1. First John A Test of True Faith Howard Buck 2:7-11 January 9, 2011

2. GET YOUR COFFEE NOW PLEASE!!!!! The Afters Light Up The Sky The Afters Light Up The Sky

3. 1 John 2:7 Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. 1 John 2:8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining 1 John 2:9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 1 John 2:10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 1 John 2:11 But the one who 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

4. CLEAR YOUR DESK

5. TAKE OUT A #2 PENCIL

6. CLOSE YOUR BOOKS (except Bibles)

7. THIS IS A BIG TEST

8. THE MORAL TEST 2:3-6

9. MORAL TEST We have met and passed the first phase of our three phase test. We know Him, which is evidenced by our keeping God’s commandments. DO YOU KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS??

10. THE SOCIAL OR LOVE TEST 2:7-11

11. THE DOCTRINAL TEST 2:18-27

12. Let’s start with verse 6: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. Mr. Currie asked me to make a couple of points about this verse: 1. How did Jesus walk?... In the submission to the will of the Father 2. If we are to “walk in the same manner”, how can we accomplish this?... By submitting to the indwelling Spirit within us!! In other words, apart from Christ we cannot walk in the same manner!!

13. Today, the social or Love test Now we will enter the second phase of our three phase test, the Social or Love test..

14. 1 John 2:7 Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard How does John set the mood for this verse, like he did in 2:1?... The use of the word beloved What kind of mood does this set?... Pastoral, caring and loving..

15. …I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment In looking at chapter 2, when did you get the idea that John was writing about a commandment?... 2:3 = commandments 2:4 = commandments 2:5 = expanded to include His entire written word..

16. What can this old commandment be?... Let’s look at verses 7-11 and see what we can figure out about this commandment: 1. Who is it addressed to?... beloved (7) (believers) 2. When was it given?... from the beginning (7) From the law or at salvation 3. How was it given?... heard (7) The word was generally passed down orally Continued..

17. 4. The commandment is old but also?... new (8) 5. Is it truthful?... true in Him (8) 6. What is its status?... light (9) 7. What is it is opposite to hate (9)..

18. 8. It is centered on love for our brother because with love we are in the light (10) 9. Without it, what is our status?... darkness (11) So, it is written to believers, from the beginning, heard (orally transmitted), new, true, dwells in the light and is the opposite of hate! Any clue?????

19. What do you think the commandment is?... John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another Who is speaking here?... Jesus..

20. 1 John 2:8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. Ok John, is the commandment new or old?... The commandment is both old and new God always wanted for His creation to love one another: Leviticus 19:18 ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.

21. Jesus came and added clarity, He tied together Lev. 19:18 and Deut. 6:5 in Matt 22:37-40 Lev. 19:18 ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD Deut 6:5 “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.. Continued

22. Matt. 22:37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38“ This is the great and foremost commandment. 39“ The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets..”

23. He adds further clarification by telling us to love others as Christ loves them adding the dimension of unconditional love. John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another..

24. He clarifies that our neighbor is anyone who needs us to be their neighbor as illustrated by the story of the Good Samaritan Luke 10:30-37 And, adds that this love is also extended to our enemies: Matt 5:44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you So the commandment is old, and new at the same time In essence, Jesus clarified God’s original intent which John is repeating/reminding believers!!

25. In summary we are to love: God Fellow believers Neighbors Enemies How: As God loved us, or unconditionally..

26. HOW IS THE TEST GOING SO FAR??

27. A SHORT BREAK FROM OUR INTENSIVE TESTING..

28. While we are at a break here is a short up- date on Chris Erdman’s condition The good news is that a steroid blend has cleared up the water completely, the bad news is that it turned her hair blond

29. Verse 8 Continued: because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining What do you think this means?... The darkness is the world which is dying or passing away, the Light is Jesus Christ who is eternal John’s idea here is that Christ is true light the revelation of God (light 1:5) in Christ (Ryrie)..

30. 1 John 2:9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. Who is this verse written to, believers or non-believers?... believers (brother) Now the exam question for this second section of our BIG TEST is presented: If you profess Christ, a proof of your true heart (reborn) is that you will love your brother..

31. How can John be so bold on this point?... Because if you are truly in the light, it will be shown in your right relationship with each other along with your right relationship with God Will we ever get angry?... Of course we will but it won’t be an anger that will be an on-going part of our life like those that are of the world..

32. Why do you think that John, considering the purpose of this letter, made this comparison? Because the Gnostics hate the Christians They, claiming a special knowledge despised those that didn’t believe like them..

33. 1 John 2:10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. In summary, we can say that we will not cause someone else to stumble nor will we be stumbling around Why?.... Because our walk is enlightened and will be such that it will not cause anyone to stumble The whole idea of the Romans 14 issue comes up here Because of our walk with Jesus we choose not to be a stumbling block to others..

34. 1 John 2:11 But the one who 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. Tied with verse 9 and10, what does this verse mean?... Hatred is darkness If we are in the darkness, based on the “love test” are we believers?... NO We can’t hate anyone and consider our self true believers based on this “love test”..

35. Darkness: The absence or lack of light How can we be blinded by darkness??? Blind: Unable to see, unable to recognize, unwilling or unable to understand something, unaware, unquestioning, not giving clear view..

36. And, if we are in the darkness are we stumbling around?... YES Are we then probably causing others to stumble as well?... YES If this is the case, should we examine our heart since the test shows that Christ probably isn’t there?... YES

37. Walking without Christ is walking in the darkness The world is a dark place Can a believer sometimes find himself in the darkness? If so, is he not really a believer?... We all at times turn from the light of God breaking our fellowship, not losing our salvation and there is an easy solution, confess, repent and turn back to Christ!!!!!!!!!

38. ARE WE GETTING A PASSING GRADE AT THIS POINT??

39. To summarize 7-11 Love others as we love ourselves, because hatred is not of God. Simply: if you walk in the dark you are not a believer, believers walk in the light If your hate your brother you are not a believer, Christians love their brothers..

40. We now take a quick six verse diversion before we get to part 3 of our test. This diversion is a needed respite to those reading this letter who are true believers in Jesus Christ. To this point John has issued a series of tests. Now he takes time to stop and encourage the true believers..

42. What Do We Take Home 1. Love is a very important subject to God 2. We are to unconditionally love: God Christian Brothers Others Enemies 3. Hatred puts us in the darkness