STUDIES IN FIRST, SECOND & THIRD JOHN

Lesson 6   Getting down to specifics

Recall the threefold purpose of the book.
1. 1 John 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full---That your delight may be fulfilling. Learn to experience these truths and you will never have to look outside the Lord’s Church to ‘turn you on’ spiritually.
2.1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.
If we obey the Word, we will never disobey, disappoint or disgrace our Lord.
3.1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. The successful, happy Christian MUST be confident in his standing with the Lord.

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.

An old commandment; He still requires the same thing of us that He always did.
A. It is a simple commandment.
2 John 1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
B. This love is proof to the world. John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
C. This love is proof to ourselves. 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.
D. Since WE have the same command to follow that they did, there is no validity to the
excuse that it is harder to serve God nowadays! If one keeps his eyes on Jesus as the Scriptures teach, then it doesn’t matter how attractive the world’s offers are, for we will not see them. The world makes it hard on Christians who take their eyes off Jesus. Peter began to sink when he looked at the waves.

1 John 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
And yet, it is a new commandment. If we are continually growing in grace and in the knowledge of the truth, then this old commandment will be eternally new. And yet it is a new commandment I write unto you - the things being revealed in Him and at the same time in you because the darkness is passing away and the light of truth is shining.
A. As the darkness recedes through our growth into Him, we continually see things in a new light and they look new and fresh. As His love is revealed TO us, His love IN us continues to grow.

We see His love:
1. Toward us as lost sinners - 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. 1 Tim 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
2. Toward us as repentant sinners - saved Luke 7:50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
John 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn
thee: go, and sin no more.
3. Toward others who are lost - Rom 1:14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
Rom 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek
4. Toward others who are saved - .Heb 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
.5. Toward backsliders - Mat 18:12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
Mat 18:13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
6. Toward His churches. Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
7, Toward obedient church members - John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
8. Toward every truth that is so precious to Him and becomes so to us as we learn them. 2 John 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
2 John 1:9 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.
2 John 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2 John 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

1 John 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
You can’t be truly enlightened and walk in darkness of hatred for the brethren. This is the first step in divine love and a reason for the steps that follow - for:

1 John 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. If you really love the brethren you will want to live in the light of God’s word -
A. To have fellowship with those who are strong. 1 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.
B. To strengthen those who are weak. Rom 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor ANY THING whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

1 John 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes
If you don’t desire the very best for your brothers in Christ, then you have never been enlightened as to other divine truths.
A. Do you really desire that their lives count for Christ? Show them how!
B. Is the Church important to you? It will not be to others if they see you forsaking it for ANY reason!
C. The darkness hath blinded their eyes. (As one coming out of the darkness can’t see in a bright light.) John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. When one says " I love you, I love this Church, I love all these brethren," then shows their contempt for Bible truths, they are lying!

He loves in spite of everything! 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.

Next: An admonition to every class of believer