STUDIES IN 2 JOHN

LESSON 1

2 John 1  (KJV)

¹ The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; ² For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us forever.  ³ Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

2 John 1  (AMP)

¹ The elderly elder [of the church addresses this letter] to the elect (chosen) lady (Cyria) and her children, whom I truly love—and not only I but also all who are [progressively] learning to recognize and know and understand the Truth — ² Because of the Truth which lives and stays on in our hearts and will be with us forever: ³ Grace (spiritual blessing), mercy, and [soul] peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ (the Messiah), the Father’s Son, in all sincerity (truth) and love.

1.   THE ELDER v.1

v  John is the Elder, not just in age but in position

v  Authority therefore to instruct, correct and encourage

2.   THE ELECT LADY & HER CHILDREN v.2

v  Two trains of thought: a) John’s wife and family b) the Church general and all followers of Christ

v  We will use the 2^nd position

3.   FOR TRUTH’S SAKE v.2

v  John assures his love ‘in the truth’: meaning in the truth of the Gospel of Christ (v.1)

v  Truth dwells in us (Jesus and His Word dwell in us by His Spirit: see Rom. 8:16)

v  This truth is eternal, starting now and never endingly the same [our status does not effect or affect this truth]

4.   GREETING & BLESSING v.3

v  Grace, mercy & peace will be with us FROM God the Father and Jesus Christ (see Amp)

v  In truth (sincerity) and love [from John and in the Spirit of Christ]

LET US WALK IN THE TRUTH OF GOD’S LOVE, MERCY, GRACE AND PEACE.

STUDIES IN 1 JOHN

LESSON 22

FINAL INSTRUCTIONS

1 John 5:16-21 (KJV)

¹⁶ If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.  ¹⁷ All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.  ¹⁸ We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.  ¹⁹ And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.  ²⁰ And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.  ²¹ Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

1 John 5:16-21 (AMP)

¹⁶ If anyone sees his brother [believer] committing a sin that does not [lead to] death (the extinguishing of life), he will pray and [God] will give him life [yes, He will grant life to all those whose sin is not one leading to death]. There is a sin [that leads] to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.  ¹⁷ All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin which does not [involve] death [that may be repented of and forgiven].  ¹⁸ We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God does not [deliberately and knowingly] practice committing sin, but the One Who was begotten of God carefully watches over and protects him [Christ’s divine presence within him preserves him against the evil], and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on him or touch [him].  ¹⁹ We know [positively] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] is under the power of the evil one.  ²⁰ And we [have seen and] know [positively] that the Son of God has [actually] come to this world and has given us understanding and insight [progressively] to perceive (recognize) and come to know better and more clearly Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah). This [Man] is the true God and Life eternal.  ²¹ Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods)—[from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life]. Amen (so let it be).

1.    SIN: UNTO DEATH & NOT UNTO DEATH v.16-17

·         Sins committed as unregenerate are unto death

·         Sins committed as regenerate are quickly repented of and therefore do not lead to death, rather to forgiveness and continued life in Christ

·         Blaspheming the Holy Ghost (Mark 3:29, Luke 12:10) is a sin which cannot be repented of, is committed only by those who have known Him and comes about by a purposeful position violently against God’s Spirit (essence)

2.    NORMAL CHRISTIAN CONDUCT v.18

·         Does not deliberately and knowingly practice committing sin

3.    FINAL WARNING v.21

·         Keep yourselves from idols (see AMP)

STUDIES IN 1 JOHN

LESSON 21

ETERNAL LIFE & WHATEVER WE ASK FOR

1 John 5:12-15  (KJV)

¹² He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.  ¹³ These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.  ¹⁴ And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:  ¹⁵ And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

1 John 5:12-15 (AMP)

¹² He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life.  ¹³ I write this to you who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) the name of the Son of God [in ^[a]the peculiar services and blessings conferred by Him on men], so that you may know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have life, ^[b]yes, eternal life.  ¹⁴ And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.  ¹⁵ And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.

1.    LIFE ETERNAL v.12-13

Ø  Spiritual life not spiritual death (Eph. 2:1)

Ø  Eternal not temporary

Ø  SOURCE: JESUS CHRIST THE (OUR) LORD!

Ø  Purpose for this letter – “that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God”

2.    CONFIDENCE IN OUR SOURCE v.14-15

Ø  The assurance, the privilege of boldness: we can come “boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace in the time of need” Heb. 4:16

Ø  We have this confidence in HIM

Ø  We are sure that if we ask anything (Amp) He hears us

Ø  “according to His will” (KJV) “in agreement with His own plan” (AMP)

Ø  Since we know He hears us, we also know “with settled and absolute knowledge” (AMP)

Ø  That we HAVE the petitions that we desired of Him

CONFIDENCE IN OUR ETERNAL LIFE GRANTS US ASSURANCE WE WILL HAVE WHAT WE ASK GOD FOR AS IT FLOWS WITH HIS WONDERFUL PLAN FOR US.

STUDIES IN 1 JOHN

LESSON 20

THE POWER OF THREE

1 John 5:6-11 (AMP)

⁶ This is He Who came by (with) water and blood [^[a]His baptism and His death], Jesus Christ (the Messiah)—not by (in) the water only, but by (in) the water and the blood. And it is the [Holy] Spirit Who bears witness, because the [Holy] Spirit is the Truth.  ⁷ So there are three witnesses ^[b]in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are One;  ⁸ and there are three witnesses on the earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree [are in unison; their testimony coincides].  ⁹ If we accept [as we do] the testimony of men [if we are willing to take human authority], the testimony of God is greater (of stronger authority), for this is the testimony of God, even the witness which He has borne regarding His Son.  ¹⁰ He who believes in the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] has the testimony [possesses this divine attestation] within himself. He who does not believe God [in this way] has made Him out to be and represented Him as a liar, because he has not believed (put his faith in, adhered to, and relied on) the evidence (the testimony) that God has borne regarding His Son.  ¹¹ And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

1.    STATEMENT & ACTION v.6

Ø  Water & blood = baptism & death

Ø  Positive fact: Jesus was born & died; He was baptized & experienced death

Ø  The Holy Spirit bears witness to this fact & He only speaks truth

2.    AGREEMENT IN THREE’S v.7-8

Ø  Father, Son (Word) & Holy Ghost: agree together in the fact, authority and effectiveness of baptism & death of Christ in dealing with sin in mankind

Ø  This is the Heavenly witness

Ø  The spirit, the water (baptism) & the blood: agree - are in unison; their testimony coincides [Spirit &/or spirit:  Romans 8:16
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:)

Ø  This is the witness in the earth

3.    STRENGTH & AUTHORITY v.9

Ø  We accept human authority to govern our lives

Ø  We should accept God’s authority more surely for it is greater, stronger

Ø  God gives His own testimony to the fact that Jesus accomplished our salvation

4.    CONTRAST OF FAITH v.10

Ø  Believers have the same testimony as Father, Son (Word) & Holy Spirit

Ø  Non-believers are calling God a liar and have no salvation

5.    THE TESTIMONY v.11

Ø  God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

LET US WALK IN THE TESTIMONY: GOD GAVE US ETERNAL LIFE, AND THIS LIFE IS IN HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST, AFFIRMED BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT AND AGREED TO BY OUR SPIRIT WITHIN US!