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