3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
7 Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. 8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. 9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
Do Not Love the World
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves 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 boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
The Promise Is Eternal Life
25 This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.
26 These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. 27 As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.
28 Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.
3 comments:
Reading this scripture, I can understand why for some non-belivers of the Truth, could read this and say, "They (the apostles) even thought he would have come back by now. Why did your savior forget you?"
My first thought, for those that don't believe and hopefully for my sake as well(I'm also a sinner), we should be glad that he hasn't come back. FOR THERE IS STILL TIME FOR ALL OF US TO SEE THE LIGHT!
ANTICHRIST
I have always thought that there would be the "one" antichrist, the one who rode on a black horse, who would come and we (those who believe) would all know it as a sign of the ending.
But, as we read in this scripture the antichrist has already come and there were many other antichrist that followed.
Do we have antichrist today?
Who or Whom could it or they be?
I know we're not studying The Book of Revelation, but I was wondering if anyone knew of any ancient historians, who's writings we could look at during the time of these writings.
Why do I bring up Revelation. Historical reports(from Constitine I believe ~95A.D.) recorded the events and stories of Roman solidiers returning from battle and their accounts have a spooky resemblance of what John had written would happen in Revelation.
The Bible is not a historical account, but can we look at historical records and reports and confim what we read is True or must we rely only on Faith?
You present many thoughts that will take some time to respond to, at least on my part.
As far as the historical aspect, throughout time as archaeologist uncover civilaztions of the past and geologist explore correlations between what is in the Bible with historical events is revealed.
Certainly a lot to think about in your questions.
Anitchrist's can be any one that is against Christ or denies that Jesus is the Son of God (vs22). Yes we can and do have them today. People outside the church who boast in denying Christ and work openly to tear Him down are obvious and easy to spot. It's more difficult to see the ones that appear to be walking "in the light" or in the church.
In verse 19 we see that They (antichrist) went out from us, but they were not really of us.
Matthew (I think it was in Matt.) supports the fact that we can be mislead by those in the church, even from those who are in a leadership position. I need to look up the scripture and review the actual wording.
Scott I understand what you're saying about having more time, however, what we really have to be thankful for is the fact that we have Christ who has already covered and paid for our sins with His sacrifice. Even as we continue to sin, His blood continues to save us. If it were up to us, we would never be able to gain salvation. It's not a matter of being perfect or sinless. As John tells us, if we think that we are sinless we are liars, and worst yet, we telling God that He is a liar.
Paul tells us in Romans 1. that no one has an excuse not to believe that God exist. It has been this way since the beginning of time.
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