Bible Studies

1 John 2:4-11

1Jn 2:5  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. The subject we are looking at is the perfecting of the love of God in us.  “Us” being the believer.

What does “perfected” mean?  Answer:  To bring to completion – to complete – to finish.  There is an accomplished end in view here: the perfecting of the love of God in us!  Paul in Ephesians 3: 17-19 said, “Eph 3:17  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

[1]Love answers to knowledge in 1 Jn 2:3,4. In proportion as we love God, in that same proportion we know Him, and vice versa, until our love and knowledge shall attain their full maturity of perfection.

1] The majority of people lay claim to some hope after death. But is their claim legitimate? You may claim to be a Christian but on what authority do you make that claim? [The religions of the world are full of false hope.] And the mind of humanity is full of false hope [ 2 Cor 4: 4.   In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 

Just think for a few moments about some of these claims: I go to church – you don’t have to go to church to be a Christian - I believe in God - I pray – [and many more things that related to something done or heard].  The most unique that I have ever heard is this, me and the Lord are just like this =indicating we have a special relationship.

A] What is your claim? Since, we are studying in 1John, let us see how John answers.  1Jn 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 1Jn 1:2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 

This Eternal Life is Jesus Christ.  How was He manifested?  It is the incarnation of the Son of God who came is the form of man, Rom_8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:   What does it mean that God condemned sin in the flesh?   That is an inexhaustible subject in itself.  But to stay focus I will just briefly mention: [1] Jesus was made sin, 2 Cor. 5:21, For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. The LORD laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all, All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.  The payment for sin took place on the Cross, when the Father make His soul an offering for sin, Isa 53:10 ,  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,….”

 [2] Let us read Romans 8:1, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [2]In Rom 8:1, believers learned there is no condemnation for those in Christ.” Why?  In V3 sin is condemned instead of passing judgment on us.   For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 

[3]So here is the situation. Instead of you being subject to punishment, sin was punished instead! But God did not punish sin in our flesh. Instead, the sentence was passed “in Christ’s flesh, Christ’s human nature”  That’s why Jesus came in the “likeness of sinful flesh,” to receive “the pronouncement and execution of the sentence” upon sin . The law could not deal with sin. Neither could we. So God sent Jesus. “He dealt with our guilt by taking it upon Himself. He dealt with its power. He dealt with all of its side effects and consequences. In so doing he ‘condemned sin’ forever”

B ] Have you laid hold on Jesus? How? By simple faith in Him.  May I ask you a question?  Do you believe Jesus was telling you the truth when He made this claim?  I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead,[even if you die physically] yet shall he live: [forever]

Joh 11:26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. [shall never experience the spiritual death = second death] Believest thou this? [Do you believe I am telling you the truth?]

2] Many believers lay claim to discipleship but is that claim legitimate? Who does “whoso” refer too?  Answer: To whoever keeps on keeping.  “Keepeth” = guard- see that you keep your eye on the Words of Jesus.  Keep the word of God in you.  What is the reward for that? Answer: in him verily is the love of God perfected.  This prize is open to all, not confined to a few.   Is that not what Paul is saying in Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

‘…..that I may win Christ, is a discipleship word and not a word to win eternal life but to gain in the surpassing knowledge of knowing Christ.  [4]Knowing Christ is to know Him, That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection , to know Christ is to be in conscious of Him as crucified and  risen. the power of his resurrection a living Saviour the resurrection is placed first because it was the risen Christ that Paul had come to know [ He met Him on the road to Damascus]

This knowledge of Christ surpasses all other knowledge.  To gain that knowledge Paul said this, Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Php 3:4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Php 3:5  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Php 3:6  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.  Php 3:7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 

[1] noticed circumcision is a matter of the heart and not the flesh [Cf. Col. 2:11, In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 

[2] It is the Resurrected Saviour, that Paul met on the road to Damascus, [I.e. Acts 9:4-6].  It is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ that is in the World drawing people and uplifting Christ.

[3] And Paul life was to gain that knowledge of Christ that he called, the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:

[4] Paul had many trophies of self-righteousness in which to trust, V4 -6 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Php 3:5  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Php 3:6  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless

[5] But he counted them all as waste [dung] in light of the knowledge of Christ, V9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 

To know God’s love at the point of salvation is indescribable, Jn 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

But this is the perfecting of that Love in the believer and the believer returns that love back to the Father and the Son. John 14:21-24, V:21  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Joh 14:22  Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Joh 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. Joh 14:24  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 

The promise is and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.  That is not the love of John 3:16.  This is a special love to the believer who keeps [guards] the words of Jesus in His mind.

The question how will He manifest Himself was on Judas’s heart , Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?  Answer: V 23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

He is talking about a special act of love.  He is talking about the perfecting of the Love of God, [1 John 2:5]  : and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

What does the Word “abode” mean? “…will come” not at the judgment but here and now. Same word as in John 14:2 “Mansions: = abiding place.  Occurs here and in John 14:23. The Father and the Son make their Home with this believer.  This is talking about the truth of discipleship and not eternal salvation.  [ John was always the one closes to Jesus]

3] God in His Love and Grace has provided for you the gift of Eternal Life through Christ and the promise of acceptance of your love to Him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.  God has a plan for every believer [ every person who has hear the Word of God and believe on Jesus whom God sent for the World, i.e. John 3:16, John 5:24, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

When John said the love of God was he speaking of His love for us or our love for Him,? in him verily is the love of God perfected: He is speaking of both: it is His love for us that generates our love for Him, Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, Eph 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 

The point is this: you have sufficient faith; it is in whom your faith is anchored that makes the difference, Acts 4:12.  He is speaking of your faith. He accepts your faith and He accepts your love. When Jesus found Peter after he had denied the LORD

1] Jesus said, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? Jesus ask Peter if he loved Him more than these.  Peter responded, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. 

2] Jesus changes the question to, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?  He drops the “more than these”  Jesus is focusing Peter’s attention on HIM.  It is your love for Jesus that counts.

3] Jesus makes another change in the question.  He now uses the same word for love that Peter had been using,  Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me . Jesus changes from agapao¯ love to phileo¯ love. Jesus came down to Peter’s love and accepted Peter’s love.  Jesus will accept your love for Him!

Joh 12:26  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. Do you love Him today?