These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
I John 2:12-17
Review…
- Evidence of the LIGHT…
- It is EASY to say we believe in Jesus – but what is our PROOF!
- Evidence of SIN…
- John wrote this letter – so we might NOT sin [miss the mark]
- But if we do SIN – we have a HELPER – Jesus who takes away our SIN!
- Evidence of OBEDIENCE
- We KNOW we are in the LIGHT – if we OBEY the TWO commands
- LOVE the LORD – Deuteronomy 6:5 – and LOVE our neighbor – Leviticus 19:18
- But it cannot be just in WORDS – we need to WALK in the LOVE of Jesus!
- Evidence of LOVE
- WHO do we LOVE – Jesus gave the parable of the good Samaritan – EVERYONE
- HOW do we LOVE – Jesus gave us the NEW command – as He LOVES us…
- If we HATE [opposite of LOVE] anyone – we are NOT in the LIGHT – we are BLIND…
- But if we LOVE others – then we are in the LIGHT – and nothing can STUMBLE us!
Growing in the LIGHT…
- 1st – Growing up… vs. 12-14
- Do NOT be immature…
- In the LIGHT…
- Having stated God is LIGHT – and in Him is NO darkness at all – I John 1:5 – John 8:12
- If we are in His LIGHT – our SINS will be revealed – so they can be FORGIVEN – I John 1:9
- And having given us the THREE tests to PROVE we are in the LIGHT…
- John is now going to focus on the importance of GROWING in the LIGHT!
- Growing in the LIGHT…
- Hebrews 5:12 – “Though by this time you ought to be teachers – you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God. And you have come to need milk and not solid food.”
- The Author was NOT writing to kids – he was addressing grown men and women…
- People who should not just UNDERSTAND – they should be able to TEACH…
- But – they needed someone to TEACH them AGAIN…
- The First PRINCIPALS – literally the ABCs of the FAITH – the most BASIC ideas!
- It is cute to bottle feed a young infant – no surprise – when they mess their diapers…
- But it is NOT cute – when a grown adult is still on the bottle – still wearing diapers!
- When we first come into the LIGHT – we are going to be like LITTLE children…
- We are going to make LOTS of mistakes – and struggle to overcome our SIN…
- But we should NOT stay that way – as we are in the LIGHT – we should GROW…
- Becoming MATURE in the Lord – as we exercise our FAITH – get to KNOW our God!
- THREE seasons…
- John is going to describe THREE seasons all of us should go through in the LIGHT…
- Little CHILDREN – YOUNG men – and FATHERS…
- For each of them he will give TWO descriptions – defining that SEASON of our life!
- 1st – Little Children… vs. 12-13
- I write to you little children!
- The FIRST category of those who are in the LIGHT – is little CHILDREN…
- Little CHILDREN [τεκνίον] – 7x in this letter – someone who is NEW to the FAITH…
- It is a term Jesus first used to describe the DISCIPLES – John 13:33
- When we FIRST come into the LIGHT – put our FAITH in Jesus…
- We are Little CHILDREN – NEW believers – like infants in our relationship with God!
- Because your sins are forgiven you for His names sake – vs. 12
- The FIRST description of the WALK of a Little CHILD – is WHAT they know…
- FORGIVEN [ἀφίημι] – to be SENT away – never to be seen again – Hebrews 10:17
- How have we been FORGIVEN – through [διά] ONE name – Jesus!
- EVERY sin we have every – or will every [perfect] commit – Romans 5:20
- Has been PAID in full on the CROSS – I Peter 1:18-19
- Not because of anything WE did [passive] – it was all done for us by Jesus…
- And we can have ABSOLUTE confidence [indicative] we are SAVED…
- But note – this is not the END of our journey – it is just the BEGINNING!
- I write to you little children – because you have known the Father – vs. 13
- Little Children [παιδίον] – 51x in NT – meaning a newborn infant…
- The SECOND description of the WALK of a Little CHILD – is WHO they know…
- KNOWN [γινώσκω] – to have a RELATIONSHIP with God the FATHER…
- The ONLY way to KNOW [perfect] someone is to CHOOSE [active] to spend time with them…
- But how can we spend time with someone who we cannot TOUCH – SEE – or HEAR…
- Philip had this same question – and asked Jesus to SHOW them the FATHER!
- John 14:9 – “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.”
- How do we KNOW the Father – by coming to Him through Jesus Christ…
- We can TOUCH – SEE – and HEAR the Father – by coming to His WORD [λόγος]
- The more time we spend in the WORD – the better we will know the FATHER!
- John 14:6 – “I am the way – the truth – and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
- 2nd – Young Men… vs. 13-14
- I write to you young men!
- The SECOND category of those who are in the LIGHT – is YOUNG men…
- YOUNG men [νεανίσκος] – 10x in NT – we might say a YOUNG adult…
- A YOUNG man – or woman – is someone who has matured in their walk…
- They have grown up in the LIGHT – but do not necessarily have a LOT of experience yet!
- Because you have overcome the wicked one – vs. 13
- The FIRST description of the WALK of a YOUNG man – is WHO they have overcome…
- THE [definite article] WICKED [πονηρός] – a reference to our enemy – Satan…
- OVERCOME – from the root word NIKE [νίκη] – to conquer – to have victory…
- Do not think of YOUNG men being overcoming because they have the right shoes [Nike]
- OVERCOMING [perfect] – means to WIN a LEGAL case in a COURT of LAW!
- Picture a courtroom setting – we are the ones on trial…
- The DEVIL [διάβολος] – used 38x NT – is there to PROSECUTE us…
- He seeks to ACCUSE us – wants to see us condemned to HELL – Revelation 12:10
- He has all the EVIDENCE he needs – all our SINS – our immoral thoughts…
- But Jesus is our DEFENDER – He is there to keep make sure we get to HEAVEN…
- He DESTROYED the power of satan – so that he has nothing to ACCUSE us of…
- All our sins were paid for in full on the cross – we are untouchable in Jesus!
- Colossians 2:13-16 – “Having forgiven you all trespasses – having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us – which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way – having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers – He made a public spectacle of them – triumphing over them in it.”
- 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 – vs. 14
- The SECOND description of the WALK of a YOUNG man – is HOW they overcame…
- WRITTEN [aorist] – note the CHANGE in tense – from PRESENT to PAST…
- This was NOT the first time John had written to them [unlike for the LITTLE children]
- YOUNG men – or women – are those who are STRONG – by ABIDING in the WORD…
- ABIDING [μένω] – to stay put and not leave – the WORD is a part of who they are…
- As a RESULT of ABIDING in the WORD – they are able to OVERCOME the wicked one!
- If we do NOT abide in the WORD – make reading the Bible a part of our daily lives…
- It is far too EASY to convince ourselves we are OK with God – when we are NOT…
- But when we are in the WORD – in the LIGHT – our SINS are revealed…
- Which allows the LORD to deal with our SIN – giving us VICTORY over it…
- The Bible will keep us from sin – but sin will keep us from the Bible!
- Psalm 119:11 – “Your word I have hidden in my heart… I might not sin against You!”
- 3rd – Fathers… vs. 13-14
- I write to you fathers!
- The THIRD category of those who are in the LIGHT – is FATHERS…
- FATHERS [πατήρ] – here used to speak of someone who is MATURE in their FAITH…
- A FATHER – or MOTHER – is someone who has been saved for MANY years…
- They are WALKING in the LIGHT – and have GROWN in the LIGHT!
- Because you have known Him who is from the beginning – vs. 13
- The FIRST description of the WALK of a FATHER – is WHO they know…
- KNOWN [γινώσκω] – to have a RELATIONSHIP with Him…
- WHO was in the BEGINNING [ἀρχή] – the origin of everything – Jesus Christ!
- John 1:1 – “In the beginning [ἀρχή] was the Word… and the Word was God.”
- It is POWERFUL to note – those who are MATURE in their walk…
- Are to be identified by the same thing that STARTED our walk – KNOWING Jesus!
- What is the POINT of the Christian WALK – what is the reason for this life…
- There is ONLY one – we are called to have a RELATIONSHIP with our God!
- John 17:3 – “This is eternal life – that they may know You – the only true God – and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
- I have written to you fathers – because you have known Him who is from the beginning – vs. 14
- The SECOND description of the WALK of a FATHER – is still WHO they know…
- WRITTEN [aorist] – note the CHANGE again in tense – from PRESENT to PAST…
- John is SAYING – this is something you have heard BEFORE – maybe MANY times…
- But it does NOT change – and it needed to be said again – KNOW Jesus!
- You may have noticed that the Bible often repeats itself…
- The same message given in many ways – it is ALL about Jesus – Hebrews 10:7
- The reason is because often we do not HEAR it – or does not SINK in – the FIRST time…
- The Bible tells us over and over in the HOPE we will eventually get it…
- It is too IMPORTANT for us not to get – we must REPEAT it as many times as needed!
- Philippians 3:1 – “I never get tired of telling you these things – I do it to safeguard your faith.”
- 2nd – Growing apart… vs. 15-17
- 1st – Do not LOVE… vs. 15
- Do not love the world or the things in the world!
- Part of GROWING in the LIGHT – maturing in our walk with Jesus…
- Is GROWING apart from this WORLD – learning to not LOVE this LIFE!
- LOVING [ἀγαπάω] this WORLD – or the THINGS in this world – will keep us from Jesus…
- If we LOVE [ἀγαπάω] the DARKNESS of this world – we will reject the LIGHT – John 3:19
- If we LOVE [ἀγαπάω] the PRAISE of men – we will not confess Jesus Christ – John 12:43
- If we LOVE [ἀγαπάω] anything more than Jesus – we will NOT mature in our FAITH!
- HATE everything else…
- Luke 14:26 – “If anyone… does not HATE … his own life also – he cannot be My disciple.”
- In order to GROW in the LIGHT – we must HATE – everything but Jesus…
- This is meant to be a shocking statement – but it does not mean we should HATE…
- It means our LOVE for this life – must look like HATE – compared to our LOVE for Jesus!
- We might want to follow Jesus – but what if we want something else MORE…
- Something has to be number ONE in our lives – will it be the world – or Jesus…
- Growing in the LIGHT – means following Jesus – dying to self – choosing to live for Him!
- Luke 9:23 – “If any man will come after me – let him deny himself – and take up his cross DAILY – and follow me.”
- 2nd – Test of LOVE… vs. 15
- If anyone loves the world – the love of the Father is not in him!
- To LOVE [ἀγαπάω] the WORLD – means the LOVE [ἀγάπη] of the Father is not in us…
- To be a FRIEND of the WORLD [κόσμος] – is to be HATED by God – James 4:4
- The WORLD and the FATHER – are opposed to each other – they are opposites!
- Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters…”
- Ultimately the only reason someone walks away from the LIGHT…
- Is because there is something else that they LOVE more than God…
- LOVE of the acceptance of people – family – making them unwilling to stand up for Jesus…
- LOVE of drugs – alcohol – the love of pleasure – living for the moment…
- LOVE of money – desiring the things of this world!
- We all have to make a CHOICE – we cannot serve TWO masters…
- Beware a divided heart – desiring to LOVE Jesus – but flirting with the WORLD…
- Trying to LOVE this WORLD and the FATHER – is in essence cheating on God…
- We have a simple choice – who do we CHOOSE to live for – who do we LOVE…
- If we LOVE this world – then we are NOT going to be a friend of Jesus!
- How we CHOOSE…
- Where your treasure is there is your heart will be also – Luke 12:34
- People do not choose where their heart is – they choose where we put their treasures!
- We tend to think we invest in the things that are important to us – on our heart…
- The truth is our heart follows our investments – our CHOICE dictate what our heart wants…
- That is why we should never follow our heart – it is deceptive – Jeremiah 17:9
- Instead we need to be wise where we CHOOSE to invest our time and treasures…
- If we are spending all of our time focused on pleasure – we will LOVE this world…
- In contrast if we are investing in the things of God – we will find we LOVE the Father!
- How we KNOW…
- John 15:18 – “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.”
- The world hates Jesus because He convicts the world of sin and righteousness…
- Because men LOVE sin – they hate the LIGHT that reveals their sinfulness – John 3:19-20
- If we are Jesus FRIEND – because they HATE Jesus – they also HATE us…
- Being the FRIEND of Jesus – means being an ENEMY of this world!
- 3rd – Why not to LOVE… vs. 16
- For all that is in the world – is not of the Father but is of the world!
- John did not want to leave us guessing – what exactly should we not LOVE…
- EVERYTHING [πᾶς] in this WORLD – because is NOT from the FATHER…
- That is VERY broad – but there is a reason why EVERYTHING is included…
- Because EVERYTHING in this world – has its ROOTS in THREE kinds of SIN!
- The lust of the flesh…
- LUST [ἐπιθυμία] – the desire of craving for something FORBIDDEN…
- FLESH [σάρξ] – simply refers to our physical bodies…
- We are made up of THREE parts – body [σάρξ] – soul – and spirit – I Thessalonians 5:23
- We live in a BODY – have conscious MIND [ψυχή] – and have an eternal SPIRIT [πνεῦμα]
- The question we face every day – WHAT controls our THOUGHTS [ψυχή]!
- Galatians 5:27 – “The FLESH lusts against the SPIRIT – and the SPIRIT against the FLESH – and these are contrary to one another – so that you do not do the things that you wish.”
- We make all of our decisions with our MIND [ψυχή]
- But is our MIND is under the influence of either our BODY or SPIRIT…
- If we are RULED by the LUSTS of our FLESH – then we are not GROWING in the LIGHT!
- Romans 8:7 – “Because the carnal [σάρξ] mind [hates] God.”
- The lust of the eyes…
- LUST [ἐπιθυμία] – the desire of craving for something FORBIDDEN…
- EYES [ὀφθαλμός] – simply refers to what we can SEE…
- The WORLD is constantly trying to convince us it has what we need to be HAPPY…
- We are SHOWN all kinds of things – and PROMISED they will SATISFY us!
- John 4:13 – “Whoever drinks of this water [from the world] will thirst again…”
- How many times have we SEEN something – and thought – this will make me be happy…
- And when we get what we LUSTED for – we are happy for a moment – then we want more…
- No matter how many times we drink from the water of the WORLD – thirsty again…
- Those who LOOK for things in this life to SATISFY them – are not GROWING in the LIGHT!
- John 4:14 – “Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.”
- We were not CREATED by God to be FULFILLED by the things of this world…
- We were CREATED by God to KNOW Him – WORSHIP Him – John 17:3
- And only when we use our life for the purpose God intended for it – are we SATISFIED!
- And the pride of life…
- PRIDE – 2x in NT – means empty boasting – James 4:16
- What does it mean to be PRIDEFUL – it would seem thinking we are in CONTROL…
- As if somehow we KNOW what will happen tomorrow – and do NOT need God!
- James 4:14 – “[But] you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life – it is even a vapor…”
- I often hear people make plans for the FUTURE – and treat them as if they are FACT…
- But we do NOT see the FUTURE – so our plans tend to fall apart…
- The only one who knows the FUTURE is the Lord – only He can SEE tomorrow…
- It is PRIDE to think we do not need God – BOASTING to think we know the FUTURE…
- Those who do – are not GROWING in the LIGHT – they LOVE this WORLD!
- Proverbs 19:21 – “There are many plans in [our] heart – nevertheless the LORDS [plan] will stand.”
- 4th – The CONTRAST… vs. 17
- The world is passing away – and the lust of it!
- The WORLD – and all of the LUSTS [ἐπιθυμία] that are in it – are PASSING away…
- Meaning NOTHING in this life is going to LAST – it will all DISAPPEAR!
- People strive their whole lives to find success – but what is success worth apart from God…
- We might end up rich – but all we really get are things that do not LAST…
- Therefore – do not miss the purpose of life by devoting TIME to something that is DOOMED…
- How much better to invest our TIME and efforts into a Kingdom that will NEVER fade…
- Invest is something that we can take with us to heaven – people we share Jesus with!
- But he who does the will of God abides forever!
- If we do the WILL of God – we will ABIDE [μένω] with Him FOREVER…
- But HOW to we KNOW what the WILL of God is for our lives…
- Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world – but be transformed by the renewing of your mind – that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
- We do not want to just WALK in the LIGHT – we want to GROW in the LIGHT…
- Knowing that we have been FORGIVEN – overcoming the WICKED one…
- Having a lifelong relationship with our God – who is Jesus Christ…
- By NOT falling in LOVE with the things of this WORLD – that will NOT last…
- Instead growing in the LOVE of God – knowing we will ABIDE with Him Forever!
- 1st – Do not LOVE… vs. 15