Thoughts From 2John - Part 1

 The elder,

To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 

        Any idea what the theme was in this quarter of the book? John uses the word "truth" in his writings 43 times. This is relevant to today because people aren't really interested in "the" truth, they are interested in "their" truth which is ironic because their truth may be totally incorrect but it doesn't really matter to them. Plus, their truth may change over time which means one of them wasn't true. "Truth" is defined as that which is in accord with reality.

     One of John's most notable accounts of "truth" is found in Jesus' discourse with Pilate which is only found in his gospel, not the other three. It relates to today because Jesus was explaining who He was and the kingdom of God and explaining the truth and Pilate wasn't interested because his truth was that he had to keep peace even if it meant killing an innocent man. I suppose his truth was true, but Jesus is THE truth, so the question is which truth are you going to follow? What God asks us to do is submit our truth to His. What would that look like in Pilate's case? The truth was that he would lose his job, status, favor with the king, maybe even his life if he didn't keep peace which in this case was sentencing an innocent man to die. To put his truth in submission to Jesus' would have been to admit that what Jesus said was true and to follow Him no matter what the cost because his job and life is nothing compared to the wonder of following Christ.

           That's what happened with Saul/Paul who was advancing in power with the Pharisees by persecuting Christians until he met the truth on the way to Damascus, left his truth and followed the truth and proclaimed that whatever he was then was rubbish compared to the glory of knowing Christ.

       This is what John is talking about as he starts his letter to this body of believers. He is beyond excited that this group of believers have put their truth in subjection to THE Truth who has now given them a new truth which is in line with what is really true. Make sense? In my life, I was introduced to the truth at a very early age but in my college years, when I was on my own, I had to decide is this really the truth or have I been brainwashed. I knew like Trump, Joe Rogan, Jordan Peterson that this way of living led to a good life and wholesome world. But is that enough? Do you really want to be a Christian because it works even if it is not true and Jesus wasn't God and didn't rise from the dead? That's what Karl Marx called the opiate of the masses - let them believe a lie because it makes them endure suffering without complaining. No, I, like Tom Cruise in A Few Good Men wanted to know the truth and after investigating I was convinced that Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life and no one comes to God except through Him.

       That's the truth and I'm following it (Him).

Thoughts From 1John 5 - Part 6

  We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

         Yesterday was Easter Saturday. Thursday was the Passover, Friday the Crucifixion, Sunday the resurrection, Saturday...what? I think a lot happened in the unseen world that I won't get into, but in the seen world, the Pharisees and Sadducees were high fiving in a temporary alliance against a common foe who had been defeated, so they thought. The disciples were scared that they would be next and were hiding out. The believing Jews went back to their religious ritual of celebrating the Sabbath practicing religion as usual having lost hope.

         Today we are living in a "Saturday". Christ was taken from us in Acts 1 as he ascended and we wait for Him to show up again. In the meantime, John says that the world is under the control of the evil one. The devil is in control of the world and wants everyone to forget Jesus. He wants the Christians cowering in fear of being publicly crucified. Recently an NBA player stood against gay pride night and was cut from the team for conduct detrimental to the team and his wife left him. A whole host of people who call themselves Christians will go to Church Easter Sunday, today, practicing religion as usual and go to work Monday like nothing has happened.

      I heard that the Catholic Church has grown by 20% this year. Is this a revival? We could hope it's due to the new pope focusing on Jesus rather than Mary or changing up the confessionals, but what I think is that it is "Saturday" - religion flourishes as a relationship with Jesus goes in the grave. I read that more and more people don't believe in a rapture. Why? They've given up hope.

       As the famous message goes, "But Sunday's coming!" Jesus is coming back and it may be soon. Satan will finally be defeated. Fear will we gone and our faith will become sight. We can't be intimidated into hiding our faith under a bushel. We must let our light shine. A stand is not a stand unless it costs something, but what is a temporal loss compared to an eternal reward. And most of all we must not give up hope and go back to practicing a dead religion but rather, foster a strong relationship with Jesus who could not be defeated by death but even then, was defeating Satan. We are more than conquerors, we are victors. Let's live victoriously!

Thoughts From 1John 5 - Part 5

 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. 1John 5:16,17

         Now this is a confusing passage. First of all, it talks about intercessory prayer that seems to be effectual on forgiving or taking away the consequences of a sin from another person. Second it talks about two types of sin. One that leads to death (don't pray for that one), and one that doesn't lead to death (pray for that one).

      I recently looked into Catholicism because we have a friend of the family who is a believer but decided Catholicism is the right approach to God. I could see them taking an obscure passage like this and developing a whole doctrine of categories of sin - mortal and venial. Then I could see them endorsing the payment of indulgences or acts of Catholic worship such as penance, mass, baptism, rosaries, praying to saints as acts on behalf of people to lessen their purgatory time - interceding on behalf of others. The Mormons probably justify their baptism of the dead from an obscure passage in 1Corinthians 15 while Mennonites justify head covering and their dress from one passage in 1Corinthians 11. The Church of Christ takes a passage like 1Corinthians 6:19 and says no musical instruments are to be used in Church. The point is, don't take one passage that no one is sure what it means and make it a central doctrine of your church.

      Let's look at the first point I addressed, the intercessory prayer that seems to have power over another's sins and consequences. My thoughts go to 2 passages, one in James 5 on healing where the elders are called and their prayer has an effect on the sick person who may be sick because of some sin, and in 1Corinthians 5 where an unrepentant sinner in the body is excommunicated to let sin run its course and when it has and the person is repentant they are prayed for and restored. With this in mind, I see this intercessory prayer mentioned by John as a person or persons commissioned by the Church to pray over a repentant person suffering the physical and spiritual consequences of sin to be effectual in a supernatural way.

      In a like manor, if the person (probably an ex church member i.e. "they went out from us") is unrepentant and suffering the consequences of that sin a commissioned group from the Church should not go out and intercede for them because from the instance of 1Cor.5, they have not reached the point of repentance and may never. This could in context also have to do with those who were among them but are now preaching a false gospel that blasphemes the Holy Spirit. Don't pray a blessing on them.

      Anyway, the takeaway is that there is power in prayer!

Thoughts From 1John 5 - Part 4

  This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 1John 5:14,15

            John was within hearing distance of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane the night He was arrested and heard Him say, "Take this cup from me. If there is any other way. Nevertheless, not my will but Yours be done." We know the disciples were instructed to pray but fell asleep but they must have heard this part in order for it to be recorded before they dozed off. 

        The prayer of Jesus wasn't selfish at first because that would have been a sin. So what was it? It was an honest cry for help in His human frailty. I remember going through my malpractice case in '89 and going through depositions, meetings with attorneys, and getting the court date, arranging coverage, rescheduling patients, all the while praying, "God take this from me. Have them settle out of court, please." I was scared. I was praying for a way out. God had a reason for me going through it and eventually I had to say, "OK, Your will be done. Help me to get through it." That prayer was in accordance with His will, and He heard it and it was answered. Years later I found out that the prosecuting attorney found Christ through my wife's and my example of faith through it all. Also, I never had to practice scared, defensive, costly medical care to protect myself from going to court because I'd been there and no longer was afraid. When people tried to extort me for money or they would take me to court, I'd say, "Fine, take me to court", and it would go away. And what I've realized is if you settle a case, it goes on your record as claiming guilt and it stays with you as you apply for other jobs. God knew all that and was protecting me from that despite my pleas for the easy way out.

       The way of salvation is a surrender of our will to His will and prayer is a reflection of that. We have in our finite minds a way that seems prudent and we pray for that. God who is outside time and knows the future may have a different, better plan and our growth involves continuing to surrender to His plan. So many people's rocky soil faith is revealed when their prayers aren't answered the way they wanted. They hadn't surrendered to God's control of their lives. His way was better and their faith was shipwrecked on the lie of Satan that He wasn't a good good Father.

      When you pray, can you honestly say, "Nevertheless, not my will but Yours be done."? As the years go on are you developing a trust that God is working all things out for your good and His glory? Do you still find yourself getting disillusioned when you don't get what you asked for, or are you anxiously awaiting to see what God is going to do through it all? This is spiritual growth. This is learning to lean on God and trust Him. This is sanctification. Hang on because it could get exciting.

Thoughts From 1John 5 - Part 3

 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.  1John 5:9-13

         Remember the transfiguration? Peter, James and John go up a mountain with Jesus, and like in a scene from Cocoon, Jesus temporarily "unzips" his skin and bright light glory like the kind that fried Saul's eyes on the road to Damascus, like the kind that left Moses glowing for weeks after Mt. Sinai emanated from Jesus. Elijah and Moses appear and a voice from God echoes, "This is my Son. Listen to Him." Jesus, now not glowing and Moses and Elijah going back to I figure Abraham's bosom now for a very short time, descends down the mountain with them and tells them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the resurrection.

        Here it is, much after the resurrection, now knowing and believing what Jesus meant by "rising from the dead" and he gets to tell about it. Peter had previously told about it in his second epistle; 

" For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts"

      John says basically that he is testifying that Jesus is God's son and savior of the world but if people don't believe his word, trust God's word who testified at His baptism and also at the Mount of Transfiguration. John was also the only disciple at the cross where the light went away in the middle of the day and the ground shook and the soldier who stood there believed from all that transpired.

       Believing this testimony that God sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins and raised Him to give eternal life is what is necessary to be forgiven of our sins, receive the Spirit who gives us life and a deposit guaranteeing eternal life in Heaven. Rejecting that doesn't send us to hell, we were already on our way to Hell. Jesus is sent as a lifeline to deliver us. 

      When you ask someone if they are going to Heaven when they die and they say, "I hope so.", it pretty much means they aren't. If you think someone is arrogant when they say that they are going to Heaven someday, it also shows that you don't understand salvation. By faith, believing and receiving God's free gift of salvation, and not our good deeds, is what saves us and John says that he writes these things so that you can know for certain you are going to Heaven someday. That's why I don't need to fear death. That's why I can humbly say that I'm for certain going to Heaven when I die. What about you? Do you know for certain you are going to Heaven when you die? You can! And don't just take John's word for it - take the creator of the universe's word for it, the one who is eternal life and created Heaven. I'll believe Him!

Thoughts From 1John 5 - Part 2

 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 1John 5:6-8

         I was sharing at the Easter homeless meal yesterday and at the end I got some spontaneous questions - "Where did Jesus' soul go those 3 days?" "What happens to people that have never heard about Jesus?". Fortunately, I had studied about those things so I wasn't a deer in the headlights, and I could answer my opinion which was qualified by "this may or may not be right but as far as I understand", but those were some unexpected tough questions coming from a crowd that I presumed ahead of time weren't deep thinkers. I judged them wrongly!

       I'm glad they didn't ask me what this passage meant because it too on face value looks like commentators would not know for sure. Once again, I share that saying with you, "Don't concern yourself about what you don't understand about the Bible, concern yourself over what you do understand." In other words, John has been beating us down with obedience and loving one another and I shouldn't be focused on an obscure passage I don't understand but rather my lack of love. However, let me take a stab at what this passage means.

      Jesus was introduced to the people and His public ministry and His first disciples in John 1 at His baptism by John the Baptist. (Not this John) You could say, "He came by water", and the Spirit came down from Heaven in the form of a dove and testified to His "coming out". We learn that John the Baptist's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He was calling people to repent of their sins by washing symbolically their sins away and getting a clean start with God. In other words, "the law and the prophets have told you how to live and you have wandered away. Come back." We also learn in Acts 19 that baptism of John's was only a start. It could get your heart ready for what was coming next but it didn't save;

 "While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all." Acts 19:1-6

     So, Jesus didn't come just to teach about repenting from sins but to actually wash away their sins. He didn't just preach about the way, He was the Way. He came by blood. John had previously said, "the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin." And note in the previous passage and many others the testimony of the Holy Spirit that His blood was efficacious to save completely. Therefore, I think John is saying, Jesus was more than a teacher, He was and is the savior of the World.

          Therefore, I believe what this passage is saying, unlike other teachers who came proclaiming how to restore a relationship with God, Jesus not only proclaimed it but made it possible. As God said on the Mount of Transfiguration to John who wrote this, we need to "Listen to Him!"

Thoughts From 1John 5 - Part 1

  Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1John 5:1-5

             After graduating High School, teens have four choices ahead of them. First, they can continue to live at home and play video games in their parent's basement and hang out with their friends hoping their parents don't kick them out and hoping they continue to give them money. These are sometimes referred to as basement dwellers, hermits, trad sons, or NEET (not in education, employment, or training) These are derogatory terms because this is not valued highly in our society and doesn't lead to much of a future. Second, they could get a job and move out whether they share a house with someone else to help make payments or not. Generally, unless you have connections to a good upper-level job through family or friends, one has to start at a low salary and hope for advancement by working there long enough. Once again, this is a path with limited future options but is admirable because of the tenacity required to thrive. Third is to go to college and not apply yourself - just party, have a good time and graduate. Chances are, with that resume, job options may not be much more than the person that skipped college but with a degree it's possible you may start at a higher entry level. Lastly, you can go to college, apply yourself, work hard, get a degree and go into the job market with a great resume and snag a job with a great future.

        What does that have to do with 1John 5? John says that if we love God, we will love His son and if we love His Son we will obey His commandments which aren't a burden when you realize that the reward is overcoming the world. Most people view going to college and studying hard even on the weekends while everyone else is partying, to be tedious and work and burdensome. What if they could see the future vacationing in the Caribbean on a yacht, basking in the sun at the end of that 4 year path?

 Would they rethink the burdensomeness of that path? In a similar way, living a life of self-denial and sacrifice in servitude of God and His Son Jesus, is anything but burdensome when you realize the benefits of it in this life and the glory set before us for all eternity which is far better than the above picture. Paul says in 2Corinthians 4:17-18;

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

 Obeying Jesus is not a burden but a joy! If you love Him you will. But John does say, don't delude yourself and think you can love God and not obey Him. John and Jesus say that isn't an option.