Sermons by Art Davison

1st JOHN LESSON 4

SONSHIP AND THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH

Lesson: 1st John 4:1-21

I. SONSHIP AND THE DISCERNMENT OF ERROR. vs. 1-6

The Sons of God should be able to discern between “the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” v. 6. God has given his Word as a standard, and His Holy Spirit as a guide and teacher. If the Sons of God cannot tell the difference, then perhaps they are not sons, or they have not studied the Word and yielded to the Holy Spirit.

A. The Trying of False Prophets. v. 1

1. We are not to believe every spirit. v. 1a

2. We are to try the spirits. v. 1b; Isaiah 8:20, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

3. There are many false prophets. v. 1c.

a. Transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

b. Some shall depart from the faith, 1 Timothy 4:1, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” 2 Timothy 3:1-8; 4:3-4.

c. Be careful that you are not deceived, Matthew 24:4, “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.”

1) Men from our own ranks, Acts 20:30, “Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”

2) There shall be false teachers among us, 2 Peter 2:1, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

B. The Test for False Prophets. vs. 2-6

1. They are tested in relation to the doctrine of Christ. v. 2

a. They must confess that Jesus is the Christ, v. 2, “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:”

b. They must confess that “Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.” This verse is written in the perfect tense that indicates that He came in the flesh and continues to abide in the flesh. This is true; he abides in heaven.

2. Those who fail the test are of antichrist, v. 3a; 2 John 7, “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:”

3. The spirit of antichrist is already in the world. v. 3b; 2 Thessalonians 2:7, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.”

4. The Holy Spirit, who is greater than the spirit of antichrist, indwells the believer. v. 4.

a. We know that this is the Spirit of Truth, John 14:17, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

b. We know that we are of God, 1 John 5:19, “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”

c. We know that Antichrist is “the prince of the power of the air,” Ephesians 2:2, Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.

5. False teachers have a different source of knowledge. v. 5; Luke 16:8, “And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.”

6. Those who hear the true teachers and those who do not. v. 6. This explains why multitudes follow the false teachers of our day.

a. The world does not know Him, John 14:17, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

b. He indwells and comforts the believer, John 15:26, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.”

c. He guides the believer, John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

II. SONSHIP AND THE MANIFESTATION OF LOVE. vs. 7-16

A. Love is a Family Trait. vs. 7-8

1. We are to love one another because it is of God. v. 7. This does not mean that we are to love and fellowship with false prophets and teachers, for this would contradict verses 1-6.

2. Love is evidence of the new birth. v. 7; 1 John 5:1, “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.”

3. Lack of love gives evidence of NO new birth. v. 7; John 14:21, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”

4. God is…

a. “God is love.” v. 8, “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”

b. “God is a Spirit.” John 4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

c. “God is light.” I John 1:5, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

5. To know God means you have deep intimate relationship with Him, Ephesians 3:19, “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” Much that is called love today has no resemblance to the love of the Bible.

B. The Greatest Manifestation of Love. vs. 9-10

1. The greatest example of this love, was God’s love for man and for His Son, v. 9; John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

a. We “live through Him,” 1 John 4:9, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”

b. We live “for Him,” 2 Corinthians 5:15, “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

c. We live “with Him.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.”

2. The direction of this love. It came down from God. v. 10. Deuteronomy 7:7-8, “The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”

a. You were not chosen “because ye were more in number than any people.” Deuteronomy 9:4-6, “Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee. 5Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 6Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.”

b. But because the LORD loved you, Ephesians 2:4-5, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”

3. The result of this love. v. 10.

a. Propitiation is not man doing something to appease God, Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”

b. It is God doing something to make it possible for men to be forgiven, 1 John 3:1, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”

4. The Responsibility to Love, vs. 11-12

a. God’s love obligates us to love. v. 11. “God so loved” is the same expression as in John 3:16.

b. Love is not seeing God, but the manifestation of His indwelling us. v. 12; 1 John 2:5, “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.”

B. The Indwelling Presence of God and Love, v . 13-16

1. The Spirit testifies to a double indwelling. v. 13; Romans 8:16, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” Compare John 15:1-10.

2. The Spirit’s indwelling enables us to testify. v. 14; Acts 18:5, “And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.”

3. Confession that Jesus is the Son of God, is more than the recital of a creed. v. 15; vs. 2, “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.”

4. Love is a working force in our lives. v. 16.

a. “Oh how great is thy goodness,” Psalm 31:19, “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!”

b. Note David’s attitude, Psalm 18:1-2, “I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. 2The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler [shield], and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”

III. LOVE’S PERFECTION AND INCENTIVE TO LOVE, vs. 17-21

A. Love’s Perfection in Us. vs. 17-18

1. He makes our love mature. v. 17a.

a. If we love one another, v. 12, “No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.”

1) Evidence of salvation, “God dwelleth in us.”

2) His love matures in us, “his love is perfected in us.”

b. This love is the only evidence that the public may see regarding Jesus Christ in our lives, John 15:10, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”

2. This will help us face the judgment seat of Christ. v. 17b; 1 John 2:28, “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”

3. There is no fear in love. v. 18a; 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

4. Love casteth out fear. v. 18b.

a. Passed from death unto live, John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

b. No fear of condemnation, Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Our sins were judged on the cross.

5. Fear reveals immaturity. v. 18c, “He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

a. We have help, Romans 8:15, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

b. We have encouragement, Romans 8:35-39.

1) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? vs. 35-36, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

2) We are more than conquerors through him that loved us, vs. 37-39, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

B. The Greatest Incentive to Love. v. 19

1. The eternal sovereign love of God is the fountain of all that is good in us. v. 19, “We love him, because he first loved us.”

2. He loved us when we were unlovely. v. 19;

a. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived… Titus 3:3-7, “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

b. But Jesus Christ has “washed us from our sins in his own blood,” Revelation 1:5, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.”

“He did not wait till I loved Him,

But He loved me at my worst:

He needn’t ever have loved me at all,

If I could have loved Him first.”

C. The Brotherhood of Love. vs. 20-21

1. The man who is a liar. v. 20a

a. 1 John 1:6, “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:”

b. 1 John 1:8, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

c. 1 John 1:10, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

d. 1 John 2:4, “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

e. 1 John 2:22, “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.”

2. The unanswerable question. v. 20b, “for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”

3. The commandment of consistency. v. 21, “And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”

1. The command from God.

2. The proof of salvation is in loving your brother in the Lord.

1st JOHN LESSON 3

SONSHIP AND HOLY LIVING

Lesson: 1st John 3:1-24

Remember that I John falls into two divisions:

1. Fellowship: Walking in the Light, chapters 1-2;

2. Sonship: God is Love, chapters 3-5.

Here the Apostle magnifies the love of God in what He has done for us. He argues for holiness and against sin. He emphasizes love among the brethren and the blessings of obedience to the Lord.

I. RIGHTEOUS LIVING: THE EVIDENCE OF SONSHIP. vs. 1-10

A. God’s Love, An Incentive to Righteous Living. v. l

1. This section (vs. 1-10) is an expanded emphasis of 2:29, which speaks of doing righteousness.

2. God’s past work of bestowing His love. v. 1

3. It is pure grace that we are the sons of God. v. 1

4. “What manner” comes from a Greek adjective that expresses astonishment and admiration.

5. Sonship separates us from the unbelieving world.

B. The Second Coming an Incentive to Righteous Living. vs. 2-3

1. Our present standing–Sons of God. v. 2a

2. The uncertainty of our future standing. v. 2b. Some hints are given.

a. When Christ shall appear, Colossians 3:4, When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

b. Then shall the righteous shine, Matthew 13: 43, Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

c. I will that they also be with me where I am, John 17:24, Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

d. Heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, Romans 8:17, And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

e. They shall see his face, Revelation 22:4, And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

3. The certainty of our FUTURE STANDING, we shall be LIKE HIM. v. 2c.

a. Verse 1 tells us what we ARE.

b. Verse 2 tells us what we SHALL BE.

c. Verse 3 tells us what we SHOULD BE.

4. His coming and our change, a purifying hope. v. 3. Philippians 3:20-21, For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

a. For our citizenship is in heaven, Ephesians 2:19, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;”

b. The Lord Jesus Christ shall change our vile body, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

c. It will be fashioned like unto his glorious body, 1 Corinthians 15:53, “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

C. Salvation’s Intent Is Holy Living. vs. 4-5

1. Sin is the transgression of the law. v. 4. Let us look at the Bible definitions of sin….

a. Whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Romans 14:23, “And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

b. The thought of foolishness is sin, Proverbs 24:9a, “The thought of foolishness is sin:”

c. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. James 4:17, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

d. All unrighteousness is sin, 1 John 5:17).

e. Sin is a defilement (to make filthy or impure), I John 1:9-2:2.

2. Christ manifested to take away our sins. v. 5. This is the reason He died for our sins.

D. Sonship and Righteous Living. vs. 6-10

1. Abiding in Christ and the absence of sin. v. 6

a. Abiding in Him is the secret of righteous living. v. 6a. See John 15:4-10. (See notes on v. 9). See Romans 6:1-23

b. Sinning is the proof of non-abiding. v. 6b

2. Righteous living is the proof of sonship. v. 7a

3. Such righteousness is the family likeness. v. 7b

4. Such sinfulness is the family likeness. v. 8a

5. Sin is the continual mark of Satan’s character. v. 8b

6. Since Christ came to destroy the works of the devil, how can the sons of God do such works? v. 8c

7. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin. v. 9. In 1:8 and 2:1 we find that the child of God may sin. These verses are not in conflict with v. 9. There can only be two possible interpretations of v. 9.

a. The spiritual man that is born again cannot sin but the fleshly man can sin. John 3:6; I Peter 1:23, Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

b. The child of God cannot habitually sin. We believe that both interpretations are true. The born again nature cannot sin, but the flesh can, John 3:6, That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Romans 7:14-25. While the new nature cannot sin, the old nature can.

1) If the new nature is nurtured and followed, then it will overcome the old nature, Romans 7:17, “Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” To overcome sin, we must feed the new man (the spiritual man), with the Word of God.

2) We must also exercise the new man. I Timothy 4:7, But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

3) At the same time we must starve the old man, (the fleshly man), by not feeding him on the sinful things of this world, James 1:13-15, Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

8. How to distinguish the family of God from the family of the devil. v. 10, “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”

a. “Keepeth not His commandments,” 1 John 2:4, “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

b. A living sacrifice, Romans 12:1, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

c. He takes heed thereto [ His Life] according to the Word of God, Psalm 119:9-11, Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

II. BROTHERLY LOVE AND SONSHIP. vs. 11-18

A. Sonship and Love. vs. 11-15

1. We are to love our spiritual brothers. v. 11

2. Cain is an example of the devil’s children. v. 12;

a. Abel’s acceptance by God for the correct offering started this, Hebrews 11:4, By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

b. Cain chose to follow his own will instead of God’s Word, John 8:44, Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. Cain was not an atheist, but he pretended to be a believer by bringing an offering. His bloodless sacrifice and his hatred of his brother, both prove that he was a liar and a child of the devil.

3. God’s children are hated by the world IF they serve God, v. 13, “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.” John 15:18, If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

4. Love gives evidence of sonship. v. 14.

5. Hate gives evidence of relationship to Satan. v. 15, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” Matthew 5:21-26

B. The Evidence of Love. vs. 16-18

1. His love is an example of how our love should be. v. 16.

a. What God did for us, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

b. What we ought to do for our brethren, I John 3:16

2. The practical evidence of our love. v. 17. Galatians 6:10, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

3. Our love is to be in deed, not in word only. v. 18. James 2:15-16, If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Some love in tongue, but they do not love in deed and in truth.

III. SONSHIP AND ASSURANCE. vs. 19-24

A. The Nature of Assurance. vs. 19-21

1. Assurance depends on the practice of love.

a. Our heart persuades us, v. 19, “And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.”

b. Before you offer your best to the Lord, “be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Matthew 5:23-24, “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”

2. Love brings assurance to our hearts. v. 20; Romans 2:14-15, “For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)”

3. If our heart condemns us not, we have assurance from God. v. 21; 1 John 2:28, “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”

B. The Realization of Sonship. vs. 22-24

1. Answered prayer gives evidence of sonship. v. 22. Psalm 37:4, ”Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

2. We are to believe on His name. v. 23; John 6:29, “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” This means to believe all that His name implies His deity, His Saviourhood, etc.

3. Keeping His word gives evidence of sonship. v. 24a; John 14:20-23, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

4. His indwelling Spirit gives evidence of sonship. v. 24b; 1 John 4:13, “Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” Romans 8:14-16, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

1st JOHN LESSON 2

FELLOWSHIPPING IN THE LIGHT

Lesson: 1st John 2:1-29

Memory Verse: 1st John 2:15

Introduction:

A statement of the apostle that the great object which he had in writing to them was that they should not sin; and yet if they sinned, hey should not despair, for they had an Advocate with the Father who had made propitiation for the sins of the world, 1 John 2:1,2.

The evidence that we know God, or that we are his true friends, is to be found in the fact that we keep his commandments, 1 John 2:3-6.

1 John 2:7-11 deals with the law of love. The apostle says that what he had been saying in this respect was no new commandment, but was what they had always heard concerning the nature of the gospel; 1 John 2:7, Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Love for Christ is the basis for love among the brethren.

I. FELLOWSHIP AND THE PATTERN TO FOLLOW. vs. 1-14

A. Our Advocate and Fellowship. vs. 1-2

1. God does not give permission for His children to sin. v. 1

2. God has a plan to keep us from sin.

a. Walk in the light, I John 1:7, But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1) We have fellowship one with another.

2) The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.

b. Stay in the Word of God, Psalm 119:105, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalms 119:80, Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

c. Prove the things that be of more value, Philippians 1:10, That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.

d. Occupy yourself with the things of the Lord, Galatians 5:16, This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

3. God has made provision for us if we sin. v. 1. 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

4. God has provided an advocate to plead our case when we sin. v. 1. “Advocate” is elsewhere translated “comforter.” He represents us before God as a lawyer would represent us before a court. It is one who has been “summoned, called to one’s side, esp. called to one’s aid.”

5. God has provided propitiation for our sins. v. 2. Our sins separate us from a holy and unchanging God. Christ through his sacrificial blood has made satisfaction for the sins of every believing sinner. (God is NOT PACIFIED, but SATISFIED). See passages where the same or similar Greek words are translated “merciful,” “propitiation,” and “mercyseat.”

a. Merciful, Luke 18:13, And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. Hebrews 2:17, Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

b. Propitiation, I John 4:10, Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Romans 3:25, Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.

c. Mercyseat, the place of expiation, Hebrews 9:5, And over it the Cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

B. Our Obedience and Fellowship. vs. 3-6

1. Obedience is the test of fellowship. v. 3. John 14:15, If ye love me, keep my commandments.

2. Disobedience is the proof of non-fellowship. v. 4

3. Assurance comes through obedience. v. 5

4. The perfect example to follow. v. 6. If we follow this it will affect our home life.

a. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church.

Ephesians 5:25, Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

b. Husbands are to care for their wives as Christ cared for the church. Ephesians 5:29, For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

c. Wives are to submit to their husbands as the church submits to Christ. Ephesians 5:22-24, Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

C. Our Love and Fellowship. vs. 7-11

Love is the demonstration of fellowship. vs. 7-8.

a. The Lord, Deuteronomy 6:5, And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

b. Your neighbor, Leviticus 19:18, …Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself…

c. One another, John 13:34-35, A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Romans 13:8-10.

2. This does not mean that we must love false teachers. We are to:

a. Love those that walk after His commandments. II John 5-6

b. Love those who are not deceivers. II John 7

c. Love those that abide in the doctrine. II John 9-11

3. Hatred is the denial of fellowship. vs. 9-11.

a. Walk while ye have the light, John 12:35, Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

b. The way of the wicked, Proverbs 4:19, The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

c. The way of the saved, Ephesians 4:32, And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Colossians 3:13, Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

d. There are three Greek words for love. v. 9.

1) “Agape” the highest and most sublime kind of love.

2) “Philia” a friendship kind of love that is good, but not as sublime as “agape.”

3) “Eros,” a sensual lover from which we get the word “erotic.” “Eros” is not found at all in the New Testament.

e. Loving a brother in Christ produces wonderful results.

1) It causes us not to think evil. I Corinthians 13:5, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.

2) It covers a multitude of sins. I Peter 4:8, And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

3) It causes us to abide in the light. v. 10.

4) It causes us to keep others from stumbling. v. 10.

D. Our Maturity and Fellowship. vs. 12-14

1. All the saved are children of God and their sins are forgiven. v. 12

2. The fathers are older in spiritual things and in growth. vs. 13-14

3. The young men are growing in maturity and are overcoming. vs. 13-14

a. They have overcome the wicked one. vs. 13-14

b. They are strong. v. 14

c. The reason for their strength is the word of God abiding in them. v. 14

II. FELLOWSHIP AND THE PATH TO AVOID. vs. 15-29

A. We Are To Avoid Love For The World. vs. 15-17

“The world” in this passage refers to the invisible world and spiritual system that is opposed to God. I John 5:19, And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. John 12:31, Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. Philippians 3:20, For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. We are not to love this world system. v. 15.

a. In the past, Ephesians 2:2, Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.

b. Now we war against the rulers of the darkness of this world, Ephesians 6:12, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

c. We must hate evil, Psalm 97:10, Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

d. We must love in truth, Romans 12:9, Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

2. We are not to love the things of this world. v. 15. Matthew 4:8-9, Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

3. Love of the world shows that the love of the Father is not in us. v. 15.

4. The evil things of this world are not of the father. v. 16. The devil uses three things to trap Christians. Satan used all three to tempt Eve. Genesis 3:6, And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

a. The lust of the flesh refers to man’s fallen nature.

1) The Natural Man, I Corinthians 2:14, But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

2) The New Man, John 3:5-6, Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

3) The Self-aware Man, Romans 7:18, For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. John 6:63, It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

4) The Confident Man, Philippians 3:3, For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

b. The lust of the eyes, which is the window that lets in sin. Beware of opening the eye gate to feast on sin. Psalm 119:37, Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

c. The pride of life refers to the boastful pride of man.

1) The friendship of the world leads to being spotted by the world, James 4:4, Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. James 1:27, Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

2) The Christians is a non conformist, Romans 12:2, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

5. The things of this world pass away, but the things of God do not. v. 17. Nineteen world civilizations have existed and then perished. Ours will do the same.

B. We Are To Avoid the Apostates of This World. vs. 18-23

1. Antichrists are to increase in the last time. v. 18. II Peter 3:8-9, But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. We must distinguish between antichrists and the Antichrist.

a. All who in doctrine or practice, oppose Christ, are antichrists.

b. The Antichrist will be the person who reigns during the tribulation.

2. Apostates have departed from the truth, and will depart from a true Church if they cannot take it over. v. 19, Matthew 13:20-21, But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

3. God’s servants know the truth. vs. 20-21. Romans 8:9, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

4. Those who deny Christ’s deity are apostates. v. 22. John 10:30, I and my Father are one. John 5:23, That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

5. They CANNOT DENY the Son and have the Father. v. 23, II John 9, Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

C. We Are To Avoid Spiritual Seducers. vs. 24-29

1. We can avoid them by adhering to the truth. vs. 24-26.

a. The Devil is a liar and the father of it, John 8:44, Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

b. He is the deceitful One, II Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

2. We can avoid them by yielding to the indwelling Holy Spirit. vs. 27-29.

To abide means to remain in fellowship.

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. What is the meaning of “advocate”?

2. What is the meaning of “propitiation”?

3. How may believers be assured that they know God?

4. How should believers walk?

5. What did he say about one who hates his brother?

6. Why did he write to children, to fathers and to young men?

7. What did he say about love of the Father and the love of the world?

8. Is hatred compatible with fellowship? Why?

9. What is an antichrist?

10. Quote the memory verse.

1st  JOHN LESSON 1

THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN LIFE

1st JOHN 1:1-10

Memory Verse: 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Introduction:

“The Spirit used the Apostle John to give us the Gospel of John, three epistles, and the Book of the Revelation. These three works complement each other and give to us a full picture of the Christian life.” —Warren Wiersbe

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God….” 2 Timothy 3:15. This of course includes 1, 2, and 3 John, as well as the rest of the 66 books of our Bible. No Bible believer that we know of, doubts that God used the apostle John to write these epistles as well as the Gospel of John and Revelation.

It is generally accepted that this epistle was written about 90 A.D.

John gives at least five purposes for writing this epistle:

1. That we might have fellowship, 1 John 1:3, 6,7. Fellowship has to do with communion with Christ and not union with Christ. Our sonship relationship with God never changes but our fellowship does change.

2. That we might have joy, 1:4. The word “joy” is used only here, but the blessing of joy is seen throughout the entire letter. Joy is the result of a close fellowship with Christ.

3. That we might not sin, 2:1-2. The penalty for sin was paid at the cross for the believer, but the power of sin is still a problem. First John explains how we may have victory over sin and how to get forgiveness when we do sin.

4. That we might overcome error, 2:26. John was facing the false teaching of his day just as we face false teachers today (2 Peter 2). Several errors are refuted in 1 John and we will try to note some of them as we study.

5. That we might have assurance, 5:13. First John is not an easy book to outline as there are parallel lines of truth interwoven in the book that constantly reappear. There are three main ideas of conflict evident: light vs. darkness, love vs. hatred, and truth vs. error.

The book of I John falls into two divisions:

1. Fellowship: “God Is Light,” chapters 1 and 2;

2. Sonship: “God Is Love,” chapters 3-5. In the first two chapters the key verse is “God is light,” 1:5; the key word is: “fellowship,” 1:3, 6, 7.

The key thought is: Light cannot fellowship with darkness.

I. THE CAUSE OF FELLOWSHIP, vv. 1-4

A. The Incarnation and Eternal Life, vv. 1-2.

1. Christ had no beginning, v. 1; 2:22; 4:2-3; John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

2. John had HEARD, SEEN, and HANDLED Christ, v. 1. This REFUTES the Gnostic claim that Christ was not really human, and did not have a human body, Luke 24:39, “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.”

3. Christ is the WORD of LIFE, v. 1; John 1:1-2, 14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:4, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

4. Christ was MANIFESTED through His INCARNATION, v. 2; 1 Timothy 3:16, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

5. John was a WITNESS to eternal life and ITS SOURCE, v. 2; John 17:3, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

6. John EXPERIENCED this eternal life, v. 2; John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

7. John wrote this epistle telling people HOW TO BE SURE they have this eternal life, 1 John 5:4-13.

B. The Incarnation and Fellowship, vs. 3-4.

1. The BASIS of fellowship is RELATIONSHIP, v. 3; 2 Peter 1:4, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

2. Relationship BASED upon RECEPTION of the RIGHT message: Fellowship is with the Father and with the Son, v. 3.

3. One PURPOSE of this epistle, v. 4; Philippians 2:2, “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” Psalm 16:11, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” John 15:11, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

II. THE CONDITIONS OF FELLOWSHIP, vs. 5-10

A. We Must Walk in the Light, vs. 5-8.

1. We must have the RIGHT CONCEPT of God, v. 5, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

a. God DWELLS IN the light [righteousness], 1 Timothy 6:16, “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.”

b. Man in his NATURAL state HATES THE LIGHT, John 3:20-21, “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

c. Compare John 3:19, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

2. Our life must be SEPARATED from sin, v. 6. Many professing Christians talk the talk, but do not walk the walk, Amos 3:3, ”Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” 1 John 2:4, “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

3. We must CLAIM the CLEANSING POWER of Christ’s sacrifice from our DAILY SINS of defilement, v. 7.

a. If we walk in the light… [Righteousness—all sin confessed] Romans 6:18, “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

b. We have fellowship one with another… [True communion].

c. The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us… [This is antidote and defense against sin’s presence and power over us].

4. We must RECOGNIZE the PRESENCE of the OLD NATURE, v. 8. We must not lie about our sins, 1 John 1:10, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

B. We Must Confess Our Sins, vs. 9-10.

1. True confession involves REPENTANCE, v. 9; Proverbs 28:13, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

a. David tried to cover his sins (adultery and murder), and he lost his health and his joy, Psalm 32:3-4, “When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.”

b. David lose the joy of salvation, Psalm 51:12, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”

2. SIN is a part of our OLD NATURE, and IF NOT CONFESSED it will BREAK fellowship with God, Romans 6:6, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

3. True confession will bring CLEANSING, v. 9; Ephesians 5:26, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.”

4. We must ACKNOWLEDGE our sin or we make Him a liar, v. 10, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

a. This is not acknowledging that we are sinners, but rather, that we have UNCONFESSED SIN, Psalm 32:5, “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.”

b. We make Him a LIAR, 1 John 5:10, “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.”

CONCLUSION

This chapter deals a deadly blow to the heresy Of Antinomianism. “The Antinomian…holds that, since Christ’s obedience and sufferings have satisfied the demands of the law, the believer is free from obligation to observe it.” —A. H. Strong

While we do not obey God’s moral law to be saved, we do seek to obey it because we are saved. Note the phrase “If we say” in vs. 6, 8, 10. Notice the three “liars” described in these verses:

1. Lying about FELLOWSHIP, vs. 6-7.

2. Lying about OUR NATURE, v. 8.

3. Lying about OUR DEEDS, v. 10.

There is a difference between saying and living. Too many Christians have good things to say about their walk with God, but their lives say something different. It is sad that some talk about spiritual things, but who do not practice them.