1. Live in the Light.
The Epistles of John

2. Chapter 2 .

3. (2:1) My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

4. (2:2) He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

5. (2:3) And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

6. (2:4) Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

7. (2:5-6) but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

8. (2:7) Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.

9. (2:8) At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.

10. (2:9-10) Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

11. (2:11) But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

12. (2:12) I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.

13. (2:13a) I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.

14. (2:13b) I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.

15. (2:14a) I write to you, fathers,     because you know him who is from the beginning.

16. (2:14b) I write to you, young men,     because you are strong,     and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

17. some observations from
Let’s try and make
some observations from
what John is saying… .

18. In order to make the most logical arguments I would like to examine the verses in a slightly different order… .

19. little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.
(2:12) I am writing to you,
little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.

20. (2:13a) I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.

21. (2:13b) I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.

22. (2:14a) I write to you, fathers,     because you know him who is from the beginning.

23. (2:14b) I write to you, young men,     because you are strong,     and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

24. conclusions from last week
John confirms our
conclusions from last week
that Eternal Life #1 is not at stake for these believers. .

25. “Eternal Life #1” is salvation from sin & punishment and living with God forever…and these people clearly have it. .

26. John says that these people have been forgiven of their sins, they indeed know God & they have overcome the evil one. .

27. (2:1) My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

28. John makes his goal clear.
He is not writing the believers to give them license: freedom to sin…

29. If God is faithful & just to forgive us when we sin (1:9)…
that may lead us to believe that sin is trivial and obedience is trite.

30. John says, I am writing these things so that we will have
the aim of not sinning…

31. Sin
always separates us
from God.

32. Sin also always separates us from the reward, the joy & fulfillment
of type “Eternal Life #2”.

33. Eternal Life #2 Last week we said that Is the satisfaction, the joy &
the reward of walking in holy fellowship with God…
a present quality/kind of life.

34. walking in close, holy, fellowship with God…
The two keys to having this kind of joyful & rewarding life are
walking in close, holy, fellowship with God…
and (2) not sinning...

35. acknowledging our sins, through admittance,
We also saw that
acknowledging our sins,
through admittance,
(agreeing with God) repentance
& confession were the keys to handling our shortcomings.

36. Now John is concerned that believers will be controlled by the fear that they have ‘to be perfect’ in order to have this fellowship…

37. And he reminds them again, that Jesus is at the right hand of the Father and He is continually making atoning amends on our behalf in the courtroom of God.

38. (2:2) He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

39. it is without limit as it were,
He reminds them that Christ’s atoning power over sin in their life will never run out,
it is without limit as it were,
capable of covering all the sin of all people for all time if need be.

40. Time to think.

41. (2:3) And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

42. (2:4) Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him…

43. As you can see these are very important and also very intimidating verses.

44. These verses have radically different theological implications and they have divided believers for decades.

45. At the core of understanding these verses is the need to define the words “know”
“in” and “truth”.

46. Everything hinges on
these three words…

47. (2:3) And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

48. (2:4) Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

49. The two statements can be summarized like this…

50. (2:3) If we keep his commandments we can be assured that we know Christ.

51. (2:4) If we do not keep his commandments, our claim to know him is false…and the truth is not in us.

52. If the words ‘know’ ‘in’ & ‘truth’ mean Eternal Life #1

53. If you KNOW Christ savingly…

54. If you are IN the TRUTH savingly…

55. Then the verses would read…

56. (2:3) If we keep his commandments we can be assured that we are saved.

57. (2:4) If we do not keep his commandments, our claim to be saved is false and salvation is not in us.

58. We must first look back in
1 John 1 & see if there are any other uses of these three words that can help shed light on their meaning.

59. Second, we must look back in
The Gospel of John to see if there are any other uses of these three words, in this same context, than can help shed light on
their meaning.

60. (the truth) we have heard from him and proclaim (the truth)
(1:5) This is the message
(the truth) we have heard from him and proclaim (the truth)
to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

61. What is the message they heard? What is the truth they proclaim?

62. (1:3-4) that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

63. is the truth concerning joyful fellowship with God.
The truth being proclaimed
is the truth concerning
joyful fellowship with God.

64. God can not fellowship with darkness (evil).
Specifically that
God can not fellowship
with darkness (evil).

65. In other words, the truth being discussed is the truth of
Eternal Life #2
the way to have fellowship, joy, abundant life & holiness.

66. (1:6) If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

67. The word ‘fellowship’ corresponds (‘identical-interchangeable’)
with the phrase
‘practice the truth’.

68. To have fellowship with God is to practice the truth.

69. To practice the truth is to have fellowship with God.

70. That means, to be in the truth, to be walking in the truth
is to be in holy, proper, glad,
fellowship with God.

71. (1:6) If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

72. The words ‘fellowship’ & ‘practice the truth’ are contrasted
(‘equivalent -opposites’)
with the phrase
‘in darkness’.

73. To walk in darkness is to not have fellowship with God.

74. To walk in darkness is to not practice the truth.

75. That means, to be in darkness is to be outside of fellowship
with God and to not be practicing the truth.

76. (1:7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

77. The word ‘in’ the light corresponds (‘identical-interchangeable’)
with the phrase
‘fellowship’.

78. have fellowship with God.
To be in the light is to
have fellowship with God.

79. To have fellowship with God is to be in the light.

80. That means, to be in the light, is to be in holy, proper, glad,
fellowship with God.

81. The conclusion is;

82. to be in the light or have the light in us

83. to be in him or
have him in us

84. to be in the truth or have the truth in us

85. to be in fellowship with God
Are interchangeable
identical-equivalent phrases used to describe the same concept…
to be in fellowship with God

86. The conclusion is;

87. to not be in the light or to not
have the light in us

88. to not be in him or
not to have him in us

89. to not be in the truth or to not have
the truth in us

90. identical-equivalent phrases used to describe the same concept…
Are interchangeable
identical-equivalent phrases used to describe the same concept…
to not be in
fellowship with God

91. Gospel of John

92. (15:3-4) You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Abide in me, as I also abide in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must abide in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in me.

93. John says that the disciples are already saved ‘made right’
‘made morally clean’ because of the belief in the truth.

94. Notice that this is after Judas left
to betray Jesus, so all disciples present are true disciples.

95. (15:3-4) You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Abide in me, as I also abide in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must abide in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in me.

96. (15:10-11) 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. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

97. identical concepts, described by some similar and
Here we have nearly
identical concepts, described by some similar and
some different phrases.

98. to be in fellowship with him.
To abide in Christ is to
be in the light, to be in
the truth, to be in him…
to be in fellowship with him.

99. The result of abiding (fellowshipping)
in Christ is command obeying & joy receiving.

100. command obeying results in abiding in (fellowship with) Christ.
Likewise,
command obeying results
in abiding in
(fellowship with) Christ.

101. It would follow then that
not abiding in (fellowshipping with) Christ results in sinning & command breaking.

102. Likewise, sinning & command breaking result in not abiding in (fellowshipping with) Christ.

103. Being in the light/truth here means abiding, walking with God… not ‘being saved’.

104. Being in the darkness here means failing to abide, failing to practice the truth…it does not mean
not having salvation.

105. Which is very important because many places in scripture refer to darkness as hell/separation from God.
(Matt 5:30, 8:12, 22:13)

106. These statements are nearly identical to some we already read.

107. (2:3) And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

108. (2:4) Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

109. (2:5-6) but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

110. Hopefully we are nearing a clear definition of “in” “know” and “truth”.

111. (2:5-6) but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

112. Those who are obeying in this context are those who are who are abiding in obedient fellowship and they will be perfected (sanctified/purified).

113. Those who are abiding in obedient fellowship will obey the commands of God because they are in fellowship with him.

114. However, those who claim to be abiding in Christ and claim to be walking in the light…yet they do not obey his commandments are not in step with the truth and they are deceived.

115. Those who are not walking in the light, and are not fellowshipping with God, that is; abiding in Christ, are not being perfected in that moment and they are stumbling in darkness.

116. Let’s use the definitions that we have developed to interpret the final two verses that we have yet to cover.

117. (2:9-10) Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

118. Whoever says he is walking in obedient fellowship with God and yet mistreats his brother is still in the flesh/not walking in step with the truth. 

119. and in him there is no cause for stumbling (no sin to confess).
Whoever treats his brother properly, makes it clear that they do indeed abide in the light (fellowship with God),
and in him there is no cause for stumbling (no sin to confess).

120. (2:11) But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

121. But the one who mistreats his
brother is clearly outside of fellowship with God and walks in the error of the flesh, and he is unaware of his sin, because the folly of the darkness
has blinded his eyes (he is not sensitive to the Spirit).

122. Let’s use the definitions that we have developed to interpret the first three difficult verses…

123. (2:3) And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

124. It will be clear that we understand how to fellowship with God, when we are regularly walking in the light and displaying obedience to his commandments.

125. (2:4) Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

126. However, it will also be clear that our claim to understand how to walk in close fellowship with God is false, when we regularly do not display obedience to his commands.

127. (2:5-6) but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

128. The believer who regularly walks in obedience to God’s word will
be more readily perfected (sanctified)…and whoever claims to be in fellowship with God ought to clearly display Christlikeness.

129. Closing Remarks:

130. It would probably be a mistake to conclude that there are no serious warnings about true salvation within these texts. And that the only thing discussed is simply sanctification.

131. Concerning the word “know”

132. There are many clear uses of the word “know” both in 1 John and
in the Gospels that are direct references to salvation.

133. (2:12-13a) I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.
I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.

134. is to have “your sins forgiven”
Here to “know him”
is to have “your sins forgiven”

135. To have “your sins forgiven” is to have come “to know him”.

136. (Matt 7:21-22) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’

137. (Matt 7:23)  And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

138. Here if Christ does not “know you” and you do not really “know him” is to be eternally separated from him.

139. Here if Christ does “know you” and you do really “know him” you will be granted entrance into the
kingdom of heaven.

140. It is interesting that Matthew says that the sign that Christ will use to prove whether he knows us or not is if we do the will of God
(obey his commands).

141. (Matt 7:21-22) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven…

142. Is that not exactly what John was saying?

143. If you really “know” God you will obey his commands.

144. You can be sure that your claim to “know” God is true…by whether or not you obey his commands.

145. You can be sure that your claim to “know” God is questionable at best, false at worse, if you do not obey his commands.

146. (2 Timothy 2:19) Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

147. In Timothy we read that
God “knows” who are his, and they are those who confessed the name of Jesus. Those who are known are saved (they believed in Christ as savior).

148. Similarly to 1 John, those who are known-are saved and it will be clear that they are saved because they turn away from wickedness.

149. The meaning of the verse would be identical to 1 John… those who claim to know or be known (savingly) should turn from wickedness… to persist in disobedience is a sign that you may not know him (savingly).

150. I will allow you to determine how much of the ideas regarding
“to know him” and
“to be in the truth” in our passage today relates to ‘sanctification’ and how much relates to ‘salvation’.

151. I have read many theologians who try to do impossible interpretive cartwheels to say that “ to know” “to be in the truth” in 1 John can never mean to know Christ or
truth savingly…

152. I will say that it would probably be a mistake to say that it is always one and never the other. There are serious warnings here pertaining to both sanctification & salvation.