Author: Charlie Garrett

Saturday, 11 April 2020

And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 1 John 2:28

Here we begin a new section of thought with the words “and now.” Again, John calls his readers his “little children,” using the endearing word teknia. It is an address to all levels of ability and knowledge, but as if they were his own dear possession.

He next asks them to “abide in Him,” meaning Christ, which is certainly referring to keeping His commandments as is indicated in verse 6 and elsewhere, and by living in the love previously mentioned, such as in verse 10. In doing so, John says that “when He appears.” Some manuscripts say, “if He appears,” meaning in the stream of time, not in whether it will happen or not. In other words, it would be like saying, “If He comes today.” The change in texts from “when” to “if” does not substantially change the intent. Either way, the Lord is coming, and when that occurs – if we are abiding in Him – “we may have confidence.”

The Greek word is parrésia, or “boldness.” It is what one has when speaking in a public forum, openly and without shame or shying away. This particular word was used to note the free citizens who lived in Athens and who were permitted to speak in the assembly with confidence about whatever was on their mind. By abiding in Christ, there will be a boldness that the life lived in faith will have been well spent. Such will “not be ashamed before Him.”

The regret of not abiding in Christ will be made manifest in each believer who failed to abide in Him, and it will be made manifest in each non-believer who claimed they belonged to Him, but who did not abide in Him. John is obviously writing to believers (little children), and he is including himself in these words (we). Therefore, his words are directed most specifically to those who are believers, but who have not faithfully remained in Him as they should have. For them (is this applicable to any of us?), we shall be in a state of shame “before Him at His coming.”

John’s words, like those of the other apostles, and indeed Christ Himself, show that He really is coming again. It is not a dubious hope or promise, but it is the truth of God in Christ. He is coming, and we need to be ready at all times for His appearance. In this, we will be found acceptable for reward and not loss.

Life application: If we live for Christ Jesus in this life, we will be able to speak with complete confidence when we stand in His presence for judgment. However, if we fail to do these things we will be just like a child caught with his hand in the candy jar. We will feel the guilt and the remorse at being caught completely unready for the glory which He intends to bestow upon us.

As the wording of the rapture, which is explained by Paul, indicates no set time or day, it is no different than the moment of our death. It will happen when it happens, and it would be good for us to be about His business when the moment occurs in our lives.

Should we die doing something naughty, we will awaken ashamed of our last moment on earth. Likewise, if we are acting in an inappropriate way when He comes for His church, we will have been found to be living foolishly. As you live out your days, remember the cross of Jesus and what He endured to purchase you from this world. Live in a manner which is wholly fitting and honoring to Him.

Dear Lord, give us the sense and discernment to live properly until Your return. Let us be found living our lives in a pleasing manner which will bring a smile from You, and not a state of shame in us, when You call us home. This we ask that You will be glorified by the lives we lead. Amen.

Friday, 10 April 2020

But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. 1 John 2:27

Here John now makes a positive statement concerning believers, as he did in verse 2:2. It begins with an emphatic “you” in it. The verb is in the aorist tense as well. The Greek more precisely reads, “And you, the anointing you received.”

It is a fact that occurred, and its effects continue on. With that emphatic and sure statement made, he then says, “from Him.” It is speaking of the anointing which comes from the Anointed One, Christ Jesus. By faith in Christ, one is anointed with the Spirit of Christ. John says this anointing from Him “abides in you.”

The tense of the verb is present. It is an ongoing thing with continuing effects. As Albert Barnes rightly notes, “…it is an incorruptible seed, and a living principle, which can never be destroyed, notwithstanding all the corruptions in a man’s heart, the pollutions of the world, and the temptations of Satan.”

Man is fallen and lives in a fallen body, but when man comes to Christ, he is treated by God as if he is already glorified, even though the corruption of this world continues on in Him. Through God’s unconditional decree, the man is anointed, and he remains anointed until the day he is brought to the final state of glorification. This is a work of God and it is accomplished in God’s mind. John then says of this state, “and you do not need that anyone teach you.”

These words are taken to unhealthy extremes by Christians who are unwilling to spend the time necessary to learn theology. Depending on a verse such as this to justify a specially revealed knowledge placed actively into their mind by the Holy Spirit is not what this is referring to. Rather, John himself is providing teaching and instruction (and he will continue to do so) in this epistle. Further, nobody has knowledge without studying and contemplating things.

One will not, and cannot, know the book of Romans unless he reads it. John here is saying that it is the Lord, through the Holy Spirit, who provides proper doctrine. John’s letter is just such a means of obtaining that, as are all the words of Scripture. Believers do not need anyone to tell us the doctrines of God – salvation, justification, right and holy living, and so on. Rather, God tells us those things through His word. We have received the anointing of the Lord, and it is the Lord who has given us His word. That is where we go to find instruction.

With this understood, John continues with, “but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things.” There is a slight variation in some texts here which reads, “His anointing.” That would mean “Christ’s anointing.” As it says in the first clause, “from Him,” and because it is speaking of Christ, this is to be understood with either text.

It is the anointing of Christ which teaches us all things concerning salvation – both immediate and in its eternal effects. It is that word which was received by John and the other apostles, and which is carefully laid out in Scripture. In this anointing, which came through calling on Christ, John next says, “and is true, and is not a lie.”

This is taking the reader back to verse 22, which said, “Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?” There is the true anointing, and there are false teachings. The true anointing comes from the acceptance that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and thus fully God. This is the truth of God in Christ, and it is not the lie of the antichrist.

In the acceptance of who God is in Christ, the person is anointed with His anointing, and he now has no need for anyone to teach him. He has been taught, and he has moved to God in Christ, and he has been given eternal life. This is then confirmed by John as he closes the verse with, “and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.”

There is another variation in texts here. Instead of “you will abide,” it says, “you abide.” It is present indicative. You do abide, and you will continue to abide. This seems the preferable reading based on his other words of surety. The action is complete, its effects are ongoing, and the person has been granted eternal life. This is the truth of God in Christ. It is not a dubious hope which may be lost through man’s efforts or failings. Rather, it is a surety which is provided to the one who trusts in God’s offer of Jesus Christ.

Life application: There is one baptism into the Holy Spirit, and only one. This comes the moment a person truly believes in his heart that Jesus is Lord. For someone to speak about a “Holy Spirit Baptism” apart from this occurrence is to completely misunderstand what happens in the believer. Paul sums up this doctrine in Ephesians 1:13 –

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise…”

Because of the baptism (seal) of the Holy Spirit, believers have received the permanent and eternal anointing. The Spirit of God – the Spirit of Christ – becomes a part of their existence. The Holy Spirit convicts us of wrong doctrine, but He doesn’t force right doctrine on us. We must follow His leading to determine truth. If we reject the leading, our doctrine will falter.

In order to ensure we stay in tune with His wishes, the second thing we must do after His baptism is to be filled – a repeatable occurrence – with Him. When we are disobedient and sin, the Holy Spirit’s filling decreases. When we live for Christ, we are filled anew. This is the working of the Spirit and it is through this process that we learn to determine truth from falsehood. The truth we learn will abide in us because of the power of God through the working of His Holy Spirit.

Thank You, O God, for the baptism of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You that You would condescend to dwell, even in us, and to lead us to all truth as is revealed in Your precious word! Fill us today and each day with Your Spirit as we open ourselves to You through study, prayer, fellowship, and praise so that we will be exemplary students in the knowledge provided in the pages of the Holy Bible! Amen.

Thursday, 9 April 2020

These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 1 John 2:26

John’s words now turn to an explanation of his words of the previous verses by saying, “These things I have written to you.” This is most especially concerning those who would teach the false doctrines of antichrist (especially verses 18-23) and how to avoid their false teaching. The preeminent thought of his words was that of the Father/Son relationship between God and Jesus Christ.

John’s words clearly and unambiguously state that unless one has the Son, he does not have the Father. Denying the Son is the doctrine of antichrist, and it is what John is referring to. He has written these things as a warning “concerning those who try to deceive you.”

The word “try” is inserted by the translators, and it would have been better to leave it out. Though John will show in the next verse that believers are secure in their relationship with Christ, it does not mean that they cannot be deceived.

The term “deceive” here indicates someone who would actively “seduce” or “lead astray” others who are in the congregation. John uses a present participle which more accurately says, “those who are leading you astray.” This is the constant habit of such false teachers. They not only teach unsound doctrine, but they continue to do so. They are always leading people astray. This is because they do not have either the Father or the Son. As such, they belong to the devil, and it is his modus operandi to deceive.

John’s words seem to indicate that there was, even in the church he was addressing, those who were attempting to, but had not yet, led members away from the sound gospel. His epistle then is not only an attempt to clarify and instill doctrine, but it is a plea to hold to it and to not be led astray by people – either in the church or in another congregation – who were actively seducing believers with false teachings.

Life application: It is important to note, especially in today’s world, that these deceivers aren’t just waiting in the shadows of the church, but are out in the open teaching heresies, false doctrines, and watered-down truths right on the internet, and even on Christian television. It cannot be stressed enough that if you don’t read and study your Bible, you are setting yourself up for manipulation by such people. How can you determine the truth or a lie, if you don’t know how to properly analyze verses which are thrown out at you by deceivers?

Understanding the context of a verse is absolutely essential to understanding the meaning of that verse. But a false teacher knows that most people don’t know the context of the verse, and therefore he can casually toss out any verse and claim his use of it is under the authority of “the Word of God.” But… this is exactly what Satan did when he tempted Jesus. He used the Scriptures in an attempt to mislead Jesus. Fortunately, Jesus knows the Scriptures far better than the devil, being the very Author of them.

It cannot be stated enough – read your Bible, study your Bible, and remember your Bible so that you will be safe from the active and persistent attacks of false teachers who would lead you astray for their own evil intentions.

Lord God, we have been far too negligent in our personal study time in Your word. Give us the wise discernment to understand that the rest of the movie on the DVD can wait, the baseball scores will be posted tomorrow, the playtime can be ended earlier, and so on. Whatever the distraction – it is not nearly as important as studying Your precious word. May we take this to heart today. Amen.

Wednesday, 8 April 2020

And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life. 1 John 2:25

John has just spoken concerning the knowledge of the Father/Son relationship, showing that in acknowledging the Son, a person “has the Father also.” From there, he counseled his readers to let that thought abide in them. With that in mind, he then tells the benefit of what acknowledging the Son means by saying, “And this is the promise that He has promised us.”

The Greek word translated as promise, is commonly used in the New Testament, and almost always it speaks of God’s promises, “and hence guaranteed by His own eternal Law (Being)” HELPS Word Studies. As this is based on His own eternal Law, it is sure to come to pass. When a promise of God is made, it is an eternal edict. Promises, however, can be conditional, as is this one, which is “eternal life.” The Greek reads, “the life, the eternal.”

This is an emphatic way of describing the nature of the promise, and it stems from Jesus’ words of John 3 (and elsewhere in John) –

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:14-16

As can be seen, the nature of the promise is conditional – “whoever believes.” The promise is given, and if the conditions are met, that which is promised is received. Paul then shows the result of receiving the promise in Ephesians 1 –

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13, 14

Paul, using the same word translated as “promise,” says that believers are “sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” In other words, the guaranteed promise is received through belief, and a sealing of that person is made. This sealing is then said by Paul to be “the guarantee of our inheritance.”

As this is an eternal decree of God, and as it is then sealed as a guarantee by God with the third member of the Godhead, it then demonstrates, without any possibility of change, that “the promise, the eternal” (the original Greek) can never be revoked. The eternal life is an eternal guarantee. If it were not so, then –

1) The conditions for the promise (that of belief) were not true.
2) The grant of the promise is not a gift, because a gift is only a gift if given away forever.
3) The guarantee which comes with the promise is not a guarantee at all.
4) God made a mistake in sealing the person in the first place (a thing which is impossible).
5) Man has the ability to override God’s eternal decrees. Thus, this eternal decree of God is dependent on man’s effort, and it is therefore not eternal.

These are but a few of the ramifications if the received promise can be revoked. In the end, it cannot be that salvation (receiving the promise and being granted eternal life) is anything but eternal.

Life application: There are two great hopes for the faithful Christian. The first and preeminent hope is for us to see the beauty of the Lord and to dwell in His perfect goodness for all eternity. No higher aspiration should fill the soul of the believer, and no occurrence for the ages to come, will compare to the moment it comes. Second to that, but which is wrapped up in it, is the promise of eternal life. The promise, as stated here, is emphatic and it will come to pass because God “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2).

When John says, “And this is the promise that He has promised us,” he may further have been thinking of Jesus’ words as recorded in John 17:3 – “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” This is not only an unending existence, but it is also a quality of life existence we can experience now. The reason for this is that, because of the sure promise of God, we have an internal hope which can (if only we will allow it to) pervade our very person.

When we fix our eyes on Jesus and what He has done, we can have every confidence that what He promises will also come about. If we consider this unmovable and sure foundation, then our lives now will also be unmovable and sure – even through trials, difficulties, and sadness.

Let us take a firm stand in our convictions and radiate to the world that we have a hope they should long for. We should be so content in our position in Christ that everyone who knows us will also want to know Him. May He be glorified through our hope of eternal life!

“One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple.” Psalm 27:4

There is no greater hope than that of seeing Your beauty, O Lord. And we know that when we do, our failings will be removed and forever taken away, leaving a soul acceptable to dwell in Your Light for all eternity. We send You our love and our highest praise this day for being the faithful God who will never fail to keep every promise! Amen.

Tuesday, 7 April 2020

Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.  1 John 2:24

The Greek of this verse begins with the word “you” in the emphatic position, thus saying, “As for you…” This is then a verse of contrast to the previous two verses which began with “Who is the liar?” and “Whoever denies the Son.”

Instead of being counted among those who are of the spirit of antichrist, John is speaking to those who heard the truth of the gospel message and cling to it, live in it, and won’t be moved from it. With that understanding, it more rightly states, “As for you, what you heard from the beginning – in you let it abide.” John is telling them to remember that very message. But hearing and remembering isn’t enough.

Even those antichrists had heard the truth of the gospel and they also remembered. The difference is that they didn’t let it abide in them. It is one thing to have head knowledge, and it is a completely different thing to move that knowledge to a belief deep in your soul. This is why John next says, “If what you heard from the beginning abides in you.”

There are countless people who have heard the truth, and they have had it explained to them. And yet, they reject the Son in varying degrees, but the key point of their rejection is a denial of the Father/Son relationship. In denying this, they deny Christ’s deity. John says that if that principle point of doctrine abides in you, “you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.”

As is commonly seen in the New Testament, the tenets of dwelling with, believing in, and acknowledging the Son are directly linked to doing the same with the Father (and the Holy Spirit also). It is interesting to note the order of verses 2:22, 23, and 24 –

He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either.
…you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

In denying the Father/Son relationship the person is an antichrist – meaning opposed to what God is doing in the redemptive plans of mankind. Therefore, if one denies the Son – meaning His deity – he does not have the Father. However, in accepting the truth of God in Christ Jesus, one abides in the Son. In abiding in the Son, one abides in the Father. It is Christ who makes this possible, and without Christ Jesus, it is impossible. The knowledge of the Father is linked directly to an acknowledgment of the Son.

John Gill wisely points out that these words are not acceptable to justify a loss of salvation. Rather, he says that “what is here said is not either the cause or condition of men being in the Father, and in the Son, or of their continuance in them, but is descriptive of the persons that are in them, and is an open and manifest evidence of their being and continuance in them. Such are in union with Christ, and at times enjoy sensible communion with him, and shall never be finally and totally removed from it.”

Life application: Concerning the members of the Godhead, to fellowship with one is to fellowship with all. To reject one is to reject all. It is no different than saying, “I believe that Clint Eastwood exists, but I don’t believe he existed yesterday and if he is alive tomorrow, I won’t believe he is the same person that is alive today.”

The entire thought process is mentally unsound and can only be attributed to an unstable person. The Bible proclaims the Father is God. The Bible proclaims Jesus is God. The Bible proclaims the Holy Spirit is God. Therefore, to reject any member is to deny the reliability of the Bible and completely blow any chance of proper faith in what God has clearly presented.

Lord God, we trust that Jesus is our Lord and that He is the Savior of mankind. He reveals the Father to us. We may not completely understand the doctrine of the Trinity, but we accept it by faith. We believe it because it is what the Bible presents. As the Bible is Your written word, we accept what is revealed there. Hallelujah! You have given us Your word, and it is our honor to accept it as such. Amen.