1, 2, and 3 John
Class Three

1 John Chapter 2

Christ Our Advocate

1Jn 2:1  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: 
1Jn 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 
1Jn 2:3  And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 
1Jn 2:4  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 
1Jn 2:5  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 
1Jn 2:6  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Continuing the thought that even as children of God, we can still sin, John now goes on to give us hope.  That hope is found in the fact that we have an advocate.  The word “advocate” literally means, “intercessor”.  If, and when, we do sin, we have someone who “intercedes” on our behalf, and that person is Jesus Christ.  Jesus paid the price for ALL sins, for ALL people, for ALL times.  When we do sin, if we confess (acknowledge) that it is sin, Jesus comes to our aid and fights our case for us.  He reminds the Father that those sins are forgiven.  He becomes our “propitiation” or atonement for those sins.  He paid the price, and as a result, we don't have to.  But, as verse 2 tells us, not only us, but the whole world. The truth is, Jesus paid the price for all sins.  There is only ONE sin that is not forgiven, and that sin is the rejection of God's Salvation.  No person will ever be in hell because he sinned. The only sin anyone in hell is there for, is because they sinned the unpardonable sin...the sin unto death.  They rejected God's Salvation through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:16, 1 John 5:16, Mark 3:28,29)

And then we learn yet another truth in verses 3-6.  If we say we are God's Children and don't keep his commandment (His Word), we are lying.  If we are truly born again, Spirit God lives in us, and we will desire to live for Him and follow His Word... Not the words of the “church”, or a priest, or prophet, but God's Word.  We will reject anything that does not line up with Scripture.  This is how we know that Catholicism, Mormonism, Jehovah witnesses, Christian Science, and many other so called christian religions are not of God.  They all change God's Word, and follow the teachings of some man...not God.  Don't get caught up in this.  Follow God's Word, and His teachings alone.

The New Commandment

1Jn 2:7  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. 
1Jn 2:8  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. 
1Jn 2:9  He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 
1Jn 2:10  He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 
1Jn 2:11  But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. 
1Jn 2:12  I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. 
1Jn 2:13  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. 
1Jn 2:14  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.

Now, we learn yet another truth about whether a person is truly saved or not.  In chapter one it was revealed that if you said you didn't sin, you were a liar and the truth was not in you.  Then in the first part of this chapter we learned that if you are truly a child of God, you will strive to keep God's Words, not mans.  Now in verses  7-11 we learn that if we say we are God's Children and don't keep his commandment (His Word), we are lying.  If we are truly born again, Spirit God lives in us, and we will have fellowship with other Children of God.  Why is there so much fighting within the so called Church?  Because Spirit God is not in them.  Where God is, there is peace.  Where God is, there is no strife and fighting and confusion.  You show me someone who claims to be a child of God, but does not want to be around other Godly people, they are lying.  Spirit God living in you will want to connect to other people with Spirit God in them.

Do Not Love the World

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

As we get to verses 15-17 we are now presented with a warning.  DON'T LOVE THE WORLD OR THE THINGS OF THE WORLD.  This becomes the fourth test whether or not you are a true child of God or not.  First, if you think you are without sin, the truth is not in you.  Secondly, if you don't keep God's Word, but follow after mans doctrines, the truth is not in you.  Thirdly, if you don't love other godly men and women (people who are following God's Word), then the truth is not in you. And finally, if you love this world and the things of this world more then the things of God, the truth is not in you.  We have to live in this world, but we are not to be part of this world.  We are to store up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20) because this world and the things of this world will pass away.  Get your eyes off of this sinful, doomed world, and get them fastened on Jesus Christ.

Warning Concerning Antichrists

1Jn 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 
1Jn 2:19  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 
1Jn 2:20  But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 
1Jn 2:21  I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 
1Jn 2:22  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 
1Jn 2:23  Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 
1Jn 2:24  Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 
1Jn 2:25  And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 
1Jn 2:26  These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 
1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Now, this next section would seem out of place if you think that “Antichrist” is some mean guy that is going to show up at the end of the world and make you put a “666” on your forehead. But this is NOT who “Antichrist” is. Notice in verse 8 that John says there are “many Antichrist”, and that they are already here.  The truth is, “Antichrist” is mentioned only four times in Scripture (1 and 2 John), and in every case, “Antichrist” is mentioned in a present tense, not a future tense.  Notice also what John says in verse 9... “They went out from us, but they were not of us...”.  Who are “they” mentioned in this verse?  “They” are the “Antichrist” mentioned in verse 8.  “Antichrist” was part of their group for a while, but they left the followers of Christ, and John says it is because they were “never” part of them.  To understand what is being said here, we must understand what the word “Antichrist” means.  In the original Greek, it simply meant “to oppose, or stand against Christ the Messiah.”  

Antichrist is ANYONE who is against Jesus Christ, His Teachings or His Work.  Antichrist is a spirit that opposes Christ, and can be found anywhere.  It could be your neighbor who does not want to have anything to do with the Gospel of Christ.  It could be your co-worker who claims to believe in no God at all.  It could be your Pastor who has taken up another Gospel and is preaching the doctrines of man and not of Christ.  Antichrist could even be you.  Your religious, but secretly you don't want anything to do with the God of the Bible.  You believe in many gods, so you follow whatever teaching that makes you feel good at the moment.  Antichrist is a spirit that opposes Christ, not one certain man that is suppose to come at the end of times.

John tells us a little more about Antichrist in verse 22,  “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son” (read also John 8:44).   So, the spirit of Antichrist can be ANYONE...anyone who denies God and who opposes the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  This is why it is so important to make certain the person who you are learning from, truly believes and accepts the Gospel of Christ, and the Word of God without compromise, without adding to it, or taking away from it.  In verse 26, John goes on to say these Antichrist “seduce” you into believing their lies.  Don't fall for it.  Study to show yourself approved unto God, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

Children of God

1Jn 2:28  And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 
1Jn 2:29  If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

As John concludes this portion of his writings he reminds us to “abide in him”.  This simply means to walk in God's light...the light of His Word.  If we do, we have confidence that we are His children and we will live righteously and godly in this present world.