This series in general and this posting in particular involve statements from the Apostle John’s first letter to the church–his “beloved,” his “little children,” his “brethren.” Writing under the power of the Holy Spirit, his singular epistle was written to two groups of people in the church which, for this posting I will call Group A and Group B. Keep this in mind as we examine the statements God made through him. The groups, each of whom are known as God’s people, are as different as life and death. Like the ten virgins of Matthew 25, those in both groups are known to the world as Christians. Are they?

STATEMENTS WRITTEN TO GROUP A: “Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon US that WE should be called the sons of God. Therefore, the world does not know US (as God’s sons) because it did not know Jesus as His Son. Beloved, now WE are the sons of God, and WE do not yet know what WE will look like (when He returns for us), but WE know that WE will look like Him, for WE will see Him as He is (3:1,2). WE will have boldness on the Day of Judgment because, “as He is (now in heaven), so are WE (now) in this world” (4:17). “WHOEVER abides in Him does not sin …. LITTLE CHILDREN, let no man deceive YOU, HE that does righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous” (3:7). “WHOSO is born (begotten, not born again) of God does not commit sin, for His seed (Word) remains in HIM and HE cannot sin because HE is born of God” (3:9). “YOU know that Jesus was manifested to remove sin from His people, for in Him there is no sin” (3:5). “HE who says HE abides in Him must walk (live) even as He walked” (2:6). “HE who keeps His commandments dwells in Him (Christ), and HE (Christ) dwells in HIM” (3:24). “For this is how we show our love for God–WE keep His commandments” (5:3). “This is how WE know that WE know Him–WE keep His commandments” (2:3). “WHOSO keeps His Word (commandments/Law), the love of God is perfected in HIM. This is how WE know that WE are in Him” (2:5). “WE know that WHOSOEVER is born (begotten) of God does not sin, but keeps HIMSELF (pure) so that the evil one does not cause HIM to sin (5:17). “EVERY MAN who hopes for salvation purifies HIMSELF even as He (Jesus) is pure” (3:3). “I write to YOU because YOU are strong and the Word of God abides in YOU and YOU have overcome the wicked one” (2:14). “Let that abide in YOU which was taught YOU from the beginning: IF (and only IF) that which was taught YOU remains in YOU then YOU will remain in the Son and in the Father” (2:24). “And this is the promise that He has promised US,–eternal life” (2:25). “HE who does the will of God abides forever” (2:17). BRETHREN, do not marvel if the world hates YOU” (3:13) because you are not like the world.

STATEMENTS WRITTEN TO GROUP B: “WHOSOEVER commits sin transgresses the Law, for sin is the transgression of the Law” (3:4). “WHOSOEVER sins has not seen Him and does not know Him” (3:6). “HE who sins is of the devil” and “does the works of the devil” (3:8). “HE who says HE is in the light and sins is walking in darkness even until now (2:9). “HE that sins walks in darkness and does not know where HE is going because the darkness has blinded HIM” (2:11). “HE who is not righteous is not of God (3:10). Group B people are so-called “sinners saved by grace.”

BE REMINDED THAT ALL OF THESE STATEMENTS WERE DELIVERED FROM GOD THROUGH JOHN TO THE CHURCH. THE NEW TESTAMENT WAS WRITTEN TO THE CHURCH, FOR THE CHURCH AND ABOUT THE CHURCH. Note the stark contrast between John’s Words to the two groups, BOTH OF WHICH WERE IN THE CHURCH. NOTHING HAS CHANGED. Today, professing Christendom is comprised to the descendants of the same two groups. Group A is comprised of the “few.” Group B makes up the other 99.99% of the “many” as described by Jesus in Matthew 7:13,14.

Notice what the Lord says to the church in 2:24-29. Note the first Word–“LET.” “Let” tells us that the situation is under the individual’s control. We either do or do not do what John tells us to do or to not do in the rest of the statement. “Let that which you have heard from the beginning abide in you.” Whether we obey this command or reject it is our decision to make. Group A does what is commanded because they know that their salvation depends on it. Group B will not do what is commanded because they “know” that Jesus, or Mary, will “take care of it.” Now look at the remainder of the statement: “IF” that which we have heard (from the apostles) abides in us, then we will “continue to abide in the Son and in the Father.” Notice the CAVEAT (condition) introduced by the Word “IF.” Jesus said that the only way we can abide in the Father is to OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS and that He (Jesus) Himself abode in the Father by keeping His commandments (Jn. 15:10,22-24; 14:15,21,23/ Mat. 19:17/1 Jn. 2:5). If we “walk as He (Jesus) walked” (1 Jn. 2:5), then we must obey the Law AS HE OBEYED THE LAW. In verse 24 we are reminded that God has promised us eternal life IF we continue in (to obey) God’s commandments (24). In verse 28 John writes to his “little children,” commanding them to: “Abide in Him (Christ) SO THAT when He returns you can greet Him with confidence (that your salvation is forthcoming).” He reminds us in first Peter that salvation is the end result of our faith, and that Christ will bring salvation with Him upon His return (1 Pet. 1:5). Until then we have the HOPE OF SALVATION (1 Thes. 5:8). As the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 13:11, we are closer to salvation now than when we first belied in Christ. We must abide in Him by obeying God’s commandments. Those who do so UNTIL THE END SHALL (THEN) BE SAVED (Mat. 10:22). Read Hope and Salvation. Key word–Hope.

John’s letter was written to the church. Within the church there are those who remain true to God and those who do not. The parable (picture story) of the ten virgins (Mat. 25) perfectly exemplifies this Truth. Here we find that half of the church (kingdom of heaven) has left the Lord and gone their own religious way. Note that they were still in the church and continued to be called “virgins”–Christians. Note that all ten were waiting for the Prince (Jesus) to arrive for the wedding ceremony (which would unite Him and His church in an eternal union). Note also that, though the foolish virgins quickly “got right” before His arrival, they were not allowed to marry Him. Note that He said to them, “I do not (now) know you.” He did not say, “I never knew you.” He had once “known” them intimately, but they had separated themselves from Him by sinning (Isa. 59:2). We cannot “walk with Him,” be “one with Him,” and “abide in Him” while separated from Him.

Turn with me now to First John 1:8-2:1 where we find a very important message concerning the Christian walk. Here John makes three things abundantly clear: 1) we have all sinned, 2) we must get sin out of our lives and 3) we must keep sin out of our lives. Verse eight reminds us that we have all sinned (in the past). We must admit that we have sinned. If we say we have “no sin” (vs 8)–meaning we have never sinned in the past (vs 10)–we deceive ourselves, are liars, have made Jesus a liar and His Word is not in us. In 2:1 John emphasizes the fact that his and the other apostles’ preaching and writings are given to church people so that, by obeying their Words, the people WILL NOT SIN. However, IF someone happens to sin, we have an advocate with the Father–Jesus Christ. (2:1). Notice the Word “IF” relative to sinning. “IF,” not “when” means that the choice concerning sin is ours. In order to walk with him in agreement (Amos 3:3) we must “walk as He walked” (1 Jn. 2:6) and “purify ourselves even as He is pure” (1 Jn. 3:3). This is possible only by the “washing by the water by the Word (Eph. 5:26). Being filled with God’s Word and His Spirit enables us to “overcome (Satan’s temptations) even as I (Jesus) overcame them” (Rev. 3:21). Sin is the breaking of God’s Law (1 Jn. 3:4). All sin must be eliminated from our lives. There is only one Standard for God’s people–the standard set by Jesus of Nazareth while He walked this earth. Only in this way can know Him and be known by Him. L.J.