Greetings and salutations,
1 John 3 continues the theme in 1 John of 'abiding in Him'. The outlining seems to be rather difficult with this book. I like the theme word of 'abide', but coming up with just the right words has been a challenge. I wonder if I might end up reworking some of these someday.
Anyway, working with the 'i' in abide, the outline theme is Intimate children of God and Imitate love for one another. Intimate (because we will know Him when He appears) children of God covers vv1-10; Imitate (with Christ as the example) love for one another carries us from v11 to the end.
The memory passage for 1 John 3 is;
1 John 3:1-2, 11, 16
1See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
11For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
16By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
The first section (1-10) begins with the main theme in the first two verses. We are children of God because of the tremendous love He has given to us. John follows with an interesting comment about the world and its perception of us as God's children; it didn't know Him, and because we are His children it doesn't know us. For more on His adoption of us, Gal 4:4-7 speaks beautifully to the subject. He continues that even though we are His children, we are still not what He fully intends us to be; we have not received our original intended glory. But, we have confidence that when He appears we shall appear with Him (Col 3:4) and be like Him, because we shall see (and know doubt know) Him as He is. This is the 'intimacy' of our childhood in God; that we are beginning to know Him on our way to seeing Him as He is.
This hope we have in His appearing (1 Pet 1:13) sets our lives toward His purity. We live and walk in hope while we continue to train in righteousness and holiness. The opposition to this life and hope is the presence of sin. John defines sin as the practice of lawlessness (lit. breaking the law, wickedness). There is a lengthy explanation on my notes, but for now (and my own sake) I'll summarize verse 6. Because we are adopted as God's child being a new creation and having a new heart, we can abide in Him. If this is all indeed true of a person, their heart can no longer sin. Sin is still present in his life (see 1 John 1:7-10), but that comes from the sin still dwelling in his flesh (see Rom 7). So, verse 6 is not saying that a true Christian cannot sin if their faith is to be proven genuine. It reminds us simply that a born again heart is pure and new and good.
If you hear a little Eldgredge in that, there's a reason. I (and our church) have found some of his teaching and literature to be very helpful in the current stage of our growth.
The statement John is making next (with his classic format also seen in 1:8-10 and 2:9-11; point, negative point, original point enhanced) is that if one practices sin then he practices lawlessness; but whoever practices righteousness is righteous (as He is righteous); again, those who practice sin are of the devil and his work (which is at war with the kingdom of God).
He goes on saying in v9 that God's seed abides in those 'born of Him', and they cannot continue to sin in their hearts (see v6; the heart is not the source of sin because it is new, clean, born again). John ends this section with a very clear test; we know who follows God and who follows the devil based on their actions. If they practice righteousness and love each other; their God's. If they don't, they're not.
The second section of 1 John 3 is titled 'Imitate love for one another'. (the theme is 'love one another, but I had to start it with an 'I' :), so I used imitate because it sounds a lot like intimate and it follows the teaching of v6 that we should follow Christ's example of love)
What is the message we have heard from the beginning? That we should love one another in the body of Christ. The world may not understand that (and may hate us for it), but we must rest in the confidence that we have new life in Him and no longer abide in death. 'We have died, and our lives are now hidden with Christ' (Col 3:3). John brings up the story of Cain in v12, and then expands on the idea of murder in v15; the opposite of loving your brother is murder (obviously). But just as Christ taught, hatred of a brother is the moral equivalent of physical murder. Our example is not selfish savagery, but selfless sacrifice; that of Christ who died for us, His body.
This is the love we are to imitate toward each other.
Verses 17-18 is a page out of James' handbook (or vice-versa); if you say it, you'd better also do it or it doesn't mean anything. We are to proclaim and walk in the truth; God's truth that He reassures to us in our hearts. On prayer, John encourages us to pursue that assurance in the heart and will of God so that we can pray more in line with His will. What is a way to walk toward confidence in Him; keep His commandments and do what pleases Him.
Where can we start? V23, His commandment is to believe in His Son Jesus Christ and love each other (heard that before? see 'the greatest commandments', Matt 22:37-40). If we are keeping His commandments, we can be assured that He is abiding in us.
What more do I know about God from this chapter?
I see the beauty of His heart towards us. Reading some passages on the surface may give the impression that all you have to do (or should do) is follow His rules and then good stuff happens. But I'm not seeing it that way. He wants us to live, remain, abide in Him; and there are things that we can do to advance that goal. We need to do the things Jesus did to stay close to the Father; e.g. the disciplines. Part of 'all that I commanded' from the great commission is also what He did. He gave us a clear model of how to walk in intimacy with the Father. But there are rules to this relationship. Not graceless, dictatorial edicts; but loving boundaries given from a loving Father who knows the danger to our lives if we do not walk in righteousness. We are to 'walk in the same way in which He walked' (2:6) and 'love the same way He loved' (3:16). This idea of us being His children draws vivid (and sometimes very humbling) moments of awe as I see myself interact with my own children. Just think; He never loses His temper with me, He never gives up on Me, His discipline of me is always perfectly fair and exactly what I need, and He constantly teaches me how to be a better follower. I see how wonderful my Father is by try (and failing) to be a father myself.
Thank You, Father, for your eternal patience with me. Even though I get caught up in my own little world, you walk with me and teach me how to be more like Jesus. I owe you my life. Today, I take up my cross, deny myself, and follow You. I can't wait to see You.
Ethan
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
1 John 2
Greetings and Good Morning!
Today we continue our Chapter Memory Study in the second chapter of the first epistle of John. The theme for 1 John is 'Abide in Him', and the acronym is 'ABIDE'. So for chapter 2 (the 'B') we have 3 sections that answer the question 'what are some ways that we can abide in Him?' By keeping His commandments, By not loving the world, and By avoiding antichrists.
The memory passage for 1 John 2 is:
1 John 2:3,6, 15-17, 22
3And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
6whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
15Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
22Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
I made a few changes in the outline of the first section by combining it with the second section (I say 'section' in reference to the the ESV pericope divisions). The ESV has a section for 1-6 and a separate one for 7-14. In my week of 'pre-study' and reading of this chapter, I noticed the unifying theme of the 'commandments'. Verse 3 gives the proof of knowing God as keeping His commandments, while vv7-8 discuss the commandment. Because there were 4 sections in the ESV (along with a difficult division at the end, which we'll get to), I decided to combine 1-14 in one section under 'By keeping His commandments'.
The only sacrifice I made by doing this is leaving out a doctrinally important theme in vv1-2; the role of Jesus as Advocate. John affectionately addresses his readers as 'my little children' and encourages them not to sin. But, knowing that they would, he also encourages them by saying that Jesus' grace will once again reach them. If (certainly when) we sin, we have an Advocate with the Father (the same word, paraclete, is used to describe Holy Spirit). Jesus is the only man to beat the flesh. He lived a sinless life, conquered life, conquered death, and now is our Advocate. Verse 2 is interesting. He is the propitiation (the satisfaction of the punishment on our behalf) for our sins.....AND for the sins of the whole world. Now this DOES NOT mean that everyone will be saved (universalism); which would clearly contradict the rest of Scripture. But it does raise an interesting question about salvation in regards to election and free will. I do not like that argument (even discussions about it are tedious), and so I have settled on a belief that they both must somehow (within the great mystery of God) work together. One must believe that there are some who are elect; whom God specifically chooses and draws to salvation. But you also see in Scripture a call for repentance to everyone (the 'whosoever' passages). So in my mind, at this time in my journey, I see room for election and room at the mercy seat for some to respond to His call (for either way, the calling and drawing must come from Him) and repent.
I know, that while attempting to reconcile both, I will anger both; but that is where I am at the moment. Lord, help me, help us all, to see the truth in what you have revealed and trust the mystery that you have not.
Ok, here we are all the way down here and I'm only on verse 3.
Now we get to the part I actually memorized; verses 3 and 6 which contain the main theme of the section; By keeping His commandments. The main idea here is that the proof of 'knowing Him' is that we actually pay attention and do what He told us to do. If we profess to know Him, but ignore His word and commandments, we are 'a liar, and the truth is not in [us]' (4). But if we keep His Word (5), the love of God (some say this our love for God, others say it is His love for us; both could apply) is perfected. It just makes sense; if you say you abide in Him (lit 'live' in Him) then you should act like Him more and more (6).
Continuing in the same section (1-14), John expands on these 'commandments'. It's not some new thing, it's the old thing that has been re-affirmed by Christ; love God ('knowing Him' from 3-6) and love others. These are the 2 greatest commandments that John probably heard Christ teach countless times. Vv 9-11 typify a style of John's that I have seen twice so far in this letter (also in 1 Jn 1:8-10); give an example, give the opposite of the example, then restate the original example. Here, the idea is that if you say you walk in the light but hate your brother, you actually walk in darkness. The proof of abiding in the light is that you love your brother.
The last part of the first section is intriguing. I probably won't be able to dig as deep into it as I'd like, so let me summarize. Most of the time when I have heard this passage referenced it has been in the context of spiritual maturity; little children are those who are young in the faith, young men are those who are growing and at the age of fighting, and fathers being more mature believers. The comfort in this is that we see a process; we are all in process. We are all on our way to growth and maturity. While some are a different places, we are all His children and He is waging war on the kingdom of darkness using all of us. But some commentators I've read have trouble with the sequence of this passage and thus have surmised that John must be talking about all of his readers in each case; merely with a different focus. As Children are forgiven and new to the faith. As fathers we begin to know God and His eternality. As young men we move to maturity and spiritual warfare. This would address the sequence, but I'm not sure I can read it that way yet.
The second section is very short (15-17) but tremendously profound. How can we abide in Him? By not loving the world. 'Do not love the world or the things in the world'. Very straight forward and direct. Basically, you can't love the world and God. Your heart will be divided and that is not what God wants; for Him or for us. The world and everything it has to offer will pass away ('it's all going to burn'), but those who abide in Him (by keeping His commandments and not loving the world) will abide forever. That's about as direct as it gets concerning worldliness and earthly ambition.
The third section deals with antichrists (18-29). How can we abide in Him? By avoiding antichrists. John warns that, even already in his time, antichrists (ones who where once with the apostles, but have since gone on their own way with their own false teaching) were misleading believers with deception and manipulation. Who are they? Those who deny that Jesus is the Christ (a common starting point for many cults, then and now) and who deny the Father and the Son. But John encourages them that they have Holy Spirit in them to teach and remind them of the truth. They do not need to listen to the false teachers (20-21). Then John has a section where he uses the word 'abide' 5 times (of the 67 times he uses it in his writings). In summary, he says 'go back to the basics that you heard from the beginning and let the Spirit abide in you and you abide in Him' (24-27).
The ESV (and many others) make a separation at v28 by combining it thematically with the beginning of chapter 3. Some claim that v28 is the 'main theme' of the body of John's letter. This theme basically gives a simultaneous warning and encouragement that we are to continue to abide in Him so that when He comes and we see Him as He is, we will not be ashamed. This is not a question of eternal condition, but of stewardship. By abiding in Him (being servants and stewards 1 Cor 4:1) we build on His foundation with the things that will last in eternity (1 Cor 3) and will be rewarded by Him in heaven. Again, the proof of righteousness and new birth is the practicing of His righteousness (keeping His commandments).
How do I know God better after studying this chapter?
Wow. I like this question (or some form of it), but talk about loaded. First, I don't see in this chapter a cruel task-Master wanting us to follow all of His rules. I see a loving Father who knows that His 'rules' (commandments) are what trains us in godliness and righteousness; He wants us to obey Him because He knows what is TRULY best for us. His advocacy is not just judicial, but relational; He walks with us and teaches us how to be more like Him. That's the point, isn't it? If we trust Him for salvation, follow Him in discipleship, and increase in knowing and abiding in Him, shouldn't the result be 'walking in the same way in which He walked'? Jesus is our Hero! And He has said that with Him in us, we can do what He did; EVEN GREATER!
Why don't I live that way?
Ethan
Today we continue our Chapter Memory Study in the second chapter of the first epistle of John. The theme for 1 John is 'Abide in Him', and the acronym is 'ABIDE'. So for chapter 2 (the 'B') we have 3 sections that answer the question 'what are some ways that we can abide in Him?' By keeping His commandments, By not loving the world, and By avoiding antichrists.
The memory passage for 1 John 2 is:
1 John 2:3,6, 15-17, 22
3And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
6whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
15Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
22Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
I made a few changes in the outline of the first section by combining it with the second section (I say 'section' in reference to the the ESV pericope divisions). The ESV has a section for 1-6 and a separate one for 7-14. In my week of 'pre-study' and reading of this chapter, I noticed the unifying theme of the 'commandments'. Verse 3 gives the proof of knowing God as keeping His commandments, while vv7-8 discuss the commandment. Because there were 4 sections in the ESV (along with a difficult division at the end, which we'll get to), I decided to combine 1-14 in one section under 'By keeping His commandments'.
The only sacrifice I made by doing this is leaving out a doctrinally important theme in vv1-2; the role of Jesus as Advocate. John affectionately addresses his readers as 'my little children' and encourages them not to sin. But, knowing that they would, he also encourages them by saying that Jesus' grace will once again reach them. If (certainly when) we sin, we have an Advocate with the Father (the same word, paraclete, is used to describe Holy Spirit). Jesus is the only man to beat the flesh. He lived a sinless life, conquered life, conquered death, and now is our Advocate. Verse 2 is interesting. He is the propitiation (the satisfaction of the punishment on our behalf) for our sins.....AND for the sins of the whole world. Now this DOES NOT mean that everyone will be saved (universalism); which would clearly contradict the rest of Scripture. But it does raise an interesting question about salvation in regards to election and free will. I do not like that argument (even discussions about it are tedious), and so I have settled on a belief that they both must somehow (within the great mystery of God) work together. One must believe that there are some who are elect; whom God specifically chooses and draws to salvation. But you also see in Scripture a call for repentance to everyone (the 'whosoever' passages). So in my mind, at this time in my journey, I see room for election and room at the mercy seat for some to respond to His call (for either way, the calling and drawing must come from Him) and repent.
I know, that while attempting to reconcile both, I will anger both; but that is where I am at the moment. Lord, help me, help us all, to see the truth in what you have revealed and trust the mystery that you have not.
Ok, here we are all the way down here and I'm only on verse 3.
Now we get to the part I actually memorized; verses 3 and 6 which contain the main theme of the section; By keeping His commandments. The main idea here is that the proof of 'knowing Him' is that we actually pay attention and do what He told us to do. If we profess to know Him, but ignore His word and commandments, we are 'a liar, and the truth is not in [us]' (4). But if we keep His Word (5), the love of God (some say this our love for God, others say it is His love for us; both could apply) is perfected. It just makes sense; if you say you abide in Him (lit 'live' in Him) then you should act like Him more and more (6).
Continuing in the same section (1-14), John expands on these 'commandments'. It's not some new thing, it's the old thing that has been re-affirmed by Christ; love God ('knowing Him' from 3-6) and love others. These are the 2 greatest commandments that John probably heard Christ teach countless times. Vv 9-11 typify a style of John's that I have seen twice so far in this letter (also in 1 Jn 1:8-10); give an example, give the opposite of the example, then restate the original example. Here, the idea is that if you say you walk in the light but hate your brother, you actually walk in darkness. The proof of abiding in the light is that you love your brother.
The last part of the first section is intriguing. I probably won't be able to dig as deep into it as I'd like, so let me summarize. Most of the time when I have heard this passage referenced it has been in the context of spiritual maturity; little children are those who are young in the faith, young men are those who are growing and at the age of fighting, and fathers being more mature believers. The comfort in this is that we see a process; we are all in process. We are all on our way to growth and maturity. While some are a different places, we are all His children and He is waging war on the kingdom of darkness using all of us. But some commentators I've read have trouble with the sequence of this passage and thus have surmised that John must be talking about all of his readers in each case; merely with a different focus. As Children are forgiven and new to the faith. As fathers we begin to know God and His eternality. As young men we move to maturity and spiritual warfare. This would address the sequence, but I'm not sure I can read it that way yet.
The second section is very short (15-17) but tremendously profound. How can we abide in Him? By not loving the world. 'Do not love the world or the things in the world'. Very straight forward and direct. Basically, you can't love the world and God. Your heart will be divided and that is not what God wants; for Him or for us. The world and everything it has to offer will pass away ('it's all going to burn'), but those who abide in Him (by keeping His commandments and not loving the world) will abide forever. That's about as direct as it gets concerning worldliness and earthly ambition.
The third section deals with antichrists (18-29). How can we abide in Him? By avoiding antichrists. John warns that, even already in his time, antichrists (ones who where once with the apostles, but have since gone on their own way with their own false teaching) were misleading believers with deception and manipulation. Who are they? Those who deny that Jesus is the Christ (a common starting point for many cults, then and now) and who deny the Father and the Son. But John encourages them that they have Holy Spirit in them to teach and remind them of the truth. They do not need to listen to the false teachers (20-21). Then John has a section where he uses the word 'abide' 5 times (of the 67 times he uses it in his writings). In summary, he says 'go back to the basics that you heard from the beginning and let the Spirit abide in you and you abide in Him' (24-27).
The ESV (and many others) make a separation at v28 by combining it thematically with the beginning of chapter 3. Some claim that v28 is the 'main theme' of the body of John's letter. This theme basically gives a simultaneous warning and encouragement that we are to continue to abide in Him so that when He comes and we see Him as He is, we will not be ashamed. This is not a question of eternal condition, but of stewardship. By abiding in Him (being servants and stewards 1 Cor 4:1) we build on His foundation with the things that will last in eternity (1 Cor 3) and will be rewarded by Him in heaven. Again, the proof of righteousness and new birth is the practicing of His righteousness (keeping His commandments).
How do I know God better after studying this chapter?
Wow. I like this question (or some form of it), but talk about loaded. First, I don't see in this chapter a cruel task-Master wanting us to follow all of His rules. I see a loving Father who knows that His 'rules' (commandments) are what trains us in godliness and righteousness; He wants us to obey Him because He knows what is TRULY best for us. His advocacy is not just judicial, but relational; He walks with us and teaches us how to be more like Him. That's the point, isn't it? If we trust Him for salvation, follow Him in discipleship, and increase in knowing and abiding in Him, shouldn't the result be 'walking in the same way in which He walked'? Jesus is our Hero! And He has said that with Him in us, we can do what He did; EVEN GREATER!
Why don't I live that way?
Ethan
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