1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world –  the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
 
JOHN instructs the church to avoid the world and everything in the world. It’s a difficult mandate, isn’t it? We must deal with the world. And isn’t the world God’s creation he called, “Good”? In the good world, God placed a beautiful, bountiful garden with trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food (Genesis 2:9). Then God gave good work to the man to work it and take care of it (Genesis 2:15b).
   Throughout the ages, the earth has been the source for all forms of plant and animal life. Even more, God so loved the world he gave his only begotten Son (John 3:16a). And the psalms declare the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. (Psalm 24:1) How, then, do we connect John’s warnings to God’s good creation?  
   Scripture also declares the devil roams the earth (Job 2:2).  John summarizes the world’s sin with three categories: 1) the cravings of sinful man 2) the lust of his eyes 3) the boasting of what he has and does.
   These are still Satan’s weapons against our relationship with God today. The world is consumed with the cravings of sinful men. This is understood to be physical pleasure and sexual desire. All things in our world seem to focus on ways to enjoy these pleasures. Look to the world’s unsatisfied appetite for more of these things, and you will know there is no peace and no real pleasure when our desires lead us into destruction.
   John then warns against the lust of his eyes. How often we are attracted by what we see. Excessive desire for material possessions distorts our priorities. We become fixed on having more than we need simply because it looks attractive. Our time and work become devoted to gathering things. We have little time and energy available to develop lasting relationships with family and friends. Too much time pursuing our desires is too little time to spend with Jesus.
   These possessions can lead to John’s third warning against the boasting of what he has and does. Our possessions can lead to a prideful arrogance toward people who have less. We place our value on the things and forget our value is in bearing the image of God.
   God has created us to desire him. If we desire the things of this world, we will miss the will of God for our lives. His will is that we love God, love others and glorify his name. When we put God at the center of our lives, we will know he is our pleasure. We will have all we need for joy and happiness.  
  
 

1 John 2:12-14 I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 13 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
 
JOHN seems to speak to three different age groups in the church. But the general understanding is he uses “children”, “fathers” and “young men” to emphasize the traits of Christian character. 
   John wrote “dear children” nine times in this letter to address the entire church. He is modeling Jesus’ language to his disciples, “My children, I will be with you only a little longer.” (John 13:33) And Jesus used “children” to refer to all who are saved: “But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.” (Luke 20:35-36) How wonderful to be a child of the resurrection! Jesus is alive in you.
   “Dear children”, then, is John’s confirmation to the church that they belong to Jesus. Born again by the Holy Spirit, God has forgiven their sins, not on their own merit, but on their confession of Jesus as Lord and Savior. The church has become the family of God, knowing his love and grace. By faith God is our Father. We are his children.
   John also calls the church “fathers” two times to refer to their knowledge. He affirms they know Jesus is the eternal God who is from the beginning. With their knowledge of God, they know Jesus is more than a man who has died. He is the Savior who spoke the world into existence, risen from the grave and is alive now seated on heaven’s throne. John’s repetition of this sentence could have been to emphasize this eternal truth against false teachers who rejected Jesus’ deity.
   “Young men” is John’s term to credit strength to the church’s faith. Twice he says you have overcome the evil one. Spiritual strength is required to conquer temptation. John is the affirming teacher who says, “You’ve passed the test and received top honors!” The church has faith as young men have physical strength. Their strong faith has rejected temptation and received Jesus’ blessings. The word of God is alive in them. Such strong faith was necessary as the church stood against persecution.
   To be one of God’s children is a holy calling. He grants you the faith to know him and the strength to persevere in your knowledge. Trust God and remain steadfast. 
 

1 John 2:10-11 Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.
 
TO walk in total darkness is nearly impossible, isn’t it? We may think we know where we are in a familiar room or along a road we’ve often traveled. But if there is no light, we will become disoriented. We can trip over objects or even step into a wall. The darkness blinds us to unseen barriers and pitfalls that limit, misdirect or stop our walk.
   That blinding darkness describes life without the gospel. Endless violence and immorality mark the pitfalls of history. Right and wrong become a matter of preference and convenience. We justify our thoughts and actions based on self-pleasure and personal gain. All types of religions, non-religions, political and self-help systems have pronounced, “This is the way to a true life.” But those destination are always a void marked, “Why Are You Here?”
   So then, how do we know Jesus is truly, the way the truth and the life? (John 14:6) Can we trust him to lead us out of the blinding darkness into the light into the true life? We can find the answer in the evidence of the gospel light’s transforming power.
   When people come to faith in Jesus and truly begin to love God and love one another, the conquest of darkness moves from heart to heart across the globe. When the way and truth of Jesus’ love is alive in the Christian’s heart, it will reveal a life that is patient, kind, content, humble, forgiving and serving. This true Jesus love has changed families, communities and even nations. Persecutions have ended when Christians even loved their enemies. Hospitals exist because Christians cared for the sick amid plagues and infectious diseases. Many education systems and universities began when Christians formed schools to educate people to have skills for meaningful labor.
   Look at impoverished nations worldwide, and you’ll note they have long been ruled by corrupt, pagan leaders. A clear difference is between South Korea and North Korea. The North starves in the darkness while the South prospers in the light of some of the world’s largest churches.
   Some of you reading this have seen the power of Jesus’ salvation completely change your life. Your addictions are gone. Your desires for evil have disappeared. No darkness blinds you because the Lord has brightened the eyes of your heart to enjoy the fruit of his Spirit. Your marriages are strong while many dissolve. Your children who worship Jesus have purpose and a self-assurance found in the love God has lavished on them.
   No, we Christians are not perfect. Walking in Jesus’ way requires true humility and perseverance to live a Spirit-driven faith. But Christ is perfect. He has revealed the true way toward himself, so we can know what is false and what is true. Jesus is the Light. He has shown us the way. If we pay attention, we’ll know the truth.
         
 
 

1 John 2:7-9 Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment – to love one another – is the same message you heard before. 8 Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining. 9 If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness.
 
JOHN is a faithful disciple teaching Jesus’ commands to his church. You’ll find Jesus’ similar language in the Upper Room: John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” How is the command both old and new?
   This foundational truth is taught early and often in the Bible through the Law of Moses, the Proverbs and the prophets. It is an old command have had from the very beginning.
   But Jesus was calling his disciples to consider their relationship with one another as a model for the church to come. These men were of various backgrounds, gifts, visions and desires. They argued and were men seeking their own gain. Pride and jealousy were evident in the disciples. To minister the gospel as one faithful force, they would need to overcome these sins and be unified in one purpose, one vision and one passion.
   That passion would begin by having love for Jesus. In turn, truly loving Jesus, they would love each other with respect, honor, submission, patience, kindness and singleness of purpose.
   Indeed, this is a new commandment because it is very personal and very necessary in God’s church. We who confess Jesus belong to a church. We come from different backgrounds. We have unique reasons for being there, different visions of what we want the church to become. But Jesus wants us united through our love for him. Such a love is necessary, so the world will know Jesus’ love is truly life-giving.
   There are many ways to love others. One way is with spiritual care. Engage with others in small group Bible study. Learn of Jesus together. Be loving to ask, “How may I pray for you this week?” Encourage with, “I see Jesus in you as you care for others.”
   Let’s put self aside and focus with one love for the one God: Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
   This unified love destroys the separating, destructive darkness. True disciples are “Light” disciples who make Jesus visible to all.  
 

1 John 2:1-2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
 
JESUS labeled John and his brother James “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17). They must have been impulsive young men, ready to act quickly to defend Jesus with any means necessary. Once, when a Samaritan village refused to welcome Jesus, they responded, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” (Luke 9:54b) Judgment was their response to sin.
   But in this letter, John’s words tell us he’s become a new creation in Jesus Christ. He speaks to the church not as an impulsive judge but as a loving, patient father. John has learned to be as Jesus, who came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). John sought to guide the Christ-centered heart into a “less sin” life. He assures the church Jesus is their ever-present Advocate before the Father.
   This seems a bit odd, doesn’t it? Why would we need a defense of our sins before the Father? After all, God has elected us into his salvation. Do we constantly need Jesus’ to defend our salvation? Is God a mind-changing judge?
   No. Of course he is not. Jesus is not as a defense attorney who claims before the judge that his client is not guilty. Jesus knows you were guilty. But as you are saved, Jesus defends your salvation because he is the ongoing atoning sacrifice for our sins.
   In God’s law, on the Day of Atonement, the priest would lay hands on two goats to confess the nation’s sins. One goat was sacrificed on the altar. The other goat was taken out of the camp into the desert. This “scapegoat” symbolized the removal of sins. Each year the ritual was repeated.
   This atoning sacrifice became permanent when Jesus was taken outside of the camp – Jerusalem – to be crucified. The Father placed the sins of the world on his Son, the Righteous One, sacrificed on the altar of the cross. His death is the full atonement to the Father for the sins of the whole world. In this way, Jesus is your constant, sure Advocate before the Father of all who confess their sins and confess Jesus is Lord.
   Are you living a “less sin” life than when you confessed the Savior as your Lord? Do you trust that when you sin, your Advocate has defended you? John knew the people of the church would continue to sin. So he wanted them to know they could trust God’s forgiveness as they journeyed toward a more complete obedience of Jesus’ teachings.
   May the light of God’s salvation in Jesus guide you each day toward a more pure life. Amen.  
 

1 John 1:8-10 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.  
 
THE truth is, we are sinners. And the truth is, faith in Jesus is the way to forgiveness. Do you believe this?
   In one way it can be easy to say, “I’m a sinner.” But this confession can become difficult when we begin to name our sins. To say, “I’ve sinned when ….” is a precise way of defining your transgression(s). And that kind of specific confession can be an emotionally painful process. When you love God, who is Light, you may be ashamed to admit you’ve succumbed to the darkness. Shame and guilt may keep you from specifically saying, “I sinned when…”
   But if we do not silently or openly confess each sin before God, might this be a way we claim to be without sin? Are we trying to hide it or deceive ourselves that the sin was of no consequence to our relationship with God?
   Another way we might deceive ourselves is to feel unworthy before God. Or we may not trust his forgiveness. But John gives us great comfort and encouragement that God will hear and forgive our confession.   
   John wants us to remember the Lord is faithful to forgive. He will do as he says. The Bible’s history proves that. Under God’s promise of redemption,, Jesus has died on a cross, so your sins can be forgiven. The Lord has not died in vain. He is faithful to fulfill his covenant promise: Matthew 26:26-28 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Jesus’ blood is poured out, so your sins can be forgiven.
   John also reminds us God is just to forgive. God’s righteousness demands he fulfill his promises. When you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)  You will be saved in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
   Note that he will purify you, make you perfectly clean form all unrighteousness. God does not just forgive what we might view as minor or smaller sins. All unrighteousness becomes righteous in the Lord’s forgiveness.
   That’s why you can specifically confess your sins. He knows each one. Because he loves you, God wants you to love and trust him. You display your love and faith when you release your sins to him.    
         
 

1 John 1:5-7 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
 
WHEN John writes, “God is light.” we must understand he is defining light as a fundamental nature of God. When God initiated creation with, “Let there be light.” (Genesis 1:3) he did not create the sun and the moon at that point, but he established himself in the world. The good creation could begin when God became present over the formless void.
   John witnessed God, the Light of the World, unveiled in Jesus’ life. He heard Jesus proclaim, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) to define himself as creator and sustainer of life. John saw God’s glorious light in the Transfiguration on the Mount where Jesus’ clothes became as white as light. (Matthew 17:2). John had watched darkness flee when Jesus rebuked disease, death and demonic darkness. John had witnessed the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 3:35-40) and watched Lazarus walk from the tomb (John 11:44). He had seen Jesus’ empty tomb and stood in wonder as Jesus ascended into the heavens.
   Have you ever noticed the light when you open the door from a lighted room into a dark room? The light goes in, doesn’t it? The darkness cannot come out. It cannot get into the light.
   That’s how it is with the gospel. The Good News of Jesus’ salvation through the forgiveness of sins cannot be stopped by the darkness. The gospel is the direct representation of God into the world. Notice how persistent the gospel has been. Twelve apostles opened the door of the gospel light into a dark world. Through the centuries the gospel has overcome all types of dark elements of the human heart that have attempted to dim and douse the Light from the world. But Hell has not and cannot prevail against the light because God is Light. He is the good news of salvation. He is eternal life for the forgiveness of sins. He is the light who reveals our sins and shows us the way to repentance. Jesus lights our pathway on the way of righteousness.
   When we live in God’s light we will  have fellowship with one another. Remember this is spiritual and eternal connection to all in the church and to God. This is the great promise and hope of the Gospel Light. In Jesus there is only light.  
 

1 John 1:1-4 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched –  this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.
 
CAN you testify you have seen, heard and touched Jesus? That’s how the apostle John begins this letter, which many consider a sermon. As Peter, he was one of the 12 apostles. The gospel John  and 1, 2 and 3 John are John’s affirmations of Jesus as the Living Son of God. John wrote these about 85-90 AD from Ephesus before he was exiled to Patmos. Patmos was where he received the vision recorded as The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
   John begins this letter in a similar fashion to his gospel. He first refers to Jesus, not by name, but by his eternal essence: That which was from the beginning we…have heard… have seen…have looked. And our hands have touched. In the Greek language, “that which” meant “all inclusive”. The apostles continually testified to their personal experience with Jesus. They had heard him speak. They had seen him for three years. They had looked upon his humanity, miracles, empty tomb, resurrection and ascension. They had touched him even after his resurrection. That’s why they could truthfully testify to it and proclaim the life appeared was with the Father and has appeared to us. John is very purposeful in all of his writings to connect Jesus with the Father in heaven.
   The physical, historic evidence of Jesus as a man and Jesus as the Son of God is fundamental to the church. When John wrote this, he church had been through 50 years of challenges and false teaching that denied this truth. Persecutions had also tried to destroy this truth. John countered these lies to help us know Jesus is the Word of life.
   This knowledge leads to the fellowship of believers. Fellowship is much more than being together. The Greek word for fellowship is koinonia. It refers to spiritual and eternal life. Faith in the the Word of life connects people spiritually and eternally with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.   
   God’s law also required fellowship offerings as a remembrance of peace between the Jews and God. As the Jews in the Exodus journey obediently responded to God’s commands, they were at peace with the eternal God. To be at peace spiritually and eternally with God requires obedient faith in that which is the Word of life.
   John is passionate and hopeful for the church. After 50 years of responding to the challenges and the triumphs of a devoted apostle of the Lord, John’s greatest joy is the true fellowship of the church with the Lord Jesus Christ. What else matters?
   So then, what is your testimony? Are you in fellowship with God and with his church?  

2 Peter 3:15-16 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
 
PETER continues to encourage the church to be patient for Jesus’ return and to stand against those who mock their faith. God is patient to complete his plan to save his church into heaven. Honor the Lord with a diligent faith to believe his promises. And truly, why should we be concerned? Whenever we move from this life, we will move into heaven.  
   Peter’s reference to Paul reminds us of these two apostles and the others working in obedience to Jesus’ Great Commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
   Apparently Paul had written to the Asia Minor churches as well. He was instrumental in helping some to begin. It is important to know is that Peter and Paul taught the same truths. Called and appointed by Jesus, these men witnessed for Jesus, who was with them always through the Holy Spirit’s power. When Peter wrote that some of Paul’s words may be hard to understand, he does not discount their truth. Bible studies are called “studies” for a reason. Paul, Peter and the others wrote to teach us to obey Jesus’ commands. Sometimes these teachings are difficult to understand because God’s truth is much different than our natural mind can easily understand. For example, Peter could have referred to such wondrous truths as Ephesians 2:4-5 God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions –  it is by grace you have been saved. It is, indeed, difficult to understand how God loves us so much he raises us from the grave of our sins into his glorious resurrection. Scripture’s truth is only revealed because Jesus is with us to the end of the age through the Holy Spirit to help us know God.
   Note one other thing about Peter’s comment on Paul’s writings. Peter puts them on the level of the other Scriptures – the Old Testament. This is making Paul’s writings equal to God’s revealed Word to the prophets! Through Paul’s letters the church was developing the foundational knowledge of the Christian faith. Paul’s letters have become part of the New Testament because the Spirit of Christ was with him to inspire his teachings. All of the apostles’ teachings are the foundation of the church: Ephesians 2:19-20 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. The gospels and epistles are the building blocks of faith for each Christian life and each church. We must study them with our hearts and minds to know and to live their truths.

2 Peter 3:13-14 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
 
THIS is a wonderful promise. We will live forever in the home of righteousness. We understand this as God’s perfection. The new heaven and earth is where God’s holy presence governs all things. There is no room for sin.
   The greatest truth of the righteous home is the relationship we’ll have with the LORD God. We have a glimpse of what this will look like when we read Genesis 2. God formed Adam and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7) Then he put the man in the garden with trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. (Genesis 2:9) He gave Adam responsibilities to manage the earth, to name the animals and to guard the law. The Father didn’t want Adam to be alone, so he made the perfect helpmate for him. Out of Adam came life. And God personally joined the couple into the marriage union. Together, before the sin, Adam and Eve experienced the righteous enjoyment of a life together under God’s pleasure.
   We see the righteous life of Enoch, son of Jared, father of Methuselah: Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. There is the righteous Noah: Genesis 6:9 This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.
   The righteous have union with God. In this world they walk with God spiritually. In the new heaven and earth the righteous – the children of God – will personally walk with the Triune God. Jesus promises: Matthew 13:43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.  
   And Jesus confirms in his revelation to John: Revelation 22:3 The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
   This is the home of righteousness forever. How glorious it will be to walk with God forever.