Bible Study on 1John 3, verses 4 to 10, he is born of God

 

1John 3:4 ¶  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5  And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6  Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7  Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

Here, sin is defined as breaking God’s standard of righteousness, the Law given to Moses which is our Creator’s standard of righteousness, transgressing it. But Christ came to take away our sin and was sinless Himself. If you are in Christ you are not held accountable for your sin but those who abide in their sin, whose lives are defined by their sin have not known Christ and are not known by Him. It would be inconceivable for a murderer to get saved and then to continue murdering or someone who worshipped a heathen god to continue in that worship were they to be saved.

We are righteous when we do righteousness because our Savior is righteous. But the one who ignores Christ’s calling away from sin is of Satan himself. Christ came to destroy the works of Satan. Because the very mind of Christ indwells us we are not held accountable in eternity for our sin, which has been forgiven. But there are traits that show that a person is not truly saved and that includes not only refusing to do right but holding one’s brothers and sisters in Christ in contempt.

Paul made it clear that if you are saved you can’t lose your salvation because, if you did, you could never get saved again because that would involve recrucifying Christ, an absurdity.

Hebrews 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Notice also how Paul admonished the believers in Corinth.

1Corinthians 6:9 ¶  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Let’s not take our salvation lightly.

Bible Study on Genesis 24, verses 29 to 32, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD

 

Genesis 24:29 ¶  And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well. 30  And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well. 31  And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels. 32  And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men’s feet that were with him.

Laban’s excitement is obvious as this stranger has dispensed some valuable items to his sister. This must be someone important. When Laban invites Eliezer into his house we see the practice of former times when the shelter for the animals was part of the house. People in the ancient world up through the Middle Ages generally shared part of their home with animals which were provided shelter and in return provided heat at night and in the winter.[1] This is acknowledged in several authorities who study the history of shelter. At one time and for several thousand years herding peoples shared their dwellings with at least some animals. Modern people prefer a more sanitary existence apart from nature so even any sight of a bug sends some into a fit and while a cat, dog, or bird are welcome companions they are often cast aside if their care becomes too much of a chore for inside dwellers. I think it is important to understand that these people were much different than we are in their manner of living.

---

[1] Tim Lambert, “A Brief History of Houses,” http://www.localhistories.org/houses.html. (revised 2016).

 

Bible Study on 1John 3, verses 1 to 3, we should be called the sons of God

 

1John 3:1 ¶  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Christians must not be confused that they are rejected of men because Christ was rejected of men.

John 17:25  O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

John 15:20  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21  But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.

John 16:2  They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3  And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

The world can’t comprehend what we believe unless God the Father intercedes, in a manner of speaking, to enlighten them. The very mind of God, the Holy Ghost, is involved in this transaction.

John 1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Our eventual destiny is to be like Christ. We will not only have a glorified body.

Romans 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Not only will we be changed but with our own eyes we will see Him.

Job 19:25  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins (that’s internal organs) be consumed within me.

The pure, the righteous, God’s people by virtue of what Christ did, not what they have done, have this blessed hope.

Titus 2:11 ¶  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Matthew 5:8  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Bible Study on Genesis 24, verses 10 to 28, Rebekah came out

 

Genesis 24:10 ¶  And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. 11  And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water. 12  And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. 13  Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: 14  And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master. 15  And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. 16  And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. 17  And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher. 18  And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. 19  And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking. 20  And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. 21  And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not. 22  And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold; 23  And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father’s house for us to lodge in? 24  And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor. 25  She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in. 26  And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD. 27  And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren. 28  And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother’s house these things.

Much can be said about the significance of the Eliezer, a type of the Holy Ghost, bringing ten camels. There are many sermons to be had out of this passage exhorting people to believe on Christ. For one example of prophetic interpretation, the phrase And God said is repeated ten times in the first chapter of Genesis. Perhaps, in symbolic, typology these ten camels, brought by a type of the Holy Ghost to a type of God’s church represent God’s word in Abraham, a type of God the Father, sending the Holy Ghost to gather His church for Christ, who in type is Isaac, already sacrificed in type and resurrected in type, based on how the church responds to the words of God. What is happening here is then telling us in shadow what has happened in the spiritual world since before creation.

Ephesians 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

The part played by the bride-to-be for Isaac, the church for Christ, is laid out by the servant of Abraham, or the Holy Ghost, as one who when approached by the Holy Ghost, responds. The Holy Ghost makes the truth of the gospel brought by the Holy Ghost on ten camels, in a manner of speaking, representing what God has said, apparent and the bride-to-be responds. The bride for Isaac waters the camels as the church glorifies the gospel of Christ by its response to that gospel, confirming that the church is indeed chosen, but chosen by her response. Below, Paul expresses his wish to present the church as pure to Christ as His bride.

2Corinthians 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

And this marriage will be complete at the end of human history.

Revelation 19:9  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Verse 16 defines a virgin; a virgin, neither had any man known her. This will be important in talking about the miracle of Mary carrying Jesus in the gospels. Verse 22 gives us an important point about understanding the Bible. Bracelets, which go around wrists, are said to be for hands, which clearly includes the wrist. So, an earring is said to go on one’s face in the next passage.

Bible Study on 1John 2, verses 18 to 29, antichrists

 

1John 2:18 ¶  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

Again, supposing John is talking to new converts or simply referring to the disciples he has led he announces that it is the last time. An atheist historical writer, Will Durant, noted that the early Christians;

“…were apparently unanimous in believing that Christ would soon return to establish the Kingdom of Heaven on earth”.[1]

Christians were always told to be looking up expectantly waiting for Christ’s return.

Titus 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

John makes mention of antichrists, plural, corrupters who had been a part of the Christian community but were now gone out as false teachers. He will explain next what they believe. They have denied the divinity of Christ and there is much to say about that. But John explains here that they were permitted by God to do this so that their pernicious doctrines are exposed. By them being allowed to separate from the brethren it is made clear that the orthodox brothers and sisters in Christ do not agree with them.

1John 2:20 ¶  But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21  I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23  Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 24  Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25  And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 26  These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Unction is divine empowering or anointing from a Greek word, according to Strong’s, that comes from the same word for consecrating Christ’s messiahship. The Gnostic heresy of the first century is emphasized here. The Gnostics, according to some sources, believed that the God of the Old Testament was a devil, perhaps Satan himself, and He keeps man imprisoned and deceived but Christ came, as an avatar and guide, a teacher to lead us to freedom. Christ was not God in the flesh because flesh, like all matter, was evil in which we are imprisoned. So, Christ could not be God. They denied the divinity of Christ, in many instances, and blasphemed God, imagining themselves like in the modern movie, The Matrix, taking the red pill which opens their minds up to the truth of the artificial construct we live in, according to them.  To many of them the real God was unknowable and Christ, while at some point divine according to some Gnostic traditions, only appeared in the human form of evil flesh and matter. The Gnostics also believed that man was perfectable as he embraced this secret knowledge.

Modern day Communist theory is modern Gnosticism with the perfectable socialist man who throws off the shackles of a deceiving world system, of course, after the murder of many millions to get to that place and the total denial of all freedom as the socialist man merges into the collective, his only legitimate identity. Man becomes his own god, as stated and implied in many Marxist writings.

The antichrist spirit denies God the Father, the Son of God, and the Holy Ghost, whom John will mention later. The anointing or unction of the Holy Ghost upon the believer will deliver him or her from destruction and teach them all things.

John 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The antichrist spirit denies that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the anointed One. Each person in Gnostic heresy was responsible for saving themselves and salvation was not found in Christ. Jesus was only a teacher, among many of the Gnostics, who led us to our own self-knowledge and salvation that only we ourselves could provide. You can see Gnosticism all around you if you pay attention to mainstream spiritual thought and the embracing of certain religions and political ideologies, and intellectual thought in the Western world.

1John 2:28 ¶  And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29  If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

John pleads with these Christians, many of them brand spanking new and not experienced at all, to say faithful to Christ, believing that He will return so that when He does they are not ashamed at their faithlessness. Then, John makes an important transition statement into his next argument that doing what is right flows predictably from everyone who is born of Christ, born again. Verse 29 is a reference to believers in Christ and not a blanket statement saying that everyone who does right, believer or not, if born again.

---

[1] Will Durant, “The Apostles: A.D. 30-95,”  The Story of Civilization:Volume 3, Caesar and Christ (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1944), 575.

 

Bible Study on Genesis 24, verses 1 to 9, take a wife unto my son Isaac

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Bible Study on 1John 2, verses 12 to 17, Love not the world

 

1John 2:12 ¶  I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. 13  I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14  I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Again, perhaps addressing new converts, John reminds them that their sins are forgiven for the sake of Christ’s name. Again, if fathers by contrast addresses more mature Christians and elders he warns all about the dangers of buying into the world system. He counts on them to be strong in their faith, opposing Satan and absorbed by God’s word.

Psalm 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

John lists some things that are the conditions by which we are drawn to the world.

These things listed are the very things that tempted Adam and Eve at the beginning; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

Genesis 3:6 ¶  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

When our focus is on pleasing our flesh, on what appeals to our eyes, and what makes us held in high esteem by other people we become mired in the world. The world will pass away but the person who is focused on God’s will, will live forever.

Luke 16:15  And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.