I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 1 John 2:12-14

The Apostle John writes a very encouraging benediction here for the Church. The many blessings that come from our Lord Jesus Christ are listed here. This is a good list to meditate upon as we start our day, as we begin another day of spiritual warfare, remember you have victory in Jesus Christ

Remember your sins are forgiven because of Christ! The war has already been won, many people don’t even understand the seriousness of our sinful state, but Christ has given us victory at the cross, Christ has washed us clean by his blood, we are baptised and filled with the Holy Spirit

Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday, and forever (Hebrews 13:8) Christ is eternal and he has chosen you before the foundations of the world (Ephesians 1:4), and Christ has loved you before we loved Him.(1 John 4:19) Think about that, before you were formed in the womb, God already knew you, has already chosen you, and has always loved you!

While we live in a fallen world , full of evil and despair, take heart because Christ has already overcome Satan, the wicked one has already been defeated. Sin and death have already been defeated , we have complete victory in Jesus Christ. Take heart, because Christ has already overcome the world (John 16:33)

Notice how the Apostle John describes the Church “Because you are strong” even though we are persecuted , we are strong and victorious in Christ. The Holy Spirit is living inside of us, the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead, is living inside of you (Romans 8:11) The Word of God abides in you, the Word of God that is alive and sharper than any two edge sword (Hebrews 4:12) The Word of God that will abide forever (Isaiah 40:8)

Take heart Church because you have already overcome the evil one, Satan is already defeated, you are chosen and regenerated, you are Born Again in Christ, you are sanctified by the Holy Spirit, you are loved by the Father, Amen! 

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.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. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 1 John 2:7-9

The “New” Commandment is an old commandement, which everyone says they embrace, however most of our actions tell a different story. Everyone loves to throw around the word “Love” , but do we actually love our brother and sister? Or do we use this as a catchphrase, do we really love The Lord Jesus Christ with all our heart, mind, and soul, or do we just love the idea of eternal life? 

Our first love needs to begin with The Lord, as Jesus said “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15) If we truly love Jesus, then why don’t we submit to His authority? If we are going to identify as a Christian we need to be more like Christ, not like this world.People will always say “Jesus loves me” to justify their lifestyle, and it’s true Jesus does love you, and died for you, however the question is “Do you really love Jesus”? If you do your actions should support your statement

 As the Apostle John said “Because the darkness is past, the true light now shines” You are either in the light or the darkness, there is no in between. You are either Born Again or you are still dead in your sins (John 3, Ephesians 2) There is no sitting on the fence when it comes to be a Christian, you are either all in or all out. True love is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, because God is love. You can’t continue to live in the darkness and claim Christ is your Lord. If Christ is in your heart, let your light shine for the world to see, so the world sees Jesus

One issue I would like to address is the hatred in the Church, as the Apostle John said “He that says he is in the light, and hates his brother , is in the darkness even now” There is so much hatred and division within the body of Christ. As I write these words, multiple wolves will come after me who claim to be Christians, there is no light or love in them. Many who claim to be Christians, refuse to gather or fellowship with the body of Christ, there is no light or love in them. If you are truly in Christ, then you can’t hate your brother or sister in Christ. The disobedience to gather with the saints is fruit you truly hate The Lord and his Church

Love One Another, sounds like a simple concept, even has become cliché or a bumper sticker. However to love one another can be one of the most difficult things you can do, however if we truly love Christ, then we truly love one another because our Lord commands this. We love because Christ first loved us (1 John 4:19), because we are filled with the Holy Spirit and sanctified, because The Father has chosen you before the foundations of the world, Amen!

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 1 John 2:3-6

Are you a Christian? Millions , perhaps Billions of people claim to be a Christian, but the Apostle John says here “We do know that we know him (Christ), if we keep his (Christ) commandments” Are we keeping Christ’s commandments? Do we truly love Jesus Christ as our Lord? Or do we just like the thought of eternal life ? There’s a big difference between claiming you are a Christian and actually living like a Christian.

Jesus said “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15) There are many people who claim to love Jesus, but they don’t live like they love Jesus. Think about a Parent/Child relationship, the child claims to love their parents, yet doesn’t do anything they ask them to do. Is this love to be disobedient and disrespectful? No this isn’t true love, because true love is action, its not just words or feelings, it’s actually demonstrating your allegiance to someone.

The Apostle John goes on to say “He that says , I know him, and keeps not his (Christ’s) commandments, is a liar” Those who claim to be a Christian and not live like Christ are a liar, they are deceived. Anyone can claim to be something, but if you don’t know or do that thing, you are a liar. For example, I can claim to be a doctor, but if I never practice medicine, if I never was educated, ect. Am I really a doctor? No, I’m deceived, you can;t just claim to be something and not live that identity.

When I was younger, I always claimed to be a Christian, I heard of Jesus therefore I believed I was a Christian. I was decieved, I wasn’t a Christian, I didn’t put my full faith in Jesus Christ , I didn’t submit to Christ’s authority and teachings, I was a false convert like many. But when I truly repented of my sins, I submitted my life to Jesus Christ as my Lord, I was Born Again by the Holy Spirit, I walk in the newness of life, I abide in Christ and Christs abides in me

The Apostle John goes on to say “Whoever claims to abide in him (Christ), ought himself walk just as He (Christ) walked” If we claim to be a Christian, we need to walk like Christ, if you don’t your a liar according to the Holy Spirit. You can’t claim to be a Christian and not abide in Christ, we need to walk with and for Jesus. Everything we do should be for the glory of God, not for ourselves. 

Let’s examine ourselves, are we truly a Christian or are we deceived? If we claim to be a Christian, do we abide in Jesus? Do we keep Christs commandments? Do we love the Lord God with ALL our heart, mind, and soul? Amen!

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2

As the Apostle John revealed to us earlier, we all have a sin problem. As the Apostle John said “if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves”(1 John 1:8) But the good news is (the gospel) that God has a solution for our sin problem, its Jesus Christ, the Advocate and propitiation!

Now of course John begins the message with “I write these things unto you, that you would not sin” Anytime you start talking about sanctification or holiness, people start getting very uncomfortable. But the idea and application of sanctification is Biblical and is what is going to happen to us if we are truly Born Again Christians. If the Holy Spirit is living inside of you, then you are going to be changed and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, you will produce fruits of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 7, Galatians 5) which includes abstaining from sin.

Make no mistake about it , we are in a spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6) Your flesh and the Spirit will war with each other on a daily basis. When you become Born Again, its not that you are no longer going to be tempted by sin, however as the Apostle John said “if we do sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteousness” Now of course, this doesn’t mean we continue in sin because we have mercy, but God is merciful when we fall during our Christian walk

This brings up an important point, we can’t save ourselves from our sins. There are no good works that will save you from the penalty of your sins, its only the blood of Jesus Christ, the propitiation , that can atone for your sin and cleanse your sin. Its only Jesus Christ that can justify you and declare you righteous before God the Father. There is absolutely nothing you can do on your own accord. That’s why you must put your genuine faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your advocate, as your propitiation, as your Lord, as your everything, or there is no hope for you

But this is the good news, that we have a Savior, that we have an Advocate, that we have propitiation for our sin, that God so loved the world he gave his only begotten Son, because otherwise we would be condemned to eternal damnation by our own actions. When we understand this, we understand how great and merciful God truly is, to save a wretch like me! 

As the Apostle John says “And not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” We need to share the good news, the gospel of Christ to the whole world because Christ died for the whole world. And Christ died for you also, the advocate, the propitiation for your sins, repent and put your faith in Christ, receive the Holy Spirit, walk in the newness of life, Amen!

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from  all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:8-10

The greatest thing that is keeping people away from Christ, is their refusal or inability to understand their sinful state. When people understand their sinful state, they repent of their sins and cling to Christ for salvation. When people say “I’m a good person” there is no desire for Jesus , because they are deceived into believing they don’t need a Savior. Without a knowledge of sin, there is no desire for salvation, this is why there is so many false converts 

If you walk around and ask people “Are you a good person”? The overwhelming majority will tell you “Yes”, then they will list anything they do good. However if we judge our lives based on the moral law of God (The Ten Commandments) we quickly confirm what scripture tells us “For we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) If you don’t believe me, just walk through the commandments, have you ever lied? Yes, have you ever stolen? Yes, have you ever used Gods name in vain? Yes, We already broke 3 commandments and just got started! The Law brings revelation of sin to us and understanding our sinful nature

As the Apostle John writes here “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” Why do most people have no desire for Jesus Christ? Why do people have no desire to go to Church? Why do they have no desire to read the Bible? Because they are deceived, they believe they have no sin and there will be no consequences on judgment day. 

Scripture tells us “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23) There are consequences for your sin, everytime we sin we are storing up the wrath of God , because its the “wages” we have earned for our actions. People will say “How can a loving God send people to Hell”? God doesn’t send anyone to Hell, you send yourself there, the wages of sin is eternal death. 

However there is Good News for everyone, that is the gospel of Jesus Christ. As the Apostle John continues to say “If we confess our sins, He (Christ) is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” God is just and faithful, and not only will Christ forgive our sins, but he will also cleans us by the Holy Spirit from all of our sins. 

We as the Church, its our duty to share this good news with everyone, to share the gospel so everyone can have knowledge of sin and The Lord Jesus Christ, as scripture says “How will they know without a preacher” (Romans 10:14) Preach the gospel , Christ has died, Christ has Risen, Christ will come again! Amen!

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. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 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 John 1:5-7

It’s trendy nowadays to have “progressive” Christianity, which is basically a liberal version of Christianity, so we can be all inclusive, all approving of all the sin in this world. However as the Apostle John states here “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” They can use the argument God is love, which is true and John teaches on that later, however God is also Holy, meaning sinless, and there is no darkness in God, this is why Jesus said “You must be Born Again to see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3)

This idea that you can remain who you are, that you can be accepted by God as you are, is just simply not Biblical. If that was the case, then there would have been no reason for Christ to die on the cross for our sins. We must be transformed and cleansed by the blood of Christ and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. There is no darkness in God, therefore in order to be reconciled back to God, you must be Born Again. This  is very clear from the scriptures.

Then the Apostle John goes on to say “If we say that we have fellowship with Him (God) and walk in darkness, we lie, and don’t have the truth”  Again you can’t be reconciled back to God and still be dead in your sins (Ephesians 2) If you believe this, then the Apostle under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit says your a liar. Don’t be deceived , unless you are Born Again, you will not see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3) Jesus also goes on to say “Why do you call me Lord, and not do the things I say” (Luke 6:46)

If we confess Jesus is Lord, Christ is your Master, he is your boss. If we call ourselves Christians, then why don’t you truly follow Christ? We can’t make up our own theology to fit our lifestyles, if you are a Christian then you submit to the authority of Christ. Jesus said “If you love me, Keep my commandments” (John 14:16) We can’t walk in darkness and walk in Christ, they are in total opposition of each other. If we believe we can we are a liar according to God

You might say “We are all sinners” (Romans 3:23) Yes that’s true but as the Apostle John tells us “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin” We are all sinners, but Christ will cleanse you from your sin. Christ will set your free from all your sins (John 8) If you still remain in your sins, have you really been cleansed? You can’t walk in the light while walking in darkness, you must be Born Again! Amen!

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.  1 John 1:3-4

The theme for the scriptures today is all about fellowship, as the Apostle John says “That you may have fellowship with Us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ” Can you truly be part of the body of Christ if you don’t fellowship with the Church? I ask this question because I get many people who identify as Christians who refuse to fellowship with other Christians, not only is this not Biblical, but it’s a hindrance to your sanctification

Now you might say , I can’t fellowship with this group of people, they are not like me, we have nothing in common. That is the beauty of the Church, we are all united through Christ, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, if you are a child of God you are part of the body of Christ. To neglect the Church is to neglect Christ himself, as he is the head of the Church body (Colossians 1:18)

Fellowship is an essential part of your Christian walk, God never intended for you to walk alone, God never created you to be alone, that’s why God designed the Church, a family of God united through Christ by the Holy Spirit. Does that mean the Church is going to be perfect? Of course not, we are all sinners , if your looking around your going to find alot of issues, because we are all flawed humans, but we put our faith in Christ for our salvation, we are filled and led by the Holy Spirit, to serve and love the best we can. There is a great mysterious beauty within the Church, as the Bible says “Don’t forsake the assembly of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10.:25)

And then we have the fellowship with God, fellowship with the Father, fellowship with the Son, fellowship with the Holy Spirit, we are all united together. This is why you need to be Born Again (John 3:3) you need the Holy Spirit living inside of you, unified with God. Sometimes you might feel like God is far away, this is why you also fellowship with the Church, God the Holy Spirit living inside of the great multitude using the spiritual gifts that have been given to us (Romans 12, 1 Cor. 12)

I would like to end with the words of the Apostle James “ Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16[j]Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed (James 5:13-16)

You can’t do any of this by yourself, if you are in Christ, you are part of the Body of Christ, you can’t forsake your own body, fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ, fellowship with God in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen!

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 1 John 1:1-2

The Apostle John starts his epistle the same way he stated the gospel of John, “From the beginning” as John started his gospel from the beginning of Creation. “In the beginning was The Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1) Jesus Christ is the Creator who became the creation to save us from our sins, to be reconciled back to our Heavenly Father. 

Now you might say, well these are ancient writings that were passed down from generation to generation, but no the Apostle John is not just the author of these writings inspired by the Holy Spirit, but he was also an eyewitness to these events and a personal Apostle of Christ. As John testifies “which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life” The disciples have lived and learned from God incarnate for over 3 years.

As we enter the Advent season on the Church calendar, the celebration of the coming of Christ, the celebration of God becoming flesh and living among us (John 1:14) Can we even grasp what had happened in the manger in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago? Is there any possibility of our minds comprehending the Holy Spirit conceiving a child in the virgin womb to bring the Son of God into the world? I don’t think our human minds can fully grasp the incarnation but we know it happened in the manger in a little town of Bethlehem

Without the incarnation of Christ, without the Word becoming flesh, there would be no salvation for your soul. Without Immanuel, God coming with us here on Earth, there would be no atonement for your sins. The incarnation of Christ is an essential doctrine of your faith, and part of the gospel message. Christ could never have gone to the cross, without becoming flesh first!  This is why the Church began celebrating what we know today as “Christmas” , the virgin birth is the hope for all humanity

As the Apostle John states “The Word of Life (Christ) was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness “ The Word became flesh and lived among us, glory to the new born King! Reflect upon these thoughts as we prepare for Advent season, Amen!