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