King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Thursday, December 26, 2024
Chapters: The Books of I, II, & II John
Message: The Witness
Hello My Friend,
Yesterday I watched this animated movie about the birth of Jesus as told by the animals and it was well thought out and very touching. It was a good way to end the day, which was a bit challenging as most of my family was sick. As the years go by it you can definitely feel that less and less people are celebrating the birth of our Saviour, but as I was reading the chapters for today it occurred to me that the Book of 1 John is a great followup for the day after Christmas.
[1 John 5:10-12 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.]
[he that believeth not God hath made him a liar;] This goes back to this passage, [Romans 1:20-21 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.]
Since God, the Father, Jesus, the Son, and the Holy Ghost (Spirit) are one in the same I am pretty sure that this applies to anyone who calls God a liar. Those who do not believe in God are literally calling Him a liar and lines up with what Jesus said, [Mark 3:28-29 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: 29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:]
The Book of 1 John is the twenty-third book of the New Testament, sixty-second book of the Bible, and contains five chapters. The author of this epistle is John (the same John who wrote the Gospel of John as well as Revelation), and it was written to Christians who were falling into satanic deception which was breaking their fellowship with God and other believers. The purpose of this letter was to remind believers how they have eternal life, and our works of Christ are evidence that His lives inside of us, [1 John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God- hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.]
John, does not address his first letter to anyone in particular, but the Gospel written by him about Jesus was aimed toward Gentile believers. John, declares that Christ is the Word of life made flesh, and believers know of His coming in the flesh from the very beginning.
[1 John 1:1-4 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; 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;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.]
[That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you,] John, is speaking in regards to the Apostles and other disciples who had spent three and a half years walking with Jesus throughout His ministry and what they witnessed. John, was very prominent in Jesus’ life, he witnessed His transfiguration, His death on the cross, took His mother in and cared for her after He ascended back to heaven, and even rested his head on His shoulder at the last supper, [John 13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.]
Those of us who are saved today have one of these Apostles or disciples to thank for they passed it down to all of us. Those who receive Christ as their Saviour have the full assurance that their faith in Him alone not only saves them from the fiery pit of hell, it removes their sin once and for all, and they can stand before God as though they never sinned. How is this possible? We are saved by grace according to the promise that God made that none who believe in Him perish. If we have accepted Christ as our Saviour, then He is our witness that we have accepted Him and for that makes Him our advocate.
[1 John 2:1-5 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.]
[whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected:] The more we learn of and walk with Jesus after we get saved the more He perfects our walk. That does not mean that we will never sin again nor does it mean that we can use our salvation as a cloak to cover sin. It does mean that those who are serious about their faith are Holy Spirit empowered to follow the example of Christ without question.
[1 John 2:7-10 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.]
[I write no new commandment unto you…Again, a new commandment I write unto you,] This means the same thing, God, has not changed His views on what sin is and we do not need a Bible to know that some things are just wrong. Those who are faithful will become more like Christ as they follow by His example. The worse thing we can do after we get saved is continue to live the life we once lived.
[1 John 2:12-15 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. 13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.]
[because ye have known him that is from the beginning.] This is not a typo, these verses are almost identical and are repeated to show us that from creation believers knew what sin is and that God was sending someone to save them, and it was not of their own works that they were saved. However, it was those who did not believe in Him who became accustomed to sin and lived as though they knew no sin.
[1 John 2:18-20,28 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.]
[that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.] Honestly, you can spot unbelievers a mile away, in fact, many of them look demonic and love to be in the crowd among one another. The deceivers are a little harder to find, they do not like being among the crowd, love to be in leadership roles, appear to love God, but give out subtle hints that they are not one of Christ’s.
[1 John 3:1-5 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. 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. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.]
[he was manifested to take away our sins;] Jesus, who has no sin, became sin for us so that He could take all our sins to the cross with Him. Our faith in Him does so much more than save us from hell, we are accepted of God as one of His children and that is something that we ought never take for granted. John, goes on to point out that those whom have sincerely accepted Christ and are faithful to Him do not want to willingly commit sin, but those who are content to remain living in sin need to check their salvation.
[1 John 3:6-9 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.]
[Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him:] What John is referring to here is those who knowingly commit sin without seeking repentance after they are saved and have been saved a while. The Holy Spirit inside of us gives us a conscience to stop doing what we are doing before something worse happens. Jesus, will help us overcome all sin through obedience, but if there is no shame, if there is no admission of sin, then perhaps they are not saved to begin with.
[1 John 3:21-24 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.]
[if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.] Those whom have sincerely and honestly accepted Christ as their Saviour are automatically wired to start living their lives in a way that pleases God, and that includes removing sinful behavior from their lives. We also need to be careful who we get around as there are many wolves in sheep’s clothing just trying to deceive us.
[1 John 4:1-4 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.]
[Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them:] Satan, may knock us for a loop once in a while by sending his demons to deceive us, but eventually the truth comes out, then we repent and come out better than we were before. We need to understand that we are going to mess up, sometimes several times a day, but as long as we are repentant, God’s mercy and grace endure, and that is the greatest proof of His love toward us.
[1 John 4:8-12,19 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 19 We love him, because he first loved us.]
[In this was manifested the love of God toward us,] God, and His love is with all who have receive His Son, He always will be, and all one needs to do order to feel His presence is to simply remind themselves just how much He loves them, [1 John 5:1-4 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.]
[this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.] I will tell you this, while I do not wish any of the judgment that I faced a few years ago for my sin on anyone, it was what brought me closer to God and His presence since I dedicated my life to Him. I have overcome the world with Christ! What gives me such confidence? His witness lives inside of me. Those whom have accepted Christ as their Saviour are one with Christ and God through the Holy Spirit who lives inside. The clearest explanation of the Godhead is written here by John.
[1 John 5:6-9 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.]
[for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.] God, is with all who have receive His Son, He always will be, and all one needs to do order to feel His presence is to simply remind themselves of just how much He loves them, and that He will take care of everything. People should be able to see Christ is in us because we truly are different, even if they do not know that it is Christ until we we tell them. The greatest gift that we can give anyone is to tell them of why we are different.
[1 John 5:16-20 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. 18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. 20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.]
[This is the true God, and eternal life.] If they do not see Christ in us, than we are obviously not walking with Him as we ought to be. We can live in this world and not be of it, but those continue to do so after they are saved without repentance will suffer a great deal of pain until they repent or are sent home in their pain, [James 1:14-15 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.]
Now, we come to the Book of 2 John, is the twenty-fourth book of the New Testament and sixty-third book of the Bible. 2 John was an epistle (letter) written by the Apostle John to the elect lady and her children. The purpose of this letter was to caution believers to be faithful to sound doctrine and to warn them against false teachers. What we are to learn from the letter is that we must remove ourselves from false teachers who cause us to follow and live by the wrong doctrine, [2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.]
John’s second letter is addressed to the elder unto the elect lady and her children. The lady elect is not a woman, but a body of people, the body or the Church of Christ to be exact. This is addressed to all whom have received Christ as their Saviour.
[2 John 1:1-6 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; 2 For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.]
[That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.] We are saved by grace through our faith the second we believe in the immaculate birth, sinless death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and receive Him as our Saviour. We are to never not let go of what we have been taught.
[2 John 1:8-12 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.]
[that we receive a full reward.] While we will never lose our salvation should we get caught up in sin, we may lose out on earthly blessings as well as a crown or two when we stand before Jesus and give an account for the life we lived after we got saved. God, really does have a purpose for the things that He allows, keep in mind that He never allows sin, that is all on us and our freewill to choose to do so. What He does allow is for us to choose how we handle sin, and should we fail, give us an escape route, [1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.]
The Book of 3 John is the twenty-fifth book of the New Testament and sixty-fourth book of the Bible. It was written by the Apostle John to a man named Gaius. The purpose of this letter was to commend Gaius for his faith and hard work, but also rebuke some of the people causing trouble in the church. What we are to learn from the book is that our lives are examples of what others follow, whether it be good or evil, [3 John 1:11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.]
John’s third letter is addressed to someone named, Gaius, which means Christian so, this is written to all faithful Christians and explains exactly why we are not to receive those into our lives who do entice us to go against our faith.
[3 John 1:1-8 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; 6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: 7 Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.]
[Because that for his name’s sake they went forth,] Because greater is He that is in you, our soul is saved, meaning it is sinless and righteous before God, and if we want God’s blessings to continue it is important that we continue walking in the truth. Do you see who is actually talking through these chapters? It is not John, it is God, and He finds no greater joy than to see His children walking in His Word. And because greater is He that is in you, He has the power to lead us away from any sin, [James 1:12-14 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [1 John 2:1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us. 1 John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.]
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, The sacrifice You made for us is still something true believers cannot comprehend, to give Your life for us and even want to fellowship with us after all we have done is truly amazing. Lord, I want to walk in Your Light, lead me and guide me, give me Your power and the strength that only You can give me to be able to shine Your Light through me. Fill me with Your grace and knowledge to discern the liars from the true, and keep me in Your Light, that I may not walk in darkness. I ask this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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