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“HE THAT SAITH”

Thesis: To teach the hearer that what a person says is often times not that which God states as fact, and that all of our religious assertions can be either verified or denied by the all sufficient word of God.

Text: 1 John 2:3-11
1Jo 2:3 And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 1Jo 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 1Jo 2:5 but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him: 1Jo 2:6 he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked. 1Jo 2:7 Beloved, no new commandment write I unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning: the old commandment is the word which ye heard. 1Jo 2:8 Again, a new commandment write I unto you, which thing is true in him and in you; because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shineth. 1Jo 2:9 He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother, is in the darkness even until now. 1Jo 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him. 1Jo 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in the darkness, and walketh in the darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Introduction,
1. This week we are going to take a quick glance into the 1st epistle of John. The penman is believed to be the apostle John even though he is not specifically named as such therein, this conclusion is based upon internal and external evidences, and is widely accepted by most biblical scholars.

2. Most believe that it was written between AD 80-90, yet there are some evidences that dates it prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. It seems to be that it was penned at a time when persecutions were not as prevalent, therefore the subject matter was shifted by the Holy Spirit to more pressing matters.

3. The 2 main purposes of the epistle are . . .

1) To present to Christians a means by which they can examine themselves and know whether they are faithful and therefore in a saved condition (5:13),

1Jo 5:13 These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life . . . and

2) To combat the false teachings of the day (which is evident throughout the entire epistle).

4. By this time this epistle was written there were many differing types of false teachings rearing their ungodly heads, as can be seen in our day also, basically all that was being combated in the 1st are essentially the same problems we deal with today, there were the . . .

a. Judaizers (they accepted Christianity with additions from the Law of Moses), which we see variations of this today, from a separate priestly class, observance of the 10 commandments, the pomp and ceremony of the old law, altars, and the hope of a physical kingdom of Christ upon this earth, which is the primary focus of the false doctrine of premillennialism of which much of the denominational world believes today.

b. Doceticism (this concerned the nature of Christ, they taught that Jesus only “seemed” to suffer, his body was a phantom, or He was some sort of celestial being, not actual flesh and blood), we see this believed in similar fashion by the oneness Pentecostals, The latter day Saints (Mormons), and to some extent by the JW’s.

c. Gnosticism (they mixed Christianity with Greek philosophy and mysticism, and asserted that they had some sort of special knowledge, above and beyond the word of God and thus the truly inspired men of the 1st century), this can be attributed to almost every religious body known to man today, from the pope, to the lowliest tongue speaking disciple of the charismatic movement who believe they receive direct messages from God apart from and contrary to His word today.

d. Nicolaitans (they are mentioned twice by name in the Book of Revelation; 2:6, 15; where Jesus states “that He hates their works, and the congregation at Ephesus was commanded to repent from these or else,” what they taught was a mixture of Christianity and paganism, and they allowed partaking in some of the social and religious activities of the cultic religions), this is basically what we see in the practice and observance of man made holy days such as Christmas and Easter which are nothing but an admixture of Christian teaching and pagan festivals of old.

e. Now concerning these false doctrines, we need to remember that there were many differing variations of each of these, and a lot of times they crossed over one into another, so it was hard to distinguish and identify them properly, the point is this, that in the 1st century, when inspired men truly led by God were upon this earth, they allowed nothing but the pure simple gospel of Christ to be practiced, everything else was condemned (2 Cor 11:3; Gal 1:6-9).

2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward (in; YLT) Christ.

5. In the 2nd chapter of the epistle the inspired apostle just finished a discourse which started in the 1st chapter on the subject of sin, and how Christians were to receive additional forgiveness after they initially obeyed the Gospel.

6. It seems like some thought that they were impervious to sin, the phrase “but if we say” (seen in 1:6, 8, 10) refers to the assertions of false teachers being addressed by the apostle, it seems that they believed that they were not in need of additional forgiveness, and basically John calls them liars, in fact John calls these differing groups of false teachers liars 5 times in this epistle alone; this “is” our approved apostilic example of which to follow (1 Cor 11:1).

7. Now in the 2nd chapter when we enter into our text it seems that a certain person or persons thought they were faithful when in actuality, they were not, and that is where we will begin, and we will look at . . .
1) He that saith “I know Him” (1 John 2:3-5)
2) He that saith “he abideth in Him” (1 John 2:6-8)
3) He that saith “he is in the light” (1 John 2:9-11)

I. HE THAT SAITH “I KNOW HIM” (1 John 2:3-5)

A. (v 3)

1Jo 2:3 And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

This is probably not only looking forward in this text, but also backward to the first section concerning the assertions of the false teachers concerning the additional forgiveness of sin

1. “To know HIM” refers to Christ, and this is not simply speaking about having some knowledge about Christ, but rather an intimate knowledge of Him, a relationship.

a. This probably refers to the Nicolaitans and the Gnostics who stated the only thing necessary for one to obtain eternal life was the knowledge of the true God.

b. Contrary to the standard that many hold these days, who would state, “I know I’m saved, I can feel it,” here the apostle gives God’s litmus test for a person to know if one is in a saving relationship with God or not, how? By keeping His commandments.

c. It should also be noted that the words “keep” and “keepeth” here are all present active verbs, therefore literally this is saying “if we keep on keeping His commandments”

d. The question may be asked “which ones” the answer is given in the text, the word “commandments” is all inclusive, for it to pertain to a certain category of commands it would have to state such, and it doesn’t, therefore it would refer to “all of them” the totality of the NT teaching, how one is saved, what kind of life they are to live in relationship to this world, and to the people of this world, the way they are to worship, they way the body of Christ is work and be organized and so on,

e. Actually concerning these things I just spoke of, God didn’t leave any room for human opinion, He knows, just as all of us that are truthful with ourselves, that man does not tend, nor want to do what his best for him in most circumstances, that is why He is called the Father, because He knows what best for His offspring, and therefore His love for His children is manifested in His commands which are given through His Son.

f. The bottom line is this “we may believe intellectually that there is a God, we may affirm the truth of His existence, the facts of His attributes, and the reality of His works in creation, but only those that have wholly committed their wills to His, know Him in His saving power.”

B. (v 4)

1Jo 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;

Likened unto the phrase “but if we say” in (ch 1:6, 8, 10), here we see the phrase “he that saith” in the verses 3, 6, 9 of this 2nd chapter, and again this is a refutation of the false teachers of that day.

1. These individuals and their followers maintained that their relationship with the Lord was not severed even though they did not keep His commandments, they may have initially, but that simply is not enough.

2. Again the verb “keepeth” here is in the “present active tense” it literally means “he that says I have a saved relationship with God and does not keep on keeping His commandments is a liar.

a. This seems sort of blunt, but it is powerful, therefore making it incapable to be misunderstood, this is very similar to the Lord’s statement in Mt 7:21 . . .

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.

b. This false assertion here is very similar to Calvin’s doctrine of the “perseverance of the saints” the “P” in his “TULIP” doctrine; the truth is most sects of Christendom believe this to some extent, and basically it is done to make Christianity more doable to the unconverted, those that want to “their” lives “their” way, and be saved, but Jesus stated one must be converted, born again, born anew, from above (John 3:5) . . .

Joh 3:5 . . .Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God!

3. Therefore the person that does not keep all that is commanded in the NT (Mt 28:18) from the heart (Rom 6:17), that is not looking for something else to do to please God, does not have God’s word of Truth” abiding in him, working in him, as God has purposed (John 6:63; Heb 4:12).

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.

C. (v 5)

1Jo 2:5 but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him:

Take note that is this context we do learn that God’s word (v 5) is the same entity as His commandments (v 4), they are used synonymously in this text, therefore the person that “keeps on keeping God’s word, which is His commands, in that person, his love towards God is brought to maturity, this reminds of Jer 31:33, which is also quoted in (Heb 8:10) . . .

Jer 31:33 . . . I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people:

1. Thus the person that “keeps on keeping God’s commands” who is perfect, mature in his love of God, is the same person who can be assured that they are in God, in Christ, from the initial gospel obedience of faith (Rom 1:5; 16:26), belief, repentance, confession and baptism into Christ for the remission of sins, unto the daily walking and growing in the like precious faith through the renewal (2 Cor 4:16), one can without a doubt “know that they are in Him.”

2. It should be also noted that the word “love” “agape” occurs 18 times in this short epistle, the most of any NT book, 2nd would be 1 Corinthians with 14 times in 16 chapters, truly the love of God and others is to be that motivating foundation behind all we say and DO “in the Lord” (John 14:15)

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments.

3. In this manner we can know that we know Him.

II. HE THAT SAITH “HE ABIDETH IN HIM” (1 John 2:6-8)

A. (v 6)

1Jo 2:6 he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked.

Again in this verse we see the assertion of these false teachers “he that saith” they claimed they abided “in Christ” yet they did not live lives like Christ’s, this is a misconception that most hold to this day.

1. Some would say “oh no one can walk like Christ, He was perfect” now that is true, He didn’t sin (Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22), and we will sin on occasion, and God has provided for that, but we are commanded to imitate Him to the best of our ability (1 Cor 11:1; John 21:19, 22 ),

1Co 11:1 Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.

a. We are to live entirely unto God, as did Christ, everything we do is to be as if we are doing it unto God, unto His glory (1 Cor 10:31), our jobs, how we live, what we say, what we do, always in obedience, and always motivated by faith in God, and the love of God and others.

b. We can read the Gospel accounts, and see what Jesus plainly taught and did, and DO IT, period!, this “IS” what’s commanded.

c. This word “ought” (to walk) here is not a suggestion, as we might define it today, it is the word “opheilo” and it means “is bound, a debt owed” and this debt is to be paid or one does not abide in Him, this is what these false teachers claimed, this is what most today claim, yet they fall short, not because they can’t, because they won’t.

d. They wont give their entire lives to God because they love God and others, they wont defend the truth at any and all cost, they wont tell others repent and obey or else, they wont tell others when they sin, and to sin no more, they wont tell them that if they cannot forsake all, they cannot be a Christian, the list goes on and on, the religious world has softened the gospel, and so much so, that very few have the power of it (the gospel) working in them as God has purposed (Rom 1:16)

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

B. (v 7)

1Jo 2:7 Beloved, no new commandment write I unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning: the old commandment is the word which ye heard.

Again here we the commandment is the word, they are one in the same, and walking like Christ is no new commandment, they had been commanded it since they first heard the gospel preached to them, yet these teachers were teaching something different, today people are teaching something different, a different Gospel (Gal 1:7-9).

Gal 1:7 which is not another gospel only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema (accursed). Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema (accursed).

1. This (the different gospel which we see today) basically came about from the days when Christianity first became the state religion of the Roman Empire (AD 325), at that time people that did not fear God nor keep his commandments were thrust into Christianity, they were told they would be saved if they did “thus and so” and its simply not true, the whole concept of a clergy (who are holy; set apart) laity (which are not so holy) system is foreign to the NT and as you can see by these verses, that type of religion will not get one to heaven as clearly stated in Heb 12:14 . . .

Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

a. Does this refer to just a small portion of one’s life, just on Sunday’s and back like the world for the rest of the week? The inspired Peter didn’t write so (1 Pet 1:15) . . .

1Pe 1:15 but like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living;

C. (v 8)

1Jo 2:8 Again, a new commandment write I unto you, which thing is true in him and in you; because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shineth.

2. But there is a sense in that this old commandment is new, it is new in that Christ called it new, (John 13:34).

Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

a. And the level that Christ demonstrated His love for God and humanity is also new (John 15:13)

Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

1. And this level “is” to be practiced by all His followers, His imitators, as affirmed in (1 John 3:16).

1Jo 3:16 Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought (opheilo; is bound, a debt that is owed) to lay down our lives for the brethren.

2. So this is basically a reminder to all that read this, and to these false teachers, that a total commitment to God and others, even to the point of losing your physical lives, based upon love is required.

3. And this total commitment was in Christ, and it will be in you if you truly “abideth in Him” because the power of the Gospel when allowed to work in one’s heart, takes away the darkness caused by sin, and is replaced by the light manifested by love which motivates one to shine as a light in the world being Christ like, living like Christ, Christ said concerning His disciples (Mt 5:13-16) . . .

Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house. Mat 5:16 Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

III. HE THAT SAITH “HE IS IN THE LIGHT” (1 John 2:9-11)

A. (v 9)

1Jo 2:9 He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother, is in the darkness even until now.

Again here we see that phrase “he that saith” it must refer to some type of error that was being practiced, even though it’s easily seen that the teachings in this epistle, by the apostle of love, are clearly the one gospel that has been preached from the beginning, starting on that 1st Pentecost.

1. But as we know, man tends to forget, he tends to want to return back to “his” ways, he needs constant reminders of God’s Way, for the world around him is constantly undoing what the gospel of Christ has does for him in the way of a spiritual metamorphosis, the renewal (Rom 12:2).

2. So who is the hating brother that wrongly thought they were in the light? I would tend to believe it would be the false teachers that have been refuted thus far in this epistle, when one is told that they are so far out in left field it is likely to manifest anger in the person that is the target of such refutes, this is similar to Paul’s statement in Gal 4:16 . .

Gal 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

3. The loving thing to do is to always tell one when he is in error, if you don’t, his spiritual blood is upon your head, you are partially responsible (Ezek 3:17-21; Acts 18:6; 20:26-27; 1 Cor 11:1),

4. Christianity is for a large part directed at others, Christians are responsible for others, and after the child of God declares the truth, that responsibility is fulfilled, and it will bring one of two results. . .

1) A hardening of hearer’s heart, which oftentimes results in hatred and anger (as in the case here), or

2) An opening of one’s heart, which results in repentance and obedience, and thereby salvation

5. But the one that hates his brother because of his righteous acts of obedience to God are nothing more that imitators of Cain, and are in darkness, as seen in (1 John 3:12) . . .

1Jo 3:11 For this is the message which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another: 1Jo 3:12 not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

B. (v 10)

1Jo 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him.

The brother that speaks the truth in love (Eph 4:15), along with the brother that listens to the one speaking the truth in love, attempting to pull him out of the error of his ways, taking that refuting to heart, examining one’s self (2 Cor 13:5), and readjusting to the truth of the gospel, both of these brothers abideth in the light.

1. A person may be in error, and have a good and honest heart, but when that person is told the truth, and if that person rejects it for whatever reason, that person ceases to be an honest person in the sight of God.

2. But the person that truly demonstrates the love of God and others will examine all evidences brought before them, and will be open to them, to this person, the “asker, seeker and knocker”, there will be little if any occasion for stumbling, this person will be constantly moving towards God, not away.

C. (v 11)

1Jo 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in the darkness, and walketh in the darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.

But here again we return to the hating brother, this person is blinded by the God of this world, Satan (2 Cor 4:3-4)

2Co 4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish (are perishing): 2Co 4:4 in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.

1. Through one’s own opinions, desires, his wants, his stubbornness, instead of God’s revealed will, he is constantly stumbling because he has closed his spiritual eyes to the truth, this type of person is those spoken of numerous times in the NT as fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy in Isa 6:9-10 (Mt 13:14-15).

Mat 13:14 . . . By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive: Mat 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them.

2. (Mt 13:16-17)

Mat 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. Mat 13:17 For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not.

3. Immediately after these words Jesus tells the parable of the sower (Mt 13:18ff), as an explanation of why some just don’t listen, we need to have a good and honest heart, that good ground (Luke 8:11), it needs to always be open to the Truth (John 17:17), and we need to respond to that Truth, by actions (Mt 21:28-31).

Mat 21:28 . . . A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in the vineyard. Mat 21:29 And he answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented himself, and went. Mat 21:30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Mat 21:31 Which of the two did the will of his father? They say, the first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

4. Not when we “saith”, but when we “obeyeth” God, from the heart, then are we truly “in the light as He is in the light,” (Rom 6:17-18).

Rom 6:17 But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form (“tupos” pattern) of teaching whereunto ye were delivered; Rom 6:18 and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.

5. And “then” we have fellowship with Him and the rest of the faithful (1 John 1:7), and “then” we are cleansed from all sin and have that hope of eternal life.

Conclusion,
1. First we looked at “he that saith, I know Him” (1 John 2:3-5)

2. Then we looked at “he that saith “he abideth in Him” (1 John 2:6-8)

3. And lastly we looked into “he that saith “he is in the light” (1 John 2:9-11)

4. And the common denominator in all these assertions, they just “said,” they didn’t “do” the will of the Father.

5. The Holy Spirit said through James (Ja 1:22) . . .

Jam 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

6. The way to become a doer of the word is plainly laid out in the NT, these commands are clearly laid out for any and all to obey,

One must . . .

Hear the Word of God (Acts 2:37; Rom 10:17)

Rom 10:17 . . . faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

This is how the Father plants the word within the good ground, the good, honest and open heart

Believe that Jesus is the Christ (John 8:24); and that God rewards those that earnestly seek after Him (Heb 11:6)

Repent of sins, (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3, 5) Jesus stated . . .

Luk 13:3 . . . except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish.

Confess Jesus as the Christ before men (Acts 8:37; Rom 10:9), the eunuch said . . .

“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So must you

Be baptized (immersed), which doth now save us (1 Pet 3:21), and washes away our sins (Acts 22:16) immersed into Christ (Gal 3:27) into the death of Christ (Rom 6:3) where His precious blood was shed (John 19:34), unto (for) the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38; 22:16); at which point God adds you to the church (Acts 2:47,) translates you into the kingdom (Col 1:13), adds you to that one body (1 Cor 12:13), the only one God promised to save (Eph 5:23).

And finally one must strive to live a holy life (1 Pet 1:15)), not perfect, but faithful, being renewed day by day.

Putting off that old man, and putting on the new (Eph 4:22-24; Col 3:5-10), being constantly in a state of spiritual growth, showing forth God’s love through your life as a Christian (only; 1 Pet 4:16), as the bible teaches . . .

And not being “he that saith” but rather “he that doeth” the will of the Father in order that you may enter into the kingdom of heaven (Mt 7:21).


"That in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written"

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