Things We Know

I John 5:18-21

This last chapter of I John focuses on what we know as Christians. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the savior of the world because we have evidence to prove it is true. We have the testimony of God the father, of the Jesus, and of the Holy Spirit. We also have the prophecies about his birth, his crucifixion, and his resurrection, and the proof they were fulfilled. We have the working of the Holy Spirit on the earth to further support our knowledge.

Firstly, because we know he is the Son of God, and the savior, we know we have eternal salvation. We no longer have to fear missing it. It is already ours. Knowing that God has done this because of his love for us, we also know that he will answer our prayers, in so far as those answers accomplish what he desires for us. He has promised he will not hold back any good thing.

Thirdly, we know that a person who has a meaningful relationship with God will try to please him, not from fear, or to try to get something, but because of a desire to please him. They will not persist in sin, because sin has no power over them, according to Romans 6:14. “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” As a result we can simply refuse to participate in sin and do what pleases God. Romans 6:11-12 directs, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”

We don’t have to fight Satan, as Nancy Reagan insisted about drugs, we can just say “no”. Christ already fought and defeated him. The only time drug use has declined among the youth was during the “Just say no” program. Many said it was too simplistic and fought for discontinuing it, insisting it couldn’t be that simple, but it worked. A lot of emphasis has been placed on how to get victory over various sins, but ultimately, we just have to say “no”.

“We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” (I John 5:18)

The Christian has the Holy Spirit in him, empowering him to say “no.” I John 3:9 tells us, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” The Holy Spirit will not allow the Christian to be content in sin. Discomfort, punishment, and finally death will show up in a Christian’s life, if they persist in sin. I John 3:10 states that whether a person is of God or not is shown by his lifestyle. “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” We know ourselves by the attitude of our heart.

"And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” (I John 5:19)

Romans 3:10-12 declares the natural human state. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Until we understood this, and that it included us, we had no reason to put our faith in Christ. Only when we understood our inability to do right did Christ’s death for us have significance. Now we know.

“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may 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.” (I John 5:20)

Our salvation is the result of God’s giving us understanding and saving us because of his love. Ephesians 2:4- 9 declares God’s part. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

The unsaved world, by contrast, has chosen not to know God, making up substitutes to replace him, according to Romans 1:21-25. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” Because they have chosen not to know God, God has allowed them to deceive themselves and be deceived by Satan, forming their own religions. Knowing the truth, we must not allow ourselves to be caught up in the false religions around us.

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” (I John 5:21)

Praying According to God’s Will

I John 5:14-17

There are an untold number of books about prayer available. I have read a few and talked to people about a lot more. In the process, I have found that many, if not most of the writers are in direct contradiction with what the scriptures teach about prayer. I guess that is not surprising since it is true of almost every subject in scripture. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, it seems as if the writers missed the whole point, as well as the many teachings in other passages.

In the model prayer, the so-called “Lord’s Prayer,” in Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus gives us an example of how we should pray. He does not tell us to quote that prayer, nor does the scripture imply he prayed it himself. He just illustrated some important aspects of our prayer.

The first aspect he emphasizes is the relationship of father and child. The child should come boldly and eagerly to his father, but with a sincere loving respect. In speaking with my own Dad, I never told him, “Dad, do this or that,” because I respected him as my father, yet an well known evangelist “prays,” saying, “God, I command you,” showing no respect for God.

I could ask my Dad for anything, but I always knew he had the right to say no, for whatever reason. I knew that he would give me anything within reason he possibly could, unless he thought it would harm me. As a result, when he said “no” I learned not to try to force him to change his mind. Many times, his decision was based on a plan for something much better than what I asked for. Sometimes he delivered what I asked for, but had to work out some details before it could happen.

If we have that same relationship of love and respect toward God, we will have the same confidence in his answering our prayers. Unlike the unjust judge, it will not be necessary to nag to get what we want, because if it fits with his desires and intentions he will do it because he loves us. We will be far less demanding in our requests as we learn to respect him, yet more confident that he will answer our prayer. Our asking will be more aligned with what we know God intends, because we want what he wants. Our prayer becomes like a little child talking to his Daddy.

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” (I John 5:14-15)

As a child, you may see a sibling do something that you know is wrong, but you know that it was an accident, or someone else’s fault. In such a case you would very possibly intervene to try to keep them from being punished. It is the right thing to do and may well minimize or eliminate punishment. As Christians, we see others do wrong from time to time. When it is unintentional, we have the right to intercede on their behalf, asking God for leniency. We know that God delights in mercy.

“If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.” (I John 5:16-17)

We also need to understand that god is not an abusive father, and some sins cannot be overlooked. Deliberate, intentional sin is not an accident. Jesus told us how to deal with those who do wrong in Matthew 18:15-17. When we know it is deliberate, and they refuse to change, we are to separate from them and treat them as an unsaved person. At that point, we are no longer to try to prevent God bringing judgment. It is critical that we follow God’s steps because the sin may have been unintentional. David did not set out to commit adultery, or murder, but he did so. God forgave him because he was willing to repent, in II Samuel 12:13. Saul, on the other hand refused to confess and repent, insisting it was the people’s fault and lost the kingdom, and eventually his life according to I Samuel 15:18-23, and 15:28-29. God rebuked Samuel for continuing to mourn for Saul in I Samuel 15:35-16:1. The problem was not the hideousness of the sin, but the refusal to repent.

Show Me The Proof

I John 5:7-9

All of Christianity depends on whether Jesus is the Christ, the son of God or not. If he is not the entire system is a massive fraud. Every Bible scholar, theologian, preacher or evangelist who believes he is, of what ever group, has been duped. Every one who doesn’t believe it and practices or teaches Christianity is a charlatan, deliberately lying to and defrauding the people. It is critical that we be able to prove whether it is true or not, and John addresses that issue.


We have powerful evidence that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, himself God. We start with the testimony of God himself, of Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit. All three were present at Jesus’ baptism, when God the Father proclaimed that he was his son in Matthew 3;16-17. “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus testified to being the son in Mark 14:61-62. “But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” If both the father and the son claim their relationship, only testimony by a witness who has proof to the contrary could cast real doubt. Even the mother’s claim that she had been involved with another man would not prove he was not the father unless it could be shown that it impossible for him to have fathered the child.

John the Baptist stated that the Holy spirit descending on Christ proved he was the son of God as well in John 1:32-34. “And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God." Testimony by other family members and neighbors further strengthens the evidence, especially if they are close enough to know the truth.

God the father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are all residents of heaven. All three claim that Jesus is the son of God, and are in a position to know whether it is true. Unless evidence for doubting their testimony can be presented, it must be accepted as truth.

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (I John 5:7)

One of the greatest mysteries of the Bible is that of the Trinity. How can three be one? Various illustrations have been used but none give a full understanding. For example the egg illustration is limited in that no single part of the egg is a complete egg. The illustration of a man as husband, father, and son is limited because they are not able to separate themselves. Both provide some insight, but neither is complete. As I Corinthians 2:14 states, It is impossible to express spiritual matters completely in human terms. “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Only the Holy Spirit can give full understanding.

A basic principle of interpreting scripture, found in II Peter 1:20, is that no scripture can be interpreted independently from other scripture. That there is only one God is clear from numerous passages. Deuteronomy 4:39 commands, “Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.” Isaiah 45:5-6 declares, “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.”

Nevertheless, in Genesis 1:26 God uses the plural form repeatedly about God. “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:”, and in Genesis 1:2 we find mention of the holy Spirit. John 1:1-3 states “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Later it is made clear that the Word is Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I and my Father are one,” in John 10:30. The doctrine of the trinity is a human effort to explain the spiritual concept portrayed by such statements.

The fact that God testifies that Jesus is the Son of God, The Holy Spirit identified him as such by descending on him and that Jesus claimed to be is unquestionable. Besides the testimony of these three, we have historical evidence that Jesus is the son of God.

“And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.” (I John 5:8)

Historical records of the events surrounding Jesus’ birth and death are found in Jewish and Roman history, while records of related events, are found in Egypt and Babylon. The Gospels relate detailed records of the these events that historians mentioned only in passing. While mention is made of Jesus’ miracles, only the gospels provide details showing how the Holy Spirit repeatedly demonstrated that Jesus is God by performing miracles only God could do.

In addition, we have the miraculous physical birth of Christ, fulfilling every prophecy, to prove that he is the son of God. The physical birth was unlike any other birth in how pregnancy began, yet completely normal in the growth and delivery of the baby. The details have been carefully recorded, to some degree by secular reporters and fully by the Gospel writers. His birth proves he is the Son of God, God in the flesh,

In the same way the details of his death, burial, and resurrection have been recorded, in the gospels, and in secular records. We know that he fulfilled all the prophecies surrounding Messiah death, even the miraculous ones that could only happen through the power of God. It is only possible if Jesus is the Christ, the promised Son of God, who came in human form.

All this evidence must be discredited before the Gospel can legitimately be declared false. It explains the constant attack by Satanic forces on each of these points. Christianity rests on the truth of these events. Far less compelling evidence is accepted as proof in many legal cases, for medical research, or many scientific proposals. Shouldn’t it be accepted in this case?

“If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.” (I John 5:9)

The Supernatural Birth, Death and Resurrection

I John 5:6

Why should people celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas? Thousands of babies are born every minute. Only their own family celebrates their birth. While we have a day set aside to celebrate some of our presidents’ birthdays, few people actually celebrate them, and we’re not sure of Jesus’ date. Unless there was something special about the birth, there is no reason to celebrate it.

In the same way, death is a part of life. Every person dies, and a Hebrews 9:27 states, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”. Our society tries desperately to deceive themselves, and prevent death but we all still die. Thousands were crucified by the Romans, so even crucifixion was not that special.

What is special is that the creator of the universe, God himself, according to John 1:1-3 was born on this earth as a human being. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

He was born to a virgin, not just a young woman, as some would have us to believe, in a miraculous manner, according to the scriptures. Both this woman, and the man she married were of the family God had said he would come from, It took place at the time God had said it would, in the city God described, and the events surrounding his birth were what God had prophesied more than five hundred years before his birth. Every prophecy about his birth was fulfilled, proving he was the Messiah, the Christ, and God‘s only natural born(only begotten) son. No other birth was like his, nor will any ever be.

Jesus came to earth as a human baby, and lived a human life to experience every temptation and problem humans have so he could understand what living on this earth is like. In the TV show, Undercover Boss, CEO’s of major corporations spend a week doing the jobs of their basic employees to learn what it is like working for their company. Several have been shocked at what they learned. In spite of the effort, they still only spend a day at each job, are not dependent on that job for their living, and know that at the end of the week, they’ll go back to their higher lifestyle. They still don’t learn what it is like to live on what their employees earn.

The four Gospels explain what Jesus did, but the book of Hebrews explains why it had to be done that way. Hebrews 2:16-18 explains why it was necessary for him to live as a human among humans. “For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” He would be able to forgive us because he knew what we experienced, even including a horrible death experience.

He was tried, tortured and executed in the most painful way his executioners could imagine for crimes they knew he hadn’t done. Even the judge who authorized his execution proclaimed his innocence. Many others have died in similar circumstances. The difference is that he did so voluntarily, to pay for our sins, and not for his own. I Peter 2:22-24 describes his action. “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” In the process he fulfilled all the scriptures relating to his death, proving again that he is Messiah.

It is his resurrection which is most vital however. While millions have died, only Christ came back from the grave. As Paul states in I Corinthians 15:17, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” Our salvation is totally dependent on his resurrection. It assures us of the reality according to Acts 17:31, “…whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” If he was not raised from the dead there is no hope, Christianity is just one big lie.

“This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.” (I John 5:6)

A baby is surrounded in the womb by amniotic fluid, historically referred to colloquially as water. When the membrane ruptures allowing the fluid to escape just before birth, it is still referred to as the water breaking. Being born of water was readily recognized by common people of John’s day, and of the English of 1611 as referring to natural birth. John stresses that both the Physical birth and the physical death are proof of who Christ is. He used the same terminology in John 3:3-7 referring to the need for both a physical birth and a spiritual birth.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”

If being born of water is interpreted as baptism, some parts of the preceding passage become vague, and I John 5:6-9 is obscure. If being born of water refers to natural birth the meaning of both passages becomes totally clear. Since there is no other place where the terminology is used to refer to baptism, and linguistically it refers to the natural birth, it must be considered as the probable interpretation. As such it says nothing about Baptism. It neither supports nor denies baptism as being required for salvation.

How Can You Love Someone You Don’t know?

I John 4:20-5:5

Dad was told that he was too old to become a missionary, but knew God had called him, so he took a job as Construction foreman for the Navajo Tribe, building schools. On weekends, he visited people and started holding services in a tent just off the reservation. As a result, he learned that a new town was to be built and that four sites were designated to be used for churches.

Dad applied for one of the sites, and because the sites could only be granted to legally constituted missionary organizations, He applied to the Baptist Bible Fellowship for some kind of legal standing. Since he had a church already going, and was a graduate of their program, they made an exception for his age and approved him, but since their policy was that approved missionaries could not hold a job, he had to resign his position with the tribe. Keeping the church going, and attending the required meetings to obtain the church site at Navajo prevented the standard process of raising missionary support, so we had only about sixty to seventy dollars per month to live on. It wasn’t easy, especially as there were eight of us.

When the site was approved, we had one year to get funding and complete construction. The BBFI loaned us twenty-five thousand dollars and we built the building for the Navajo Baptist Church and held our first services in it within about six months. The wind destroyed our tent at Tse Bonito, and we were not able to get a permanent place in the area, but most of the people who attended the tent church wound up moving to the new town of Navajo to work.

With a new church, and no one to fill in when he was away, Dad was unable to devote full time to raising support, making trips when he was able. Because he was already on the field, many churches assumed we didn’t need any more help, with the result that we struggled financially for several years, but were blessed to see thirteen churches and a Bible College started.

As a result of my experiences and observations, I have a different perspective than many about what goes on in our churches. For example, I am troubled by missionaries who refuse to go until some arbitrary level of support is attained, or until they can be assured of a certain standard of living. I am amazed at the number who have told us that we should turn our works over to them and start a new one because we knew how. They assumed we would still take responsibility for supporting the work. It is shocking to go into churches and find pictures of churches you started and physically built being claimed by other missionaries.

One missionary told us that if he could find any other job that paid as well as being a missionary he’d take it because he hated the work. Another told us he wished he could just stay on deputation forever, because he couldn’t stand the people on his field. Others have advised us never to allow the people to visit in our home or to become too personally involved with them lest we lose our sense of being American. In visiting churches. I see members of one ethnic group avoid those of another.

One pastor stated in my presence, that they needed to get rid of some of the people they had so they could get a higher class of people into their church. Missions trips don’t really let them get to know the people in everyday situations, and provide only superficial contact. I am concerned when I hear about these people’s great love for people on the mission field, when they can’t even get along with Christians in their home town, or even their own church. How can you love a person you don’t know? John carries it one step farther.

“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, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” (I John 4:20-21)

If we truly know the Lord, and love him, we will obey his commands and the Holy Spirit will be in us. John 14:15-17 states, “If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” We have Christ’s command to love, and we have the Holy Spirit to produce love in us if we love the Lord.

Even if we had no command to love, and we didn’t have the Holy Spirit to produce love, the very fact of loving God should naturally produce a love for those he loves. A dog will tolerate, and even learn to love a cat because his master loves them, and love for God will have the same natural result. Clearly, if we do not love other Christians, it is because we don’t love God.

“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” (I John 5:1-3)

The dog and cat naturally hate each other, yet because of their love for their master, and his forbidding them to fight, they overcome their instinctive antagonism and become friends. Love is demonstrated by pleasing the one loved. We demonstrate our love for God by doing what he wants, by loving one another. We overcome that natural instinct to hate and hurt others, and to take advantage by our love for him and by the spirit he has given us.

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” (I John 5:4-5)

The change in attitude the Holy Spirit produces affects our actions toward everyone we come in contact with. It will be especially apparent when meeting those who have a similar attitude. The old saying is it takes two to tangle. If one is determined to fight, the other may be forced to fight against his will, but it will be difficult. If both are trying to avoid causing a conflict, it will be almost impossible for one to occur. If they love God, both will try to avoid a conflict. The ability and desire to overcome the natural pride that causes conflict is indicative of love for God.

How Strong Is Your Love?

I John 4:14-19

Imagine a salesman trying to sell you one of the new 4G cell phones. He rhapsodizes about the features, advantages and benefits of the new phone, insisting that everyone needs to be able to do all the things it can do, from simple phone calls to watching movies and surfing the internet. Suddenly his cell phone rings, and he pulls out a standard cell phone just like the one you already have. Obviously, he hasn’t considered the features important enough to buy one for himself yet. Perhaps you don’t need them that bad either

Like the salesman, John has shown that the gospel has many features and advantages over other beliefs, which benefit the believer. One of the biggest advantages is that John can state he has seen proof and knows that it is true. It is not just some story he heard. Next he explains that the benefits can be received just by confessing that Jesus Christ is the son of God who died to pay for our sins as he claimed.

“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” (I John 4:14-15)

Romans 10:9-10 clarifies what is meant. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Clearly the confession involves a sincere commitment to that belief, not just repeating some words, but if the faith is real, salvation is assured. God will come into the person, and the person enters into God, like the relationship between Jesus Christ and God the father, as John 17:20-21 explains. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”

Unlike the salesman in our story, the apostles, with the exception of Judas, and we, have believed God’s promise. (Remember, John is writing to believers according to I John 2:12-14) God is love. As we are immersed in him and indwelt by him, our very being is permeated with his love. Love emanates from us like it does from a pair of newlyweds.

“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (I John 4:16)

Many newlywed couples are bothered when their mate is around members of the opposite sex. They fear that he or she might betray them. If their love grows and matures properly, that fear should vanish. Only as the Christian’s love grows and matures will he be able to boldly face every situation that arises. Peter obviously loved and trusted the Lord, yet fear caused him to deny him. Only a short time later, his love had grown to a point where the same threats didn’t move him, and he boldly stood up to the entire Jewish council in Acts 4.

“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.” (I John 4:17-19)

As long as we are hesitant to step up and do what God commands, Our love has not reached full maturity. Just as the mistrust of one’s mate causes stress, the stress we feel when deciding whether to obey God implies a lack of trust and an imperfect love for God. Our assurance of his love determines how freely we love him, just as our security in our mates love affects how we trust them. If we really understand his love It should be no problem to give up our own desires and goals for the sake of others.

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (I John 3:16)

God So Loved The World

I John 4:9-15

When a baby is born, it has only limited means of reacting to the world around it. As it grows, it learns to interact in different ways. Babies who only get attention when they scream learn that screaming is the way to get action. Those who get the attention they desire when they are quiet learn to be quiet and happy.

As he grows the child develops a system of relating to others based on his experience as to how people respond to his behavior. Those around him respond in the way they have learned as well. This produces a personal code of behavior, which may become stronger than any inherent moral standard. Contact with more diverse situations forces expansion of his code.

That code is essentially a religion. From time to time philosophers or governments may deliberately modify the religion to serve their own purposes. Attempts are made to explain why the code works, become religious dogma. It may be scientifically tested and proven or based on pure speculation. As a society comes in contact with other societies, they either modify their religion to meet the standard of others or try to force others to conform to theirs.

Like many other religions, the Moslem religion grew out of older religions, as a result of conflict, developing the attitude that the best way of protecting oneself was by killing those who were different. They developed the concept of Jihad, similar to the teachings of many others, as a means of self protection. Buddhists, on the other hand, discovered that by yielding and going along with their enemies, aggression could be neutralized. Thus we have two widely different religions, both dealing with the same problem in different manners, because of their different experiences.

Different background experiences tend to produce different standards and practices. Those who get very little guidance in the home develop very different standards of behavior. There is no way to prepare for dealing with situations different from past experience so reactions in such cases may be very ineffective.

Most religions develop like a child trying to develop a code of behavior with no one to teach him. Unlike other religions, Christianity is not based on man figuring out how to get by in this world, but on God, like a loving parent, teaching us what is expected. God is reaching out to man, not man reaching out in hopes of finding a God. The basis is summed up in John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

Human experience of death is only visible up to the point of death. Beyond that, there is little evidence to predict what goes on. Some religions attempt to guess what is on the other side, while others assume that everything ends at that point. Any religion based on human experience is only guessing beyond that point. Because God knows what is on the other side of death, he can tell us what we need to do to prepare for it. Just as a parent shows their love for their child by teaching him what he needs to know, and providing what he needs, God has shown his love by teaching us and providing what we need. Some children refuse to accept their parent’s teachings, and some people reject God’s. That’s their responsibility, not God’s.

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (I John 4:9)

God demonstrated his love by providing a savior to enable us to have eternal life. It is attained through him. Romans 6:3-6 declares, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

Love is not a quid pro quo proposition. It is not a trade, or a balancing the books. When a marriage deteriorates to one does this so the other will do what they want, it is no longer a love relationship but a business transaction. The girl who feels obligated to have sex with a guy because he took her out to dinner is unwittingly prostituting herself, for example. If he loved her, he wouldn’t demand she have sex in return. Such an attitude prevents real demonstrations of love. God loved us when we did not love him. It was not conditional on our loving him back. He loved those who never turn to him the same way.

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (I John 4:10)

Those who understand and experience love ought to want to please the one who loved them so. One way of expressing that love is by loving others who he loves just because he loves them. Since we have no way of physically expressing our love directly to God, Loving those he loves is almost the only way we have of physically demonstrating our love, even giving up all our own possessions and goals. “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (I John 3:16)

Even beyond that, we received the Holy Spirit at salvation. As Romans 8:9 explains, “…Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” One of the results of the Holy Spirit in our life, the fruit, is love, which is to be expected since God is love.

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” (I John 4:11-13)

When the Holy Spirit is producing the same kind of love in us, God’s love is expressed to those around us. His love is completed in us, because he dwells in us, and we have proof of our salvation. As Romans 8:16-17 states, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

John and the other apostles observation of Jesus’ baptism and hearing God’s statement is crucial to the message of our salvation, and they can attest to the accuracy of the claim. God indwells every person who confesses Christ, and he dwells in God.

“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” (I John 4:14-15)

Verifying That A Message Is From God

I John 4:1-8

During the Second World War, intercepted messages were sometimes changed before being sent to their intended recipients. As a result specific codes were employed to enable the recipient to verify that the message was legitimate. Several battles were lost because someone failed to verify that the orders received were valid. It is just as critical that we verify what we are told in our efforts to serve Christ. John warns of the need to check what we are told.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (I John 4:1)

Paul Reminded the Corinthians that Satan was originally an angel of light and still appears as such. As a result it shouldn’t surprise us that his servants and followers disguise themselves as ministers of the truth. II Corinthians 11:14-15 declares, “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” II Peter 2 warns that they will be right among us, pretending to be part of us in their effort to destroy us.

John is specific that we need to test the spirit driving the speaker to see if it is of God, because Satan has so many false teachers and prophets. Because Satan is so deceptive, John gives several tests to identify false teachers. He teaches us how to fulfill Paul’s instruction in I Corinthians 14:29, regarding prophecy. “Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.” The first test is what do they teach about Christ.

“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” (I John 4:2-3)

Do they believe that Jesus Christ is only natural son of God come in the flesh to save mankind? If they do not, they are not of God. They can believe that Christ is a great teacher and prophet, but if they do not believe that he is the only way of salvation, they are not of God. They are against Christ.

The second test is of the power behind the life. Romans 8:2 tells us we are free from the power of sin “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” As a result, Romans 6:12 commands, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” We have the power to “Just say ‘No’,” as Nancy Reagan said.

II Peter 2:19 says that these false prophets promise victory over sin, but cannot attain it themselves. “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” The fact that they never attain victory is proof that it is not the Holy Spirit leading them. Following them will only lead to slavery. For example, Alcoholics Anonymous is often referred to as a Christian organization, but they tell people they will always be Alcoholics and must continue in the program to keep from drinking, making them slaves to the program. Check out the results of of the teachings.

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (I John 4:4)

Check out the message. Is it based on the world’s ideas? Many so called Christian Psychologists base their teachings on the world’s psychology, quoting scriptures that seem to support their teachings. What is the main emphasis of their teaching. If they are of the world, their focus will be on worldly things, because that is what they understand.

“They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.” (I John 4:5)

Sometimes they are able to make their message so closely resemble God’s that we are unsure whether it is or not. If the teaching is popular among people who have little or no interest in serving God, it isn’t from God. Check out the followers to see what the message really is.

The fourth way of determining whether a speaker is lead by the Holy Spirit or an evil spirit is their response to the Word of God. If they reject the scripture for something else, John says we know they are not of God. The teaching is intended to promote wrong.

“We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” (I John 4:6)

Someone who teaches that there is another way of salvation than through faith in Christ, rejecting John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him,” is not of God, regardless of his titles or reputation. Neither is the spirit which insists on speaking in tongues contrary to God’s instructions in I Corinthians 14:27-28. If he can’t understand that it is God’s command, he doesn’t know what he is talking about, according to verses 37 and 38.

The final test to determine whether a message is from God is the attitude with which it is delivered. If it is not delivered with an attitude of love, it is not from God. Most of I John is devoted to the subject of Christian love, and John reiterates his comment that a lack of love clearly denotes a lack of knowledge of God.

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (I John 4:7-8)

I Corinthians 11:1-14 cites reasons why men shouldn’t have long hair and women should. Verse 15 stresses that although those reasons are true, God has not set such a standard, and his churches should not. We need to be sure that it is God’s message, not just whether it appears to be true. Even prophets of God can make false claims. In Deuteronomy, God gave a means of testing the Old Testament prophets. Here he has given a means of testing those in our day. Paul warned of false teachers and fake letters purporting to be from the apostles in II Thessalonians 2:2. Test the spirit behind the message for your own protection.

But I Still Feel Guilty

I John 3:20-24

I’ll probably never forget a lady telling me, “All you preachers do is make people feel guilty.” Apparently she missed the point of the sermon, That it is possible to have your guilt removed. She’d just received her degree in psychology from a “Christian” college, and was convinced that guilt was a terrible thing. It can be, but the sense of guilt can also cause a change of behavior. It is the awareness of guilt that causes a person to realize their need of a savior.

Romans 3:19 states that the law was to make people aware of their guilt. “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” The things they were doing were always wrong, they just weren’t aware of it. Christ died to take away the guilt, as Romans 3:25 makes clear. “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.”

As we see in I John 1:8-10, that guilt can only be removed when the sin is acknowledged and repented of. The popular psychology approach of denying responsibility by blaming others for our actions leaves one saddled with their guilt, and as the old saying goes, “There is nothing harder to live with than a guilty conscience.”

The human conscience is like a new nylon guitar string, constantly yielding to the pressures on it until it reaches its limit of elasticity. While the rest of the strings may stay in perfect tune, the new one is constantly sounding a discordant note. The problem will only be resolved by repeated retuning the string until it adjusts to the tension and ceases to go out of tune.
Because the conscience was adjusted to living in sin it sometimes has to be retuned to a guilt free state. A faulty measure of tuning will prolong the problem. Many churches and pastors set their own standards or traditions, leading to confusion about what is actually sin. The scribes and Pharisees were causing confusion about what was actually right or wrong because of their demands to obey tradition. As a result, things that were not wrong were severely rebuked or punished, while things that were forbidden by God were overlooked. Matthew 15:1-9 describes one of the times Jesus confronted them about this.

“Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. ” (Matthew 15:1-9)

As a result some people go through life haunted by a sense of guilt for something that was not wrong, or failing to confess sins they did commit. Other times people do not understand that God paid for all our sin, fearing that some sin after they received Christ wasn’t included. Satan accuses us before God night and day according to Revelation 12:10, and just as a defendant can be rattled by a vindictive prosecutor, Christians are sometimes rattled by Satan’s accusations. Fortunately, we have Jesus as our advocate, according to I John 2:1-2, and the accusations don’t disturb him. He has proof the debt was already paid.

“For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” (I John 3:20-22)

If we’ve confessed our sin, trusting Christ, we have been forgiven, whether we feel like it or not. Our feelings do not control God. When we are not sure of God’s love, we tend to hold back. I John 4:18-19 declares, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.” If we do not have that guilty conscience however, we are assured of his love freely, and begin to love in return. As a result of obedience, God is free to give us what we ask for as John 14:21 states. “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” Love is shown differently to the obedient child than to the disobedient one. John reviews the two specific commands for Christians.

“And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” (I John 3:23-24)

Practical Demonstration Of Love

I John 3:16-19

An especially troubling aspect of our society is that of child and spousal abuse. Time after time we find the abused saying, “but he really loves me,” and blaming themselves for having messed up. To the other extreme are the people who “love their children too much to discipline them.” Both illustrate how distorted our society’s perception of love has become.

I Corinthians 13 is often called the love chapter of the Bible because of the focus on the importance of love. It stresses that without love, good works are meaningless, and then shows that real love demonstrates an attitude of respect and concern, giving numerous illustrations of love’s attitude and actions in various situations. By the same token, I John must be the love book. God is love, and he has set the example of the kind of love we should show to others.

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (I John 3:16)

God demonstrated his love toward us, not when we did what he wanted, but when we were disobeying him, as Romans 5:8 declares. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Our disobedience was not unintentional, we were actively his enemies according to Romans 5:10. “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

God laid down his life for us. He gave up his physical life, he allowed himself to be degraded, and abused, as if he were some weak and insignificant unknown. As the song says, he could have called ten thousand angels to set him free, but he endured man’s mistreatment because he loved us, knowing that the vast majority would not appreciate or accept it.

Since this is the example of love we have been given, we ought to be willing to demonstrate the same love for other Christians, even to the point of giving up our own lives. Our pride, our social standing, our comfort must all be of less importance than our love.

When I consider the number of missionaries and pastors who have refused to go to a field or a church unless they could be assured of a certain lifestyle or pay, I realize how much we have deviated from the standard of love depicted in Jesus’ comments when he washed the disciples’ feet. He had humbled himself to do what was considered very demeaning. We ought to be willing to humble ourselves in a similar manner. It was not about a ritual to be performed, but an attitude to be cultivated. John 13:12-17 records the comments.

“So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

One aspect of demonstrating our love is in our sharing with others. Acts 4:32-35 describes the attitude of love and sharing that Christians should demonstrate. “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.”

John questions how a person who doesn’t show a similar degree of love can even claim to be a Christian. Real love will sacrifice it’s own comfort and pleasure for the sake of others. Love is demonstrated by the actions, not words or gifts or symbols.

“But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.” (I John 3:17-19)

It is easy to make a big show of our giving, or our other “good deeds”, like the hypocrites in Matthew 6:1-4. “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” Their giving is hypocritical, to attain their own end, and they deceive themselves most of all. The attitude of giving assures us we really are God’s children.

Cain’s Example

I John 3:11-15

“For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.” (I John 3:11-13)

In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus said that God’s standard for human conduct could be summed up in two simple laws. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Every commandment is designed to help us fulfill one of these two. As we saw in John 14:23, Jesus stated that love for him would result in obedience to his commands. “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words,” and his command is, “…That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” according to John 13:34.

The story of Cain and Able is found in Genesis 4. God had given directions as to what was an acceptable sacrifice. Cain decided to ignore the directions, clearly showing a lack of respect for God. When Able was rewarded for obeying, Cain became jealous. God told him that he could still do right and receive the same reward. If he chose not to do so, he would be guilty of sin. Rather than doing what was needed to receive his own reward, Cain murdered Able to keep him from enjoying his reward.

Several years ago, a family started attending our church. The man got saved and stopped drinking and doing the things he had been doing. As a result he was promoted at work and gained a lot of respect. His wife resented his popularity, stating she’d rather have him be a drunk than have people say such things about him, and set out to destroy his reputation. She physically attacked him on way to work, leaving bruises and damaging his clothing then throwing liquor over his clothes to give the appearance that he’d been drunk. When tried to protect himself, she accused him of abuse.

She stopped paying the bills, accusing him of spending his check on liquor and other women, and apparently hired a couple to put him in compromising positions. Because of the turmoil, he lost his job, dropped out of church and finally went back to drinking. The wife was extremely talented, but chose to destroy her husband rather than earning respect herself. A few years ago, a similar story was reported in the news involving a professional football player who was sentenced to prison for spousal abuse. The wife confessed to having deliberately destroyed his reputation because she was jealous.

Property is vandalized because the vandal resents someone else having something nice but isn’t willing to earn his own. Businesses rip people off and destroy their lives rather than building a solid business, as demonstrated by the financial sector in the present financial crisis. Politicians accuse others of corruption and destroy reputations to conceal what they are doing. The lack of concern for others is obvious. It should not be a surprise that they hate those who believe in God and are blessed of him.

Unpleasant as they are, we know who those who openly follow the world’s program are. The dangerous ones are those who, like Cain, pretend to serve God while rejecting his commands. Able loved Cain, and the man in our church loved his wife. Both assumed the feeling was mutual, and both were wrong. It is not wise to make such assumptions. John has given a way of checking ourselves and others for our benefit.

“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” (I John3:14-15)

We know that we are saved, just as the world does, by our love for other Christians, as John 13:35 advises. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” That love is to extend even to those who do not do or teach what they should, according to II Thessalonians 3:14-15. “And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

Our love for those who don’t conform to our standards is even more indicative of our Christianity than our love for those who do exactly what we say, as we see in Matthew 5:43-46. “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?"

Hatred and efforts to destroy or run down those who do not conform to one’s beliefs or practices standards implies that one is no different then the unsaved world, that he does not actually know the Lord, and is not saved. While we are not to judge, we should examine the fruit. The wrong attitude indicates the wrong spirit.

Sinless Perfection?

I John 3:9-15

One of my younger brothers came home from school one day
in shock. Some of the other kids had been doing some things that were wrong and one of their fathers caught them at it. His son said, “My old man was really mad and was going to spank me but I just ran off from him and he couldn’t catch me.”

My brother asked, “What’s wrong with his dad? If we did that, we’d never get to stop running. Dad would always be right behind us, waiting for us to stop for rest or a drink. It’s just easier take the spanking and get it over with.”

While us kids did a lot of stupid things, like most kids, we always knew that wrong doing would surely be punished. As a result, we didn’t do a lot of the things those around us did. Many of them wound up in serious legal problems because they thought they could get by with it, demonstrating what Ecclesiastes 8:11 says. “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”

We didn’t do what others did because we knew we couldn’t get by with it. The country song, Daddy’s Hands describes Dad’s punishment, stating that even when they were causing pain, there was love in Daddy’s hands. In fact it was that love that caused him to administer punishment. He didn’t want us to suffer the things some of the others suffered. Hebrews 12:6-8 says God is the same way, chastening every one of his children. “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”

Any person who can habitually get by with sin is not God’s child, because God does not allow his children to behave that way. While they still have the old human nature struggling to do wrong, the Holy Spirit is in them to counteract the old nature, and when they yield to it, Punishment is sure because they cannot get away. Paul describes the experience in Romans 7:9-25. Just as there were things we couldn’t do because My father wouldn’t permit it, there are things Christians can’t do because God will not permit it.

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” (I John 3;9-10)

While Dad did not physically prevent us from doing wrong, he developed an attitude in us that could not be ignored. One of my brothers got arrested once for something he had done, proving that we were still capable of committing the crimes. He felt so terrible about it that he never dared tell Dad, and he made sure it never happened again.

Prisons physically prevent people from committing crimes, yet the recidivism rate is nearly ninety percent, because the attitude, the spirit if you will has not changed. God changes the spirit, giving us the Holy Spirit. While we are physically capable of doing the sin, we will never be able to keep doing it if we are his children. I Corinthians 6:12 tells us there is no sin capable of taking away salvation. “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” We choose not to let them control us.


That some who claim to be Christians can live at peace in a constant state of sin makes it clear that they are not God’s children, and never have been. If they ever had been, the Holy Spirit would have prevented their going to that point. I Corinthians 5 stresses the need for us to withdraw from those who deliberately do wrong and allow God to work freely. We are not to punish them, but to stop protecting them from God. If they are his children, God will chasten them. When He has chastened them we are to receive them back willingly. Galatians 6:1 commands, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” If we get proud that we didn’t get chastened, and rub it in, we’ll be chastened as well.

I John 1:10 states, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” If we were incapable of sin, that verse would be false. There would be no need for an advocate as we find in I John 2:1-2, nor would there be any reason to chasten us. We sin from time to time, but it is not our lifestyle.

Just Like Your Dad

I John 3:1-6

A little boy was walking beside his dad. He wore a cowboy hat just like his dad, cowboy boots, and a western shirt the same color. Almost every action was a copy of what his father did, and his speech was like hearing his father twenty years before. Even had his dad not been present, everyone who knew the father would have known who the boy was. He was obviously proud to be his father’s son, copying him in everyway possible.

People who love God will exhibit a similar desire to be like him. Young Christians should be working to be like him, while mature Christians should have developed an attitude similar to God’s. Just as the little boy adopts his fathers standard if he knows his father’s love, the Christian who understands God’s love will adopt God’s standard, retaining it throughout his life.

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” (I John 3:1-3)

The little boy will continue to emulate his father unless he begins to lose respect for him. The admiration and respect can be destroyed by the father’s actions, or by how others treat or talk about his father. If it is destroyed, he will reject his father’s standards. Proverbs 14:2 states that our attitude toward God will be shown in our behavior. “He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.” If we love the Lord, and understand he came to take away our sin, there will be a desire to eliminate sin from our lives.

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” (I John 3:4-6)

The intent of the traffic law is protection of people’s lives. As a result, there are specific regulations, but provision is made for when following the law exactly would endanger others. For example, the speed limit may be fifty five normally, but if the road conditions are bad, you may still receive a citation for excessive speed if you drive that fast. Emergency vehicles are allowed to exceed the speed limit to protect the lives of others. Though they are allowed to occasionally exceed the speed limit, habitual breaking it is illegal and many emergency vehicle drivers have lost their licenses because of a habit of exceeding the speed limit. Their disregard for the safety of others makes them unfit for the job of protecting others.

In the same way, while an occasional sin may be forgivable, a deliberate lifestyle of sin cannot be overlooked, as it demonstrates a lack of concern about the very thing Jesus died for. It indicates a desire to follow and emulate Satan rather than God. They are copying their father, as Jesus said in John 8:44. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” The way a person lives indicates who and what their parents are.

“Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” (I John 3:7-8)

The way a person lives tells a great deal about his family, and his attitude toward them. As such, it is an indicator of a person’s relationship with God. While we cannot make a sure judgment from it, it indicates a need to look closer, whether in our own life or of those around us.

Proven Principles Are Best

I John 2:24-26

It is interesting to note that in our current financial distress, the ten largest American banks are on the list of the one most likely to fail, yet they are the ones giving the highest bonuses to their chairmen. They control over eighty percent of all the accounts in the United States. The strongest banks control only a small percentage of the deposits, required and accepted no bailouts, and have shown smaller but consistent profits throughout the financial trouble.

The troubled banks, like many other businesses have developed new and supposedly more profitable ways of doing business, while the solid banks have continued to do business in the ways that have made banks money for centuries. They are not exciting, and do not offer spectacular gains, and are ignored by most investors. Many survived the Depression, with their only significant losses coming during the period when Roosevelt declared the banking holiday and forced them to shut down their operations.

By sticking to principles that have been proven over hundreds of years, they have been able to avoid most of the difficulties. John advises believers to take a similar approach to being Christian. They should focus on what they know to be true, and allow the Holy Spirit to work in them.

“Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.” (I John 2:24-26)

Many banks were convinced to guarantee huge loans to major corporations for a modest fee. What they didn’t check out was that the same guarantee could be bought from several banks. Thus making it far more profitable for the lender if the corporation defaulted, as each bank would be required to pay the full balance. By canceling lines of credit or increasing interest fees, many corporations were forced to default, putting the banks who guaranteed the loans in jeopardy. They had been seduced by the promise of high and seemingly low risk profits.

Christians are often seduced with promises of great spiritual attainments or greater physical blessing and go for new and exciting ideas. Paul warned Timothy, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;” in II Timothy 3:13-14. If we stick with what we know is the Word of God, we may not appear as exciting, but we will be pleasing to God. The church at Sardis, described in Revelation 3:1-6 probably best describes the tendency.

Just before Paul went to Jerusalem and was arrested, he warned the Ephesian leaders, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them,” in Acts 20:29-30. Similar warnings are found throughout the Gospels, Paul’s other writings, and Peter’s.

Peter was concerned about the need to remember what we have learned in II Peter 2:12-15. “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.”

Paul stressed that he wasn’t writing some new thing in his different letters, but trying to protect them, in Philippians 3:1. “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.”

II Timothy 3 warns of the attitude in the last days. It reads like a commentator speaking of today. As we see the hundreds of books and popular speakers promising different ways of attaining spiritual power, Paul’s comment in II Timothy 3:7 is so very applicable of modern “Christianity. They are “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

One Lie Corrupts the Whole Story

I John 2:21-23

Smokers develop an addiction to nicotine, and get headaches when they don’t get another dose after a while. What many don’t realize is what a deadly poison it is. Farmers used to give a plug of chewing tobacco to their horses to rid them of intestinal parasites. The amount of nicotine in the tobacco would kill the parasites, but one had to be careful not to give too much for the horse’s sake. Just a very small amount of nicotine introduced into a city’s water supply could poison an entire city. Because of the danger from various poisons, tests have been developed to detect minute amounts of poison in water supplies.

In the same way, just a little falsehood can contaminate a large body of truth, making the whole a lie. The more truth a lie is mixed with, the more likely the lie is to slip by unnoticed. The modern scientific method was developed as a way to detect and eliminate errors and falsehoods from science.

In the scientific method, a preliminary hypothesis is formed based on observation. This hypothesis is then checked by other observations of the same event, for example by seeing if the results can be duplicated. If so, then the hypothesis is tested by varying the conditions to see what the effects will be. If it holds up, the hypothesis is then tested in other settings, by other people to verify that it is not some unique action by the researcher giving the results. As the hypothesis is verified by independent researchers, it becomes a theory. Only when that theory has been proven to be true in every possible case is it considered a fact, called a Law. If at any point in the process a discrepancy is found, the hypothesis is wrong and must be changed to fit the known facts, and re-tested.

As a result, we have the Law of Gravity, for example because it can be proven to exist in every case. Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, is only a theory. No evidence that it is not true has been found, but it has not been proven that it is true. Simply put a law is truth, a theory is a guess that is probably true, and a hypothesis is an educated guess. Unfortunately, modern scientific writers frequently assume theory to be law, introducing the likelihood of error. This was the cause of Einstein’s break with many physicists just before his death. He believed they needed to prove that the theory was in fact law before depending on it to support some new theory. Otherwise, science becomes increasingly a series of unsupported guesses and dogma, rather than fact.

God has made it possible for every Christian to know the truth. He has provided ways for us to check our understanding of the truth, despite the inexactness of human language, as we see from II Peter 1:20-21. “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” No passage may be interpreted in isolation, but must be compared to the rest of scripture. Any interpretation which produces conflict with other scripture must be resolved, because God’ word is truth. No lie can be part of the truth.

“I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.” (I John 2:21)

Just as a minute amount of nicotine can poison the water, a minute amount of false hood corrupts the whole doctrine. There must be none present. I John is written to encourage us to exercise discernment and identify falsehood, in our own lives, and in those we contact, and correct it if possible. It is with that in mind that John presents the next passage.

“Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.” (I John 2:22-23)

“Christ” is the Greek equivalent for the Hebrew word “Messiah.” There are over 1200 prophecies concerning the Messiah in the Old Testament. John and the other apostles were witnesses of his fulfilling all of them, as well as hearing God speak from heaven, identifying Jesus as the Messiah. There is can be no valid question as to whether he is the Christ. Anyone who denies it has to deliberately ignore or conceal the facts.

A person who denies the statements God has made about Jesus and the Messiah cannot truly believe in a God is incapable of lying, or who knows all things, and designed and created the world. Though they claim to worship the same God, it cannot be the same one. By the same token, one cannot truly believe Christ without accepting his claims about God. If God is not real, then Jesus is just another liar.

There Are Many Antichrists

I John 2:18-20

In 1902, Cecil Rhodes founded the Rhodes scholarships with the goal of promoting a the British Empire. At the time it was to include the British colonies, the United States, and Germany. Students were to be ones who could be expected to become leaders in their field. Rhodes scholars are inculcated with Rhodes’ philosophy of attaining world peace and government, and helped to obtain positions of authority. Today, Rhodes scholars occupy many of the leadership positions in our most prestigious colleges and political institutions, greatly influencing American education and attitudes.

As we look at the United States in the last few years, we see a deliberate effort to break down the traditional standards of the country, and many of the leaders of the effort are either Rhodes scholars or their followers, and do not have the same values as the American majority. Their goal is the attainment of Cecil Rhodes’ goals, rather than those of the founding fathers, or of most Americans. It is why Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid can say it doesn’t matter what the people want with regard to Health care, the Government can seize a company like GM, or why a federal district judge can set aside a legally obtained referendum about gay marriage even though Federal law specifies that it is the purview of the individual state. They enjoy the privileges of citizenship, while trying to destroy the American system.

Some have even gone so far as to give up their American citizenship because they were so opposed to the American system. Their citizenship was not revoked because of some crime they committed, but because they refused to be part of the United States. They are anti-American. There are people in the church in similar condition.

“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.” (I John 2:18-20)

John 3:16 explains what is it means to be a Christian in a nutshell. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” James 2:19 makes it clear that that belief is more than simply acknowledging Christ’s existence or actions. “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” The devils acknowledge that much, but they are clearly not saved. Hebrews 3:8-19 speaks of the people who went into the desert with Moses because they wanted to escape the slavery of Egypt, yet never committed fully to God in faith. It warns of the same danger in our day.

“Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:8-19)

Jesus said salvation was not possible without that commitment by faith in Luke 14:26-33. A recognition of what is expected of Christians is essential. We cannot just “try Jesus,” or accept him as a backup.

“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26-33)

Just as there are those in America who do not believe in American principles and are un American, there are those in the church who do not believe in Christ and are unchristian. Those who deliberately reject Christ are antichrist, just as those who oppose American principles are anti American. They are not really part of us, and they leave because they aren’t. They have refused to be part. While there is only one known as the Antichrist, there are many who are antichrist in doctrine and practice.

Loving the World*

I John 2:15-17

One thing that makes English hard to learn as a second language is the many and varied meanings a single word may have. Even those who speak only English may forget or not know some of the meanings of a word, and misunderstand a statement as a result. This becomes especially problematic as meanings change over time

One word that can be easily misunderstood is the word ‘fear.’ In modern English the most common use of the word by far is that of being actually afraid. If we accept that definition in every case, Leviticus 19:3 forces us to overlook child abuse. “Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.” After all children are to be afraid of their parents, if we accept that definition. Comparing it with many other references, however, we find that that is not what is meant at all. Exodus 20 12 for example, states “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” Numerous other verses also use the word “honor.”

As used here, the word ‘fear’ means the same as the modern meaning of the word ‘respect,’ another word that has a different meaning in modern English than in old English. This is the usual meaning of ‘fear’ in the phrase “fear the Lord.” The phrase is used throughout the Old Testament, but rarely in the new. To love the Lord is a more common phrase, and from I Corinthians 13:4-8, we see that an attitude of respect is essential to show love.

Proverbs 14:2 states that a person’s behavior demonstrates his attitude toward God. “He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.” A man who respects God will endeavor to do what is right. He will begin to hate what is not right. Proverbs 8:13 defines the things people who respect or fear God will hate. “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”

In modern society, pride and arrogance are considered desirable traits. After all as one Ad states, “I deserve it.” Dishonesty, deceit, extortion and intimidation are hallmarks of successful business, as is demonstrated by the attitudes of the banking system. The refusal to control their tongue abounds in our society, and is encouraged. Clearly our modern world has no respect for God, which we already knew. The Christian attitude ought to be different.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (I John 2:15-17)

It is impossible to love God while loving the things of the world. Everything the world offers is for earthly pleasure, and is purely temporary. In addition, it all comes at the expense of other people, and requires doing things that are against God to obtain. Everything the world offers caters to one of three things.

The first thing the world offers is the lust of the flesh, the satisfaction of physical desires, whether excess food, drugs, or sexual pleasure. Religiously it refers to finding a religion that makes one feel good as they are. We see the effects in the levels of obesity, drug use and promiscuity in the modern world.

The lust of the eyes refers to the attitude of getting something that looks better, a newer car, a bigger house, a prettier wife, or a higher paying job. Religiously, it focuses on activities in the church.

The pride of life is about competition, about being stronger, smarter, prettier, richer, better, or more powerful. It drives our politicians, our sports figures, our super wealthy people. Religiously the focus is on being the biggest or most famous, or having the fanciest buildings.

Everyone of these direct our attention away from God. As Jesus points out you cannot serve two masters. Matthew 6:24-34 addresses the point in some detail. One must choose which he loves. By default, by not making a choice, we choose the world. Proverbs 23:17-18 advises, “Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.” Don’t get discouraged and give in to the temptation to go along.

The Reason For Writing I John

I John 2:12-14

My chemistry teacher in high school retired the next year. He had been teaching chemistry since he graduated from college, and was bored stiff with the subject. As a result , we spent little time in the classroom discussing the subject, focusing on things that interested him instead. While I got an “A” in his class, I learned almost nothing about chemistry.

Because of my “A” in high school chemistry, I was required to take the advanced class in college. I almost flunked because there was so much I needed to know that I hadn’t obtained in other classes and I needed them to understand what was being taught in that class. Thoroughly confused, I struggled with classes in physics that required a solid chemistry background, although other parts were easy. Only when I read an old high school chemistry book did I begin to understand what had been taught in my advanced class. Unfortunately, I couldn’t go back and retake the class at that point.

The entire Bible, and especially the New Testament is written like a college correspondence course. Each book in the New Testament is written for a special purpose, yet each relates to and builds on what is taught in the others. II Peter 1:20 tells us nothing is to be interpreted by itself. To fully understand what is being taught requires relating it to what is taught in the other books as well. Like the correspondence course, we can easily go back and review what we didn’t fully understand.

As we examine the different books, we find that Romans is the basic Christianity 101 and 102, explaining basic doctrine, then teaching how to apply it. Hebrews is advanced doctrine, and is difficult for those without a sound basis in basic doctrine to understand. James deals with issues that particularly affect those of Jewish background, while I Peter is especially concerned with those who have no experience with Jewish teaching. Each of the other books serve similar purposes, and I John is no exception.

II Peter focused on the danger of being misled by false teachers, explaining how to find out what the truth is. Jesus said we were to identify a tree by it’s fruit, and I John teaches us what to look for to identify fruit. By learning to properly identify the fruit we can verify our own relationship with God as well as those we come in contact with. Being able to make valid assessments is critical at every stage of Christian development.

“I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.” (I John 2:12-14)

Being sure of his salvation is critical for the growth of a new Christian. Assurance does not come from reviewing the sinner’s prayer, but from the Holy Spirit, according to Romans 8:16. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” Young Christians need assurance that their sins are forgiven, and that they are capable of knowing God themselves, and are not dependent on what someone else tells them.

They also need to understand the point Paul makes in Romans 6:1-4. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Knowing that we are free from sin doesn’t excuse further sin. God is not glorified by being forced to forgive other sin.

Older Christians can become discouraged and begin to doubt the validity of their experience and need reassurance, or they can begin to drift away because they are so familiar with what they have already learned that they assume they cannot be misled, and getting caught up in false teaching.

Strong mature Christians can become proud of their accomplishments and begin to try to serve God in their own power, or they can begin to feel they have attained what they needed to do and can focus on doing their own thing, becoming less faithful. God’s messages to the churches in Revelation 2-3 describe what happens and what is needed.

Constant checking ourselves and our relationship with God enables us to avoid falling into various traps that await the unwary. John has written this book so we will know where we are. Without it, we are much like a person walking along the edge of a cliff at night. We are unsure exactly where the danger lies. A light enables us to see the edge, and obstacles that might make us stumble. John explains how to turn the light on.