1 John 2:1-12

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
​Series: I John

Rusty's Notes

The false prophet teachers were teaching:
- The material world of matter is evil.
- Christ could not come to the earth in human flesh.
- He came in Spirit and only seemed touchable in
       human flesh.
- Jesus was not the Son of God.
- They deny that Jesus is the Christ, therefore John
       refers to them as “antichrists” (2:18, 22, 4:3).
- Since salvation means deliverance from the physical
       world, including the physical body, it does not
       matter how a person behaves in their bodies.
- Since sin is part of the material world, sin does not
       exist for the Christian. We (false prophets) are
       sinless. (1:8, 10)
- We (false prophets) have special insight from God’s
       Spirit to see these deeper truths.
- They walked in darkness (1:5-6).
- They refused to observe the commandments of Christ
       (2:3-4, 6).
- They displayed hatred toward other Believers (2:9,
       11, 3:14, 15, 17, 4:8, 20-21, 5:1).
- They broke fellowship with Believers (2:19).
- Their teaching was seductive (deceit) (2:26)
 
What percentage of the church understands forgiveness?
 
This is for all the marketing majors out there…

• Baskin Robbins
• Toblerone
• Amazon
• Bronx Zoo
• FedEx

 
I want to show you something that took me a long time to see in the Scriptures.

• Now that I see it.. I can’t stop talking about it.
• This is something that I did not learn at OBU.
• I never remember hearing this in seminary.
• I did not learn this until I was 36 years old.
• I want to teach you one thing today.
• But I am telling you not to believe a word we say.
• Go look it up yourself.

 
1 JOHN 2
1 My little children,

• John goes from addressing the group generally in chapter 1 to specifically addressing Christians.
• Christians have an advocate for when they sin: Jesus Christ.
• In contrast to those who were being emphasized with 1 John 1:9,
• Christians do not need more forgiveness or cleansing because Jesus forever stands in our defense.

I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate (counselor) with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous one.

• John 14:16 - And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.[1]

2 He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.

• The word propitiation has to do with the removal of divine wrath.
• The sacrifice of Christ is a propitiation for the sins of the world.
• In contrast to the Old Testament concept of atonement in which sin was merely covered, Jesus actually took away the sins of the world.
• His is the only sacrifice that could actually completely satisfy God.
• This means that the Old Testament sacrifices are no longer needed because the perfect sacrifice has occurred.
• Because this perfect sacrifice has arrived, we are totally forgiven and cleansed from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
• Jesus’ death is the means that turns God's wrath from the sinner.
• To appease, satisfy or pardon.
• 2 Corinthians 5:21 - He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. [2]
• What other verse can you think of that affirms this verse? – John 3:16
• This is not a reference to universalism.
• Rather, it is referring to the total scope of Christ’s work for the sins of the entire world.
• The blood of Christ is sufficient to take away the sins of all who believe in Him.
• But faith is needed in order for forgiveness to be a reality for the individual.

GOD’S COMMANDS
3 This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands.

• John is not speaking of the Old Covenant law.
• This would contradict the entire message of the New Testament.
• Rather, John is speaking of new commandments from Jesus: Believe in Jesus and love one another (1 John 3:23).
• Those who believe in Jesus are born again and can love with the love of God.
• This is because believers abide or live in God.
• By this reality we can know that we are in Him.

4 The one who says, “I have come to know him,” and yet doesn’t keep his commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

• False teachers

5 But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the love of God is made complete. This is how we know we are in him: 6 The one who says he remains in him should walk just as he walked.

• How did Jesus walk? – By the Spirit

7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old command that you have had from the beginning. The old command is the word you have heard.8 Yet I am writing you a new command, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.

• John is addressing the universal principle of love present throughout the Scriptures.
• God has always been about love.
• John 13:34-35 - “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” [3]
• In the Old Covenant, loving God and others fulfilled the law. But in the New Covenant, the command is knowing the love of Jesus, receiving it, and then transmitting it to other people.

9 The one who says he is in the light but hates his brother or sister is in the darkness until now.

• This is not speaking of loving people without boundaries.
• This is not being a doormat.
• Rather, it is loving those who are in Christ by affirming who they are in Christ.
• Love is recognizing the people of God for who they are and what they stand for.

10 The one who loves his brother or sister remains in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother or sister is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he’s going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
 
REASONS FOR WRITING
12 I am writing to you, little children,
since your sins have been forgiven
on account of his name.

• John is reminding Christians that their sins have been forgiven once and for all.
• In contrast to 1 John 1:9 which is an invitation for unbelievers to recognize their sins and receiving forgiveness and cleansing, John now addresses Christians who have been forgiven past tense because of the blood of Christ.[4]

13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you have come to know
the one who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have conquered the evil one.
14 I have written to you, children,
because you have come to know the Father.
I have written to you, fathers,
because you have come to know
the one who is from the beginning.
I have written to you, young men,
because you are strong,
God’s word remains in you,
and you have conquered the evil one. [5]
Hebrews 3 & 4 – April 30 Message – “Physical & Spiritual Rest”
       1) Redemptive Rest
         - Exodus – Rest from physical bondage in Egypt
         - Hebrews – Rest from spiritual bondage to sin
       2) Canaan Rest
         - Joshua – Rest to overcome the enemy
         - Hebrews 10 – Had begun to enter but never overcome the enemy
       3) Sabbath Rest
         - Hebrews 4 – Rest that comes with true spiritual maturity
         - Knowing the Father and resting from our own works.
 
1 JOHN 2:12
12 I am writing to you, little children,

• since your sins have been forgiven
• on account of his name.
• To begin with, “little children” refers to all believers.
• John is not talking about age here.
• John is referring to spiritual maturity.
• Literally, this word means “born ones.”
• All Christians have been born into God’s family through faith in Jesus Christ, and their sins have been forgiven.[6]
• “Have been forgiven” is in the perfect tense (John will use a perfect tense form six times in these verses).
• The English majors in here will tell you the past perfect tense is a verb form that the action was complete before the present time.
• It shows the action is perfect (100%) which means it is finished.
• This forgiveness occurs because the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ made the mercy and grace of God available to those who repent of their sins and believe in the name of Jesus.[7]
• “Forgiven” – the forgiveness of sins is mentioned as a completed fact… it is past tense…
• It is the ground whereon they stand and we stand.
• It is the sphere wherein they move and we move, as a benefit we have all received.
• Not only received past tense but for the rest of our lives a lasting effect and an efficient power.[8]
• The first and most fundamental word of encouragement that John can give to all members of the church is that in the past they were forgiven of their sins and that this forgiveness remains effective in their lives.[9]

 

• Many will teach that forgiveness is a gift that we can’t take for granted. (I agree)
• Therefore in an act of humbleness and pure desire to not abuse this gift of God they have been given, they accept it as they need it.
• It’s like an endless water fountain to them.
• At one point in my life I began to see God’s forgiveness differently.
• I saw God’s forgiveness like an ocean… and I was swimming in it.
• I couldn’t escape it.
• It is inevitable that I was and am going to sin. (1 John 1:10 - If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.[10])
• I can see forgiveness as my nightly medicine I am expected to take to get better.
• OR… I see forgiveness as my remedy and I am already healed.

 

• How many times did Jesus die on the cross?
• One time...
• How does Jesus forgive sins?
• He's not getting back up there.
• He said, "It is finished"
• Illustration of Timeline with cross in the middle
• Everything you've done in the past,
• Everything you are currently doing, and everything you are going to do... Jesus has taken care of on the cross... one time.
• It was good enough for even your worst day.
• Every night I was taught I need to put Jesus back up on the cross.

 

• Oh… I get it… I know what you are thinking.
• How can you dare teach that because people will interpret what you are saying as “they are free to do whatever they want to.”
• The truth is… I am!
• But I also want to teach you about who you truly are as “a little child that calls on the name Jesus.”

 

• This is the way it works.
• God created a perfect world and a perfect couple.
• Genesis 3 happened and sin entered into the world.
• Everything began to die and it never was the way God intended eternity to be.
• Genesis 3:15 is our first understanding in the Scripture that a Messiah will come to save us.
• Throughout the whole Old Covenant it is proven that we cannot save ourselves.
• God gave us the Law and we could not fulfill it.
• He went to great lengths to show us. He even used the actual law to prove His love for us.
• Romans 5:20 - The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more[11]
  • One choice
  • Ten Commandments
  • 613 Laws
  • Sermon on the Mount
  • Everything
  • Cross
• It all changed at the cross.
• Hebrews 10:10-14 - By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.
• Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins. 12 But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God., 13 He is now waiting until his enemies are made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.[12]

 
1 John 2:12 - I am writing to you, little children,
since your sins have been forgiven
on account of his name. [13]


It is the simplest of things of our faith that are necessary to understand so we can mature into sound and blameless followers of Jesus.
 
I ask you again… What percentage of the church understands forgiveness based upon what you just heard?
 
The “church” (little “c”) wants us to identify as sinners.
So why don’t we just wear name tags that identify our specific sins.

• Begin to pass out nametags.

No! We don’t identify based upon we do… We identify based upon what He has already done!

• Nametags at bar.
• Lauren Daigle – “You Say”

[1] Christian Standard Bible. 2020. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. 2020. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. 2020. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Farley, Andrew. www.BibleCommentary.com. 1 John 2.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. 2020. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 495). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7] Akin, D. L. (2001). 1, 2, 3 John (Vol. 38, p. 104). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[8] Lange, J. P., Schaff, P., Brain, K., & Mombert, J. I. (2008). A commentary on the Holy Scriptures: 1, 2, 3 John (p. 61). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[9] Akin, D. L. (2001). 1, 2, 3 John (Vol. 38, p. 104). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[10] Christian Standard Bible. 2020. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[11] Christian Standard Bible. 2020. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[12] Christian Standard Bible. 2020. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[13] Christian Standard Bible. 2020. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.