Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

1 John 2 | 1-11 | Sin, Forgiveness, Light and Darkness

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This Study is facilitated by Tera Brown & Lena Joseph

1 JOHN 1-3
STUDY

Overview of the BOOK: It has been documented and accepted that Apostle John wrote 1,2 and 3 John Letters. The same John that wrote the Book of Revelations and the 4th Gospel of John, of the New Testement Book, written to the church of believers, for the purpose of EXHORTATION. Themes and subjects are centered around - How to know the truth - How to live a life of love  - How to identify false teaching regarding the Christian Faith - Divine Life - the teaching of fellowship, and conduct of a believer

1ST John 2:1-11

1. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 3. We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God[a] is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6. Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 7. Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. 9. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister[b] is still in the darkness. 10. Anyone who loves their brother and sister[c] lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

REFLECTION

Here John is saying with fatherly concern, as God's children that if we as his children sin we have an advocate with the father. Jesus represents us as our advocate to the father, to plead for us in the court of heaven. Of course, we must repent and turn from sin. John is warning us to not sin but if we do, there is forgiveness. John goes on to say that if we say we know God we are to keep his commandments. If we do not keep them we are a liar. We must keep his word and obey him. We are to walk as Jesus walked, follow in the footsteps of Jesus. John warns that we are not to hate our brother (our brother is our fellow Christian) that if we do we are still in darkness. He who loves his brother is in the light and there is no stumbling in him. But he who hates is in darkness and has lost his way.


prayer

Lord help us to love one another and walk as you walked. Help us follow your word and do what it says, in Jesus' name, amen!




NOTE

Remember to not let nay-Sayers lead you away from the true living God, Jesus Christ. If anyone brings another gospel that is not preached by the apostles, do not even give ear to it. Believers must be able to sort out truth from falsehood, with the spirit of discernment.