The Epistle of I JOHN

(Chapter Two -- Part Two)

** Please read I John, Part One before proceeding.

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.

This has always been a verse that I remembered clearly. A brother in Christ once shared the simplicity of this verse with me by asking the following simple question and then answering it from the Word of God.

What is in the world?! The world consists of basically three things: 1) The lust [over-desire] of the flesh 2) the lust of the eyes and 3) the pride of life. That is all that is in the world and it is not of the true God. This should illustrate the emptiness of the world. Lust (“desire for more than one needs”), possessive desires ("lust of the eyes") and boastings ("pride") are all qualities of men in whom the Word does not abide.

17. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth [practices] the will of God abideth for ever.

This world in which we now live, which is the second heaven and earth, will eventually pass away and be replaced by the third heaven and earth. When this world passes away, the lust of the flesh and eyes will also cease to exist.

The word "but" sets in contrast that which is said before. God comforts us by telling us that even though this present evil world shall be destroyed, those that practice the Word of God shall live forever.

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.

Any person who is born of the seed of the serpent is called "antichrist" because he is in opposition to Christ. We are born of the true God, our Heavenly Father. Some people are actually born of the devil himself by their own free will. These people are constantly used by the god of this world to control people and influence circumstances of the present world. Jesus Christ pointed out some of these people in the gospels, if you remember, by telling them they were born of their father, the devil. One way the Bible refers to these people is by calling them "antichrists" and by warning us that there are many of these people out there today. They are almost always in major leadership positions and they hide behind the scenes taking direction from the enemy himself and directing the adversary's army of devil spirits. This material is definitely advanced biblical teaching, however, I plan to teach more on this subject in the future. The Bible calls this sin of selling out to the devil "the unforgivable sin". It is impossible for this to happen to a born-again Christian. The seed of God in Christ in you is PERMANENT. The first person who was born of the seed of the serpent was Cain in Genesis. He was also the first murderer.

19. They [the antichrists] 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.

The antichrists, those born into the household of the devil, wanted to separate themselves from the believers, those of the household of the true God. Only the Word of God will eventually expose someone who is born of the seed of the serpent. You can only know for a certainty that someone is of the devil's seed if God, by revelation, tells you. The adversary uses these people as pawns to help carry out his ministry which is to steal, kill, and destroy. You should now be able to begin to understand how the devil operates and how his organized confusion permeates this present world. People who are born of the wrong seed play a major role in how the devil operates. This should explain to you why the world is in the state it is in and the Bible teaches that it gets worse and worse. That is why we have such great hope of the return of Jesus Christ and he's coming back as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. All hell cannot stop him.

20. But ye have an unction [an anointing] from the Holy One, and ye know all things [because we have His written Word].

We have an anointing from God because we know and renew our minds to His Word. We should know enough from God's Word to live the more than abundant life. There is enough written for us to be able to accomplish this goal.

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.

You may hear the term "truth" often used in everyday language, but in actuality, there is only one source of truth and that is the Word of God. Again, this epistle is written to born again believers who are walking on the Word and know the truth. The truth of God's Word CANNOT contain a lie because God cannot lie. Only God's principles work with precision every time and that should be a great comfort to us. The condition that God expects us to fulfill is that we believe and apply His Word with no doubt whatsoever. Your believing gets stronger as you learn and apply more and more of His Word. You've got to work to build your believing by working at your renewed mind. This is not an easy or quick process but takes much time. You'll be tempted to give up -- don't. God will come through for you often when you least expect it. He expects you to endure mental pressure and to be strong and not faint in your mind.

Galatians 6: 9 -- And let us not be weary in well dong: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Romans 10: 17 -- So then faith [believing] cometh by hearing, and hearing [cometh] by the word of God.

Titus 1: 2 -- In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

22. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

Remember who the antichrists are from verses 18 and 19 -- they deny that Jesus Christ is the Saviour and the Word of God says they are liars. They deny God and they deny His Son.

23. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

Anyone who denies Jesus Christ CANNOT be born again and therefore CANNOT be a son of God. But the person that accepts Jesus Christ as Lord in their life is in the family of God, born again of God's Spirit. Jesus Christ is the MEDIATOR between man and God and the bridge that spans that gap is BELIEVING. All that God requires to be born again is to believe Romans 10: 9, 10.

Romans 10: 9, 10 -- That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

24. Let that therefore abide in you [in your mind], which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you [in your mind], ye also shall continue [to walk] in the Son, and in the Father.

If that which we have heard from the beginning, eternal life, is in us spiritually and we walk in fellowship by renewing our minds, we shall continue in the Father. Renewing our mind takes four steps:

1. Study the Word

2. Control your thoughts

3. Practice the presence of God

4. Live love

Salvation gives us sonship. The renewed mind gives us perfect fellowship with the Father.

25. And this is the promise that he [God] hath promised us, even eternal life.

That is just one of our rewards and we need to keep that in mind. It is the hope of the return of Jesus Christ that keeps us motivated. We have this promise of eternal life because we are born again of incorruptible seed once we confess Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour [Romans 10: 9, 10]. There is a popular teaching that everyone is heaven-bound, but this is not true. As Jesus Christ taught ...."ye must be born again."

Before moving on, take note that the word 'even' is in italics and is therefore added by the translators. You can eliminate that word and it has no effect on the meaning of the verse.

26. These things have I written unto you concerning them that [try to] seduce you [cause you to doubt].

We need to know the Word of God rightly divided to be able to recognize when the enemy is trying to get you to doubt the integrity and accuracy of the Bible. People, sent by Satan, will try to get you to doubt the promises in God's Word. And don't be surprised if they are people that are dear to you. The god of this world has no conscience -- he is after the only thing that can and does destroy him. He will do his best to suppress the accurate Word of God. He lets the religious people alone since they are doing no damage to him -- in fact, they promote his cause. Many attempts have been made to stop these teachings through circumstances, people, and even personal attacks on myself. God shows me how to keep going and still manifest the more than abundant life in spite of mental tribulation and pressures.

Philippians 4: 13 -- I can do all things through Christ which [who] strengtheneth me.

That is what I tell myself and it is truth. I know from experience that the world has nothing genuine to offer anyone in contrast to the true God whose promises are truth.

27. But the anointing [the new birth] which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you [instruct 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 [God].

The anointing which we have from God is the anointing of holy spirit. It is receiving the fullness of the gift from the Holy Spirit who is God. We need no man to teach us because we have The Word and the power and manifestations of the holy spirit.

God again assures us that His Word is truth and is not a lie. We should know that God cannot lie. The verse goes on to stress the fact that, as we are taught, we shall abide in God. How do we abide in God? By renewing our mind to the Word of God and by operating the manifestations of Holy Spirit.

Have you ever been around zealous, religious people who constantly seem to be telling you about God and acting like they are Divine in nature? Surely you have had this experience. How do you know anything about God? God is His Word so you must study His Word, right? Common sense. I had a group of these people living only a few houses away from me. Do you know what I've asked these people when they approached me with their religious beliefs? "Sir, how many hours per week do you spend studying God's Word?" And do you know what happens? There is dead silence or they change the subject very quickly. Why? Because many so-called Christian believers almost NEVER pick up the Bible. They just talk. And these people will make an attempt to instruct you if you allow it.

28. And now, little children, abide in him [in God through Christ Jesus]; that, when he [Christ] shall appear, we may have confidence [boldness], and not be ashamed before him [God] at his [Christ's] coming.

Notice again how important it is to get our pronouns correct as to who they are referring to. At the return of Christ, we are going to be judged and rewarded for our walk with God. If we live with the renewed mind in manifestation and are in fellowship with God, we will not be ashamed or feel dishonorable. Rather, we shall have confidence.

29. If ye know that he [God] is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him [God].

"Doeth" is the key word. It means to practice a skill as a professional surgeon, painter or musician. We are to practice in the senses-realm that which we have received in the spirit. We are righteous because God made us righteous; but our righteousness is manifested to the world as we practice the Will of God, and the Will of God is known only from the Word of God.

It has been said that a believer is known by the fruit of the spirit that he or she manifest in the senses realm. In conclusion of Chapter Two of I John, we will close with the following appropriate scriptures:

Galatians 5: 22, 23 -- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

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