1st Letter of John 2
2.1-2 We tell our sins to Jesus and he helps us
Here John says that God will forgive our sins
if we tell those sins to Jesus.
1-2 I love you the same as my own children.
Why did I write this letter?
So that you will stop sinning.
But if you do sin, then you must tell those sins to Jesus.
Jesus is like a lawyer before God.
He will ask God to forgive your sins.
Jesus
- died for our sins,
- also died for the sins of all the people of the world, and
- is completely good.
2.3-6 The friend of God, obeys God
Here John says that the true friends of God obey him.
3 How do we know that we know God?
Because we obey God.
4 Perhaps a person says:
I am a friend of God.
But that person does not obey God.
Actually that person
- is a liar,
- is not a friend of God, and
- is not living the way God wants.
5 We must obey God.
So we
- love people the same way God loves them and
- are sure that we are friends of God.
6 If a person says:
I am a friend of God.
Then that person must live the same way that Jesus lived.
2.7-11 Living in the light of Jesus or the darkness of sin
Here John says that some people love one another and live in God’s light.
But other people hate one another.
These people are controlled by sin and live in spiritual darkness.
7 My friends who love Jesus, you must love one another.
This is not a new law.
This is one of the first teachings of Jesus.
8 But I write this law again.
Why?
Because there is something new in this law.
This new law has become true in our lives.
Before, we lived in darkness and sinned a lot.
Now, the true light of Jesus shines more and more in us.
That is why we sin less and less.
9, 11 I have an example.
There are 2 groups of people who love Jesus.
The people in group 1 say:
The light of Jesus shines on me.
I obey God.
But people in group 1 hate other people in the church.
Actually, the people in group 1
- live in the darkness of sin and
- are controlled by sin.
That is why they cannot see the light of Jesus.
10 The people in group 2 love other people in the church.
The light of Jesus shines on them.
Nothing will make them turn away from God.
“Two groups of people, the people in group 1 hate other people in the church. They live in the darkness of sin and are controlled by sin.
The people in group 2 love other people in the church. The light of Jesus shines on them.”
2.12-14 Some words for my friends
12-14 My dear friends
I write this letter so that you all remember:
You already know the Father.
Jesus died on the cross.
That is why God forgets your sins.
Young men
I write this letter so that you remember:
You are strong.
You know and obey God’s teachings.
You have already defeated the devil.
Adults
I write this letter so that you remember:
Before the creation of the universe, Jesus was already there.
You already know Jesus.
2.15-17 The person who loves the world doesn’t love God
15-16 You must not love the world.
The people of this world
- sin to make their bodies feel good,
- want to have all the things they see, and
- take pride in the things they have.
You should not
- live like the people of this world,
- do these things, or
- love the things of the world.
The things that the people of the world want are not from God.
In truth, the person who loves the things of the world does not love God.
17 One day the world and the things of the world will pass away.
But people who obey God will live forever.
2.18-26 The Enemies of Christ
Here John explains about the enemy of Christ who is coming.
18 My friends who love Jesus, you know that very soon
the world will end and a person (the Enemy of Christ) will come.
Why do we know that the world will end soon?
Because many enemies of Christ are already here.
19 Those enemies of Christ were in the church.
But now they are no longer in the church.
Why?
Because they never really loved God.
If they had truly loved God, then they would not have left the church.
But they left the church.
Thus, those enemies showed that they never truly loved God.
22-23 Some people say:
Jesus is not the Christ.
These people are enemies of Christ!
They tell lies and reject the Son.
Actually, they also reject the Father.
But other people say:
Jesus is the Christ.
These people are friends of Christ.
They speak the truth and accept the Son.
In this way, they also accept the Father.
24 You must always remember:
Jesus is the Christ.
(This is the first teaching that you accepted.)
In this way you will be connected to the Son and to the Father.
25 Jesus’ promise to us is eternal life.
26 Watch out!
Some people tell lies and want to deceive you.
2.27 You know the truth
Here John explains that the Holy Spirit teaches everything to us.
That is why we know the truth.
20-21, 27 Why do I write these things to you?
Because you don’t know the truth?
No!
You already know the truth.
All of God’s message is true; none of it is a lie.
Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to you.
That is why you know the truth.
The presence of the Holy Spirit lives in you and teaches everything to you.
The Holy Spirit only teaches the truth, not lies.
You don’t need any person to teach you.
Why?
Because you have the presence of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit teaches you directly.
Therefore, you must listen to the Holy Spirit and obey him.
2.28-29 Remain connected to Jesus
28 One day Jesus will come again.
We must remain connected to Jesus, so on that day we
- will not hide and
- will not be afraid of meeting Jesus.
29 You already know that Jesus obeys God in everything.
The person who obeys God in everything is also a child of God.