I John

Joyce Webb 2018

Chapter 2      Verses 1-17

Verse 1

John writes to the believers—-If any one sins, we have an advocate

( meaning someone who speaks for you, a person who helps you to get what you need.)

This “advocate”—-the one who speaks for us to God the Father, is Christ Jesus. He is the righteous perfect one without sin. He can speak for us.

He took our place in the death for sin. He stands beside us—-when we stand before the Father. Jesus asks the Father to forgive our sins,—- because he paid the death punishment for them.

For Jesus’ sake, because of what Jesus did, the Father forgives us.

Vs. 2 Jesus was the “sacrifice” for sins. Like in the Old Testament, a lamb was brought to kill and put on an altar. Before the lamb was killed, the man put his hand on the lamb’s head, and confessed his sins and put them on the lamb, the lamb died instead of the man.

Remember—– back in the Garden of Eden, God told Adam and Eve that if they ate from the tree they would die.

Man’s body began to grow old that day. Because he did not obey God.

His fellowship with God was broken. His spirit would die forever.

God made a way for man’s spirit to have fellowship with him again.

If man confessed his sins and wrong doing, and “put his sins” on a lamb, and the lamb died for him—-God would forgive the man’s sin.

God wanted the man to remember that sin—– and not obeying God—- brings death.

Man, himself, should be the one to die. But God loved him, and made a way for the “death punishment” to be paid by “another” —–and the man could go free.

Every time the man brought a lamb to sacrifice, he was remembering that he was the one who should be dying.

In God’s plan, He sent his own Son—-to be born in a human body—and lived a perfect life with no sin—and died on a cross—-blamed for things he did not do. He was a perfect man paying the death punishment.

Now, God says that we do not need to bring a lamb to kill—-Jesus was the “sacrifice”. No other sacrifice is needed, now.

Vs. 3 We know that we belong to Jesus—-if we obey his commandments (laws and teachings).

Vs. 4 If a person says that he is a Christian—a person who follows Christ—but does not do what Jesus said to do—that person is not telling the truth—he is telling a lie.

You cannot said you are a Christian and then ignore God’s laws and teachings. To be a Christian, you must do his teachings.

Vs. 5 Those who do what the word of God says ——are made perfect in God. The love of God is made perfect in that person’s life.

Vs. 6 If a person says that he lives and abides in God, then he should live in the same holy way that Jesus lived.

Vs. 7,8 John talks about a commandment that is from the Old Testament and was also given by Jesus in the New Testament.

John speaks of it again in Book 2 of John Vs. 5.—–It is —- we are to love one another.

Vs. 9 John says, If you hate your brother (meaning another person) you are not walking in the light. You are walking in darkness.

You can not say I am following Christ and hate your someone.

Those two things do not go together. If you are truly following what Jesus taught, you can not hold hate in your heart for someone.

Vs.10 The person who loves others, is following in the “light” that Christ taught.

If we show love to others, we will not make problems for others that will make them find fault with Christians—-or call us “false”.

Vs. 11 A person who hates someone else, (holds a grudge, will not forgive a wrong, holds something against them) is not walking in the “light” as Christ taught.

Vs. 12 Your sins are forgiven because of Jesus’ sake. The Father forgives you—– because Jesus asks Him to forgive you.

Because of what Jesus did on the cross, then the Father agrees to forgive you.

Vs. 13-14 John writes to the believers who have been following Jesus for a long time and understand the teachings of Jesus.

He also is writing to those who are young in their believing. He says that “You have overcome Satan’s temptations by believing in Jesus and staying with him.”

John is writing to those who are just new to believing in Jesus.

Vs. 15 John tells them, Do not love the world —–do not love the things that are in the world.

If you love the world and the things of the world—-then God’s love is not in you.

Vs. 16 In the world—there is the “lust of the flesh”, the “lust of the eyes”. and “the pride of life”.

The lust of the flesh are desires of the body—-sexual desires, desires of comfort, and pleasure, fun, good-times, parties.

The lust of the eyes—is wanting more and more—never satisfied with what we have—we always want more.

The pride of life—wanting others to look at you and think you are wonderful and great, wanting power, wanting more things than other people or better more expensive things than other people.

(There is nothing wrong with desires of the flesh if they are used in the right way and God can still be honored.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to have more than being “poor”. But as Christians we must remember that this world is very temporary. We are here for a short time. This is not our “home” —- our “home” is heaven. We should not be spending so much money and time to buy things—- and keep getting more, and more —–and better, and better things

Our life a Christians is not about “things”. If we have what we need, then let us be careful about getting all those “extras” that are nice to have, but we do not need them.

Christians should live in a “modest” way. Meaning not too much—not too little. Not too expensive. Be in the middle. Use your money wisely and carefully—save some for “bad times”.

Do not let your life become all about getting more and more things.

There is nothing wrong with have “pride” that is a healthy self-respect and dignity. More than that is pride that is no good.

In America, we talk about “self-made” people. Meaning, that by their own work and being smart and wise, they have become rich, or famous, or an important person.

God has made you as you are. You did not make yourself. Your body your brain—are all because of genes you got from your parents.

How can you take “pride” in that? You had nothing to do with it.

No one is completely “self-made”. All along life’s way, people have helped you, taught you, encouraged you, given you ideas, etc.

Learn to be a grateful–thankful–person. Remember that others have helped you along the way.

It is alright to have healthy pride in done a good job, in making something, in having good ideas—–but do not get overly “proud”—-do not think too high about yourself.

Other people do not like to be around “proud” people.

Verse 17 John says—The world will pass away and all the desires with it.

Those people who do the will of God will live forever.