Everyone That Doeth Righteousness

 

"If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him."

I John 2:29 

 There is no doubt as we reach this point of John's letter to the saints of God that Jesus Christ is the only Righteous.  Man can do nothing of his own accord.  Even mans best efforts are considered as a filthy rag before Holy God.  It has been rightfully said that the best of men are men at best and our only hope of righteousness is that which is graciously supplied by Christ.

 

When we see someone diligently working good works for their own salvation we know without doubt they are not righteous.  They are instead denying the righteousness of Christ and are yet still dead in their sins.  It has never been disputed that dead men can do nothing.  No activity.  No work nor play.  Not any one thing can be attributed to those who are dead except that they are dead and void of life.

 

Thus we know that when John tells us those who do righteousness are born of Christ we know he is talking about those who walk by faith in Jesus' Righteousness alone. They have the Spirit dwelling within them and their works are done by faith so that all glory is given to God, not as of themselves but as fruit brought forth of the spirit.  They have eternal life through Jesus Christ.

 

Are you without hope, vainly  trusting your own works?  Jesus Christ is the only righteous. Trust Him and learn of Him.  He is the way, the truth, and the life.  No man may dwell in the presence of God except the righteousness of Christ is clothed upon him.  Jesus commands all men to repent, to turn from their sins, and trust Him.  Please obey, so that on that day when you see Him as the Son of God you may not be fearful and ashamed, but welcomed into Paradise.

 

Consider also: Isaiah 64:6-8; John 14:6

We May Have Confidence

"These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.  And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming."

I John 2:26-28

 The apostle makes it clear that there are many who seek to seduce the Christian; they try to turn him from the faith and try with all their might to prove the Christian stands on faulty ground.  But for the Christian, those regenerated by the Holy Spirit and believers of the gospel given by Jesus Christ (that life comes only by His blood), he stands on the surest foundation.  The Spirit indwells him and remains so that even at man's and Satan's best attack the believer in the hand of God shall not be removed nor destroyed.  In fact, all who belong to Jesus will have confidence at His appearance  because of His righteousness applied in their stead. They will not be ashamed and fearful as those who have refused Him will.

 

When the heathen rage at the Christian for displaying the righteousness of Christ we should not be appalled.  We have the warnings from Christ Himself that if we love Jesus the world will hate and despise us because they have hated and despised Him.  John reiterates that by warning that many will seduce us.  We will be falsely accused.  We will be laughed to scorn.  Whatever they have done to our Lord they will do to us when given the opportunity.  But on that faithful day when Jesus appears to us all as He truly is, the righteous Son of God, we will glory in His presence while the world trembles at His judgment.

Consider also: Luke 6:47-49; John 15

 

Eternal Life

"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."

I John 2:24-25

There are many temporal blessings and benefits available to the child of the living God but there is one that lasts forever outside of time and that is eternal life.  Our health on this earth will fade and our days here doing Gods work are numbered but to those who acknowledge the Son He gives life everlasting.

The requirement is that we obey the gospel of Jesus the only begotten Son of God.  Jesus died on the cross to atone for the sins of many and God the Father draws His people to the Son that they will obey Him who couldn't before, and will live who were dead before.  The Son's redemptive blood provides that those who obey may forever fellowship in the presence of God.  Obey the commands of Jesus through faith that you too may be able to fellowship with God forever.

Consider also: Matthew 25:31-46; John 3:14-21; I John 5:12-13

 

Who Is A Liar?

"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 

We all understand the definition of a liar to be someone who speaks or acts in such a way as to contradict truth.  John, removing all doubt, makes it clear that the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ is a liar, for he denies the only truth by which all truth comes.  To deny that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God by whom only man can be saved is to deny the greatest truth and to be separated from God.

Many want access to God the Father but they do not want it through the blood of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.  They fail to see that the Father and Son are one.  No one can get to the one without going through the other.  One is an antichrist by denying Jesus but by doing so he also denies the Father, and is an enemy of God.

Just as those who deny are in darkness, those who acknowledge the Son have the Father in light and all the blessings which are thus promised. How do we claim these promises and blessings before the men of the world?  We claim them by obeying the commandments of our Lord Jesus before them.  It is by this obedience that God's children are known.

Consider also: John 6:47-65; John 10:27-30; Romans 3:19-26

Good Remembrance

"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 

All of these things John has been admonishing his children in are things they already knew.  He is not saying that they know and understand everything but they know by the Spirit what the works of darkness are.  It is good for us to be reminded often of the goodness of God and His mercies.  That is why he wrote to them, and why God has preserved those words for us.

So we as believers today must understand the importance of sitting under the sound preaching of God's Holy Word.  We often, as Peter said, need to be stirred in remembrance because our imperfect minds are forgetful and still tainted by sin.  We who are in Christ should not forsake the assembling together for worship nor the continual reading of our Lord's Word.  It is the strength for the body.

Consider also: II Peter 1:1-17; Psalm 18:1-2

 

Those Antichrists

"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

 We know that John indeed ministered directly to his intended readers, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them for many years, thus he loved them as a father loves his children. Yet, John knew that he was the last apostle still living on this planet and that the apostolic era was coming to a close. His congregation and the church as a whole had long been fighting against heresy but he reminds them that there are those who hate Christ and will use any tactic, even those which seem pleasant and true, to confuse the work of the church and try to destroy the name of Jesus Christ. 

These verses are not standalone verses that can just be ripped from their context for us to completely understand all that is being said. Prior to this warning about the antichrists, John had reminded them why he had written to them and instructed the church to not love the world nor the things in it. Contextually speaking, John is warning them that these antichrists are those who were allied with the Church, who for a while worked among the believers but discontinued. It is important to note also that these antichrists did not necessarily abandon religion and become the "scum" of society. Rather, they quite simply denied the full attributes of Christ by denying either his full deity, full humanity, resurrection, atoning work, etc. Praise God, though, that His people have an unction from the Holy One to know all things pertaining to salvation.

Where does this leave us who are nearly two thousand years removed from John's original audience? Obviously the world still turns in the hand of Almighty God and nothing is greater than He, so please don't let your eschatological view, whatever it may be, ruin the meat in these verses. There are those among us who seek to destroy the name of Christ, who preach a different gospel other than the true one given in the Holy Scriptures.  They sometimes seem to be a part of the church but their works reveal them for who they really belong to. Many buy their books, watch their TV broadcasts, listen to their speeches on the radio, and even flock to their assemblies because of their charm or their appeal to the flesh. They subtly deny Christ and unfortunately many Christians bring these false gospels into their homes by either being ignorant of the heresies or relaxed in the fight against them.  Are you loving the things of this world to which many of these false gospels appeal? Have you let yourself get caught up in craze of the newest idea even though it does not match scripture? God provides His children with an unction to know the truth apart from heresy. I pray you do not ignore it nor rebel against it.

Consider also: Acts 15:1-29; Galatians 1:6-9

Love Not The World

"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

The apostle here tells his beloved readers not to love the world nor the things that are in it. Why? The world itself is a creation of God and we are commanded to love our neighbors who also inhabit the world. But John clarifies so that we cannot deny the truth that is laid out here; do not love the things that are not from God. Sin has run its course on this world since Adam, bringing about all manner of lusts, and because of this the world will one day perish. Things corrupt and fade away now as a shadow of that final corruption and dissolving that this world will do in the end. The works of sin will fade away and perish also. 

God's children are not of this world. We were born in this world and we live here for now but we are a called out people who are just passing through this world because through Jesus Christ our home is glorious Heaven. Only the works done for Christ will last forever. Why would we Christians love things that will some day dissolve away when those things are against our holy Father? 

Do you often find yourself considering things that are not yours wishing you had them? Do you often find yourself wanting to gain glory and praise for yourself and not for God? Pray, repent, and diligently seek Christ that you may love and obey Him for whoever does, as the Word of God says, he will abide forever. And even this is not of yourselves, so that you cannot boast. Even this is a precious gift from God almighty to whom all glory is ascribed!

Consider also: Ephesians 2:1-10; Romans 12;1-5

Infants, Young Men, & Fathers

"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 2:13,14

 In verse 12 of this chapter, John wrote that everything we do or have as Christians is because of Jesus Christ. Now he proceeds to specify why he is writing to the readers. While there are meaty truths in these verses as to why he lists these particular reasons there is another unmistakable truth that should not be overlooked. John, while being specific, has with a broad stroke also told all Christians that the love of Jesus extends to His own regardless of age, either physical or spiritual.

Whether you are aged in the faith as those fathers were, strong and zealous for the Lord as those young men were, or infants by the grace of God who now know the Father of light, the love of God and His commands extend to you because of Jesus. It is often our nature to want to exclude, handicap, or to some degree even despise those who are not on the same level in love, faith, or work for the Lord. John tells us this is not to be. The Word of God is written to all of us and we who are saved are part of the body of Christ, each with a different function. God places us where He pleases and where He has placed our brothers in this body we must seek to edify, encourage, and always point them to the Head, who is Jesus Christ the righteous.

Consider also: Romans 12; Colossians 1:18-24

Because of Jesus

"I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake."

I John 2:12

 This is one of but several verses the apostle writes with the endearing phrase, "little children." No doubt John loved his readers with perfected love. Surely John, who refers to himself as the "apostle whom Jesus loved," understood greatly how to obey his Lord, that he loved God supremely, and his neighbors as himself. John loved his readers so much that he gave them these truths as a gracious father would. It is no wonder why John referred to himself as the apostle whom Jesus loved. It's not to say that Jesus loved John above all the others, but that John knew the God of the universe, who holds even the stars at bay, loved him.

Consider that the hand of God, which sustains all life, is justified if it were to remove from providing the sustenance we take for granted in our air, food, water, and shelter. Consider that should that hand remove from the sinner and his life perish he is condemned and the full wrath of God will bear down upon him in final judgement. John was aware of this, and how marvelous it is that the great God of life loved him. There was nothing John could do to earn this love, for his very existence rested in the mighty hand of God as does ours. John could not love God until his sins were forgiven through Jesus. 

This is why John called himself the apostle whom Jesus loved; not because John was special and deserving, but because he was wretched and deserving of eternal punishment because of his trespass against Holy God. Yet, Jesus died and arose from the grave. Jesus's blood was applied instead of John's and the Lord forgave the apostle's sins forever. No, it is not because John was great but because Jesus is great.

Don't you see? It is all of Jesus! We who have the blood of Jesus applied for our sins before the Judge can rest and praise His name, because it is all of Jesus. We can love God supremely because of Jesus. We can love those around us because of Jesus. Love is perfected in our obedience because of Jesus. It is because of Jesus that we even know love. Our sins are forgiven because of Jesus! Oh Christian, be joyful and thankful because of Jesus! Praise His holy name!

Consider also: Psalm 5:11,12; Romans 5:6-11

Brotherly Love

"He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes."

I John 2:9-11

John reminded us in the preceding verses that God's law is summed up in loving God first and also loving those around us. Now don't be confused; the law is not simply reduced to our finite understanding of love, but is instead summed up in perfect love which we know comes when we are obedient. As with everything in Christianity, it all starts with God. He makes us able to love and we are to love Him first and foremost. Then we are to love our neighbors, not with the same love, but as we love ourselves.  

Love is perfected in us through obedience to Jesus. And as such that shows that we are in the light and belong to God. So that there is no confusion, John expressly tells us that the opposite is true as well. He that hates his brother is blinded by darkness and there is no light in him. He thinks only for himself and not of anyone else. Even if there were good deeds shown to others his intent is only for his own pleasure and these works will one day be shown that they are not of God. He who is in darkness is an enemy of light; he who lives in sin is an enemy of God.

But he that loves and prefers those around him as he would himself can be confident that he is in the light of God and that Jesus is his Lord. He can know without a doubt that his father is God and he then has no reason to faint in hard times, to worry about what the Father has ordained, or to dread His wrath. Others see this light and they know which he belongs to because the light that shines through him reveals whether they are in the light or darkness. 

Does this light shine through you to others, or does it shine from someone else upon you revealing your works of darkness? Are you wondering to whom you belong? God has provided this letter to reassure His own of how we can know we belong to Him and how we know those who are not. Everyone loves something, what does the object of your love say about you?

Consider also: Matthew 5:43-48; Colossians 1:9-17

 

Commandments And Light

"Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth."

I John 2:7,8 

John's words in this letter have thus far been applicable for all people of all time as well has the specific people he wrote the physical letter to. Yet in these two verses his words seem confusing if not contradictory to all of those not privy to how the first readers would have thought. This doesn't mean it doesn't apply to us today who are not Jews, it just means we have to dig further to understand how and why his readers thought and acted the way they did to understand why John worded things the way that he did. This letter is obviously an important part of church history, and good history is intellectual history. 

First John tells them that he isn't talking about a brand new commandment or tradition instituted by the pharisees. He's talking about the Word that came from God first which is pure, not any confusion added or conjured by man. The new commandment he is writing about is how Jesus clarified the commandments by summing them up in two. The first is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. The second is similar, that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves. This was a struggle for the Jews and is why John, as he has done to great extent thus far, cleared the confusion and set the distinction. 

Notice also that John does not tell them to ignore the old commandment. Many times today we hear, wrongly I might add, that Jesus did away with the Old Testament. They lie to us saying the law is abolished and we can discard those wonderful treasures of our history that God has so graciously preserved for us. We know from Jesus's ministry and His apostles that He did not destroy the old commands (the law) but fulfilled them! The old covenant wasn't wrong but it always pointed to the new covenant which is in Christ. We no long have to partake of the ceremonious sacrificial laws because Jesus became our High Priest when He died as our propitiation. The moral laws still remain in fact and as Jesus said they are summed up in love towards God and love towards our fellow man. How do we know this is true? Because the love of God is perfected in His children when we obey and that is how the true light shines forth.

Dearly beloved of God do not fret thinking that there are numerous laws we must keep perfectly. Jesus the righteous has died for your justification before God. The commands that we obey are for our sanctification to make us more like Christ so that His love will be perfected in us and His light shines through us in that obedience. Are you loving God with every fiber of your being throughout the day? Are you loving your neighbors also? Do you refuse sin to have any occasion in your life?  Desire the light of Christ to shine in your life through obedience and the world will see it unmistakably that you belong to Jesus Christ the only righteous!

Consider also: Matthew 22:37-40; Matthew 5:14; Galatians 5:16-26

The Love of God Perfected

"He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."

I John 2:4-6 

 If you've read this far into the first letter from John you see that he places a strong importance on being clear about who belongs to Jesus and who does not. Early in the first chapter he made clear distinctions that there are two categories of people, not Jews and Gentiles, but those in the light and those in darkness. He then showed us that there is one advocate for those in the light, and He is Jesus Christ the only righteous. He is the only way to walk in the light of God. So how does one walk in the light and have fellowship with God? By keeping His commandments, even the commandments of Jesus who is God in the flesh. So to be perfectly clear John says likewise that if you do not obey the commands of Jesus you are in darkness. Even if you claim to obey Jesus with your words but your actions show that you do not. You are a liar if that's the case and in darkness.

But who can obey Jesus, that the love of God is perfected in them? This is not an obedience to perform some ceremonious task that we may be justified before God. That is heresy. Jesus does all of the atoning work of salvation, even clothing His righteousness upon us in the form of faith. God's love cannot be perfected in the unrighteous because they are without Jesus. So the perfection of love is not a question of salvation because it can only belong to those who are covered by the blood of Christ to make them more like Christ.

God's love is perfected in us because the obedience is not in word only but confirmed by our actions. In his letter, James says that faith without works is dead. This means that if faith is genuinely provided by God it will bring about actions that prove the faith exists whereby it cannot be denied that faith in Jesus is present and perfected (James 2:22). Consider it as well in the matter of love. Love is perfected not when we only say we love God, but when we obey the commands of Jesus because that obedience is proof of His love. It cannot then be denied that the perfect love of God is present in us.

So what ought we to do? If we say that we love Jesus we must love His commands! Sometimes we don't understand Him. Many times we understand all too well and it hurts that we must repent of some things to be right with God, but we must repent when He reveals these sins. It is when our everyday actions show the world that we trust, obey, and follow Jesus Christ that the love of the almighty God is perfected in us. Examine yourselves to see if your actions leave doubt of God's love. If you find that they do, please repent and obey that His love may be perfected in you through Christ.

Consider also: James 2:17-26; John 15:1-17; Romans 8:34-39; Ephesians 3:17-19

Do You Know If You Know Him?

 "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments."

I John 2:3

  Oh how great a thing is it to be able to really know the God of the universe! Not only to say we know He exist or that we've heard of Him, but that we know Him personally. Is this just simply knowing His actions throughout the course of our history, or is it something far greater? Thankfully, knowing God is not hidden in some complex algorithm, a scheme of events, or incantations that must be achieved in methodical fashion. Knowing God is really quite simple. However, it is impossible for the unconverted person to know Him. This is because to know God is to know that Jesus Christ is His only begotten Son and is the propitiation for the Lord's saints. Without believing the gospel it is impossible to know God and have fellowship with Him.

And there is a way that we know who knows Him. Those who keep His commandments are those who have fellowship with Him. Not that the mere acts themselves grant fellowship or knowledge, but that those who are redeemed from sin, and the wrath of God upon their sins, desire to obey Jesus because His commandments are light in the darkness of sin.

It is true that our flesh at times lusts against us to do sinful things we would not do. But the Christian earnestly desires to please his Savior by obedience because it shows we belong to Him. Praise God! it is He who changes our hearts that we desire to obey and to grow closer to Him! It is He who grants us the sweetness of His fellowship and knowledge of His saving grace when after we look to Him we obey Him. 

Consider yourselves in the light of this short, simple, yet glorious verse. Do you desire to obey Jesus? Or is it a grievous thing for you to follow after Him and abandon sin. If you love the things of this world then it is likely you hate the things of God. You love darkness and not light and therefore you'll find yourself in eternal Hell if you do not believe the gospel. But if Jesus is precious to you; if He is your desire then take comfort that He has overcome the world for you. If His commandments are wonderful to you then praise the name of Jesus Christ the righteous and know that you know Him!

Consider also: Matthew 7:15-27; John 3:14-21; John 14:6,7,15; John 17:1-3

Jesus Christ The Righteous

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

I John 2:1,2

"My little children." John writes to those under his care as if they were his own children. And not only they, but all of God's people who would read these words throughout time. The apostle whom Jesus loved is showing forth that same love in taking us by the hand and explaining a very important truth to us just as a caring father would for his own children.

Never having met most of his readers he informs us why he is taking such great care to write; So that we do not sin. Not that he is saying that we can live perfect sinless lives on this earth but that it is what we should be working for. God's people are to abhor sin and flee it like the plague that it is! Run from it even though we will never be able to fully escape it until we die. Why is this or how is it possible? It is because God has provided His people with an advocate in Jesus Christ by whom is the only means God's people have righteousness; by whom is the only way they become God's people. 

Jesus the righteous died so that God's people may be saved from His just wrath and dwell eternally in His holy presence. This happens because the blood of Christ is a propitiation for those who believe - meaning His blood satisfied the requirement that resulted from Adam's sin in the garden. We know from scripture that Christ is not a propitiation for every man because we know many are in Hell. Therefore He is not an advocate for every man but for those whom God has given Him (John 6). And He is not a propitiation for believing Jews only but for the gentiles also! Praise God that His saving grace has extended beyond the exclusivity of the Jews to all nations upon the earth, that among all nations God has and is bringing many sons to glory!

In the first chapter, John laid the foundation teaching us that God's people must confess when we sin because Jesus, our righteousness, is our advocate to God. We don't rely on a human priest to atone for us. We don't rely on a pope to give us the Word or instruct us in holiness. We don't trust anything that we may do because we are not perfect. We have Jesus the only righteous for when we sin and praise His name that have Him!

Consider also: Romans 3:19-26; John 17

The Foundation

"If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

I John 1:10

On the surface this verse seems to only be a replica of verse eight. But look at it closer and you well see the summation of what we know as the first chapter of this letter from John and the perfect bridge from this chapter to the next.

Contextually speaking, John has laid the final stone in the foundation of this letter before building the walls to the palace which has become a blessed part of our beloved Word of God. Through inspiration John has drawn sharp contrast speaking of light and darkness, truths and lies. We must understand that there are opposing sides and that there is no middle ground between them.

John has shown us that we all have sinned and that sin actions still remain after conversion. He has also comforted us in telling us that if we confess our sins to God, humbling ourselves before His majesty He is faithful to forgive His people and that He is just in doing so. We know that darkness and light cannot commune with each other. Therefore we understand that those who practice sin cannot claim to have truth or to be in fellowship with God. If we were to deny all of this we would be accusing God of lying, and if we accuse Him of such it is painfully obvious that His living word, even our Jesus who gives life, is not in us.

The chief cornerstone is Jesus Christ. If we are to have any part in the palace it must be by resting on Him alone by faith. This faith is evident when we separate from the worlds sinful mindset and actions. That is, when we stop practicing sin and start practicing holiness by the power of God. If we are to "sin not" as the apostle admonishes in the next chapter, then we must rest on the finished work of Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins.

Consider also: Romans 13:10-14; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; Galatians 5:16-26

Confession

" If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

I John 1:9 

 We know that none of us live without sin. After close examination it is evident that we still sin even after conversion. After all, the entire book of I John is about examining ourselves and reaffirming that we are in the faith. In verse eight of this chapter we see that no one is without sin and to say such makes that person a liar and without truth. But we struggle with these thoughts and understanding God's way. Do we lose our salvation when we sin after conversion? Has the glory of being in God's presence slipped through our fingers because of one sin we commit? Must Jesus die again for for our iniquity? Thankfully, no! Scripture tells us that Jesus died once for all who look to Him and believe for all of time, from the foundations of the world to the very last breath that will be taken on this planet.

So what is this manner of confession? It is not strictly toward our brothers in grace or to the head of your local assembly other than that which is specifically against them that would cause the fellowship to cease. Instead, we are to consistently confess our sins to God because all sins are rebellion against Him and a trespass against His holiness. We confess to God not only because we are commanded to, that we may be in fellowship, but also so that we may be humbled before God rightfully acknowledging His complete sovereignty even if we don't understand it. And this isn't necessarily a general request of forgiveness as a blanket to cover our sins at the end of the day, week, month, year, or lifetime. The proper application here is that we confess every sin we know. We acknowledge our evil against the Almighty because we cannot bear to be removed from His fellowship. 

And what is the result of this confession? It is that our sins are forgiven because He is faithful and just to do so and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This isn't concerning the sacrifice of Christ directly as a matter of salvation but those whom the blood has been applied. God is just in forgiving their sins because justice was already served upon Christ and His righteousness covers the believer who has been made alive in spirit and can come before the throne of God in prayer. The unconverted have no part in this due to the fact that they are dead in their trespasses and sins. They have not been drawn to Christ and His blood not applied on their behalf. This is how we know that God is faithful and just, because He does forgive the sins of His children when we confess and repent because the absence of His presence, that of the Holy Spirit during this life, is a great grievance for us. Thus His cleansing us is necessary time and time again until this body dies to the curse and our spirits can enjoy the true presence of our Savior in Glory. 

Dear children of the living God, do not be weary when we fail our Father. In His love and mercy He has provided a way of reconciliation and it is that we confess our sins to Him and He will forgive and cleanse us by giving us repentance from the sins and a heart that loves Him and His commands. What a mighty and wonderful God!

Consider also: Proverbs 28:13; Psalm 32

Deceiving Ourselves

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 

I John 1:8 

Jesus Christ died for the ungodly and His righteousness covers all those believe that He is the only begotten Son of the living God who bore His wrath upon the cross in our stead. Though this covering of Jesus' righteousness upon us separates us from the bondage of sin, frees us from the guilt of sin, and removes the burden of bearing the immense weight of our sin, it does not cause our sinning to cease. Our bodies were formed under a curse that they should die and though the righteousness of Jesus cover our souls He has not unjustly removed our bodies from that judgement. God, while greatly merciful and gracious, is still holy and thus while our perfected souls will one day be able to stand in fellowship in His presence by the blood of Jesus our corrupt bodies must still perish because of sin. We cannot, by the very existence of our remaining on this earth, say that we have no sin.

To say that we are perfect and without sin is a lie. It is deceptive not only to ourselves but to those around us. We may rightly say that we are not living in a particular sin, or that we do not go about practicing sin (our actions will confirm this), but we can never in this life say that we have no sin. Who among us can say there are no thoughts that creep into our minds that we dwell on till sin is conceived be it lust for money, power, sex, or property? Who among us has not looked upon our neighbors belongs and coveted for anything of his, even after conversion? Who among us has not gone a day without an action of some kind great or small confirming that sin remains in this present life? Isn't this the plight of the Christian? We are not bound to sin because Jesus has freed us. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light (Matt. 11:30). When He has cleansed our spirits and washed away our sin with His blood we earnestly desire to put away sin and bring our flesh into subjection because we desire to be like Him.

God is truth and truth must be in us for us to be in fellowship with Him. Dear children of the living God, do not deceive yourselves into believing that the activity of sin has yet passed from us. We are not yet perfect in glory with the Father and until we are we must remember that our fleshly bodies, and those of our brothers in faith, are not yet without sin. And understanding that we know and can say that the truth is in us because of Jesus.

Worse Than Hypocrites

 "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." - I John 1:6,7

There is a great danger for those who say they have fellowship with God but live a life which practices sin. God plainly says these people liars. They are worse than just mere hypocrites. Rather than being backslidden or simply of little faith they, instead, abhor the fellowship of God, His Word, and his church. These people say they love God but are living in sin and loving it; proving they really do not know Him. They lie and truth is not in them.

Dear child of the living God, if we walk in the spirit minding holy things as God is holy then we truly have fellowship with Him. And what is sweeter than to be in good favor with God? Nothing is greater than knowing the blood of Jesus has cleansed you from all of your sin and being able to enjoy the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Remember, though, it is not because of what you have done but what Jesus did on the cross that we have this wonderful union with the Father and Son.

Beware of falling in the midst of those liars who claim to be in God's favor but are clearly living in the pleasures of sin. There are far greater pleasures provided by our holy God through the righteousness of Jesus!

Consider also: Philippians 4:8; II Corinthians 4:1-6; II Corinthians 6:14-18

God Is Light

"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."

- I John 1:5

There is a message that needs to be delivered to all men continuously, that God is light and in him there is no darkness. On the surface we see the blessings that the purity of God provide to His children But we often overlook what that purity meant to us before conversion, and still means for the unbeliever. 

Remember, dear one, that there is no darkness in God. Because God is pure, evil cannot stand in His presence. And on the day of judgment when every knee is bent and head bowed in reverence to Him all sinners will be cast away into the Lake of Fire. This is an uncomfortable truth to many because it shows our feeble state before the Holy One. But it is truth nonetheless.

But God, in His mercy and grace, supplied His Son Jesus to be the propitiation for the sins of many. For those who are drawn to Jesus this truth is wonderful. That His righteousness will cover their sins so that they may stand in the presence of God: not of their own works or strength, but of the finished work of Jesus. Sin is seen as grievous to them and it loses all of its vain appeal in the light of God's purity. Dear saint, remember always that there is joy in the purity of God and it is ours because of our fellowship with Him.

Consider also: John 1:1-5; John 3:14-21; Acts 26:22,23

Joyfulness

"And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full." - I John 1:4

We believers in Christ have a great peace in that the entire Bible, and specifically the first book of John, was written for us. It gives us life in the gospel of Jesus Christ. It gives us comfort in being reminded that we have fellowship with God though the world hates us. And it gives us joy in Jesus who has overcome the world.

God has preserved His holy Scripture in love that we may know Him. We can always find comfort and strength in what God has revealed to us in written Word. Reading the Bible consistently is a key part of the fellowship we have in God, and our joy will not be full without it.

There aren't many things which bring more joy than a marriage and the birth of a child. These are shadows to what believers experience spiritually with Christ. At the moment of conversion we see ourselves fully incapable and Christ fully capable. We trust that His righteousness has covered our unrighteousness. At that time we are birthed into new life in spirit through faith. And in that new life we are wed to our glorious Savior. He cares for our needs and watches us grow in His love. Truly, there is no greater joy than that which is given by Jesus both in this life and the one to come!

Consider also: Psalm 12:6,7; Psalm 16:11

Fellowship With Jesus

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." - I John 1:1-3

It is a wonderful thing that Jesus Christ, our Savior, has been with us since the beginning. He certainly did not abandon His creation as we see numerous appearances of Christ throughout the Old Testament, in figure, type, prophesy, and even in human form. But He was not yet God incarnate dwelling among men. 

Yet, in the fullness of time Jesus was manifested unto us. He lived with us and taught us, yea, even died for our sins and arose from the grave! Oh! the assurances we have in this! He defeated death! Not only did He defeat death He confirmed it in the presence of many witnesses, whose accounts remain even to our day. Also, while Jesus's resurrection does supply those who believe in Him with eternal life it also grants them true and pure fellowship with each other, with Jesus, and with Almighty God. In this there is great joy!

Consider also: John 1:14; I Corinthians 1:9; Psalm 5:11,12

The Wonderful Adoption

"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." - I John 3:1

The first book of John is undeniably pregnant with truths and great resources for the believer in Jesus Christ. It is easy to hang on every verse and weigh it next to our lives when we need reassurance in the faith. Sometimes we get so caught up when we sin that we may question if indeed we are saved. Often we feel the rejection of the world when we focus on what we see in the flesh and not what God has done in the spirit. Our Lord has faithfully provided His Word to sustain us through all aspects of life.

One of those great assurances is for us to remember that we are indeed adopted into the family of God if we have faith in Jesus. Adoption is a wonderful thing. The castaway being brought in and cared for with unmerited love and favor. In light of this relationship we know that we are forever protected unto eternal life in the presence of the Almighty! No amount of toil can sever this tie. No pain, sickness, injustice, persecution, nor even death can ever separate us from the love of God!

Dear believer, rest assured in the promises of God! For his love is bestowed upon you through Christ!

Consider also: Romans 8:14-18; Ephesians 1:3-6; John 15:17-21; Luke 6:27-38 

Let God: Part Two

Does every tongue that utters a phrase about "letting" God do whatever belong to a soul that is evil whose intent is to drag listeners to the depths of hell? No, of course not. The error isn't in the terminology but the intent. In fact, a biblical understanding of God's sovereignty allows us to see that He is in total control of every detail in the universe and that nothing is outside of His attention.

Let God: Part One

I hear a certain phrase from time to time and it really bothers me. It comes in various forms and sounds rather simple to the average person but it's usually loaded with false implications. The phrase as I hear it usually comes across in these words, "You have to let God work in your life."

Sounds simple right? Its a statement the average person can hear or say and feel like they have stumbled upon some deep theological jackpot that solves all of life's problems. But is it accurate?

The Greatest Generation Or A Holy God?

"And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. 

Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed. "- Judges 2:14-15

We know that Israel served God all the days of Joshua and in the years after his death and the death of the elders who served alongside him. Were they sinless? No, but they kept God first and worshiped Him alone. So what happened? Is this proof for the naysayers that God is really unjust and not loving? It is in fact proof of the opposite.

There Is Another Verse In Joshua 24?

It's not uncommon for us to encounter some form of decoration, especially in the home of Christians, which reference Joshua 24:15. Most of us know the phrase by heart.

"....but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Why only the last quarter of the verse is used and not the previous 14 and three quarters is beyond me. Why wouldn't they want even the next nine verses listed also? There is a context here that is very important for Christians.  In fact, a great foundation is being laid in this chapter not only for the history of the Church but also as an example for her. Besides, how awesome would it be to have the entire twenty fourth chapter of Joshua painted across your wall? But that's another topic for another time.