The First John, Chapter 2. We're continuing our study here.
We're in Chapter 2 now. First John, Chapter 2. The name
of the message tonight is Brotherly Love. We'll be reading verses
1 to 14, but our text will be found in verses 7 to 14. 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. And he
is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also
for the sins of the whole world. And hereby, we do know that we
know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and
keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not
in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in
him verily is the love of God perfected. Hereby know we that
we are in him. He that saith, he abideth in
him, ought himself also to walk, even as he walked. Brethren,
I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment,
which head from the beginning, the old commandment is the word
which he heard from the beginning. 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. He that saith
he is in the light and hateth his brother is in darkness even
until now. He that loveth his brother abideth
in the light and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in
darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness
hath blinded his eyes. I write unto you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. Oh,
what a verse there, for his name's sake, for his name's sake. I
write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him, that is, from
the beginning. I write unto you, young men,
because you have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you,
little children, because ye have known the Father. 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. Now, the word of God, the word
of God, this wonderful book here, both in the Old Testament, it
pictures Christ. There's types and shadows that
picture Christ and point to Christ, and the New Testament proclaims
the one who is pictured in type and shadow, and that's the Lord
Jesus Christ. But the scriptures are also written
for our instruction, beloved. They're also written for our
instructions. They're written for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, that the believer in Christ listens to what the
scripture... Turn a few words to 2 Timothy
3, verses 16 and 17. We'll see it here. boldly proclaimed that the scripture
is profitable for all doctrine, for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness. Look at this,
2 Timothy 3 verses 16 and 17. All scripture is given by inspiration
of God. So it comes from our God, it
comes from our King. and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
Why? Well, that the man of God may
be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. So let us
keep this in mind when we're reading the word of God, whether
we're reading the word of God at home or whether we're studying
it in church, let us keep in mind that the word of God is
for us profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect,
thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Now the portion that
we'll look at tonight brings forth whether one's profession
is of Christ, profession of Christ is true or a sham. We see it
very clearly presented before us. It's very clearly presented.
Lots of folks say they love Christ, but their actions say other words.
Now God's people love the brethren. We love the brethren, beloved.
We love one another. We love one another. And when
they have a problem with them, they take it to the Lord in prayer,
and they pray for their brother or sister, knowing that they're
redeemed by the same precious blood. Every one of us who profess
Christ and who are truly born again, we're all redeemed by
the same blood, beloved. We all have the same Savior.
We have the same spirit within us. And we love God's people. Again,
we love God's people. We love the gospel of God's grace.
God's people love the brethren. They love them. Now last week,
we looked at verses three and six, three to six of this chapter,
where we saw that God's people know Christ. They know him. He's
being revealed to them. They know him and they love him.
They love Christ. They love Christ. And they love
his word. They love his word. They love
the gospel. And we'll see tonight that they love his people. They
love his people. They love the brethren. They
love the brethren. And always remember this. Always
remember this. We have an enemy. We have an
enemy. And that enemy is Satan. And
I'll tell you what, he wants to destroy the church. He wants
to destroy the church. He's not out working in bars
and all these other places, beloved. No. He wants to destroy the church. He wants to destroy God's people.
But praise be to God, we have the Lord on our side. He watches
us and he keeps ever watch over us like a shepherd over his sheep.
Now John, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, remember this too,
John's penning these words here before us by inspiration of the
Holy Spirit of God. He's writing to the Lord's born-again
blood-bought people. If you're born again and you're
one of the blood-bought people of God, He's writing to you.
He's writing to me. He's writing to us. He's writing to us. And
He's telling us very plainly that we're to love one another.
And again, this isn't a sham love. This is a genuine love
for the brethren. A genuine love. A love also for
His Word. A love for His Word. A love for
Christ. A love for the Gospel. And we
all know that it's God who's wrought this love in us, right? It is, it is. It's not natural for us to love
God's people. It's not natural. And the natural
man does not love God's people, but God's people love each other.
Again, because we have the same, think of this, we have the same
Father. We're adopted into the same family, aren't we? We have
the same Redeemer again, the same Holy Spirit. Oh my. And we see here in verse 8, that
this isn't a, it says it's a new commandment, but there's really
no new commandment. We see that. We see that. Now
it's new, it's new, As we go through this, we'll see our Lord
actually told the disciples that they're to love one another.
This new commandment I write unto you, and you can contrast
that to all the Ten Commandments and everything, all the other
commandments. It's new in that sense that the Lord gave it to
the church. He gave it to the church. Again,
a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in Him,
it's true in Christ, in Him, and in you, in His true born-again
blood-bought people. Because the darkness is past.
in the true light now shineth. He that sayeth he is in the light,
verse 9, and hateth his brother is in darkness even until now. Now again, note this is not a new commandment in the
sense we see the word again, we know that John is referring
to, when he says a new commandment, he's referring, beloved, to what
he's written before. It's all connected. Everything
that he's written before this point is all connected together,
is all connected together. Think of this, knowing that we
are sinners and forgiven in Christ and washed by the blood of Christ. Knowing that Christ is our only
advocate with the Father and knowing that he is our only atonement
and mercy seat. Knowing that those who know God
love him and keep his word and love his word and his commandments.
And those who abide in Christ seek to walk as he walked, knowing
all these things, knowing these precious truths, we're to love
one another. We're to love one another, beloved. And we know then that which he's
going to bring forth is no new teaching in that sense because
the Lord Jesus Christ told the disciples themselves that they're
to love one another. In that sense, it's not a new
commandment. It leads back to the beginning.
And let us always remember that we have no new gospel, do we?
This gospel is an ancient gospel. It's called the everlasting gospel.
It's the eternal gospel of God's grace in Christ. And the principles
and commandments are always the same. Now turn back to chapter
one and remember what we looked at in chapter one. John was an
eyewitness and an ear witness to the things of Christ. He was
an eyewitness and an ear witness to the things of Christ. Also
put your finger in John chapter 13. John chapter 13. And we'll
see why it's called a new commandment, because love fulfills the law,
beloved. Love fulfills the law. First John 1, verses 1 to 3,
it says this. 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.
For the life was manifest and we have seen it and bear witness
and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the father
and was manifest unto us. That which we have seen and heard
declare we unto you that she also may have fellowship with
us and truly our fellowship is with the father and with his
son, Jesus Christ. Now turn over to John 13. Now
remember, John is an ear witness and an eye witness of the things
of Christ. And look at this, the Lord says
here, a new commandment I give you, a new commandment, and that'll
fulfill all, everything. Look at this, I give you, that
ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love
one another. By this shall all men know that
ye are my disciples. John chapter 13, verses 34 and
35. A new commandment I give unto
you, that ye love one another, as I have loved you, that ye
also love one another. By this shall all men know that
ye are my disciples, if you have love one to another. One to another. So the brotherly love that John
speaks of here has reference to, in our text, has reference
to what the Lord told them right there. Again, this is no new commandment
in the sense that it's been recently formulated and bought into existence
because Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Forever. He's unchanging. His gospel is
unchanging. His law is unchanging. His teachings
are all the same. But this commandment is to love
one another. And think of this. This commandment
is newly explained by Christ in contrast from the false teachings
of the scribes and the Pharisees who said, you have to do all
these things to be saved. And this commandment is exemplified
by Christ in his love for us, in his love for us. He loves
us unconditionally. He loved us even when we were
dead in trespasses and sins, beloved. So it's exemplified
by Christ's love for his people. And this commandment is enforced
by the argument, how can we love God and not love our brethren? How can we be new creatures in
Christ and not be like Christ? He loves his people, yeah. We
love those who he's purchased with his precious blood, beloved.
And that which is true in Christ is true in you and I who are
in Christ. Let's look at verse 9 of 1 John
chapter 2. He that saith he is in the light
and hateth his brother is in darkness even until now. If one
professes to love Christ and hates the brethren, then no matter
what they say, their profession is a sham. Look at verse 8. For the believer, the darkness
is past, beloved. The darkness is past. Now let
us think about the setting of this epistle. In the times they
were in, there were false teachers abounding. We're gonna see that
later on as John starts to deal with false gospels. There was
false teachers who had rose up and taught that certain works
had to be done to be saved, that you had to do certain works to
be saved. Look at verse eight, again, a new commandment I write
unto you, which thing is true in him and in you, because the
darkness has passed, and the true light now shineth. The Gnostics
and the Judaizers had crept into the church, They had crept into
the church. The Judaizers were those who
taught that it was necessary to adopt Jewish customs and practices,
especially those found in the law of Moses, to be saved. Thus,
they proclaimed a false gospel. They mixed grace and works. And
the Gnostics, of course, said that you had to go to them to
get knowledge that no one else could give you. And that was
extra-biblical knowledge, and it always took away from Christ.
And they looked at Christ as just merely another angel in
the hierarchy to God. That's all they looked at him
as. Now, the darkness in our text is dimness in the Greek. Dimness in the Greek. It speaks
of a ceremonial law which has passed. Christ fulfilled it in
the place of his people. And now, in God's born-again
people, the clear light shines. That's Christ. That's Christ. That's Christ Jesus our Lord.
The darkness of sin and ignorance has passed for the believer.
The darkness of thinking that our salvation was by our works
is past, because we know that salvation's only in Christ and
Christ alone. The believer's born again by
the Holy Spirit of God, and now the true light of Christ shines
in our hearts, beloved. Shines in our hearts. The darkness
has passed. Let's think also the darkness
of sin and ignorance, which we were in before the Lord saved
us. which we were in before the Lord saved us. It's all past.
It's past. We've been enlightened by the
Holy Spirit of God. We're taught by him the things
of Christ, beloved. The things of Christ. We've been
taught that all our acceptance with God is only in Christ. We've
been taught that. We didn't know that before the
Lord saved us. We were in darkness. But oh my, now the darkness is
past and we rejoice in these precious truths. We've been taught
that all our acceptance before God is in Christ and Him alone,
that He's the only Savior of sinners, the only Savior of sinners,
and that we're justified in Christ alone before God. And this is
wonderful news for sinners. This is wonderful news for sinners. Now look at verses eight and
nine, and we see the contrast between the professor of Christ
who's still in darkness and the true blood-bought saint of God,
who is born again by the Holy Spirit of God. Verse eight, 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. He that saith he is in the light
and hatheth his brother is in darkness even until now. So again,
for the saint of God, the darkness is past. Thereby are the kingdom
of darkness and the kingdom of God's dear son. And they look
to the Lord Jesus Christ and him alone. Now, note the contrast
from verse eight to nine. Look at verse nine. He that saith
he's in the light and hateth his brother is in darkness even
until now. So there's a clear contrast there,
isn't there? There's a clear contrast that John's bringing
forth. And remember, it's all by inspiration
of the Holy Spirit of God. And note, the false professor
hates the brethren. Because they're not born again.
Because they're not born again. They're still in darkness. They're
still in darkness, no matter what they profess. The believer in Christ, born
again. And they have the love of God shed abroad in their heart.
And therefore, since that love of God is shed abroad in our
heart, we have a love for the brethren as well. Again, because
we're united in Christ. Every one of us who's born again,
we're united in Christ, beloved. We're united in Him. We're His
body. We're His body. Just like my
hand works when my head tells it to do something, it does it.
When your feet tell you to walk, you walk, don't you? Now, your
feet are separate from your hands, though, right? They're one body,
but they have their own uses. But they're all at the command
of the head, aren't they? The head controls everything,
beloved, everything. So the believer in God Christ
is united. All believers in Christ are united
in Christ. We're redeemed, again, by the
same blood, the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. And we have
the same Holy Spirit dwelling in us. And he only will teach
us the things of Christ. He'll teach us the things of
Christ. Look at verses 9 and 11 together. He that saith he
is in the light and hateth his brother is in darkness even until
now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there
is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his
brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not
whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
Again, we see here before us the contrast between the false
believer, the false professor, and the true believer. It's brought
forth very clearly here. The true born-again believer
has a true knowledge of the gospel. Think of that, too. Think of
what you have, you who are born again. You have a knowledge of
the gospel that people outside don't have. God's been good to
you, hasn't he? He's been good to all of us.
And we don't deserve this, but he's given it to us. And it's
wonderful. It's wonderful. And then we walk
in light of fellowship in union with Christ. It's absolutely
incredible. We see also in these verses that
the one who professes Christ and yet hates his brother And
remember that by creation, all men are brothers. But this refers
to those who are brothers in Christ, or one who professes
to be brother in Christ. And again, if they hate the people
of God, they're still in a state of unregeneracy. They're not
born again. They're dead in trespasses and
sins. And Scripture proclaims this very clearly. They're still
in darkness. But he that hateth his brother
is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither
he goeth, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. Look at
verse 11. Very clear. Turn, if you would, to Matthew
chapter 5. Matthew chapter 5. Let's read verses 43 in light
of our text there in 1 John. Look at verses 43 to 48. Matthew 5, verses 43 to 48. You have heard that it hath been
said, thou shall love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy. But I say
unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do
good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully
use you and persecute you. So the exact opposite of what
our flesh would do. But by God's grace, this occurs.
that ye may be children of your Father which is in heaven, for
he maketh his Son to rise on the evil and on the good, and
sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love
them which love you, what reward have you? Do not even the publicans
the same? And if ye slate your brethren
only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so?
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven
is perfect. So he who loves his brother and sister in Christ
reveals a work of grace. Reveals a work of grace. For
love is of God. The love of the brethren's of
God. It's not a product of our nature. It's a fruit of the spirit,
beloved. It's a fruit of the spirit. One grace preacher one time told
me this is the one thing that Satan can't counterfeit. He can't
counterfeit the love for the brethren. He just can't. He can't
do that. Now, the love of Christ does
not lead to sin, as hate does. Love is the rule of life for
the believer. We know the love of Christ constrains us from
sin, and the love spoken of here, again, is the fruit of the Spirit. And what does it do? It produces
obedience. We desire to serve the Lord,
don't we? We desire to follow the instruction that we have
here before us. We who are the people of God,
we desire that. And think of this, think of how
long-suffering the Lord has been with us. Think about when, before
the Lord saved us, and just think about how long-suffering God
was with you and I. We had no care for him. So just
think of that. Just think that he was still loved us. And his
love for us hasn't changed from eternity. He's long suffering,
isn't he? He's long suffering with us. And think of this. Love covers a multitude of sin,
beloved, the scripture says. Love covers a multitude of sin.
And think of this in light of God's love for His people. It's Him we sinned against. It's Him we sinned against, beloved.
Our sin is against Him. And yet, He sent Christ to die
in our place. He sent Christ to die in the
place of His people. He sent Christ to be made sin
for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
The sinless, spotless Lamb of God, sent by God to die for we
who sinned against Him. That's mercy. That's grace. And what was it that motivated
Him in doing this for us? His everlasting love. His everlasting
love. Turn, if you would, to Romans
13, eight. And we'll see here, I was stumbling around earlier
in the message about the new commandment. We'll see here,
though, how all the commandments are fulfilled. Right here, we're seeing Romans
chapter 13, verses eight to 10 here. Love is the rule of life
for the believer. The love of Christ constrains
us from sin, beloved. And it's the Holy Spirit who
works this love that we have. This love that John's writing
about, again, is not natural love. No, it's wrought in us
by the Holy Spirit of God. And that love produces obedience
and produces a desire for us to follow Christ. Look at this
in Romans chapter eight, or 13, I'm sorry, verses eight to 10.
O no man anything but to love one another, for he that loveth
another hath fulfilled the law. For this thou shalt not commit
adultery, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt
not bear false witness, thou shalt not covet, and if there
be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this
saying namely, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love
worketh no ill to his neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfilling
of the law. Now who fulfilled the law for
us? The Lord Jesus Christ. And he did it perfectly. Absolutely perfectly. Look at verse 10 there in light
of what we're looking at tonight. Look at that. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor,
therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Now let's go back
to 1 John 2 and look at verse 10. In light of that, and in
light of what our Lord said over there in John, the commandment
that he gave, that we're to love one another. Look at this, 1
John 2.10, in light of all that. He that loveth his brother abideth
in the light. And there's none occasion of
stumbling in him. And then take note that John
reminds us in verse 11 that whatever appearance of excellence or knowledge
we may show, if love is absent, it's all sinful darkness. But
he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness,
and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded
his eyes. Turn, if you would, to chapter
four of this epistle. Listen to what John writes later
on in this epistle about the love of God. And remember, this
love of God is shed abroad in our heart by the Holy Spirit
of God. Again, it's not something we can muster up. 1 John 4, verses
7 to 11. 1 John 4, verses 7 to 11. This love is shed abroad in our
hearts. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God. It's of God. And everyone that
loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth
not God, for God is love. And this was manifest, the love
of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten son
into the world. So very clearly right there,
the love of God was manifested to you and I, who are his blood-bought
people, when God sent Christ into the world to die for our
sins. As I've said many times before,
the greatest manifestation of love was at Calvary's cross. Was at Calvary's cross. The greatest
manifestation of love that this universe has ever seen was at
Calvary's cross. Because that God sent his only
begotten son into the world that we might live through him. Here
in his love, not that we love God because we know we didn't
in our natural state. But he loved us. and sent his
son to be the propitiation for our sins. He did this 2,000 years
ago, beloved, before we were even born. Not, here in his love,
not that we love God, because none of us did in our natural
state, but that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation
for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us,
we ought also to love one another. So we see this is a constant
theme through this epistle. a constant theme through this
epistle. God doesn't work in the believer. They're born again
by the Holy Spirit of God, and now they have a love that they
didn't have before. They have a love for Christ now.
They have a love for his gospel. They have a love for his brethren,
again, which is not there in their natural state, because
it says here, everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God.
Look at that in verse seven. of chapter four. And again, listen to what the
scriptures proclaim. Here in his love, not that we love God,
but that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation
for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us,
we ought also to love one another. Very clear. Very clear. Let's go back to chapter two,
and we'll note how John brings forth by inspiration of the Holy
Spirit of God that this new commandment, which is, again, All the commandments are fulfilled
in Christ, and he commands us to love one another. Note how
he brings this forth, this commandment of love, the love of God, the
love to Christ, the love to God, and the love of the brethren
is for all believers, is for all believers. 1 John 2, verses
12 to 14. I write unto you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. 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. 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. Note this is written to all believers. It's
written to all believers and distinguished as little children,
young men, and fathers. And the apostle John urges them
to obedience, beloved. He urges them to obedience from
the consideration of God's blessings, which are peculiar to them. Only the elect have these blessings.
Only the elect are chosen in Christ from before the foundation
of the world. And notice we read these verses
how these blessings that John will bring forth again are only
possessed by those who are in Christ. Only possessed by those
who are in Christ. He's telling them that this is
written to all born-again, blood-washed believers. Look at verse 12. I write unto you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. John addresses here first the
young believers, the young believers. Young in faith, not of age, but
young in faith. And he says little children.
Note they're not infants, but they're babes in Christ. They're
babes in Christ. What stimulates us to walk in
holiness? What makes us desire to serve
the Lord? What makes us desire to praise
him each day? for his goodness to us. Well,
look at this, I write unto you little children because your
sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. It's the knowledge of knowing
that we have forgiveness of all our sins in Christ. That gives us a desire to serve
the Lord and to praise him each day for what he's done. Because
we're sinners by nature, aren't we? We know we were sinners by
choice and by practice, but what joy can fill the child of God
with the latter part of this verse? Knowing this truth, look
what the scripture brings forth. Your sins are forgiven you for
his namesake because of what he's done. because what Christ
done, not because of anything in us, but because of what Christ
done. And we know from looking at chapter
four, he was sent to the father to do that for us. It's wondrous. It's absolutely wondrous. I write unto you little children,
because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake, for
Christ's sake. That's the only reason. That's
the only reason, beloved. And the Holy Spirit teaches us
through the preaching of the gospel of God's free grace this
precious truth. Turn, if you would, to Romans
chapter 4. Romans chapter 4. Oh, the Holy Spirit teaches us
through the preaching of the gospel these precious truths
that salvation is in and through Christ alone and by the merits
of Christ alone. We are forgiven of all our sins
for Christ's sake, beloved. For Christ's sake. And what does
the believer do? We rejoice in these truths, don't
we? We rejoice in these truths, because we know that not everyone
has their sins forgiven, but all those for whom Christ died have the forgiveness of all their
sins. Look at this in Romans chapter
4, verses 6 to 8. Even as David also described
the blessedness of the man, If you're a child of God, if your
sins are forgiven you, if you have faith in Christ, if you're
born again by the Holy Spirit of God, you are blessed above
anyone else. The blessedness of the man unto
whom God imputed righteousness, look at this, without works.
And that means what it says, without works. That means without
our works below. It's all about what Christ done.
Saying, blessed are they whose what? Iniquities are forgiven. Remember the latter part of that
verse over there? Your sins are forgiven you for
his name's sake. Blessed are they whose iniquities
are forgiven. Washed clean by the precious
blood of Christ. And whose sins are covered. If
you're a believer, all your sins are covered, beloved. It's wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful. Covered what? Under the precious
blood of Christ. Under the precious blood of Christ.
It's wonderful. And look at this, blessed is
the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Why? Because
our sins were laid upon the sinless substitute, the sinless sacrifice
at Calvary's cross, the Lord Jesus Christ. And he paid everything
that God demanded for our sins. And our sins are forgiven for
Christ's sake, for his name's sake, beloved. And think of this, only the people
of God can rejoice in these truths. Only the people of God can rejoice
in these truths. That's all. Only God's people
who are born again by the Holy Spirit of God have this privilege. That should bring us low and
fill our hearts with joy at the same time. Oh, let's go back
to our text there in 1 John 2. We're looking at verse 13 now.
Oh, only God's people have all their sins forgiven. for his
name's sake. 1 John 2, verse 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. Note again
the particular blessings of the believer in Christ. The fathers
are mentioned, and they know him. There was a time when they
didn't. But they know him. They know
he who is from the beginning. And they have a knowledge of
who God is now. All God's people do. They have a knowledge of
he who is from everlasting to everlasting. They know the ancient
of days. They know the ancient of days.
They know the eternal I am, because he's revealed himself to them. And he does that for every one
of God's people, doesn't he? Every one of God's people. We
know he who is life eternal, the Lord Jesus Christ. And they
know of his everlasting love to them. They know of the covenant
of grace with his son for them before the world was. They know
who has purchased their eternal souls, the God-man, the Lord
Jesus Christ. Next, we see the young men spoken
of. And as Brother Henry Mahan brings
forth, these are those who are in the flower of their spiritual
age, young men who are strong in faith and strong in purpose
and principle. And remember, this does not necessarily
cover age, because if the Lord saves someone when they're 50,
they're going to grow in grace in these stages, too. Those who are strong in faith,
strong in purpose, and strong in principle. And John writes
to them, these young men, because they have overcome the wicked
one. They've overcome the wicked one. Now, young men in their
prime tend to lean upon their own strength, don't they? Tend
to lean upon their own strength and their own flesh. But these
are words spoken to those who are called young men, who overcome
the wicked one. And we know that this is only
true in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. The only way we've
overcome the wicked one is through Christ and Christ alone. Not by their own determination,
but because the word of God abides in them, both the living word
and the written word, beloved, both. Psalm 119 says this, wherewith
shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according
to thy word, following that which the Lord has said. Listen to what Spurgeon brings
forth on this verse about overcoming the wicked one, he says this,
Having overcome him at the first by your faith in Christ, you
still go on to conquer him by abiding in Christ. Again, it's
all Christ. It's all what he's done. It's
all what he's done. And let us never forget, beloved
of God, that heartfelt sincerity, good intentions, honest efforts,
partial compliance, and our best endeavors to keep God's law have
never, never, never been and never will be that which we need
for perfect righteousness. Never. The glory of God. You know what the glory of God
requires? Unfaltering obedience to his law. That's what the glory of God
requires. Unfaltering obedience to his law. When every man in
natural state, we're done, aren't we? Because there's not one of
us not one of us who can give complete and unfaltering obedience
to the law of God. And it requires absolute flawlessness,
beloved, perfect conformity to the law, within and without,
both outward and inward, from cradle to the grave. And you
know that perfection is only found in the Lord Jesus Christ.
That's the only place it's found. And God's people know that, don't
we? And we rejoice. and we overcome our enemy by
Christ, and in Christ, in him alone. The believer in Christ knows
that left to ourselves, we have no strength to overcome sin,
we have no strength to overcome the wicked one, but in Christ,
beloved, we have victory. We're more than conquerors in
Christ, because of what he's done for us. In the latter part of verse 13,
we see John addresses the little children again, those who are
young in faith, and he brings forth a particular blessing that
they have also. All believers have this, that
they know the Father. The world does not know the Father.
Those dead in trespasses and sins do not know the Father,
but John brings forth that believers do. And we know the only way
we know him is by him revealing himself to us. Look at verse
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 have overcome the wicked one. Again, all these
things that he's written from verse one of chapter one to this
point, John writes to all believers, beloved. Again, for our instruction,
for our instruction. And now he addresses fathers.
Now most children refuse to learn. We all know that from experiences
raising kids. Sometimes they just, I remember
me, I gave my mom and dad such a hard time growing up. There was at one point, I didn't
think they knew anything. And then when I became about
25 or 26, I was in awe at how much my parents knew. They were
some of the most wisest people in the world. But through my
teenage years and through my years as a child, I didn't think
they knew anything. Especially in the teenage years.
That's when it really kicks in. That's when it really kicks in. Young men are occupied usually
with other pursuits, and their time is consumed by pursuits.
And some older people excuse themselves that they're weary,
but we looked at Fathers in Christ, they know who is the ancient
of days, beloved. They know him. He's revealed
himself to them. For the believer in Christ, the
little child, the young man, and the father, Christ grows
sweeter every day. Every day. No matter what stage
a believer's at, through these, Christ grows sweeter and sweeter
to us every day. Every day. Every day. And as we have fellowship
with him, it causes us to lose interest in the things of the
world. The things of the world don't have the appeal it used
to have. And we long to see him. We long to see Christ. And while
we're here on this earth, we rejoice each time we have the
privilege to hear the gospel preached in Brooklyn. We rejoice.
We rejoice. It's wonderful. And for the believer in Christ,
again, the more we see Christ by faith, the more we hear about
who He is, the more we hear about what He's
done, the more we hear that all our acceptance with God is in
Him, the more the world loses its appeal. It loses its appeal. The less interested we are in
the things of the world. And we desire, don't we, beloved,
to be swept away from the cares and troubles of this world in glorifying our great God and
Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. So knowing
that we are sinners and forgiven in Christ and washed by his blood,
knowing that Christ is our advocate with the Father and knowing that
he is our atonement, Our mercy seat, beloved, knowing these
things, knowing that those who know God love him and keep his
word and love his word and his commandments. And those who abide
in Christ seek to walk as he walked in love, in love, knowing
these precious truths and knowing that it is God who has given
us the privilege of knowing these truths. Never forget that. It's
God who's given us the privilege of knowing these truths. Knowing this, we should love
his gospel, and we should love those who he has purchased with
his own precious blood. Heavenly Father, we thank you
again for allowing us by thy providence to gather together
to look in thy word, oh Lord, and we know again that your word
is is for instruction and for correction and for instruction
in righteousness for us that we might grow in the grace and
knowledge and truth of thee, O Lord. And we who are your people,
we rejoice. We rejoice to hear your gospel
preach. We rejoice to hear about you. You are our desire, Lord,
and all we long for that day will be in thy presence. But
while you have us, Terry, here, O Lord, give us grace and strength
to make it through each day and whatever comes in our lives,
O Lord. May we look to Thee and Thee alone, in Jesus' name, amen. Let's close in song. We'll read,
or we should read, boy, boy, I'm all over the board tonight.
We'll sing number 204, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. Turn Your Eyes
Upon Jesus. 204, let's stand up and sing.
204. Turn your eyes upon Jesus. O
soul, are you living and troubled? Though white in the darkness
you see, There's right for a loveless Savior. ? You're unbounded and free ? ?
Turn your eyes from Jesus ? ? The cold in his tongue and your face
? ? And the flames of your love grow strangely dim ? In the light of His glory and
praise. We're connected to one everlasting. We must live and follow Him. You're a single Lord, not a million. O come, O come, Lord Jesus Christ! O come, O come, Lord Jesus Christ! O come, O come, Lord Jesus Christ! O come, O come, Lord Jesus Christ!
O come, O come, Lord Jesus Christ! He will hide from His glory and
praise His worship of Him He promised Believe Him in all that
we have And go to the Lord at least now ? These perfect salvations you've
given ? ? These perfect salvations you've given ? ? These perfect
salvations you've given ? ? These perfect salvations you've given
? ? These perfect salvations you've given ? ? We are one in this memory ?