1 John 2 is packed full of theology on what seems like a number of fronts. When I follow the flow of thought, I have to read it a few times...because I imagine that John was looking at how much paper he had on hand and started to write feverishly and succinctly.
vv.1-2 are key elements for me. V.1 speaks of the fact that we have an advocate before the Father to stand for us when we sin. The concept of an advocate is like that of an attorney or an appointed representative. We have a voice in the heavenly court...His name is Jesus.
v.2 is very critical for those of us who think of missions. It is a verse where John points out that Christ satisfied our sin debt (propitiation)...and not ours only, but also the whole world. That is key because-- if He satisfied the sin debt of the world, then it must have been necessary. So, those who say that being an earnest Buddhist or Muslim should be enough...misunderstand that if so, Jesus' "propitiation" was made available for people who did not really need it.
vv.3-11 speak of a consistency of "confession" and "lifestyle." It is not enough to say we are with Jesus...we demonstrate who we are with by what we do. If we live in rebellion, then we are not followers.
Now we must be careful here. Look at v.3. We know that we know Him if we keep His commandments. We do not know Him BECAUSE we keep His commandments. Our lifestyle reveals our alliance. Our lifestyle (walk) does not cause our alliance with Him.
Some may ask-- how can I be confident of my salvation when I catch myself sinning all the time? Great question. (See 1John 1:8-9, 2:1 again). My oldest son shared with me several years ago that he was struggling with his security (bible word for confidence in Salvation) because he kept having thoughts and circumstances that did not honor God. As we discussed it-- he offered one of the best solutions to the question posed here. He said, "I suppose if it bothers me that I sin and I am not honoring God...and I act on that to make it right...then there is no issue with my security. If I were lost, why would I care enough to fix it?" He's right. As Christians, it does bother us when we sin. We attribute that to the Holy Spirit's work of Conviction in our lives. What is referred to in these verses deals with our response. Do we "walk in His commandments" or "do our own thing?"
vv.15-17 reminds us that we are a different breed. Others we know may pursue the things that are glorified in this world. We are called to pursue things that glorify God. We do that by doing the will of God (v.17).
vv.18-24 gives the litmus test on true believers. Do they PERSEVERE or are the PRESERVED. (That is funny if you are into the Calvinism debate.) We are called to be discerning people. As such we must grasp that not everyone who claims to be a Christian actually is. John deals with a specific heresy in His day. Some questioned if Jesus was really the Messiah (the Savior). Some even left the faith and started their own thing. They walked away from Orthodox beliefs and began to pursue a man's perspective (Same argument can be made for the LDS church or JWs). John said, they left us because they were never really truly of us (v.19).
In the closing verses of the chapter (vv.25-29), John shares that He is writing because of the danger of the influence of the false teaching in their midst. He encourages them to stand firm in what they have known, rejecting the false teaching that has arisen, and to do so in order to face Jesus without shame one day.
Proverbs 21:3 is my takeaway today. "To do righteousness and justice is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice." It is not that God does not want "sacrifice." He does. The fact is...it is not and either/or, but a both/and. To sacrifice without doing righteousness and justice...is to give without truly knowing who God is and what God truly wants.
Grace,
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4 comments:
I like this because I am involved from the beginning with 'My dear children' I love that greeting. John make his points concise, he just says what he says. You can not just claim to be in the light and do what you want. You must do the things of the spirit and love the things that God loves. Good word! Do not love the world, sometimes I get caught up in this one. John reminds me that the things of the world do not come from God the Father. The word says the desires of the world will pass away but the man who does God's will lives forever (eternally, right?). That is my goal...:)
You got it. Thanks for the post!
Yes, we must walk the talk and as your son said, we must correct when we err. Speaking from a commentary, this portion of 1 John, through chapter 3, is describing the relationship of the children to the Father. John also doesn't pull any punches or speak ambiguously, he lets you know what darkness (the world) is and how to define it. The last part about discernment (18-24) is excellent.
I've read a number of good lessons on telling this cult from that the orthodox with all kinds of different ways they can stray into heresy, but the one I've caught onto the most is the bearing of false witness (lying). No matter where they start erring, they always end up with the lie and no lie is of the truth.
I'm more into the Persevering rather than the Preserving. The second seems a bit more frozen to me. ;)
Now how did we pick the same verse in Proverbs? Along with v.3 goes v.27 and ties directly into the conversation in Mark 12:29-34. It is the consistent direct teaching of Christ that intent is the sin, whether you actually do the deed or not. Hatred = murder. Lust = adultery. False or misdirected oaths (saying "by gum" instead of "by God") = taking His name in vain.
Also, tying back in with 1 John are v.13, 21, 25-26 and 29. All are about walk and fruits.
Verse 30 is just good. That one I can live with when I stand on the rock and that one can condemn me when I find my toes slipping into the sand at the edge.
Chris,
As a father it is hard to always being an example for your kids and even your wife at times. I thank God for the loving corrections and his intervention for me to the father. I get wisdom from my son when I think he is out in left field. I believe John is telling us that there is help there in diffrent ways because JESUS is who he is and because he loves us so much. When I talk to some of my co workers they seem to look at the this GOD lets happen (in their words) and not what he protects us from so that is their reason for not living right or accepting his blessing. In my early life and I see it now in others is why live for God now whenhe will forgive me later, but they do not look at the fact that there may not be a tommorrow. I am thankful for all the help the Lord provides and mostly for Jesus' blood and intervention on my behalf. Thank you for your faithfulness.
Bob
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