1 John Study
Lesson # 6
Proof That One
Really Knows God # 2
Introduction
In our last lesson we began a discussion of John’s seven signs that one really knows God. For John knowing God meant that there had to be a change in one’s life to match that confession. One could not just intellectually know God & truly know God. His previous tests were - are you keeping His commands; do you love your brother & are you growing spiritually. In this lesson we will look at the other four tests.
1. Test # 4 – Do we love the world.
a. Means
1) Not – do we appreciate the beauty, resources & splendor of the
heavens & the earth. God has given these to us to use &
enjoy & to appreciate.
a) God’s creation is good – Gen.1:31
b) Not mankind – God loves man – Jn.3:16
2) Idea – placing the possessions & pleasures of this world before God.
When the physical things in life are of prime importance to
us & we build our lives around them. That we are more
attached to these than we are to God.
a) God not want us loving sin or evil – what Satan dominates
b) Just as phrase “world of sports” describes domain in which
sports dominates, so “this world” refers to where sin
dominates.
b. Scripture
1) Rom.12:2 – be not conformed to the world
2) Gal.6:14 – crucified to world
3) 2 Tim.2:4 – not entangle self with world
2. Three things in particular that makes up the world
a. Lust of the flesh – has to do with desires & urges that are out of control.
When they begin to rule us & we become their slaves – Rom.6:15-18
1) Not all desires are wrong. God made us physical & desires are
there to help us survive & live in this world.
2) It’s when these desires consume us & we begin to indulge them
& give them control of our lives that we sin.
3) The works of the flesh – Gal.5:19-21
b. Lust of the eyes – has to do with wanting all that one sees. We desire what is
forbidden by God & we want to consume it on ourselves. To sum it up in a
word – covetousness. A modern day expression would be materialism.
1) Mt.6:23 – eyes full of evil
2) Lk.12:15 – life not consist in abundance of one’s possessions
3) How serious is
this – Eph.5:5-7; Col.3:5-7
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c. The pride of life – person whose focus is primarily self-centered & being self
sufficient.
1) Wants all the attention directed upon himself & feels completely
capable of handling life himself. It is a person who feels that self-
image, public image, ego and personal strength are the basis of
life; a person who feels little if any need for God.
2) Feels that this world is an end within itself, that there is probably
nothing beyond this life; therefore, he is to get all the comfort,
pleasure, luxury, honor, and glory that he can while here.
3) This would include pride based upon such things as - age; experience;
ancestry; past accomplishments; money; position; power etc.
4) Rev.3:17;
Prov.27:1
3. A few passing observations
a. Each of these three things often strikes harder at different times in our lives.
1) Young most often affected by the “lust of the flesh”
2) Middle aged usually affected by the “pride of life”
3) Aged more likely plagued with the “pride of life”
b. There seems to be a tendency among us to consider the “lust of the flesh more
serious than the others.
1) Which is worse
– fornication or covetousness? Col.3:5; Eph.5:5
2) Which consider more serious – adultery or jealousy?
c. If we are not careful while standing strong against immorality we will allow
materialism & pride to sneak in the back door.
4. Results of loving the world
a. Love of the Father is not in him – impossible to love the Father
1) More attached to world than to God
2) No longer worship God regularly; more attached to the world’s mission
than God’s mission; consumed by the world’s pleasures &
possessions
3) James 4:4 – friendship with world = enmity with God
4) Mt.6:24 – can’t serve 2 masters
b. To see why let’s define “the love of the Father”
1) Jn.14:15,21 – if love me = keep my commandments
2) Jn.15:10 – if keep commands remain in His love
3) 1 Jn.5:3 – love for God = keep commandments
c. If we
love the world we can’t keep God’s commandments
1) If driven by lust of flesh – will
defraud others – 1 Thess.4:3-6
2) If ruled by lust of eyes – won’t
help the needy – 1 Jn.3:16,17
3) If filled with pride of life –
never put others 1st – Phil.2:3,4
5. The world & it’s desires are temporary
a.
Everything is running down – dying – James 4:13,14
b. One day
everything be destroyed – 2 Pet.3:10
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c. Only what is of God is eternal –
Jn.5:24; Rev.22:14
1. Test # 5 - Warning concerning the antichrist’s – are we on guard against?
a. Note the word is plural not singular – speaking of false teachers
b. Note the tenderness in which John writes – calls them “little children”
c. They are facing a critical time – problem very real in John’s day
1) Those who raise questions & cause doubts & unbelief
2) John is the only NT writer to use term “antichrist”
a) Term commonly used today to refer to one individual who is
supposed to appear in the “end times”. An individual who
will arise & lead many people astray before Christ comes
again. Lawless
one referred to in 2 Thess.2
b) Actually as John discusses these antichrists he introduces a very
important point – how can we really be sure about the
source of truth & not make ourselves the standard of right
& wrong?
c) Truth does not originate in man – it comes from God
2. Term “last hour”
a. Refers
to an end of an era, not the end of time!
1) Acts 2:17 – in last days pour out Spirit (was happening then)
2) Heb.1:2 – in last days spoken to us by His son
3) 2 Pet.3:3 – last days scoffers come
4) Idea – transition time – new condition being introduced by the people
John refers to as antichrists.
a) Jn.4:23 – hour coming & now is (transition in worship)
b) Jn.5:25,28 – transition – Son the one listen too
5) Last hour is to come with
antichrists & they are already here – vs.19
b. Paganism is beginning to affect Christianity – Gnosticism
1) Pagan philosophies are being introduced
2) Christianity is being pagan-ized (Christmas tree etc.)
3) Before Jewish traditions were dominant, but now pagan traditions will
seek to change the gospel.
4) People will be teaching that sin doesn’t matter – that knowledge is earth
centered not heaven centered.
3. Identifying the antichrists
a. Those introducing different doctrines on immorality & attitudes about Jesus
b. They went out from us – not really belong to us
1) Claimed have fellowship with Jesus but walked in darkness
2) Claimed to know God but not keep commandments
3) Not hold to apostles teaching – invented own doctrines
4) Denied the humanity & deity of Jesus
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c. Look today & see the religious groups claiming to be Christians that allow
immorality (homosexuality, incest etc.)
1) Jehovah Witnesses deny the deity of Jesus
2) Those who have added commandments - forbid marriage & certain
foods
d. Mt.7:15-23 – false prophets – identify by fruit in life
e. 2 Cor.11:13-15 – Satan appear as an angel of light
f. 1 Tim.4:1,2 – some listen to doctrines of demons
g. 1 Tim.6:3-5 – think godliness is a way to wealth
h. 2 Tim.4:1-4 – follow lusts – teachers favoring those lusts
4. God provided us protection from false teachers – “an
anointing”
a. Some say this is a reference to a special anointing from the Holy Spirit
1) 2 Cor.1:21,22 – anointed & sealed with Holy Spirit
2) Jn.16:7-11 – given to teach us all truth
3) Problems
a) If so – each have a direct hotline to revelation
b) Holy Spirit is
never referred to as an “it” – Vs.27
(called “He” Jn16:13)
b. Note – not say you “have been anointed” but says you “have an anointing”
1) 1 Jn.2:2 – we have an advocate = Jesus
2) 1 Jn.2:27 – anointing remains in us & teaches us = Holy Spirit
3) Holy Spirit uses the word to
bring us to completion – 2 Tim.3:16,17
4) We are to remain in Jesus’ word – Jn.8:31,32; Jn.17:17
1. Test # 6 - Does the gospel abide in you?
a. How we live shows quicker than anything else whether or not we are Christians
1) Regardless of what we know or feel – if not live truth not know God
2) Regardless of what others may think or suppose – lifestyle matters
b. What you have heard from the beginning refers to the gospel
1) Unless remain in it – not His
2) Remain = abide; dwell; at home
c. Col.2:6;
1 Jn.2:6
2. The promise – eternal life
a. Has nothing to do with time – time immaterial where God is – not limit Him
b. Has to do with position – quality & what life really is – is found only in God
1) Jn.17:3 – know Him
2) Jn.5:24 – believe in Me has eternal life
3. Always be those who try to deceive you – be on guard
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1. Test # 7 – Abiding In Christ
a. Abide = dwell, continue, sojourn, rest in or upon
1) Idea is being at home, permanent or settled
2) Dwelling in Christ is living a life like He showed us to live – seeking to
be right with God & man.
3) 1 Jn.4:15,16 – acknowledge Jesus is God’s Son lives in (abides)
4) 1 Jn.2:6 – claims to live (abide) in Him must walk as Jesus did.
5) Jn.8:31,32 – If abide in My word you are My disciples
6) Jn.15:5 – abide in Him fruitful
7) 1 Jn.4:12,13 – abide in Him we love others
b. Results of abiding in Him
1) Confidence when He appears
a) Means boldness & assurance
b) Idea - unshakeable boldness & assurance
2) Not shrink away in shame
a) Ashamed – sense of guilt & disgrace & embarrassment
b) There will be those who will be ashamed when Christ appears
2. Proof one abides in Christ – living a righteous life
a. Mt.7:16-18 – know them by their fruits
b. Mt.7:21-23 – not all who say Lord enters kingdom – must do will of Father