Bible Study - Beyond Belief (4) - GOD Is Forgiving - 1 John 1 - 2:2 - June 22, 2014

Bible Study – Beyond Belief (4) – GOD Is Forgiving – June 22, 2014

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled “Does What I Believe About GOD Change Anything?”

Our focus scripture is 1 John 1:5-2:2

GOD always forgives when we truly repent because that is light or truth from HIM. HE is the source of truth regarding forgiveness and HE knows our hearts.

The Apostle John wrote First John to Christians because they were facing challenges to their faith because of false teachers. The false teachers were likely teaching Gnosticism. Gnosticism comes from the Greek word “gnosis” which means knowledge.

Gnostics thought they possessed knowledge or secrets revealed only to them. Generally, they believed that all matter, including the human body, was evil. Thus some inflicted punishment upon themselves. Some believed and taught that what they did in the flesh had no influence to their spirit. Therefore, they lived as they wished.

One view that the So-called Christian Gnostics had of JESUS was that HE was divine and did not have a flesh and blood body. They denied the humanity of JESUS. The Apostle John challenged these false teachings and wrote to fellow Christians to enlighten them to truth and to restore truth regarding the message of CHRIST. John was a personal witness to the teachings and life of JESUS, as we read in 1 John 1:1-4: (Intro and Background)

1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life— 2 that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— 3 what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may have fellowship along with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

The Apostle John was with CHRIST. He walked with HIM, talked to HIM, touched HIM, saw HIM hungry, saw HIM cry, witnessed all that HE did while HE was upon earth, and fellowshipped with HIM. John knew for a fact that JESUS was real. He witnessed the crucifixion of JESUS, HIS death upon the cross, HIS burial, HIS resurrection, HIS ascension, the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the miracles performed in the name of JESUS. Yes, JESUS is real today and still performs miracles.

The Apostle John was likely between 85-100 years old when he wrote First John and he likely wrote First John while he was in Ephesus.

Let’s read 1 John 1:5-10:

5 Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. 6 If we say, “We have fellowship with Him,” yet we • walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say, “We don’t have any sin,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

In verses 1-4, the Apostle John established the fact that he had up close and personal knowledge of JESUS CHRIST. He testified to HIS genuineness.

John makes it clear that what he was writing was truth as he learned and witnessed from CHRIST Who came from GOD and was GOD in the flesh.

CHRIST was 100% GOD and 100% human. This is referred to by Bible scholars as “hypostatic union” or that which only GOD can accomplish. It is the joining of two natures into one person; human and deity. Such a union is difficult for the human mind to comprehend. I contend that yes, JESUS was GOD but HE chose to restrict HIS power and Glory such that HE lived upon earth as the first true Christian totally committed and dedicated to GOD in every way. HIS life upon earth depicts what life would be like for Christians if they totally surrendered our lives to GOD as CHRIST did.

CHRIST was and is eternally equal with the Father. HE left HIS Glory in heaven and willingly came to earth to live as a human. HIS mother was the Virgin Mary and HIS Father was GOD. HE had access to the power of GOD and could have used that power at any moment HE chose. HE always consulted with the Father before HE said or did anything. HE was completely obedient. I think one of the great temptations in HIS humanity was to use HIS divine power when HE had to deal with earthly issues that needed to reveal that power. That power was revealed in the resurrection and will be revealed in HIS second coming and the final days.

John used “we” and ‘us” or a literary plural to include others who had witnessed the presence and glory of CHRIST in the flesh upon earth in conjunction with him. Thus “we” means “I” and “us” means “me.” John was an eyewitness along with many others including fellow disciples. John was part of the inner circle of JESUS and witnessed things others did not.

In the Greek, verses 6-10 begin with the word “if.” “If” is conditional. It often refers to a cause and effect. That is verses 6, 8 and 10 state truths in a negative way whereas verses 7 and 9 state truths in a positive way. Here, we have to be careful because this could lead us to think that works could lead to salvation.

The writer of the Senior Adult Leader Guide, Ronnie Floyd, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175 for this series of lessons states on page 54, “Since the construction in all five verses is the same, it is best to explain them all the same way as evidence-conclusion. The “if” part of the sentence provides evidence of what someone says or does, and the “then” part (“then” is implied) shows what conclusion can be drawn from the evidence. This string of conditional sentences begins with a negative, which also forms a warning to those who are guilty of doing this: If we say, “We have fellowship with Him,” yet we • walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth.”

Fellowship comes from the Greek root word “koinonia” which means common. Here we have to be careful not to conclude that if a person has fellowship and enjoys the company of true Christians that in turn makes him or her Christian. As I have stated many times, it is CHRIST in you that makes you a Christian.

Associating with Christians can give the person seeking a genuine salvation experience the opportunity for the Holy Spirit to reveal his or her need for salvation. But each person must make his or her own decision whether or not to ask CHRIST to forgive him or her for his or her sins and for HIM to come into his or her life. When a person takes that step of faith, he or she will then experience true fellowship with fellow brothers and sisters in CHRIST in harmony and unity.  

The Apostle John began with a statement “GOD is light.” What is “light?” When “light” is used in reference to GOD it means “truth” as manifested by GOD’S Holiness, Purity, Glory and Majesty. Truth is revealed in the light. Darkness hides truth and gives rise to speculation and fears. I have heard Dr. Vance Havner say “What you learn in the light you have to practice in the dark.” Truth does not change in the dark or when dark times come into our lives. Dark times in the lives of Christians are exactly when they must rely on the light of truth.

The Greek word John used meant that there was not an iota or scintilla of darkness in GOD. GOD is Holy and Pure. This carries over to verses 6-10 regarding our walk with CHRIST.

The word “walk” refers to conduct or lifestyle and includes the attitude and Spiritual nature of the heart. Does a person live his or her life as GOD directs him or her or live according to his or her dictates or will?

Truths stated in a negative manner: (Verses 6, 8 and 10)

6 If we say, “We have fellowship with Him,” yet we • walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. Darkness often is related to sin. But we generally think of evil deeds but people can deny truth and refuse to acknowledge truth and that is darkness. Darkness is the absence of light. In the Spiritual realm, darkness results from the absence of GOD.

8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. The Apostle Paul makes it clear in Romans 3:23, “23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

10 If we say, “We don’t have any sin,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. Again, Paul tells us in Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. When we say we have “no sin”, who are we comparing ourselves to? Do we compare ourselves to another Christian or do we compare ourselves to GOD’S standard as revealed through CHRIST and the indwelling Holy Spirit? GOD’S desire is for all Christians to be made into the image of HIS only Son JESUS and it is the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit that accomplishes that goal when we yield our will to HIM.

The shed blood of JESUS is vital to the salvation for all people. We need to jump over to 1 John 2:2:

2 He Himself is the • propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.

We considered the word “propitiation” in last week’s lesson. It is a very important word. It emphasizes the appeasement or averting of GOD’S wrath and justice through CHRIST’S death. GOD made it clear in the Garden of Eden to Adam that he could eat from any tree in the garden except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If he did eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he would die.

Adam disobeyed GOD and the judgment of GOD was enacted. The death penalty was imposed upon mankind. The only way for the judgment of GOD to be satisfied was for a perfect acceptable sacrifice to be given to remove that judgment. The shed blood of GOD’S only sinless Son, JESUS, was and is the only perfect sacrifice that GOD accepted to satisfy the debt for sin and to pay it in full. Thus, the wrath of GOD toward sin satisfied the judicial consequence of sin for all who place their faith in CHRIST.

JESUS’ shed blood satisfied GOD’S judicial requirement and restores the fellowship for all who place their faith in CHRIST as the perfect sacrifice for sin. Once the judicial requirement has been met through faith by accepting CHRIST as our Savior, we experience the miracle of rebirth. Through the miracle of rebirth, Christians become a child of GOD and then the shed blood of CHRIST maintains our familial relationship with GOD as we confess our sins as needed and as we walk with GOD, as led by the Holy Spirit. Christians continue to sin or miss the mark of GOD’S standard. Christians confess their sins to restore and maintain right relationship with GOD through CHRIST.

LifeWay also publishes a Bible Commentary entitled “Advanced Bible Commentary.” In the summer 2014 issue, page 43, Dr. Bryan Beyer wrote, “We must understand our need to call on Jesus for salvation if we are to receive salvation. God’s judicial forgiveness brings us into fellowship with Him, and once we are saved, our regular confession of sin brings God’s parental or familial forgiveness and restores our fellowship.”

Let’s continue to examine the truths the Apostle John stated in a positive manner: (Verses 7 and 9)

7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

As Christians have fellowship with GOD, who is the source of truth or light, they have fellowship with fellow Christians. The shed blood of JESUS continues to maintain our salvation and gives us opportunity to stay in fellowship and relationship with GOD and fellow Christians as we confess our sins. GOD’S desire is for HIS children not to allow anything to come between HIM and HIS children or between HIS children. Confessing our sin keeps the air clear and maintains fellowship with GOD and each other. So what do Christians do?

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Christians confess their sins. Confession is agreeing with GOD that what they have done is or was wrong. It could be thought or deed against GOD, fellow Christians or people. It could be sins of commission or omission. The point being once done and recognized as sin, it needs to be confessed or else it gives Satan opportunity to use it to defeat. GOD’S part is to forgive and cleanse, which is HIS way of restoring full fellowship and relationship with us. GOD’S desire is for us to be completely honest with HIM.

Consider what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3:23-26:

23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

24 They are justified freely by His grace through the •redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

25 God presented Him as a • propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.

26 God presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus.

And in 2 Corinthians 5:21:

21 He (GOD) made the One (JESUS) who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

In essence, our sin was poured into or placed upon CHRIST and HIS righteousness was poured into or placed upon all who place their faith in CHRIST.

In GOD’S eyes Christians are righteous and justified before HIM.

Let’s read 1 John 2:1-2:

1 My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an • advocate with the Father —Jesus Christ the Righteous One. 2 He Himself is the • propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.

As stated earlier, the Apostle John was between 85-100 years old when he used the words “my little children” he did so to expresses his fatherly concern and care for those to whom he was writing and instructing. John did not want any fellow Christian to be led astray by these false teachers. Truth stands the test of time. John knew that sin blocks fellowship between GOD and fellow humans. As Christians, we all must be vigilant because Satan is roaming around seeking whom he can devour. Un-confessed sin is like bait that draws predators of all kinds. All of which have the desire to capture and kill the Christians.

The Apostle John knew that Christians sin and when they did, they did not lose their salvation. Christians can allow sin to weight them down because they do not confess them and seek restoration and fellowship with GOD.

JESUS was real and HE gave HIS life by the shedding of HIS blood, once and for all for those who will place their faith in HIM. GOD resurrected HIM from the dead as the firstfruits of those who will be resurrected bodily from the dead at HIS second coming because they have placed their faith in HIM. First John 1:9 is very clear:

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

During a Christian’s walk upon earth he or she needs to know that JESUS is his or her advocate in heaven. An advocate is one who comes along the side of another. It is like an attorney comes along the side of a person to represent that person before the judge.

Christians are saved by the shed blood of CHRIST and Satan is their great accuser before GOD in heaven. CHRIST stands before GOD as their advocate to say, bug off Satan because this person belongs to ME and GOD. He or she is covered by MY shed blood and is secure in ME, secure in the Father and sealed by the indwelling Holy Spirit until the day of redemption.

The shed blood of CHRIST makes the Christian pure, Holy, righteous and justified before GOD.
As a Christian, if you are in an uncomfortable situation, claim the blood of JESUS out loud, if necessary, because you belong to GOD. You are HIS Son or Daughter and precious to HIM. Blessings!!!