in Him. === 2:27 "The anointment which you received from Him" Refer back to comments on verse 20 to understand the meaning of anointment in general. Anointment brings about sanctification or consecration. What is this anointment? When and how is it received? How does this anointment teach us? First notice the words 'Him,' 'His,' 'He' and 'Him.' In verse 20 it says the anointment is 'from the Holy One.' "Now he that establisheth us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God; who also sealed us, and gave [us] the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts" (2 Cor 1:21,22 ASV). "Now he that wrought us for this very thing is God, who gave unto us the earnest of the Spirit" (2 Cor 5:5 ASV). When we compare this with the anointing of Christ Himself "[even] Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 10:38 ASV), it is clear what this anointing is. "For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. Therefore he that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but God, who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you" (1 Thes 4:7,8 ASV). As Peter also testified: "And we are witnesses of these things; and [so is] the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him" (Acts 5:32 ASV). 2:27 "Remains in you" Consecration by anointment has a lasting effect. Even after king Saul had been rejected by God, David refused to harm "the Lord's anointed" (1 Sam 26:11). In the same way, when we become 'Christians' (followers of the Christ, the Anointed One) we receive an anointment which consecrates us, and remains in us! 2:27 "You have no need for someone to be teaching you" This must be understood in relation to false teachers who claimed to be a source of knowledge. Jesus has given teachers to His church to build up the body (Eph 4:11). But these teachers are not a 'source' of knowledge. They must simply repeat what we have heard from the beginning. "As for you, let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father" (1 John 2:24). 2:27 "His anointment teaches you about all things" This statement has been twisted and misused by some to support their false claim to some inner source of instruction separate from the revealed word of God. In context, this teaching provided by "His anointment" is not one iota different from the original gospel which we have had from the beginning, because that is exactly what it is! His anointment teaches us because we have been consecrated to the Word of God! The Word of God teaches us "about all things" and we need no other source of instruction (see 2 Tim 3:16,17) "But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered" (Rom 6:17 ASV). This concept is so hard for some translators to grasp that they change the word of God, and make it "that form of teaching that was delivered to you"! But what it actually says is that WE WERE DELIVERED TO the pattern of teaching! It can also be translated "to that pattern of teaching to which you were committed." The anointment we received from God consecrated us to the Word of God. That anointment remains in us and no source of knowledge is needed other than the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17). "And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build [you] up, and to give [you] the inheritance among all them that are sanctified" (Acts 20:32 ASV). Roy Davison ------------------------------ 1 John 2:26,27 1 John 2:26,27 2:26 "These things I have written to you concerning those who are misleading you" John makes them aware that he knows of the presence of those who have purposely misled them. It will not be pleasant for those who teach error in the final day. Jesus told his apostles: "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matt 18:6 KJV). It frightens me every time I am called upon to teach God's word, because I must do it correctly or my God will hold me accountable in the hereafter. 2:27 "But since His anointment teaches you about all things and is true and is no lie, just as He taught you, remain in Him" It requires diligent faith to remain in Christ. This statement shows that even though one may have been truly converted to Christ, it is indeed possible for him or her to leave "their first love" (Rev. 2:4). This statement stands in defiance of those who teach the impossibility of apostasy. It certainly is possible to fall from the grace of God. "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know [these things] before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever. Amen" (2 Peter 3:17,18 KJV). Howard Justice