Monday, January 14, 2008

I John chapter 2: 1--1

Never Concede Defeat

Continuing his thought from the previous chapter John explains that he is writing these things that we would not sin. He knows that while we are yet in this flesh we are exposed to temptations to sin and reminds us that a repeated failure is not the end. Jesus Christ the righteous stands before the Father as our advocate to plead our case. His blood was offered and applied to the mercy seat to atone for our sin past, present and future.

In these last days sin is abounding or multiplying like never before, a smorgasbord of worldly pleasures is available and can even be delivered to our doorstep. The world and the devil have been working overtime to elevate sin to a socially acceptable place and to even make participating in it a matter of human rights. Romans 5: 20 tells us where sin abounds grace much more abounds. Though we walk in a sort of mine field of sin God’s grace is much more available to us. As Paul writes in Romans 6: 1—2 Grace is not a get out if sin free card, it does not mean just go ahead and sin because we can always rely on His grace to bail us out, no God forbid. A greater supply of grace is to empower us to walk through the minefield without stepping into sin not just to bail us out.

God’s Word Keepers

Those who truly know God delight in keeping His commandments. On the other hand those who say they know Him without keeping His word are liars their testimony of Christ is annulled by a conflicting lifestyle they are not a credible witness.

Those who keep His words not only make verbal confession but walk it out. In them the love of God is increasing they are maturing in Christ. The evidence that we are matured in Him is if we walk as Christ Himself walked.

We can only walk as He walked if we are yoked to Him. Jesus said if we want to learn of Him or walk with Him we must take His yoke which is easy and light. (Matt. 11:29). His yoke links us to Himself and we learn to walk in step with Him. His yoke is our link to mercy, grace and favor. He carries the vast majority of the load and guides our steps.

Looking Back to See the Future

John in verse 7 again refers back to the word that was spoken from the beginning. He is not trying to introduce something totally new but actually an old concept. In Genesis 1: God’s answer to darkness and kayos was to turn on the light. Because sin brought darkness into the world God sent the light to light the way for every one of us.

In Genesis it is written that God made the sun to light day and the moon to light the night yet John in his gospel writes of The Son Light that was sent by God to be the light to every man.

Real or Counterfeit

Those who claim to be in the light yet hate their brother are still in the dark. Those who love their brother are walking in the light and will not stumble.

Hatred of a brother is a work of darkness it is a result of spiritual blindness. The powers of darkness have a deceptive ability to make darkness appear as light. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians. 7:14 that we should not be surprised that Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. He comes as a counterfeit light bearer to deceive those who are in darkness and make them think they are in the light.

John’s Gospel Chapter 1 verse 5 says “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (NKJV) God sent Jesus His Son as the light, as the revelation of God the Father. The spiritual darkness that prevailed especially among the religious people of that day prevented them from perceiving or receiving that light. They rejected Him as a counterfeit thinking they already had the true light.

In John 8: 40—43 Jesus is having a discussion with the Pharisees who hated Him and wanted to kill Him yet claimed God as their Father. Jesus told them that if God were their father they would love Him who came from the Father. They could not hear or receive Jesus’ words (light) because they were blinded by darkness, a counterfeit light. The darkness of plain old sin is bad enough but the darkness provided through religion as a counterfeit light is an even greater darkness.

2 comments:

Keith said...

Good thoughts, John .... some real inspiration in your writing.
Keith

Anonymous said...

"Hatred of a brother is a work of darkness it is a result of spiritual blindness." Very interesting thoughts John, we can so easily use spirituality as our basis for sinning against a brother. For example it’s easy to think, “You are a ‘Christian’ and yet you *****, that gives me grounds to ‘hate’ ‘gossip’ and ‘criticize.’ It’s spiritual blindness.

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