1 John 2

Verses 1-2, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”  John makes it clear that we do not have to sin...it is our choice. In fact, we are supposed to lay aside all filthiness and wickedness. God does not make us sin either, but actually gives us the strength to resist temptation. James 1:13-15, “Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”  When we do sin, we have a covering in Jesus, if we are humble enough to repent (not just confess). The one who sins willfully expecting grace, no matter if they have confessed or not, will not be covered.

To believe that you cannot resist temptation and give way to sin's reign, is a huge lack of faith. Although we were born with a sinful nature, once we are born again, we are new creations in Christ. Jesus has overcome the power of sin and death on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and alive in Him. Romans 6:11-14, “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”  If sin still has dominion over you, then you are lacking self control and are not a servant of Christ.

When you profess to know Jesus, you must walk according to His example of obedience to the Father; otherwise you are a liar. Verses 3-6, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”  If you are feeling restricted by God's commands, your heart is not right...you do not love Him. Do not deceive yourself into thinking that you can only deny God with your mouth. Your actions can certainly do that all on their own. Just like your Godly conduct can win over a sinning husband without a word, your ungodly conduct can turn people away without a word, plus cause others to blaspheme God. People are searching for truth and are watching us to see if we live what we speak, especially when trials hit. If we worry and fret and have no faith, than our beliefs are not genuine and we have no witness to the unsaved. Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  When you have peace that surpasses all human understanding, then others will see God working in you.

Verses 9-11, “He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”  You cannot have the love of God in you and have bitter hatred in your heart for His people. No matter how hard you try to conceal it, hatred will overflow into your speech and actions from the wickedness in your heart. This darkness will also blind you, so that it is evident to those around that you do not know where you're going. Confusion, paranoia, anxiety, along with every other evil will be present in those who hate. Even when they speak kindly, believers will be able to discern the evil; often because the overboard flattery in trying to conceal their hatred will give them away. And like Haman with Mordecai, the traps they set for others will fall on their own head. Proverbs 26:24‭-‬28, “He who hates, disguises it with his lips, And lays up deceit within himself; When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart; Though  his hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, And a flattering mouth works ruin.”

Verses 15-17, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”  One way we witness to the world is by how connected we are to the thinking, practices, posessions, and systems of the world. Being "relevant" by acting just like the world is mixing light with darkness, resulting in a lukewarm state that makes God want to vomit. If you drink, smoke, use drugs and foul language, etc., how are you different from the world? You cannot drag your idols, the things that you have left your obedience to God to follow, to the altar and worship God with them. He does not have to, nor will He, bless your sin and accept your worship anyway. And if your brother or sister has something against you, do not pretend as though you can worship God without first reconciling with your brother or sister. For this very reason, escaping to another church, after rejecting correction in the word, never works and is not blessed. Remember that those who will not keep God's commands are liars...not believers. Therefore, only false believers will accept you in you state of rejecting the truth.

Choose whom you will serve...the world and its broad ways, or God and His narrow way. It is a blessing when you can look like a freak for not participating in worldly things like Facebook. It is nothing more than a social system of the world that is not necessary for life, and is mostly used for evil. Enjoy being separate whenever you can, so you can keep yourself unpolluted by the world's filth. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.' Therefore 'Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.' 'I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.' ”  Keep in mind that friendship with the world is hatred toward God. We should only want to be known as a friend of God.

Verses 26-27, “These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.”  We do not need a pastor or any man's permission to do or not do something. A human stamp of approval will not get you off the hook with God if He does not agree with your choice. It can be a cop out anyway; an excuse that gets you out of making the decision for yourself, with a false sense of security. You cannot blame others for your sin. If you are a believer filled with the Holy Spirit, YOU need to choose. Allow yourself to receive conviction from the Holy Spirit and repent quickly. Men will try to deceive you and convince you to exchange the truth for a lie that appeals to your flesh. What is worse is that they come from right within the church, accepting and promoting your compromise, which is exactly what your flesh wants. Surround yourself instead with people who love God and His people enough to faithfully wound you with the truth.

Verse 28, “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.”
Abiding in Him is the only way we can produce fruit that is worthy of His name.  2 John 1:9, “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.”  Separating from the vine to join the world or have a flesh moment will only bring you shame. You cannot abide in Him without obedience. It is required that you keep His commandments; which are never a burden when you truly love God more than the world and yourself, but make you feel restricted when you don't. Plus, He'll bless you with what you desire so you won't feel like you are missing out. John 15:4-10, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 'As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”