1 John Chapter 2

John writes to those he considers as his own offspring in the gospel that his wish is that they sin no longer - and if any man sins then the perfection of Christ's example is proof positive before God that perfect behaviour is possible - that men can be reformed to keep the law and to be obedient to God. In Jesus Christ who is before the Father in heaven, we can call upon Him as proof that we can be saved if we can repent, which is entirely possible. (v1)

Jesus, as before the Father is then the propitiation for our sins: that all men out of imperfect knowledge of the immediacy of the requirements of God's will and His perfect sovereignty and liberty over us all, are failures. Jesus is the one name before God that has shown before God that sins are but temporary things, and that temptation is not unbreakable slavery: Therefore Jesus' example is such propitiation universally for all men, in the whole world. (v2)

We show that we know God therefore, if we keep His will for us, in knowing His Christ if we keep His commandments - for we obey the Holy Spirit's ministrations and we show we know of Him when we obey. (v3) While we have faith, we can not disobey and know God; but if we have faith and obey God then we know Him. (v4) (Any "G v p" statement requires a faith in God!)

If any man is completely reformed and keeps God's commandments, then the ministry of the Holy Spirit is made complete in that man, and the love of God towards that man has been perfected, and is made sure. (v5) In that sense, we know that we are in God; that we do not follow a false God, because we are reformed into the law keepers that we were not formerly. For if we abide in the will of God, which is closer than the commandment; being gifted in the Holy Spirit, (i.e. L(G) holds) we should obey the ministration of the Holy Spirit so that we rest in obedience, walking in obedience with God even as Christ Himself walked all His life. (v6)

In considering "G v p" statements there are two kinds: one where a false God is considered, when a God must have a certain characteristic or He is a different God, say "p" and one where the God is the right God, but we assume that temporarily God must give "q" before He can return to His former perfect state. Then for a believer the following process, that a believer assumes it is better for God to be a God that gives him "q" because the believer decides it, when He hasn't had "q" already must be repented of: for only what God has promised beforehand is certain. Therefore we must keep God at liberty and walk in His commandments, else we will not be in receipt of His promises.

We can happily assume then that since Christ has fulfilled all requirement of keeping God without holding falsity in a "G v p" statement, yet being tempted as we are, that to keep God's commandments is necessary for a believer. (Yet we decide such things contingently as Christ must have done, being found in Himself as a man.) For to have perfect knowledge of God's will and the faith enough to obey is to fulfill all requirement to be saved: else there is no need to keep any law if this life is the only life there is. We assume that keeping commandments is a necessary condition for salvation: not a logical necessity for existence.

Continuing on,
John writes he gives no new commandment, but affirms the older commandments that the believers have had from the beginning - the obedience of keeping God's laws - one assumes the ten commandments in particular. (v7) John adds He writes of a new commandment, because the new covenant has its own truths, which is true for both Christ and for us: for the grace is given for men to keep the law of faith that predestines us into obedience in eternal life which was not given under the old covenant. (v8) (The true light now shineth - Christ's example of the truth of faith and obedience.) Whereas we now live in truth; beforehand we were in bondage under sin and were not able to keep the law, being sinners.

The golden rule, that a man love his neighbour as himself is the end of the law. He that is a believer and loves his brother abides in the light (truth) and keeps the law, without stumbling (v10) If a believer would hate his brother then he doesnt realise the truth - for no man should hate his brother, he doesn't realise the man is his brother in the faith. Walking in a lie (darkness) he doesn't realise that God loves them both: hatred for another believer is emnity with God's will for all men. (v11) if God has forgiven a man, it counts as your forgiveness, the same as another man in Christ forgiving a wrongdoer for wronging you. Those sins are struck out. Much more then is God's love to all and so should be also the action of love between the brethren in Christ. If two believers insult you and forgive each other sincerely, does that not count as your forgiveness? It does in Christ. If God loves two men, should they not have respect to each other? At the least they should not hate each other.

John wrote in chapter 1 that there is no darkness at all in God - if a man hates his brother he walks in darkness and would paint God with darkness. The assumption that hatred can be justified in God's people one to another is to make God to approve of it, when He has shown love to all His children.

John writes to the children and states that they are forgiven for Jesus' name's sake. (simply put to the young in faith. (v12)) He writes to the elders among them (v13) for knowing the gospel from Christ who was in the beginning, and to the young men for overcoming the lusts of the flesh, for being separated from the world and its lusts - overcoming the wicked one. He also writes to the young in faith that they have known the Father. Writing to the elders (fathers) he repeats again they have known Christ Himself - (not just repeating but knowing Him even still) and to the younger because their faith is strong - and the word is kept in them - they have resposibility to spread it further; lasting beyond the initial link between the person of Christ and those who physically attended His ministry, (the elders) and that they had overcome the devil - having been won by Christ. (v14)

John commands them not to love the world, neither the things that are in it: all such things are the cause of "G v p" statements - requirements for self aggrandisement and wealth, sin and idolatry. If a man loves the world more than God, how can He love God at all? (v15) All that is in the world - the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life is not of God but of the world. (v16)

These three things are those that engender giving into temptation. seeing something in our environment that would break a commandment and wishing for it; knowing it feels good to do it and wishing for it despite the commandment; and feeling that God is not important and close enough to warrant justification in us keeping the commandment: these things are not made by God, but are products of the world. Such things are a consequence of sin: and are not of God's making. Whereas we are created to feel pleasure, were we in God's company would we do such things in front of Him? Then we know if we love God or not.

This world is on its way out; with its temptations. We either die or Christ will come back soon. either way, He who fulfills God's will for him will live for ever, having chosen "G" over "p" in every "G v p". (v17) (or with only "q"'s as above remaining

John writes that we are in the last age: for the Mystery of God is revealed; (Christ came as an obedient Son so that with the Holy Spirit in His place we might all be many obedient children. Then when He returns there will be every obedient child with them both. Then lastly the Father will come and make everything new and dwell with us as His people for ever.)

John writes that the antichrist will come. (anti means "against" or more commonly "in place of") John writes that there are many antichrists, (those who have a continual "p" in a "G v p" in their gospels, having another christ in place of the true Christ. Simply, because they have decided what the perfect will of God for men is - to suit themselves.) John writes that we know it is the last time from this: because Jesus' example is perfect and can not be improved upon, there is no lie in His teaching. Knowing that many false christs shall come from Jesus' teaching upon the last time, John knows that we should realise it is indeed the last time from the presence of the teachers of these false gospels. (v18)

These false teachers went out from the brethren that taught the actual gospel, but were not of the brethren that hold to the true gospel. If they were they would have kept it, but they went out to teach others with the result so that it is now shown that the gospel they teach is false. In the result, it has shown that the gospel has the appearance of not agreeing universally overall.. which would be the act of "against" if "anti" is taken to mean that. (v19) Such a process is likened to the action of leaven.

But the believers here have an unction of the Holy Spirit, and they have been taught the true gospel of Christ (as to the elders who heard Christ themselves) and of the commandments of God. (v20) John asserts that they have the truth and they should know that no lie is of the truth - that these other false gospels should have no part with them, the believers of these false gospels are not christians, and are not believers of Christ. (v21) In choosing a gospel to suit themselves, they have denied the example of Christ, deciding what is the perfect will of God the Father for man. Therefore those with continual "p" in their gospel ("G v p" heresies) are antichrist, denying both the Son's example and the Father that sent Him. (v22,v23) But a believer on the true example of Christ has believed the Father that sent Him.

John exhorts them to keep to the true gospel in the realisation that these false gospels are no gospel at all. He warns them to keep the true gospel they had from the start and then they shall continue living in accordance with the example of Christ and the will of the Father (v24) This is the only gospel, and is the only one with true promises, the believers will not inherit eternal life from a false gospel: rather they should inherit it from God Himself. (v25) John has written these things because even then men were seducing them with false gospels, attracting them from the truth with "the lusts of the eyes, flesh and the pride of life" by attracting them with such as "G v p" statements altering the truth. (v26)

But the Holy Spirit and the truth of the Fathers will has been given them, they need not that any man further teach them the truth of the true gospel of grace - for the Holy Spirit has taught them of all the merits of the truth and there is no lie in their current teaching that they have received from the beginning, and if they continue in it they will live according to God's will. (v27) John presses that they strive to live fully (in obedience and faith) according to God's will so that when Christ returns they might be confident to be in His good graces, not requiring chastening. (v28) If one knows that Christ is righteous (knowing whom Christ is and His example), every person that keeps themselves in striving to live according to God's will is born of Christ.

As of false apostles - "ye shall know them by their fruits". (v29) For a double minded man is unstable in all his ways, false teaching breaks the bands of grace swiftly, and behaviour is not in keeping with the law when as without the Holy Spirit - if we say we have no sin we make God a liar. (see ch.1)

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