"For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." 1 John 2:16-17
For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Websters dictionary defines lust as "a passionate or overmastering desire or craving; to crave, hunger, covet, yearn." Many times we as humans hear "lust" and automatically think of something sexual. The truth is, though, that to lust after something is to unhealthily desire it above everything else--sometimes to the point of obsession. It is that unhealthy covetousness, that unhealthy hunger that leads us away from the Lord; it is that innate desire in our flesh that the enemy of our souls uses relentlessly to separate us from Christ. He even used the same tactics on the Lord to tempt Him when He went to the desert for 40 days:
First, the lust of the flesh: "The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." (Luke 4:3) Christ, being fully man and still fully God rebutted this temptation in verse 4 "Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.' "
Second, the lust of the eyes: "And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours." (Luke 4:6-7) Again, the Lord answered him, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.' "
Finally, the pride of life: "The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 'If you are the Son of God,' he said, 'throw yourself down from here. For it is written: '"He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." ' " (Luke 4:9-11) And Jesus answered his temptation again, " 'It says: "Do not put the Lord your God to the test." ' "
These three categories represent the three areas in our lives where we are tempted. Every temptation we face falls into one of these three categories. And Christ walked through every temptation we face without sinning. Hebrews 2:17-18 tells us that "For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."
Every time Christ rebutted a temptation, he rebutted with scripture. Though he could have done anything he wanted to rebutt or withstand the devil, he chose to withstand by the Word. Why? Why didn't he simply command the devil to "get behind me." as he does later in Matthew 16:23? I believe he is demonstrating the most powerful way of keeping the enemy at bay...and what is that? Know the Word. Use the Word as a weapon; it is our sword. It is our only offensive weapon against attack. What Christ Jesus resisted, we must resist also, and in the same manner. Succombing or submitting to those temptations removes us from teh presence of the Lord...because sins and lusts are not of God, they are of the world.
And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever
Here is that world "lust" again, giving us even more proof that lust is not of God. Every time it is used, it is used in a negative or worldly connotation. Therefore lust cannot be of God--because nothing of God is negative and the things of this world are not godly.
Let's look at this phrase "but he who does the will of God abides forever" and ask ourselves this question: what is the will of God? Individually it may vary. God may will Johnny to get married, and will Billy to remain single. But corporately or generally, God's will falls within the score of 3 criterion or precepts.
1. Love the Lord Deut 6:5 tells us that "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."
2. Love one another. Matt 19:19 instructs us "honor your father and mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself."
3. Make disciples Mark 16:15-18 instructs "And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved ; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. These signs will accompany those who have believed : in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
It is God's will that we love Him, love one another, and bring others to Christ. That is the work of God. That is what will give us eternal life, what will allow us to abide forever. John 6:28-29 tells us what the work of God is, and it is so simple that it will blow your mind. "Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God ? Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."
Friends, we aren't called to work our way into heaven. "Good works" are an impossibility outside of salvation through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. We are not able, of our own volition or ability, to save ourselves or even protect ourselves from temptation. Jesus displayed this for us in his own temptation. He did not use His own power or ability which is much greater than our own. He used the Word of God to overcome the lusts of this world. And so must we, for to know the Word, to abide in the Word, and use it against the evil one is our only offensive weapon.
One day our struggle with lust will end and all we will have left is eternity--either in His presence or out of His presence. It is God's will that we abide with Him forever, and how do we do that? By doing His work. And what is His work: "Believe in Him whom He has sent."
Friday, September 26, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
I just think this is so wrong
So, part of my job at work is to come up with designs for our future merchandise. This means I am constantly browsing the web for new ideas, constantly looking for new fonts, new clip art, that sort of thing. Well, I was on a free clip art website the other day, looking for new fonts that I could possibly use for some designs. And I'm scrolling through, and I see these sexually charged "ding" fonts--which are basically pictures that appear when you type (like the wingding font on most PC versions of word). This is a free website; these are free fonts that a child could easily access, and while that child is looking for a really neat font to make a poster for a school project or something of the like, he or she comes across a font that has letters in the shapes of male genitals or pictures of people in the middle of sexual activities or pictures of women making provocative gestures.
I felt absolutely violated and dirty and I cringe at the thought that some innocent child is very likely to come across these depraved pictures. I'm not shocked because I have seen the degradation of society increase exponentially in my lifetime, but I am still quite outraged at the idea. I have two little brothers who are seven and three respectively, and I shudder at the thought that they might be exposed to this one day. Not to mention the fact that my sister is expecting her first child and that child might one day come into contact with kind of base and amoral crap.
The saddest and most enraging part of this is that the people who designed these fonts probably did not take one moment's pause, one second to consider the consequences of their actions. They probably simply thought that letters made out of male genitalia would be funny. Well, I have news for those people, should they ever read this blog: It isn't funny. It is disgusting and terribly, terribly wrong.
I felt absolutely violated and dirty and I cringe at the thought that some innocent child is very likely to come across these depraved pictures. I'm not shocked because I have seen the degradation of society increase exponentially in my lifetime, but I am still quite outraged at the idea. I have two little brothers who are seven and three respectively, and I shudder at the thought that they might be exposed to this one day. Not to mention the fact that my sister is expecting her first child and that child might one day come into contact with kind of base and amoral crap.
The saddest and most enraging part of this is that the people who designed these fonts probably did not take one moment's pause, one second to consider the consequences of their actions. They probably simply thought that letters made out of male genitalia would be funny. Well, I have news for those people, should they ever read this blog: It isn't funny. It is disgusting and terribly, terribly wrong.
Monday, September 8, 2008
This thing that starts with "C"
It's an ugly enemy, this thing that starts with "C"
One of many tragic repurcussions
The comeuppance for our quest for knowledge
The recompence for thinking ourselves gods
The payment for our rebellion at the Fall
How could they have known?
~
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Is knowledge really worth the price of this thing that starts with "C"?
A physical affirmation of mankind's spiritual state
Corrosive, destructive, leperous--
Eating away at the flesh like sin at the soul.
It afflicts even those who are upright,
Sucking vitality from the marrow
Stealing health from the bones.
Snatching away precious time with those we love.
~
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A painful judgment is this thing that starts with "C"
Atrocious, abhorrent, abominable--
Unrelentingly voracious
Even the pure in heart cannnot escape its clutches.
Even the merciful find no mercy from its grasp.
A vice grip - vicious, vulturine, and vile,
It mars the proud and meek alike.
It molders the guilty and the innocent.
Steals mothers from their children, and children from their mothers
Murders fathers, sisters, brothers, friends
Without thought or conscience.
~
Where is the justice in this retribution?
The wages of original sin is death...
This I well know, for I have witnessed this thing that starts with "C"
Ransack the bodies of several whom I love
"Tis justice for the pride in Eden's pair
Who sought godship in a fruit,
but found depravity in its stead
And poured out man's mortality on all who came after.
~
~
Is there any way to escape this thing that starts with "C"?
If only Eve had not been tempted
If only Adam had not partaken would this "C" not be.
But if there had never been a Fall would there be a "me"?
A "me" to sit here with my pen and pad lamenting
This thing that starts with "C"?
Friday, September 5, 2008
Put on Christ and Prepare to be Hated
Eighth Installment of the 1John study
I know that I typically use 2-4 verses per study, but I got so deep into this verse that posting more would have made this installment far too long. So, we're really going to sink our teeth into this one verse and explore some truths and concepts that branch out from it.
"Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1John 2:15
What we love and care about is made evident in the way we act and speak. If our lives are lived enjoying and promoting the things of the world (the lusts of the flesh) over the things of the Lord (the fruit of the Spirit) then we do not truly walk in Christ's love. It is impossible for us to be devoted Christians if we are devoted to the things of the world. If we are compulsive liars, we cannot love the Father because lies are not of God. If we are full of hatred, we cannot love the Father because hatred is not of God. (and so on and so forth.) If we live to gratify our flesh we are not able to live our lives to please the Lord. Let's look at some scripture to support this.
"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." Luke 4:13 Though this is speaking about money, the principle applies to every aspect of life. You cannot serve the Lord fully if your loyalties are split between Him and the world. It is an impossibility.
"For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double minded man, unstable in all his ways." James 1:7-8. This text is in the middle of a passage about people who have faith one moment and are given over to doubt the next. If a person cannot decide between believing the Lord or doubting him...if a person cannot decide between living this way or living that way, all of his choices will be unbalanced. He will not be stable; rather he will blow about with the wind. And how can a man blown about by the wind be devoted to the Lord--or anything else for that matter? A person with split loyalties cannot appease or serve or be devoted to one thing or the other. Neither can a man with no loyalties, for he will do what gratifies him most in that moment. Both men are unstable in every action they take.
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21 If we treasure the things of the world, we will be devoted to the world. But, if we treasure the things of the Lord, we will be devoted to the Lord. Another way of saying this is: "You will desire or long for the things to which you are devoted." A drug addict is devoted to feeding his addiction, therefore he longs for the drug. We, as Christians, ought to be so devoted to the Lord that we long for Him...for His presence to be continually in our lives.
"Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh." James 3:11-12. The water that naturally comes out of humanity is bitter--filled with all the sins of the world since the fall in the Garden. Only God's water is naturally sweet, and only the people that allow God to move through them are able to be fountains of fresh, sweet water.
"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:18-19. This is evidence that the world hates the things of God. The world does not understand the Lord, therefore the world hates people who are of the Lord. And why? Because one is Spirit and the other is flesh. The two are diametrically opposed. They cannot peacefully exist in the same place. They will always strive and war against one another. If we are in Christ, living as we ought to live, the world will hate us because it hated Christ. But, if we live like the world we will come to despise the Lord (and those who love the Lord). Remember, we cannot please God and mammon. We cannot serve the Lord and simultaneously gratify our flesh. The two will fight until one side or the other is victorious.
"I say then: Walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit aganist the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." Gal 5:16-18
But how do we know if we are in the world or Christ? By our attitude. Human beings are as trees, bearing the fruit of their lives. As human trees we either bear good fruit or bad fruit. We bear either the works of the flesh (which is the bad fruit) or the fruit of the spirit (which is the good fruit). Galations 5:19-26 explains those two fruits to us.
Works of the Flesh: "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Gal 5:19-21
Fruit of the Spirit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." Gal 5:22-23
But how do we ensure that we produce the Fruit of the Spirit instead of the works of the flesh? The answer to that is in the verses following: And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." Gal 5:24-26
In Galations 2:20, Paul tells us "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." To walk in the Spirit is to crucify the flesh. To walk in the flesh is to crucify the Spirit. But if we put on Christ, put on the nature of Christ, then we are made like him and walk in his footsteps.
"And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts." Romans 13:11-14. So we see that the only way to escape the world and escape the things of the world is to put on Christ that we might take on His nature and bear the fruit of the Spirit. And the reason that Christ was able to walk on this earth untainted by its lust and sins is because He abided in the Father and loved the Father unconditionally. He was also completely submitted to the Father's will, and it was that love and submission that enabled Him to remain pure in the face of every temptation. (Heb 4:15)
So, let us crucify the flesh and put on Christ (who loved and was submitted to the Father) to escape the works of the flesh. But we must remember that in so doing, the world will grow to hate us because it hates what it does not understand, and it cannot understand the things of the Lord because the things of the Lord are contrary to the things of the world. However, if we choose to love the things of the world, we have chosen not to love the Father. And friends, that is a very scary place to be, because one day the Lord will judge those who rejected him...and that judgment will be far worse than hatred from folks who lack understanding. So, although the hatred is difficult to endure now, it is better to endure the temporary judgement of man than to endure the eternal judgment of God.
Put on Christ, friends, and prepare to be hated.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
To Do Right or To Be Right...That is the question
Hey guys, this is going to be a short blog, and it will depart from the 1John study I've posted here.
The last couple of days the Lord has really been hammering home the fact that it is better to DO right than to BE right. Think about that for a second. It is better to DO right than to BE right. This applies to life in general, but should really hit home to us Christians. You can be right about something, but you can mishandle your rightness. In so doing, you alienate the very people who should be positively impacted by said rightness.
For example: let's say you're having a debate about how many animals Noah took on the ark. The person you are debating says "two of each kind." But you open up your Bible to Genesis 7:2 and say, "You stupid idiot. Anyone who really knows the Word knows that he took "seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female; also seven each of birds of the air, male and female." (Genesis 7:2).
In this instance your knowledge is right; you answered the debate correctly. But your behavior is wrong. You are right, but you do the wrong thing, and because your behavior is wrong you drive away someone with whom you could share, someone to whom you could have communicated the love or truth of God. But because you did not act in love...because you were self-righteous and arrogant, your correct answer is overshadowed by your incorrect behavior.
Oh, friends...let us always strive to DO right whether we are right or wrong, but especially when we are right. James 3:11-12 tells us that sweet water and bitter water cannot flow from the same spring. May our prayer be "Lord, may we be wells of sweet water that bubble up and flow out to the lost and dying."
If we DO right always, we will be less obnoxious and more loving when we ARE right. After all, there is nothing more poisonous to God's sweet, loving, living water than the self-righteousness of those whom He has appointed to pour it out.
The last couple of days the Lord has really been hammering home the fact that it is better to DO right than to BE right. Think about that for a second. It is better to DO right than to BE right. This applies to life in general, but should really hit home to us Christians. You can be right about something, but you can mishandle your rightness. In so doing, you alienate the very people who should be positively impacted by said rightness.
For example: let's say you're having a debate about how many animals Noah took on the ark. The person you are debating says "two of each kind." But you open up your Bible to Genesis 7:2 and say, "You stupid idiot. Anyone who really knows the Word knows that he took "seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female; also seven each of birds of the air, male and female." (Genesis 7:2).
In this instance your knowledge is right; you answered the debate correctly. But your behavior is wrong. You are right, but you do the wrong thing, and because your behavior is wrong you drive away someone with whom you could share, someone to whom you could have communicated the love or truth of God. But because you did not act in love...because you were self-righteous and arrogant, your correct answer is overshadowed by your incorrect behavior.
Oh, friends...let us always strive to DO right whether we are right or wrong, but especially when we are right. James 3:11-12 tells us that sweet water and bitter water cannot flow from the same spring. May our prayer be "Lord, may we be wells of sweet water that bubble up and flow out to the lost and dying."
If we DO right always, we will be less obnoxious and more loving when we ARE right. After all, there is nothing more poisonous to God's sweet, loving, living water than the self-righteousness of those whom He has appointed to pour it out.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Life happens in Three's
“I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.” 1John 2:12-14
In these three verses, John addresses three different types of Christians. I use the word “types” loosely, as John is speaking to different maturity levels in Christians, stating the purpose of the epistle for each “type” of Christian: little children (spiritual babies), fathers (the spiritually mature), and young men (the bold and brave – or the spiritual teenagers who usually leap before they think about the jump).
Each “type” is addressed twice. In Hebrew, the number two means “witness.” Another way of looking at that is that John is repeating himself, basically saying, “Hey, listen up. I’m talking to you for different reasons. Pay attention, will you?!” The only “type” of person repeated verbatim is the group known as the “fathers” (which is the spiritually mature.)
We will also find that each group relies more heavily on a separate aspect of the tri-un Godhead. "Little Children" rely on the Father. "Fathers" rely on Christ. "Young Men" rely on the Spirit. And now, let's break it down.
I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.
Typically, little children are innocent; they have not been spoiled by experience and knowledge. They are ignorant to the perils and evils of the world. They live their lives blindly trusting their parents to guide them, care for them, provide for them. Little children do not understand right from wrong until they are taught what right is and what wrong is. “For where there is no law, there is no transgression.” Romans 4:15b. A sin is not a sin if there is no knowledge of sin.
The word tells us that we were given the law, not to demonstrate our righteousness, but to demonstrate our sinfulness. If we were never given the Ten Commandments, and the Levitical Law, we would not know that it was wrong to lie, steal, cheat, kill, etc. And so, God forgives the spiritual babies, not for their righteousness’ sake, but to display the goodness of his own name. And why? Because the spiritual babies have not learned enough to know that they are breaking the law. And to display that this life is not about us; this life is about the Lord and our need to place our complete trust in Him.
I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
John establishes the father’s dependence on someone wiser than the “spiritually mature.” Who is this someone? Christ. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” John 1:1-2. As fathers are wise and lead their families, their dependence on one wiser is a prerequisite. Knowing Christ, who is wiser than the spiritually mature, enables them to lead with wisdom.
I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one.
In the original Greek, the word “overcome” literally means subdued. So, these “strong, brave” men and women of faith have not only overcome the wicked one, but they have subdued him in the process. But how did they overcome? The answer is: the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enables us to overcome and subdue and have victory. If we do not walk by the Spirit, we do not walk in Christ’s purpose for our lives; therefore, we do not have victory. The young men are strong, valiant, brave, etc…but they are victorious only when they walk/battle in the Spirit. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2Cor 10:3-5
If they are outside of God’s will, if they war according to the flesh, if they lean on their own abilities and understanding instead of the Lord’s, they cannot succeed. John is commending them for being “in Christ” and walking, not according to the flesh, but according to the spirit. “For as many as are led by the Spirit, these are the sons of God.” Rom 8:14
I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father.
It is enough for the little children that they have a daddy; they don’t need to understand him. This is all they need to make them content, safe, secure: to know the Father. Know him and their needs are met. Know him and they are protected and cared for. Know him, come to him, rest in him and they want for nothing else. And this is what the Lord wants from us: to come unto him simply because he is the Father so that we might be blessed by His touch and His presence. “Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, ‘Let the little children come unto Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.’ And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.” Mark 10:13-16. (Cross reference the same story in Matt 19:13-16, and Luke 18:15-17).
I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
This copies the first address almost verbatim. John changes the “little children” address and the “young men” address slightly, but this charge is verbatim. The only change he makes is in the first phrase. Initially, he wrote: “I write to you,” (this denotes a present tense.) The second time he wrote: “I have written to you,” (this denotes a past tense. It is almost as if John is saying, “I have written to you in the past, and I write to you now for the same reason: because you have known Him who is from the beginning. My reason for writing you has not changed.” To me, this seems like John is screaming “Pay Attention, will you! I wrote to you in the past and I write to you now because you know there is one who is wiser and smarter, and more lasting than you; the eternal God, Christ Jesus. All things are known to him, and to know him is your greatest wisdom. And I’m writing because you know Him." John doesn’t write the spiritually mature to display that his wisdom or his words are even more mature or more wise than theirs. He doesn’t write this letter in selfishness or pride. He writes these spiritual elders because they understand there is one greater, wiser, more lasting than themselves. It is their acknowledgment of this that makes them mature and wise.
I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.
In this final charge, John lists three reasons why he has written the “young men.” Let’s look at each reason individually.
1. Because you are strong. So, John writes to the strength of these young men. What is their strength, though, that he should write to them? The Lord is their strength. He is the one who enables them to be strong because they put their faith in Him.
“The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Ps 27:1b
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him and I am helped” Ps 28:7
“The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” Ps 118:14
2. The word of God abides in you. John writes to them because the Word abides in them. And, what is the word but Christ Jesus? John 1:1 tells us that the Word was in the beginning with God, and John 1:14 tells us that the word became flesh and dwelled on earth. John writes them because the Word abides in them. “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing…If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you…as the Father loved me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” John 15:4-5, 7, 9-10
Webster’s definition of abide is this: to remain; continue; stay. To have one’s abode; dwell; reside. To continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship. To endure, sustain, or withstand without yielding or submitting. To wait for. (And my personal favorite) To accept without opposition or question.
The Lord desires us to make our residence in Him, to endure, to continue in Him, to accept Him without opposition or question. If we abide in Him, He will abide in us. We will know Him as He knows us, as the Father has known Him. These “young men” were abiding in Christ; that was why they were strong, why they were brave, because Christ was their habitation. What a beautiful promise, that we will be strong and brave if we abide in Him!
3. You have overcome the wicked one. This is how they overcame: the Lord was their strength and they dwelled in him. They had not power of their own to overcome, but they were victorious because they trusted in the Lord. 1John 5:5 says this about those who overcome: “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
Friends, if we believe in Christ Jesus as the Son of God and Savior of the world, then we fit into one of these three categories. We are either “spiritual newborns” who need only the assurance that our Father loves us and cares for us, or we are “spiritual elders” who have come to the realization that the one who is eternal is in control and thus we have no reason to fear or stress, or we are “spiritual youths” who stand tall and brave and fight with the able bodies and strength with which the Lord has blessed us.
Life Happens in Threes: infancy, youth, and maturity.
In whatever category we reside, the most important thing for us to know is that trusting the Lord is the only victorious course of action. So, Trust the Father, who will supply your every need. Trust Jesus Christ, the one through whom all things were made and established. Trust the Spirit to lead and guide you in your warfare against the enemy of your soul. Trust that the Trinity is the only thing in the world worth trusting in.
In these three verses, John addresses three different types of Christians. I use the word “types” loosely, as John is speaking to different maturity levels in Christians, stating the purpose of the epistle for each “type” of Christian: little children (spiritual babies), fathers (the spiritually mature), and young men (the bold and brave – or the spiritual teenagers who usually leap before they think about the jump).
Each “type” is addressed twice. In Hebrew, the number two means “witness.” Another way of looking at that is that John is repeating himself, basically saying, “Hey, listen up. I’m talking to you for different reasons. Pay attention, will you?!” The only “type” of person repeated verbatim is the group known as the “fathers” (which is the spiritually mature.)
We will also find that each group relies more heavily on a separate aspect of the tri-un Godhead. "Little Children" rely on the Father. "Fathers" rely on Christ. "Young Men" rely on the Spirit. And now, let's break it down.
I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.
Typically, little children are innocent; they have not been spoiled by experience and knowledge. They are ignorant to the perils and evils of the world. They live their lives blindly trusting their parents to guide them, care for them, provide for them. Little children do not understand right from wrong until they are taught what right is and what wrong is. “For where there is no law, there is no transgression.” Romans 4:15b. A sin is not a sin if there is no knowledge of sin.
The word tells us that we were given the law, not to demonstrate our righteousness, but to demonstrate our sinfulness. If we were never given the Ten Commandments, and the Levitical Law, we would not know that it was wrong to lie, steal, cheat, kill, etc. And so, God forgives the spiritual babies, not for their righteousness’ sake, but to display the goodness of his own name. And why? Because the spiritual babies have not learned enough to know that they are breaking the law. And to display that this life is not about us; this life is about the Lord and our need to place our complete trust in Him.
I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
John establishes the father’s dependence on someone wiser than the “spiritually mature.” Who is this someone? Christ. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” John 1:1-2. As fathers are wise and lead their families, their dependence on one wiser is a prerequisite. Knowing Christ, who is wiser than the spiritually mature, enables them to lead with wisdom.
I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one.
In the original Greek, the word “overcome” literally means subdued. So, these “strong, brave” men and women of faith have not only overcome the wicked one, but they have subdued him in the process. But how did they overcome? The answer is: the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enables us to overcome and subdue and have victory. If we do not walk by the Spirit, we do not walk in Christ’s purpose for our lives; therefore, we do not have victory. The young men are strong, valiant, brave, etc…but they are victorious only when they walk/battle in the Spirit. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2Cor 10:3-5
If they are outside of God’s will, if they war according to the flesh, if they lean on their own abilities and understanding instead of the Lord’s, they cannot succeed. John is commending them for being “in Christ” and walking, not according to the flesh, but according to the spirit. “For as many as are led by the Spirit, these are the sons of God.” Rom 8:14
I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father.
It is enough for the little children that they have a daddy; they don’t need to understand him. This is all they need to make them content, safe, secure: to know the Father. Know him and their needs are met. Know him and they are protected and cared for. Know him, come to him, rest in him and they want for nothing else. And this is what the Lord wants from us: to come unto him simply because he is the Father so that we might be blessed by His touch and His presence. “Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, ‘Let the little children come unto Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.’ And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.” Mark 10:13-16. (Cross reference the same story in Matt 19:13-16, and Luke 18:15-17).
I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
This copies the first address almost verbatim. John changes the “little children” address and the “young men” address slightly, but this charge is verbatim. The only change he makes is in the first phrase. Initially, he wrote: “I write to you,” (this denotes a present tense.) The second time he wrote: “I have written to you,” (this denotes a past tense. It is almost as if John is saying, “I have written to you in the past, and I write to you now for the same reason: because you have known Him who is from the beginning. My reason for writing you has not changed.” To me, this seems like John is screaming “Pay Attention, will you! I wrote to you in the past and I write to you now because you know there is one who is wiser and smarter, and more lasting than you; the eternal God, Christ Jesus. All things are known to him, and to know him is your greatest wisdom. And I’m writing because you know Him." John doesn’t write the spiritually mature to display that his wisdom or his words are even more mature or more wise than theirs. He doesn’t write this letter in selfishness or pride. He writes these spiritual elders because they understand there is one greater, wiser, more lasting than themselves. It is their acknowledgment of this that makes them mature and wise.
I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.
In this final charge, John lists three reasons why he has written the “young men.” Let’s look at each reason individually.
1. Because you are strong. So, John writes to the strength of these young men. What is their strength, though, that he should write to them? The Lord is their strength. He is the one who enables them to be strong because they put their faith in Him.
“The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Ps 27:1b
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him and I am helped” Ps 28:7
“The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” Ps 118:14
2. The word of God abides in you. John writes to them because the Word abides in them. And, what is the word but Christ Jesus? John 1:1 tells us that the Word was in the beginning with God, and John 1:14 tells us that the word became flesh and dwelled on earth. John writes them because the Word abides in them. “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing…If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you…as the Father loved me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” John 15:4-5, 7, 9-10
Webster’s definition of abide is this: to remain; continue; stay. To have one’s abode; dwell; reside. To continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship. To endure, sustain, or withstand without yielding or submitting. To wait for. (And my personal favorite) To accept without opposition or question.
The Lord desires us to make our residence in Him, to endure, to continue in Him, to accept Him without opposition or question. If we abide in Him, He will abide in us. We will know Him as He knows us, as the Father has known Him. These “young men” were abiding in Christ; that was why they were strong, why they were brave, because Christ was their habitation. What a beautiful promise, that we will be strong and brave if we abide in Him!
3. You have overcome the wicked one. This is how they overcame: the Lord was their strength and they dwelled in him. They had not power of their own to overcome, but they were victorious because they trusted in the Lord. 1John 5:5 says this about those who overcome: “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
Friends, if we believe in Christ Jesus as the Son of God and Savior of the world, then we fit into one of these three categories. We are either “spiritual newborns” who need only the assurance that our Father loves us and cares for us, or we are “spiritual elders” who have come to the realization that the one who is eternal is in control and thus we have no reason to fear or stress, or we are “spiritual youths” who stand tall and brave and fight with the able bodies and strength with which the Lord has blessed us.
Life Happens in Threes: infancy, youth, and maturity.
In whatever category we reside, the most important thing for us to know is that trusting the Lord is the only victorious course of action. So, Trust the Father, who will supply your every need. Trust Jesus Christ, the one through whom all things were made and established. Trust the Spirit to lead and guide you in your warfare against the enemy of your soul. Trust that the Trinity is the only thing in the world worth trusting in.
How Bright Is Your Light?
"He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes." 1John 2:9-11
"He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
I must be honest and say I did not entirely understand why John tagged "until now" onto the end of this sentence. I thought, 'aren't they still in darkness if they say they are in the light and hate others?' But, you see, friends, this instruction is to people who, I believe, were in ignorance. They simply did not know any better. They had not been instructed in the Way, and that is why John wrote this letter to them—and to us. Jesus quotes Levitical law in Matt 5:43 when he says,"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'" (Cross reference this statement with Leviticus 19:18 and Deut 23:3-6). This is what people were taught: love those who love you; hate those who hate you. But now that they are receiving instruction through John's epistle, they can amend their actions, and practice what Jesus commands in Matt 5:44-45 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, and do good to those who hate you, and pray for those two spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."
If, however, once we receive the correct instruction, we do not abide in it, we choose to sin. That is rebellion, and John explicitly says that if you hate one another, you cannot love God. And if you do not love God, how can you claim to know Him and be submitted to Him? Hatred towards one another is not of God. The word says that "God is love." 1John 4:8. In 1Cor 13 Paul speaks of the attributes of love: "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy, love does not parade itself, it is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." (1 Cor13:4-8a) Jesus' death and resurrection are active demonstrations of this love. Friends, how can we say we love God if we do the things Love does not do? If we are in Christ, we will abide in love and light, thereby doing what the Lord would do. And we will not only love our "brothers." This is not limited to a physical brother; this is humankind. "Love your neighbor" even if your neighbor is the most ungodly person you know. Love them that they might see God's love in you and desire to leave the darkness and step into the light.
He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
Let me indulge in an equation here. Loving one another = Abiding in Christ. If we are in him, we will neither stumble nor cause others to stumble. If we love, we will not have hatred, discord, rebellion, backbiting, etc. If we abide in Him, no hypocrisy will exist in our lives and we will not be able to cause others to stumble, nor will we drive away the lost. Friends, the reason hurt Christians and lost humanity don't want anything to with Christianity is because most of the modern-day church doesn't have anything to do with the Love of Christ. It's all judgment and cliques and snobbery and who gave the most money or who has the best attendance record, or which church has the most members. Friends this should not be so! We should be focused on loving the Lost and loving each other, and being open arms for the broken and hurting. "Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes." Matt 18:5-6 Why are we so ineffective for the kingdom? Because we cause others to stumble through judgment and offenses. And the Lord says "Woe to us" for offending others.
But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes."
So, Love = Light (God, good); Hate = Darkness (Satan, evil). In the physical, walking in the dark is dangerous to you. You're easily injured, easily lost. When you walk in the dark, you know nothing about your surroundings…what is before or beside or behind you. But walking in spiritual darkness is even more dangerous, because you harm those around you more than yourself. If hatred and darkness are one and the same, then it follows that hatred causes injury (sometimes irreversible injury) to others and yourself. Hatred causes us to lose our way. It blinds us to God's goodness—to his benefits. When we abide in hatred, all we see is negative; it's all darkness and evil. And if that is what you see, that is what you become. "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" Matt 6:22-23
The decision is ours, friends. If all we take in is bad, we are full of darkness and practice the things of darkness—hatred, sinfulness, pride, lust. But, if what we take in is good, we are full of light and practice the things of light—love, peace, compassion, mercy. How can we altar what we take in? By altaring where we abide. We can either abide in Christ and take in Light, or we can abide in sin and take in darkness. Which one will you choose?
How bright is your light?
"He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
I must be honest and say I did not entirely understand why John tagged "until now" onto the end of this sentence. I thought, 'aren't they still in darkness if they say they are in the light and hate others?' But, you see, friends, this instruction is to people who, I believe, were in ignorance. They simply did not know any better. They had not been instructed in the Way, and that is why John wrote this letter to them—and to us. Jesus quotes Levitical law in Matt 5:43 when he says,"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'" (Cross reference this statement with Leviticus 19:18 and Deut 23:3-6). This is what people were taught: love those who love you; hate those who hate you. But now that they are receiving instruction through John's epistle, they can amend their actions, and practice what Jesus commands in Matt 5:44-45 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, and do good to those who hate you, and pray for those two spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."
If, however, once we receive the correct instruction, we do not abide in it, we choose to sin. That is rebellion, and John explicitly says that if you hate one another, you cannot love God. And if you do not love God, how can you claim to know Him and be submitted to Him? Hatred towards one another is not of God. The word says that "God is love." 1John 4:8. In 1Cor 13 Paul speaks of the attributes of love: "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy, love does not parade itself, it is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." (1 Cor13:4-8a) Jesus' death and resurrection are active demonstrations of this love. Friends, how can we say we love God if we do the things Love does not do? If we are in Christ, we will abide in love and light, thereby doing what the Lord would do. And we will not only love our "brothers." This is not limited to a physical brother; this is humankind. "Love your neighbor" even if your neighbor is the most ungodly person you know. Love them that they might see God's love in you and desire to leave the darkness and step into the light.
He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
Let me indulge in an equation here. Loving one another = Abiding in Christ. If we are in him, we will neither stumble nor cause others to stumble. If we love, we will not have hatred, discord, rebellion, backbiting, etc. If we abide in Him, no hypocrisy will exist in our lives and we will not be able to cause others to stumble, nor will we drive away the lost. Friends, the reason hurt Christians and lost humanity don't want anything to with Christianity is because most of the modern-day church doesn't have anything to do with the Love of Christ. It's all judgment and cliques and snobbery and who gave the most money or who has the best attendance record, or which church has the most members. Friends this should not be so! We should be focused on loving the Lost and loving each other, and being open arms for the broken and hurting. "Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes." Matt 18:5-6 Why are we so ineffective for the kingdom? Because we cause others to stumble through judgment and offenses. And the Lord says "Woe to us" for offending others.
But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes."
So, Love = Light (God, good); Hate = Darkness (Satan, evil). In the physical, walking in the dark is dangerous to you. You're easily injured, easily lost. When you walk in the dark, you know nothing about your surroundings…what is before or beside or behind you. But walking in spiritual darkness is even more dangerous, because you harm those around you more than yourself. If hatred and darkness are one and the same, then it follows that hatred causes injury (sometimes irreversible injury) to others and yourself. Hatred causes us to lose our way. It blinds us to God's goodness—to his benefits. When we abide in hatred, all we see is negative; it's all darkness and evil. And if that is what you see, that is what you become. "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" Matt 6:22-23
The decision is ours, friends. If all we take in is bad, we are full of darkness and practice the things of darkness—hatred, sinfulness, pride, lust. But, if what we take in is good, we are full of light and practice the things of light—love, peace, compassion, mercy. How can we altar what we take in? By altaring where we abide. We can either abide in Christ and take in Light, or we can abide in sin and take in darkness. Which one will you choose?
How bright is your light?
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