1 John 2:3-17 Lesson 458

1 John 2:3-17
Lesson 458

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

Obey God (2:3-6).
Walk in the light and love others (2:7-11).

From the 2013 Dutch movie "The Passion."

Study Tip:

The more we know about the Old Testament, the more we understand the New.
Click on the links to the Old Testament.
They are a vital tool that help us understand God's plan.

The First Epistle of John

The King James Bible

1 John 2:3-17
Don't love the world

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.

8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Margin notes:

"He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar." (2:4) - John is reinforcing his message from verses 1:6 and 1:8. Anyone who knows God, but doesn't follow Him, should re-examine their faith.

"Whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected." (2:5) - "Whoever obeys, their love of God is truly complete." Was John thinking of Jesus' words in John 14:21 and 14:23 when he wrote this verse?

"Know we that we are in him." (2:5) - "We know we are believers."

"He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." (2:6) - "Those who say that God lives in them should live as Jesus lived."  Trying to live as Jesus doesn't mean we can ever be sinless. We have sin in our nature and can never be like the Messiah. But believers make positive changes in their lives as they grow in faith. See "Today's Question" below.

"An old commandment." (2:7) - The old commandment is to love (Leviticus 19:18; 1 John 3:11; 2 John1:5).

"The true light." (2:8) - Jesus Christ is the true light.

"He that saith he is in the light." (2:9) - "Those who say they are Christian."

"Even until now." (2:9) - "Even until today."

"He that loveth his brother abideth in the light." (2:10) - "Those who love their brethren lives in truth, wisdom, goodness." Those who don't love others live in death (1 John 3:14).

"There is none occasion of stumbling in him." (2:10) - "There is no reason for them to stumble."  This is an important message repeated from 2 Peter 1:10. See also Psalm 119:165.

"Your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake." (2:12) - "Your sins are forgiven through Jesus" (Luke 24:47). The moment we accept Christ as our Savior, our sins are forgiven. Forgiven means we are pardoned and entitled to all the heavenly rewards that come with being in total obedience to the Mosaic Law (Romans 5:1-10).

"Fathers." (2:13) - This refers to any mature and knowledgeable Christian well grounded in their faith. They are the foundation of the church.

"Young men." (2:13) - Newer Christians strong in faith, but still growing.

"Little children." (2:13) - New converts still learning the basics of Scripture.

"Because ye are strong." (2:14) - We are called to be strong in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10).

"If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (2:15) - Why? See Luke 16:13 and Romans 8:5-8.

"Lust of the eyes." (2:16) - Greed, jealousy, vanity.

"The pride of life." (2:16) - This means taking pride in wealth, possessions, social status, family background, titles, physical looks, intelligence, accomplishments, and things of this world.

"The world passeth away." (2:17) - The Bible repeatedly reminds us that this world will not last forever (1 Corinthians 7:31; 1 Peter 1:24).

"He that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (2:17) - "Whoever obeys God will live forever."

New Living Translation

1 John 2:3-17

3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.

4 If someone claims, "I know God," but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.

5 But those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.

6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

A New Commandment

7 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.

10 Anyone who loves another brother or sister is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.

11 But anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.

12 I am writing to you who are God's children
      because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.

13 I am writing to you who are mature in the faith
      because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I am writing to you who are young in the faith
      because you have won your battle with the evil one.

14 I have written to you who are God's children
      because you know the Father.
I have written to you who are mature in the faith
      because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I have written to you who are young in the faith
      because you are strong.
God's word lives in your hearts,
and you have won your battle with the evil one.

Do Not Love This World

15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's question:

1. What does it mean to walk as Jesus walked? (2:6)

The most important step in Bible study is applying what you learn to your life.

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. "The word walk is a word picture that speaks of one's lifestyle or behavior. Jesus didn't come just to talk, he came to walk with us - show us the way. To walk as Jesus did means to follow his example, to live according to his teachings, to trust in Him and obey His words."

(The "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan, page 1761)

Application thought for the day:

Is there someone you should show more love to?
Spend the next few days developing a plan to open your heart to this person.

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2023 evolke

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