Okay, we're in 1 John chapter
2, again continuing with the thoughts that we had last week
called My Little Children. And I'd like to start by reading
chapter 2, 1 John chapter 2, starting with verse 12. It says,
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven.
you for his namesake. I write unto you fathers because
you 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 you have known the father. I have
written to you fathers because you 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 you have overcome the wicked one. We looked at several thoughts
about that last week, and as it appears, and there are those
that say that this is speaking to babes and to young men and
to fathers or older men in the faith or that have known The Lord has
shown grace to them at different levels and at different times
and in different amounts. And I think there is something
to that in how it speaks here and the characteristics of those
that are new in the Lord as far as little children. and those
that are young men it says are strong and are energetic in the
faith and then the fathers that have known him that is from the
beginning and at least a picture of different levels of knowledge
and maybe wisdom in those things. Not in not in what they have
in the Lord and not what they have in his salvation. They have
all that is needful and all that is given to them. is given to them and is not something
that is earned over time or gained over time, the benefits of it.
The benefits that we have over time is that He reveals more
things to us. We grow in grace and the knowledge
of who He is and that comes over some time. it comes over time. It doesn't, I think in this passage,
set out these three different age groups or as it appears that
they would be standing in that order, they're standing in the
Lord or in the Church of God. I think there are those that
by their time, especially older people, older men and women in
the church think that that gives them a kind of a shoe in above
other people that are in churches and stuff, and that's not always
the case. I think we've all known people that have been believers
for a long time that aren't maybe as wise in some things as others,
and I think that I don't think that's what's being
spoken of here is the hierarchy of the church, but I just think
it's talking about those of all generations and ages physically
in the Lord are the things that have been given to them by his
grace. And he starts out there in verse
12 as he has, and we've seen in several other places in the
scriptures, where it says, unto you little children, or he says
at the beginning of the chapter, my little children, and in other
places that this term is used, not as age or as a standing as
far as age in the church, as it were, or in the faith, but
that they all are God's, speaking of the church, speaking of the
church of all physical age, but all have that same standing,
all are ones that were given to the Lord in the covenant in
turn that he passed and all have the same benefits of being in
that and being his children in that regard. And we looked at
this that there's no difference or
no hierarchy as far as the grace and mercy shown. There are different
gifts as we've seen. God gives different ones, different
gifts and different abilities over time for his purpose and
his blessing to him and showing who
he is, but all for the fulfilling of those parts of the church
that fits together as a whole. There are none of God's people
of his believers in the greater church or in the local body of
church that all contribute that part that God has appointed and
has given them. Every piece, one of the passages
that we haven't looked at, but that speaks about all these pieces
being fit together as he would have them, in the proper picture
and the proper way for the whole of the body. I'd like to just,
in review, look at a couple of verses we looked at and then, kind of finishing up the thoughts
on this. In Ephesians chapter four, it
speaks to this, of the different parts and the
whole and, well, we're gonna see. Ephesians chapter
four, starting with verse four and reading down a bit, excuse
me, It says, Ephesians chapter four,
verse four, it says, there is one body, one spirit, even as
you are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith,
one baptism, one God and father of all who is above all and through
all and in you all. but unto every one of us is given
grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore,
he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive
and gave gifts unto men. Now that he ascended, what is
it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of
the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended
up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. And
he gave some, some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists
and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints,
for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body
of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the faith and of
the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, unto the
measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. And then
it goes on that says, actually verse 14, that we henceforth
be no more children tossed to and fro, carried about with every
winded doctrine. And it goes on about teaching
and speaking the truth and what we have learned
of him. But here that we are complete
in him, and the church is complete with every member that he has
called and that he has in the group, and that it says here, Verse 12, he gave these different
gifts and he gives these different capacities and abilities to different
ones, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in
the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God
unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ. And that this is the purpose
of those that he has called for the ministry of the gospel
and for the edifying, the building up of the church and for the
feeding of the sheep. And through the gospel that the
Lord leads those that that he reveals himself to himself through
this and by this, and all parts are necessary to the body. And I think then, as it says
here, that it's all fitly joined together, it says a little farther
down, compacted, and supplieth to the effectual working itself
of every other part. So there's no, one of the church,
a person that stands of themselves, whether old or young, in age,
as that goes, or how we perceive it, but all benefit from each
other. And that's the purpose of each
other is to the edifying of the body. And that's that he brings
that about. And that's the purpose that we
have. One more spot I'd like to read
in 2 Peter, in 2 Peter chapter one. Speaking to this, that we have
in common regardless of age or as people perceive these ages
of believers, It says chapter one of second Peter, Simon Peter,
a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained
like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and
our savior Jesus Christ. Grace and peace be multiplied
unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. According as his divine power
hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness
through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory
and virtue, whereby are given given unto us exceeding great
and precious promises, that by these ye might be partakers of
the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the
world through lust. And here particularly, those
that have obtained like precious faith through the righteousness
of God and our Savior, Jesus Christ. And for just a second
on this verse here, It says that have obtained like precious faith
through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ. If we have obtained the like
precious faith and that being life from above given by God
the Spirit, it's not speaking of a learned position or a position
that we have obtained by by wisdom or teaching or learning up there
by him and through the righteousness of God, our savior, Jesus Christ. And then it says, verse two,
grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge
of God and of our Lord, of Jesus our Lord. According as verse
three, as his divine power hath given unto us all things that
pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him
that hath called us to glory and virtue. So in these three
verses, it's speaking to all of the Church of God, all of
the ones that he has died for and that he's revealed himself
to at this point, and that like precious faith that is in his
righteousness and his doing, And it says here, verse 3, as
according as his divine power hath given unto us all things
that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him
that hath called us unto glory and virtue. And I think this
speaks to all, not to various levels as we might categorize
them, and as it may appear in 1 John that it speaks to, but
all those of whatever, whether they be little children in time
in the church, as far as that is, or middle-aged, or young
men, or fathers, none of those have a leg up on the others in
that position, in those things, in their standing. There's great
differences of grace and talents given and understanding and knowledge
of certain things. That's a different than having
have obtained those things and by his virtue and by his righteousness
and his grace to his people that we have that. So in that regard,
little children is speaking as he speaks, it's speaking to all
of God's people and How that would categorize as far as age
groups go, I think I'm not, there are those that say this is speaking
to new believers, middle-aged believers, and old believers,
and I think that the point being that there are all groups like
that, if you want to say it, but here, as we see in verses
12, 13, and 14 of 1 John chapter 2, they all come the same way. They've all come the same way
to that standing, and it's by His doing. And we're going to
look at a couple of things that we have here. And we looked at
the fathers that have known Him from the beginning. We had looked
at the young men that have overcome the wicked one. And we've seen what the scriptures say to that
and to the little ones. And I would
like to look at just a couple of thoughts now to kind of tie
these three different categories you're looking at
of different ways together and these things that are in common
to the believers that are that are mentioned here are that sins
are forgiven for his namesake as we see for his namesake that
they were in verse 12, and all that that refers to, for His
namesake, through His own name, that these are done, that they
have known Him that is from the beginning, have known the Father,
the Son, the Holy Spirit. They have overcome the wicked
one. They have known the Father and the word of God abideth in
them, these points. And I'd like to look at a few
verses that speak to that. Through his name and all that
that might imply. Let's turn to the book of Acts,
if you would, please. Acts chapter three. Acts chapter three, and I, let
me see. Okay, this is Peter's, one of
Peter's sermons to them, to those there, but I'd start like verse
14 of Acts chapter three. It says, but she denied the Holy
One and the just, and desired a murder to be granted unto you,
and killed the Prince of life, killed the Prince of Life, whom
God hath raised from the dead, where we are witnesses. And his
name, through faith in his name, hath made this man strong, whom
you see and know. Yea, the faith which is by him
hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. And
now, brethren, I want that through ignorance you did it, as did
also your rulers. But those things which God before
had shown by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should
suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore and be converted,
that your sins may be blotted out. when the times of refreshing
shall come from the presence of the Lord. And he shall send
Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you, whom the heaven
must receive until the times of restitution of all things,
which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since
the world began. For Moses truly said unto the
fathers, a prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you
of your brethren like unto me. Him shall you hear in all things
whatsoever he shall say to you. And that shall come to pass that
every soul which will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed
from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from
Samuel and those that follow after as many as have spoken
have likewise foretold of these days. Ye are the children of
the prophets and of the covenant which God made with our fathers,
saying, Unto Abraham and in thy seed shall all the kindreds of
the earth be blessed. Unto you first, God, having raised
up his son Jesus, sent him to bless you in turning away every
one of you from his iniquities. And here in this passage we've
been looking at in Acts about the one that was healed. And Peter uses that again for
a place to start with the gospel and who the prophets had spoken
of and that they know of. But that in him is life and salvation. is where it is, and that's in
common to all through his name. And in the book of Luke, turn
to the book of Luke, if you would, the last part of chapter 24 of
the book of Luke, and we're familiar with this whole passage. Many times we've looked at this
passage, but in Luke 24 and verse 47, It says. Actually, verse 46 above,
he said that the Lord opened their eyes in their understanding
that they might understand the scriptures, and then 46, and
he said unto them, thus it is written, and thus it behoove
Christ to suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and that
repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name
among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem, and ye are witnesses
of these things. And up here that repentance and
remission should be preached in his name. And often the words
are used in Jesus' name and without regard for what that means scripturally,
what that has to speak about, and that it's not just that We
believe in a ritual or form of words that say those things,
but in his name, when it refers to in Jesus' name, all that that
refers to, him, the lamb slain before the foundation of the
world for a people and for a purpose. and that that is that is in his
name that we stand in his righteousness that we are seen as righteous
and that we have any standing before the lord at all it is
his standing in his doing of it and that it when it speaks
of in his name and yet his name is used very very loosely and
very um as a catch-all or magic phrase sometimes, without regard
or what that is meaning and what it's saying and who he really
is. And so the gospel is preached
in his name and because of who he is and because of what he
is to his people. Along that same line in the Book
of John, Book of John chapter three, The whole of the passage here
speaks of who the Lord is and why he was sent and who he was
sent to and for. But here in verse 18, it says,
he that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth
not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name
of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation,
that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness
rather than light, because their deeds were evil. But up here
that, Whoever believeth on him is not
condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because
he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. that the name Jesus is one of
our religious icons or that type of thinking. But if in his name
means what he is and who he, all the offices that he has in
regard to God's people and their salvation. And it is his name what it refers to, his name.
When I was working at the irrigation
district and I would order things or spend a lot of money sometimes,
it would be in their name that I could do that. I could not
do that in my, they knew me and they understood that when I did
that, I was speaking on their behalf. And then their name,
their name is where the money was. Their name was where the
credit was, not in myself personally. And that was understood. But when Jesus' name is used
a lot of times, and in religion, it is not understood of who He
is. And it is not invoking His righteousness,
His power, and His grace and mercy to His people, but it's
an invoking, if I say that, that it makes everything all right.
There are many people in churches and religion that have no claim
or right to use that name because they're not using it in the way
that the scripture is and who he is and who he is as his person
and who he is to God's people. And one more spot on this thought
here through his name, in the book of Mark, Mark chapter 13, And here it's speaking about
some things that shall come to pass, and did come to pass, and
does come to pass, and those things that will happen to believers and
to God's people, and that the gospel must first be published,
it said, among all nations. But in verse 13, speaking to
God's people, it says, and ye shall be hated
of all men for my name's sake, but he that shall endure unto
the end, the same shall be saved. And here where it says, shall
be hated of all men, for my namesake. That means because
of the preaching of the gospel and holding forth who he is, that is hated by natural man. Not just his name, physical name
of Jesus, but for his namesake, what all that name stands for
and what that all implies and means to the preaching of the
gospel, that is what's hated, and for his name's sake. Because
of that, there are a lot of people who aren't hated that use Jesus'
name in religion that, especially in the religion of man that says
that man determines these things. Man determines his fate, whether
he be saved or not, of his own free will. Those things are not
hated when his name is used that way, but when it is used as I
am, God Almighty, and again, as the lamb slain before the
foundation of the world for his people, that He determines those
things, that is what is hated of men, and men will hate God's
people and those that stand for that because of His name. The second point, knowing Him
that is from the beginning is mentioned, and that word in the
Greek has has many different words and meanings to it, of
known, of intimate knowledge of, or academic knowledge of,
and we're gonna look at several verses here that speaks about
knowing him that is from the beginning, and knowing him as
he has revealed himself to his people, and not just in name
only. Back in First John, we're gonna
look at several places in First John. I'll get there. Okay, First John, in chapter
four of First John. Okay, chapter four of John, verses,
6 and 7, 1 John 4, 6 and 7. We are of God. He that knoweth
God heareth us. He that is not of God heareth
not us. Hereby know we the spirit of
truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another,
for love is of God, and everyone that loveth is born of God and
knoweth God. Here, this word is used a couple
of, three times in these couple of verses here. It says, he that
knoweth God, or is intimately related to God, knows by his
spirit who he is, Heareth us, and those that are speaking the
word of the scripture, and it says, beloved, let us love one
another, verse seven, for love is of God. Everyone that loveth
is born of God and knoweth God. Both very important. Born of
God as born from above. And the spiritual birth, not
the physical birth, but of God. And then it says here, everyone that loveth is born
of God and loveth, born of God and knoweth God. Again, not just
the physical words of that, but it is connected with him by life
and by the life that is giving. And then also in 1 John chapter
five, And this theme goes all through 1 John about knowing
God and knowing of God. And the word love we looked at
was many times in there and connected with knowing God and his love
to us and why God's people love him. It's because he loved them.
But 1 John chapter five, and there in verse 20, it says, And
we know that the son of God has come and hath given us an understanding
that we may know him, that is true. And we are in him, that
is true. Even his son, Jesus Christ, this
is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourself
from idols. But verse 20, and it says, and
we know that the son of God has come and hath given us an understanding
that we may know him, that is true. couple of different uses of this
word know. We know that he has come. He has come physically, we know
he's come physically and spiritually he has come and given us an understanding
that we may know him that is true. And that only way that
we can know him that is true is of his doing and revealing
himself to us. And in that way it's a it's an
intimate knowledge of it's not just a and knowing, like I know that
piano is over there. That's one way that the word
is used, but that's not how it's used here. It's used according
to intimate knowledge of him. And then in 2 John, first chapter,
first verse, it says, Second John, the first chapter. It says,
the elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love
in the truth, and not I only, but they also that have known
the truth. Okay, and the truth that is speaking
up here is what the gospel holds forth, not truth as a commentator
or a preacher necessarily has held forth, but what the scriptures
hold forth as truth. And it says here, you have known
the truth. and that has been revealed to
them. And the word about knowing intently
and absolutely and closely is used in 1 John 23 times. that it's spoken of and of knowing
God by God knowing us and revealing himself to us. And not just knowing
the words of it, but knowing him because of what he does within
his people. And this word can mean know, And perceive is
one of the words. Understand, depending on the
context, it's translated as perceive, as know, as known, as knowing, and a couple other words besides
that I didn't write down. But in the book of John, I'd like
to just look at a couple of words. a study in and of itself, but
in John, Book of John, chapter six is
the first one we're going to first stop. We're going to look
at several places in the Book of John. Okay. It says, to the 12, after many
had left, he said, verse 67, I'm sorry, John 6, 67. He said, then Jesus said unto
the 12, will you also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him,
Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal
life, and we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ,
the Son of the living God. Jesus answered them, have I not
chosen you twelve, and one is the devil? And he spoke of Judas. We believe, verse 69, we believe
and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living
God. And that we, the quote says that
we believe and are sure, the same as we know that thou art
the Christ, the Son of the living God. And not just, We're convinced
of it, but God reveals that that's the case. And the other passage
where Peter says basically the same thing, they said, flesh
and blood has not shown this unto you. And that's the same
as here. We've sat in school and we've
learned these things and we understand and know these things. Now, we
may have understood and known in an academic way for a long
time in church, and that's not life. That's not eternal life.
But when the Spirit reveals those things to us, then we know them
and we can say we know whom we've believed. and not just we're
convinced of a system, but we know whom we have believed. And
then just one more time in the book of John, I think. Let me see here. OK. I have to pick one, we've got
several. In chapter 10, quite a passage here of the Lord speaking
about him and his sheep. We're going to chapter 10, verse
3, speaking about the about the shepherd of the sheep, and it
says, verse 3, chapter 10 of John, to him the porter openeth,
and the sheep hear his voice, and he calleth his own sheep
by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his
own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him, for
they know his voice. And a stranger will they not
follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voice of
strangers. And it's speaking of his own
that know his voice and not just again a thought about an academic
thing, but they understand, they know and are acquainted with
that. And then down Verse 14, and like I say, read
the rest of this yourself so you can see what it's speaking
of, that it's indeed saying this. But in verse 14, it says, I am
the good shepherd. I know my sheep and have known
of mine. And here again, that the same
word is an abiding intimate knowledge of. He knows us and we know him. And it's, and it's a, and it's
a true intimate knowledge and acquaintanceship with not just
the words of so, uh, in and have known him that is from the beginning. Uh, another, one of the other thoughts
that were, uh, we've mentioned here up the, in the passage in
first, Sean was speaking about overcoming the wicked one and,
and, uh, to conquer, to vanquish, victorious over. And we'd like
to look at in 1 John chapter four, just a minute here, make
sure. 1 John chapter, yes, 1 John chapter four and verse, OK, it says, Let's start with the
first verse of chapter four of 1 John. It says, Beloved, believe
not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of
God. Because many false prophets are
gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the spirit of
God. Every spirit that confesses that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. And every spirit
that confesses not that Jesus Christ has 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 in the world. 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. And here it says, ye are of God,
little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he that
is in you that he that is in the world. And that in another
passage speaks about our faith is the victory and that faith
is that that is given of God. And that is the overcoming is
through him. And we're gonna look at a couple
of verses about that, but overcoming by the blood of the lamb, While we're in 1 John, before
we go to Revelation, turn to just a page over chapter 5 of
1 John. Here another thought about it,
verse 4, it says, Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the
world, and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even
our faith. Who is he that overcometh the
world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
And that is the victory, in that believeth isn't flesh and blood
convincing, but God that causes that and causes us to believe
that. And then turn to the book of Revelation. Revelation chapter 12. And there's several places and
passages speak about those that that the overcomers and who were
overcomers in him. But in chapter 12, starting with verse 10, it says,
and I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now is come salvation
and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his
Christ for the accuser of our brethren is cast down. which
accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame
him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony,
and they loved not their lives unto death." And this is the
same standing that God's people have that all our overcomers in him by
the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and
love not their lives unto the death, but overcome by the blood
of the Lamb." And that is overcomers. It's not ones that are strong
in their own doing of it. And the word abides in them,
dwells in them, endures, remains with them. For time, we're going to cut
it off at this point, and we will look at the word abiding
in us next time. The word abiding in us. With that, thank you for your
attention.