Someday I will but an actually Bible study of 1 John. But for now on England File, I have study of singleness. You can get all the posts here. Thanks
~mike
Friday 27 June 2008
Thursday 10 April 2008
1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
(1 John 2:15-17 ESV Taken from BibleGateway.com)
John is continuing to define an authentic Christian, someone who truly follows Jesus. John continues by saying that there are 2 types of love we have: love of the world and our love for God. John makes it clear that a love of the world is against the love of the God. Why can a Christian not love the world and God at the same time?
James enlighten us from chapter 4 verse 4 by saying, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” So friendship to world, or like what the worlds gives you, is an enemy to God. The Greek word uses in the love of the world is agapao (G25). According to BlueLetterBible.com, agapao means in view of love towards humans it to welcome, to entertain, or to love dearly. This is the type of love Jesus was talking about in Matthew 5:44 when he was telling us to love our enemies. It is also a love that we should give God (Matt 22:37). It also has a definition for our love to things or stuff. In that case it means to be well pleased or to be contented at or with a thing. In Greek, the love used to show God love to is agapē (G26). That means affection, good will, benevolence, and brotherly love. Another word used is the King James is charity, also used to show God’s charity in offering salvation to us. Agapē is normal used to show God’s love for us. Paul used the same type of love in Romans 5:8, when he wrote, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
A reason that a love of the world is wrong is that we once followed it ways. Paul says in Ephesians 2:2 that we “once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.” This walk was in sin and against God. That is why Jesus tells in the Gospels that he has taken out of the world. He has freed us from the hold the world has on us.
John continues is verse 16 to tell us, Christians, that the flesh is part of the world. Paul says, “Those in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:8) Paul also told the Ephesians, “we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” The desire of the flesh is completely against God (Galatians 5:17). So the natural tendencies of man are natural against God. Romans 3:23 says, “all have sinned and fallen short of God’s Glory.” Proverbs also tells us that our eyes are never satisfied (Proverbs 27:20).
As the desires of flesh and eyes are not of God because of the natural ability to sin, pride in our possessions is also against God. In Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction.” The Bible states that God is against prideful people (Proverbs 8:13).
I think the reason that God is against the flesh and its desire is comes down to the fact that this world that hates God will pass away. Isaiah wrote, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” David knew that this world was only a temporary place when he wrote Psalms 102:3-12 & 25-28:
After all of this, there is a separation between God and the world. They are 2 different masters and they are against each other. Jesus tells us that we cannot serve two masters. So which one will you choose? Will you love the world and it thing or will you love God and be called out of this world? Verse 17 is part of what we need to believe, that the world will pass away and at that time we will be judged accordingly. God has a great gift called salvation thru Christ. Even though God loves his creation so much he gave his Son to save it. He still must punish us for the sin we enjoy before knowing him. Romans 6:23 clear expresses, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” All that God asks is that you repent and believe in him. Then you will serve the God your father instead of the world. In the words of Todd Friel from The Way of the Master Radio show, “Go serve your God and King.”
Father God, we were creation love ourselves so much that we made you jealous by serving false God. Before we knew you, we loved our sin. Now the Holy Spirit has turned are hearts to you. We thank you for that gift of salvation you gave through your Son. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
(1 John 2:15-17 ESV Taken from BibleGateway.com)
John is continuing to define an authentic Christian, someone who truly follows Jesus. John continues by saying that there are 2 types of love we have: love of the world and our love for God. John makes it clear that a love of the world is against the love of the God. Why can a Christian not love the world and God at the same time?
James enlighten us from chapter 4 verse 4 by saying, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” So friendship to world, or like what the worlds gives you, is an enemy to God. The Greek word uses in the love of the world is agapao (G25). According to BlueLetterBible.com, agapao means in view of love towards humans it to welcome, to entertain, or to love dearly. This is the type of love Jesus was talking about in Matthew 5:44 when he was telling us to love our enemies. It is also a love that we should give God (Matt 22:37). It also has a definition for our love to things or stuff. In that case it means to be well pleased or to be contented at or with a thing. In Greek, the love used to show God love to is agapē (G26). That means affection, good will, benevolence, and brotherly love. Another word used is the King James is charity, also used to show God’s charity in offering salvation to us. Agapē is normal used to show God’s love for us. Paul used the same type of love in Romans 5:8, when he wrote, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
A reason that a love of the world is wrong is that we once followed it ways. Paul says in Ephesians 2:2 that we “once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.” This walk was in sin and against God. That is why Jesus tells in the Gospels that he has taken out of the world. He has freed us from the hold the world has on us.
John continues is verse 16 to tell us, Christians, that the flesh is part of the world. Paul says, “Those in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:8) Paul also told the Ephesians, “we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” The desire of the flesh is completely against God (Galatians 5:17). So the natural tendencies of man are natural against God. Romans 3:23 says, “all have sinned and fallen short of God’s Glory.” Proverbs also tells us that our eyes are never satisfied (Proverbs 27:20).
As the desires of flesh and eyes are not of God because of the natural ability to sin, pride in our possessions is also against God. In Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction.” The Bible states that God is against prideful people (Proverbs 8:13).
I think the reason that God is against the flesh and its desire is comes down to the fact that this world that hates God will pass away. Isaiah wrote, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” David knew that this world was only a temporary place when he wrote Psalms 102:3-12 & 25-28:
3 For my days pass away like smoke,
and my bones burn like a furnace.
4 My heart is struck down like grass and has withered;
I forget to eat my bread.
5 Because of my loud groaning
my bones cling to my flesh.
6 I am like a desert owl of the wilderness,
like an owl of the waste places;
7 I lie awake;
I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.
8 All the day my enemies taunt me;
those who deride me use my name for a curse.
9 For I eat ashes like bread
and mingle tears with my drink,
10 because of your indignation and anger;
for you have taken me up and thrown me down.
11 My days are like an evening shadow;
I wither away like grass.
12 But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever;
you are remembered throughout all generations.
25 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you will remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
27 but you are the same, and your years have no end.
28 The children of your servants shall dwell secure;
their offspring shall be established before you.
After all of this, there is a separation between God and the world. They are 2 different masters and they are against each other. Jesus tells us that we cannot serve two masters. So which one will you choose? Will you love the world and it thing or will you love God and be called out of this world? Verse 17 is part of what we need to believe, that the world will pass away and at that time we will be judged accordingly. God has a great gift called salvation thru Christ. Even though God loves his creation so much he gave his Son to save it. He still must punish us for the sin we enjoy before knowing him. Romans 6:23 clear expresses, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” All that God asks is that you repent and believe in him. Then you will serve the God your father instead of the world. In the words of Todd Friel from The Way of the Master Radio show, “Go serve your God and King.”
Father God, we were creation love ourselves so much that we made you jealous by serving false God. Before we knew you, we loved our sin. Now the Holy Spirit has turned are hearts to you. We thank you for that gift of salvation you gave through your Son. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
Friday 8 February 2008
1 John 2:7-14
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. 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. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 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 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. 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.
(ESV Taken from BibleGateway.com)
Up to 1 John 2:6, John was telling us what Christians will look like. Christians are to be walking in the light with the Lord. They realize that they are sinners and know that the Christ is our advocate or intercessor to God for our forgiveness. It comes down that we are supposed to walk life like Jesus. John also tells the us that there are people that say they walk in the light but they are liars. As John continues to write, John gives us a new commandment. This commandment is new but it is really an old one (1 John 2:7-8). The old commandment is one Jesus gave his disciples before during his last time talking to them before his arrest. Jesus say,” A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35). In the Gospel of John, John writes that the disciples are to love each other. This must have been a huge impact in John's life because his gospels and letters all talk about love. This old commandment that John is talking about is something they people heard or even when the gospel was correctly preached to new believers heard. John Piper said in a sermon, "John means for this to be very encouraging. He is not writing to load any new duty on the believers. He has nothing new to say. It's the same old "word" they received when they first heard the gospel. It was part of the foundational gospel message. It is not stage two. It is not a counsel of perfection for monks and nuns. The commandment of love 'is the word which you have heard'" (DesiringGod.org). The 2 greatest commandments is love God and love everyone else.
John tells us in 9-11 that the new commandment is to love our fellow Christians and not to hate them. If you hate fellow Christians, John warns us that we live in darkness. What kind of love is John talking about? The love that uses in the Greek is agapaō (Strong #G25) or to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly. This is the same love that Matthew uses when Jesus tells us the greatest commandments. In the KJV, agapaō is used 135 times for love and 7 for beloved. It is used when Jesus tells the rich man to sell his possessions in Mark 10:21. It used a lot when Jesus loved the people he was helping. I think that is what John is telling us here. That we must love everyone especially our fellow Christians like how Christ loved people. This goes along with 1 John 1:8 & 10. If you hate your brother John says it is like murder (1 John 3:15). So when you hate your brother, you have stepped off into the darkness. The light of Christ is no longer shining because of the evilness in your heart to the person. This different when we love our fellow Christians. We continue down the path of light. Jesus told his disciples before they left for Bethany, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him" (John 11:9-10). This is an answer to the disciples questioning him going back to Judea. But the application is still the same. If we live in the light of Jesus, we will not stumble because we continue down the path of light. We can see where we are going. David said in Psalms 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Since John says Jesus is the Word of God. Let us learn from Jesus on how love. Let us follow his example of loving people to remain on the narrow road to heaven that is lit up by God and not down the dark wide road to hell.
O loving and graceful father. Thank you for the example of love that your Son has shown us. Lord, allows us to love the same way and continue down the path of life fulfilling your will. I pray this in the name of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
(ESV Taken from BibleGateway.com)
Up to 1 John 2:6, John was telling us what Christians will look like. Christians are to be walking in the light with the Lord. They realize that they are sinners and know that the Christ is our advocate or intercessor to God for our forgiveness. It comes down that we are supposed to walk life like Jesus. John also tells the us that there are people that say they walk in the light but they are liars. As John continues to write, John gives us a new commandment. This commandment is new but it is really an old one (1 John 2:7-8). The old commandment is one Jesus gave his disciples before during his last time talking to them before his arrest. Jesus say,” A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35). In the Gospel of John, John writes that the disciples are to love each other. This must have been a huge impact in John's life because his gospels and letters all talk about love. This old commandment that John is talking about is something they people heard or even when the gospel was correctly preached to new believers heard. John Piper said in a sermon, "John means for this to be very encouraging. He is not writing to load any new duty on the believers. He has nothing new to say. It's the same old "word" they received when they first heard the gospel. It was part of the foundational gospel message. It is not stage two. It is not a counsel of perfection for monks and nuns. The commandment of love 'is the word which you have heard'" (DesiringGod.org). The 2 greatest commandments is love God and love everyone else.
John tells us in 9-11 that the new commandment is to love our fellow Christians and not to hate them. If you hate fellow Christians, John warns us that we live in darkness. What kind of love is John talking about? The love that uses in the Greek is agapaō (Strong #G25) or to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly. This is the same love that Matthew uses when Jesus tells us the greatest commandments. In the KJV, agapaō is used 135 times for love and 7 for beloved. It is used when Jesus tells the rich man to sell his possessions in Mark 10:21. It used a lot when Jesus loved the people he was helping. I think that is what John is telling us here. That we must love everyone especially our fellow Christians like how Christ loved people. This goes along with 1 John 1:8 & 10. If you hate your brother John says it is like murder (1 John 3:15). So when you hate your brother, you have stepped off into the darkness. The light of Christ is no longer shining because of the evilness in your heart to the person. This different when we love our fellow Christians. We continue down the path of light. Jesus told his disciples before they left for Bethany, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him" (John 11:9-10). This is an answer to the disciples questioning him going back to Judea. But the application is still the same. If we live in the light of Jesus, we will not stumble because we continue down the path of light. We can see where we are going. David said in Psalms 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Since John says Jesus is the Word of God. Let us learn from Jesus on how love. Let us follow his example of loving people to remain on the narrow road to heaven that is lit up by God and not down the dark wide road to hell.
O loving and graceful father. Thank you for the example of love that your Son has shown us. Lord, allows us to love the same way and continue down the path of life fulfilling your will. I pray this in the name of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
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