I John 2 (NIV)

Summary:

Walking in the Light
Verses 1-17

John writes this letter so that we won't sin.  If anyone does, Christ, the Righteous One, speaks on our defense to the Father.  Christ is the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.  If we obey His commands, we have come to know Him.  The one that claims to know Him, but does not obey His commands, is a liar.  If anyone obeys His word, God's love is truly made complete in them.

We know we are in Him by this: "Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did." (Verse 6)

John is writing an old command, one we've had since the beginning and have heard it before.  John is also writing a new command, because darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.  (Maybe he means that it's new because we now have a new understanding of salvation.)

Anyone claiming to be in the light, but hates their brother or sister, they are still in darkness.  Whoever loves their brother or sister lives in the light and their is nothing in them to make them stumble.  The one that hates walks in darkness and is blinded by it.  They don't know where they're going.

John writes to us "...because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name." (Verse 12b)  He writes to fathers because they have known Him who is from the beginning.  He writes to young men because they have overcome the evil one, they are strong, and the word of God lives in them.  He writes to us because we have known the Father.

Do Not Love the World
Verses 15-17

We are not to love the world or anything in it, otherwise the love of the Father is not in us.  Everything in the world, the cravings of sinful people, lust, and boasting, comes from the world, not the Father.  The world and its desires will pass away, but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

Warning Against Antichrists
Verses 18-27

This is the last hour; the antichrist is coming and many have already come.  This is how we know that it is the last hour.  The antichrists did not belong to the apostles, because they abandoned them.

We have an anointing from the Holy One and we know the truth.  John writes this letter because he knows we know the truth.  So, who is the liar?  "It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ.  Such a [person] is the antichrist - [they deny] the Father and the Son." (Verse 22b)  No one who denies the Son has the Father.  If you acknowledge the Son, you also have the Father.

Make sure that what you've heard from the beginning stays in you.  If it does, you'll remain in the Son and the Father.  "And this is what He promised us - even eternal life." (Verse 25)

John writes to us of those who are trying to lead us astray.  The anointing we received remains in us and we don't need anyone to teach us.  As His anointing teaches us about all things - His anointing is real - just as it has taught us, remain in Him.

Children of God
Verses 28-29

Continue in Him, so when He appears, we will be confident and unashamed.  If we know that He's righteous, we know that everyone who does what is right has been born of Him.

Lori's Thoughts:

This is the plan of salvation summarized.  We are sinners and God's wrath is against us.  Christ is our shield.  He pays the toll for our passage into eternity.  But, life in Christ is a transformation.  He didn't save us so we could live stuck in the mud.  He cleanses us.  As we get closer to God, we resemble Christ more and more.  If we claim to love God, but we still live to satisfy our selfish desires, we really don't know God.  When we really do, our attitudes and lifestyles change.  We begin to produce the fruit of the Spirit: "Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control".  (Galatians 5:22)

If we love God, we stop loving the world.  That's not to say we stop loving people or animals or nature.  We stop worshiping money, sex, and power.  Notice I said stop worshiping, not stop them altogether.  It's an attitude shift.  Loving God and loving others comes first.

John has warned us that people will come claiming that Jesus was just a man.  They will question and try to shake our faith.  We have been warned to stand firm.  Become confident in God, so when He comes, we'll have nothing to fear.  We'll probably start dancing.

Songs for today:  "What If" ~Nichole Nordeman, "I Can Only Imagine" ~MercyMe [Go YouTube!!!]