First Epistle of John VI

I'm constantly amazed how much is jam-packed in these three little epistles. It's really amazing what is here, and it fits so well today.

1-John 2:12: "I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you through His name. I am writing to you, fathers, because you have known Him Who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I am writing to you, little children, because you have known the Father. I wrote to you, fathers, because you have known Him Who is from the beginning. I wrote to you, young men, because you are strong, and the Word of God is dwelling in you, and you have overcome the wicked one" (vs 12-14).

Then he comes to the next section, v 15: "Do not love the world, nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because everything that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pretentious pride of physical life…" (vs 15-16). I'll explain why I translated it that way; it says 'the pride of life' in the King James.

"…is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world and its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God abides forever" (vs 16-17).

I want to focus in on something that will help us understand and prove also that John was writing and his writing was in such a way that he understood that he was writing these things to finish the Bible. There's a reason for writing them. Let's go back and we'll just analyze the verses that we've come to so far, and see the reason for writing.

1-John 1:2: "And the life was manifested, and we have seen, and are bearing witness, and are reportingto you the eternal life…"

Verse 3: "That which we have seen and have heard we are reportingto you…" The reason he uses 'reporting' is because they're not devising fables. They are not devising religious theses. but reporting the actual facts of Christ.

• 1-John 1:4 "These things we are also writing to you, so that your joy may be completely full."
• 1-John 2:1: "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin…."

Now, all the rest of the instructions that are given here are to keep us from sin, from this verse clear up to the end of 3-John. So, it's important what he's writing.

• 1-John 2:7: "Brethren, I am not writing a new commandment to you but an old commandment…" The Truth of God is always understood.
• Verse 8: "Again, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him…."

As Christ amplifies and makes the Truth and the Light of God known.

• 1-John 2:12—here John is really making an impact: "I am writing to you, little children…"
• v 13: "I am writing to you, fathers…. I am writing to you, young men…. I am writing to you, little children…"
• v 14: "I wrote to you, fathers…"

Which shows he's written in the past, concerning things.

• v 14: "…I wrote to you, young men…"

Now then, he doesn't have 'I'm writing to you' until he comes clear down to chapter five.

1-John 5:13: "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God in order that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."

So he starts out 1-John 2:1: "My little children, I am writing these things… [everything contained in the first epistle.] …to you so that you may not sin…." Then all of these things show how they need to stay close to God and how not to sin. Very important! An awful lot there.

2-John 5: "And now I beseech you, lady, not as though I am writing a new commandment to you, but that which we have observed from the beginning…" So all of this is going through and explaining why they need to stay with the beginning of the Gospel.

3-John 9: "I wrote to the Church…" So, he did an awful lot of writing, did an awful lot of writing, then he says he has other things that he needs to say to them, but he wasn't going to be putting it in writing. We come down to v 13: "I had many things to write, but now I do not desire to write with ink and pen."

Now let's look at something else that is important concerning this. Let's go to the book of Revelation for just a minute, because there are quite a few commands here and it's very important that this is written, and it's very important that God has preserved this information for us. God is going to make it absolutely sure—no one is ever going to tell God, 'You never told us.' No one is ever going to tell God that! Especially to the Church!

Revelation 1:2, concerning John: "Who gave witness to the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, and all the things he saw. Blessed is the one who reads…" (vs 2-3). The book of Revelation was commanded to be written. Very important for us to understand that.

"…and those who hear the words of this prophecy and who keep the things that are written therein…" (v -3).

Verse 10: "…I heard a loud voice like a trumpet behind me, saying, 'I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, and what you see, write in a book… [not just a letter—a book] …and send it to the churches that are in Asia…" (vs 10-11).

Notice what is said, especially to the churches so that we can have no doubt. And you tie this in with what we read in:

1-John 2:1: "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin…."

Revelation 2:1: "To the angel of the Ephesian church, write…" John is doing exactly the same thing what Moses was doing. Didn't God say, 'Tell the children of Israel, thus says the Lord'? So, he wrote it down! Now God want the message to go, He says: Write! And He says so to every one of the churches. I think this is very important because that it shows that God is giving a permanent record. Now, notice what He also says to every one of the churches.

Verse 7: "The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches…" We have a combination of things which are very important!

It is written:

What is written are the words of Christ. Now, what did Christ say of His words? His words are true! They are light! He also said, 'The flesh profits nothing, but the words that I am speaking to you, they are spirit and they are life.' What is written when it comes to us who are Christians? With the Spirit of God it is to have a spiritual impact that we are to hear what the Spirit in us—when it connects with these words—tells us! It just really came to my mind, in preparing for this sermon, WOW! that's really important! He says, 'To each one of the churches write,' and to each one of the churches, 'he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches'—all the way through, every one of the seven churches.

Revelation 19:9—this is a tremendous verse: "And he said to me, 'Write… [so this is a command] …Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'…." That's what we've been called to, brethren. That's something! He wants it written so no one can say, 'I didn't know.' No one can say, 'Lord, you may have told them, but You didn't tell me.' So, John was told to write.

"…And he said to me, 'These are the true words of God'" (v 9).

Revelation 21:5: "And He Who sits on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.' Then He said to me, 'Write, for these words are true and faithful.'"

Now then, we have them given to us! God has made sure! In spite of all of the evil that's going on in the world, the Bible remains the #1 best seller around the world, everywhere—every year! That has got to be the doing of God, because how many people hate the Word of God? But they have a Bible at home; yes, they do.

How important are these words? Not only just the book of Revelation, but we're going to see that Peter said that he wanted them to always have in remembrance what he was telling them, after he died. That remembrance actually means a written record—like a memorial. You've heard of a 'memorial stone'? That's what kind of remembrance that Peter wants them to have.

This finishes the whole Bible; this is pretty powerful stuff at the end. Revelation 22:18: "For I jointly testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, that if anyone adds to these things, God shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book…. [they're awesome, indeed] …And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life… [pretty dangerous stuff] …and from the Holy City, and from the things that are written in this book. He Who testifies these things says, 'Surely, I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen" (vs 18-21).

When John was putting together the finality of the New Testament he knew exactly what he was doing. Christ as the Head of the Church knew exactly what the churches needed. Through all the difficulties down through time we have the Truth of God, we have got with the Greek text, right here—Interlinear Greek-English New Testament by George Ricker Berry—we have essentially the text that came from the Apostles. The book The King James Version Defended and it will show you that. This Greek text, the Berry, is the same text that was used for translating to the King James Version of the Bible, and is the most accurate.

Before he was dying, Peter knew that he had to make a permanent record of these things. So, it becomes very important for us to understand and realize that when John says, 'I am writing to you, that you sin not. I am writing to you that you may know Christ and have eternal life. I am writing these things to you.' And then you read the book of Revelation with everything that is there, this is really something!

What happens when you have a dispute with a contract? First thing they ask you: 'Do you have a written contract?' And if you do, 'let's see the contract.' That's why God sent the written Word. When you buy something and you have dispute concerning something you have purchased, what is it that they ask you for, always? A written receipt! Why? Because that is evidence of law! The Bible is evidence of eternal life! So, God has made sure that everyone has a copy.

Peter wrote here in 2-Peter 1:12: "Therefore, I will not neglect to make you always mindful of these things…" How is he putting them in remembrance of it? By writing to them!

"…although you already know them and have been established in the present Truth. For I consider it my duty, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by causing you to remember these things; knowing that shortly the putting off of my tabernacle will come…" (vs 12-14).

He knew he was going to die. So, where he says, 'that always put you in remembrance; knowing that shortly I must die, put off this tabernacle.'

"…even as our Lord Jesus Christ has signified to me. But I will make every effort that, after my departure, you may always have a written remembrance…" (vs 14-15). Then what does he do? He refers to the writings of the prophets for the authority for what he's doing!

Verse 16: "For we did not follow cleverly concocted myths as our authority, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His magnificent glory." He's establishing this authority to make this remembrance for them always. And this word for 'remembrance' is the same as chiseling out a memorial in stone.

I'll show you the same word used as a memorial, chiseled in stone. Matthew 23:29: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the sepulchers of the prophets, and adorn the tombs of the righteous."

Now, adorn/garnish means to inscribe, in this particular case for remembrance. That's what Peter was doing; then he went on and gave the authority of the prophets. So, what God is doing in having the Bible written… It'll be a very interesting study if you want an interesting handy-dandy concordance word-study, just look up the word write and wrote and written and find out all the way through that everyone knew what they were doing to put this in order.

Let's go to the first chapter of the book of Luke, and let's see that Luke understood what he was doing when he was writing. Notice his mission in writing the Gospel of Luke: he was straightening out any misunderstood details, and he clearly says so.

Luke 1:1: "Since many have taken in hand to compile a written narration of the matters, which have been fully believed among us, as they delivered them to us, those who from the beginning had been eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word, It seemed good to me also, having accurately understood everything from the very first, to write these things in an orderly sequence to you, most excellent Theophilus" (vs 1-3).

The writing of the New Testament was done by those who knew what they were doing and knew what they were writing, and God did not leave it to chance for the Catholic Church to canonize it and write it and add to it, and so forth! We'll see the evidence of that when we get into 1-John here in just a little bit more, and see some of the other things.

1-John 2:12: "I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you through His name." Now, little children to John was virtually anyone younger than himself, because he calls all of us, little children.

Verse 13: "I am writing to you, fathers…" This is not writing to priests in the sense that they were fathers as some people could look at that and say that; it doesn't mean that at all. 'I am writing to you fathers' then who are heads of the household, etc.

"…because you have known Him Who is from the beginning.…" (v 13). Here he is writing to those people who were still alive. Some of the older, older members in the congregation, who knew Christ at the beginning of the Gospel. These are long-time church members. In this case, we are dealing with people who are probably in their 70s and their 80s, who were teenagers when they saw Jesus Christ, and who were followers of Christ from the beginning.

"…I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one…." (v 13). We have to overcome Satan—without a doubt—and his influence in the world, which is now far more intense than when John wrote this.

• What was the "wicked one" doing?
• Who was the "wicked one" using?
• What was it that they overcame?

John tells us a little later: antichrists, false prophets and transgression. That's the tactics then of the 'wicked one.' So they overcame him. But once you overcome something once in one period of time, does it mean that you never have to overcome it again later? No!

I remember a man who was a high church leader who once said, 'Well, you know I've been in the church so long and I've overcome so much, Satan has no more interest in me'—and guess what? BAM! The axe fell!

So, if you overcome the 'wicked one' today, that's fine. Remember what it said about Jesus when He overcame Satan at the 'temptation'? 'And he left Him for a season!' Satan was coming back again! It doesn't mean: once you've overcome one time, does not mean you've overcome forever.

"…I am writing to you, little children, because you have known the Father…. [How? By the Spirit of God!] …I wrote to you, fathers, because you have known Him Who is from the beginning…. [that's what he wrote to them in the past] …I wrote to you, young men, because you are strong, and the Word of God is dwelling in you, and you have overcome the wicked one" (vs 13-14).

So, he repeats it! Why does he repeat this? To show that it has to be an ongoing thing. Not once, but continuous. Now, to tie right in with that, then we have this:

Do not love this society:

Verse 15: "Do not love the world…" Now, 'the world' here means: not the things that God has created and made. Because what did God say after He had created and made everything that He had made? Behold it is very good! So we are talking about the world and the society.

Verse 15: "Do not love the world, nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him…. [and we'll see why that is so important] …because everything that is in the world… [it's talking about the things that are in the world then] …the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pretentious pride of physical life—is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world and its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God abides forever" (vs 15-17).

Now let's go back and count 'world.' It is used six times—the number of man"

• do not love the world (v 15)
• the things in the world (v 15)
• anyone loving the world (v 15).
• everything in the world (v 16)
• but is from the world (v 16)
• the world and its lust is passing away (v 17)

Interesting that it is six!What are people going to accept when they want the things of the world more than the things of God? They're going to accept the mark and the number of the beast.

The finality of the system is based upon merchandising religion, merchandising goods and services, merchandising people, and the most efficient way to do that is with the mark of the beast. Now, we've covered some of that here recently, but notice what it says:

Revelation 13:16: "And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, to receive a mark in their right hands, or in their foreheads; so that no one may have the ability to buy and sell unless he has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom…." (vs 16-18).

I don't think we fully understand this yet, so we need to concentrate on this and ask God for the wisdom of it. We have the promise that the wise shall understand (Dan.12); so we will understand!

Verse 18: "Here is wisdom. Let the one who has understanding count the number of the beast … [so it's all going to come together] …for it is a man's number, and his number is 666."

So, isn't it interesting here where we're told not to love the world—the world is mentioned six times. Let's notice something else that's very important concerning the love of the world vs the love of God.

• 1-John 2:15 shows: the love of the world; it comes from the world
• Verse 17 says what is going to happen to the world: "And the world and its lust is passing away…"

That's really something the way it's laid out. The love of the world comes from the world and the world passes away.

• Verse 15: "…the love of the Father…"
• Verse 16: "…comes from the Father…"
• Verse 17: you "…abide forever…" or live forever

That's really something! Quite a comparison! Right there in those three verses: we have 'the world' six times, which is fitting for the world and man's way. We have 'the Father' in comparison to the way that the world is.

1-John 2:15: "Do not love the world…." It's interesting, this is referring to all the thoughts and the ways of the world! God the Father loves the world and sent Christ so that it may be saved. But it isn't going to be saved until God's way and God's plan.

Now, if you have the love of the world—let's look at a couple of Scriptures here, which are very important for us to understand. While we are to not love the world, or love each other as sinners love each other, there's still something that we need to do in relationship to the world.

Luke 6:31: "And exactly as you would have men do to you, you do the same to them also. But if you love only those who love you, what praise is it to you? For even sinners love those who love them" (vs 31-32).

This is talking about the love of the world. All sinners love each other in this world, for the worldly things. We're going to be seeing this manifesting itself even more as we are coming down toward the end of the age, as they are building up their religions and bringing them together, and as they are building up for this one-world government, which is just about ready to put the noose around the neck of the whole world. I am amazed! It is something else, how quickly that has come.

John 16 also talks about the world and how the Holy Spirit is going to lead us and guide us in it.

John 16:7: "But I am telling you the truth. It is profitable for you that I go away because if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you. However, if I go, I will send it to you. And when that one has come, it will convict the world concerning sin…" (vs 7-8). That's why we're not to love the world, because John writes and says, 'the whole world lies in wickedness.'

"…and righteousness, and judgment: Concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you no longer will see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged…." (vs 8-11).

If you love the world, and you love the 'god of this world'—and as Rev. 13 shows, everyone is going to worship the devil—you are going to receive the judgment of the devil! Because he has been judged!

Verse 12: "I have yet many things to tell you, but you are not able to bear them now. However, when that one has come, even the Spirit of the Truth, it will lead you into all Truth because it shall not speak from itself, but whatever it shall hear, it shall speak. And it shall disclose to you the things to come" (vs 12-13). Brethren, that's how the wise will understand!

Who are the true wise ones? The ones who have the Spirit of God! Many people will read that verse that we just read in Rev. 13 and think that by their own wisdom they can figure this out. No! It has to be by the Holy Spirit and the promise of God that the Holy Spirit will show you 'things to come.' This makes it very clear that if we are not loving the world and are not part of the world—and you could entitle this whole section: Since You have Overcome, Don't go Back into the World—then it's going to show us if we're loving God, which comes from the Father; have the Spirit, which comes from the Father, then we're going to know these things when they come. That's why it's so vitally important living in the days that we are, that we really go through and understand this. Now, the whole power of evil in this world is organized against God, and God calls us out of it!

Everyone is involved in this sort of thing in the world. I tell you, I'm just amazed! I was talking to this man and he was talking about radio and television and so forth, and I said: Since television is so bad now, what is it going to be like with 500 channels? that you can just dial up and can put on your computer screen or your television screen or whatever? Because here's what's going to happen:

Ephesians 2:1: "Now, you were dead in trespasses and sins." So, if you go back into the world, if you love the world, then you are loving the things that causes the world to sin and abide in death.

Here's what they are, v 2: "In which you walked in times past according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now working within the children of disobedience." All the organized evil that there is that goes against God!

Verse 3: "Among whom also we all once had our conduct in the lusts of our flesh, doing the things willed by the flesh and by the mind…"

It's the lust of the mind and the pride of life that is going to be the downfall in the end run. Why? Because men are going to be all organized together in their whole system against God! God is going to let them have the greatest perfection and pinnacle of things that they have ever had in the whole history of mankind, and it's going to pass away! But God has called us out of it,

"…and were by nature the children of wrath, even as the rest of the world" (v 3).

Here's the way the world is, 1-John 3:4 "Everyone who practices sin is also practicing lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness."

Verse 8: "The one who practices sin is of the devil…" Why did John write this epistle? 'My little children, I write this to you that you may not sin.'

"…because the devil has beensinning from the beginning…." (v 8).

Here's part of the world, 1-John 4:3: "And every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not from God. And this is the spirit of antichrist…" Where is 'antichrist'? In the world! And 'antichrist' is different than 'false-Christ.' A false-Christ is saying, I am bringing you some saving knowledge. An 'antichrist' is against Christ, totally against Him!

"...And this is the spirit of antichrist, which you heard was to come, and even now it is already in the world" (v 3). So, if you are loving the world, you are loving antichrist!

That's why John wants to make it very clear—as we said when we began this series, that there is a division between righteousness and evil and what is right and what is wrong and what is God's and what is of the world and what is of Satan.

(go to the next track)

Verse 4: "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them… [that's all a part of the overcoming that John is talking about] …because greater is He Who is in you than the one who is in the world."

• What did Jesus say? He said, 'Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!'
• If Christ is in us, is He greater than anything in the world? Yes!
• Can we then overcome the world? Yes!

But we have to:

• love God
• draw close to God
• let God's Spirit be in us
• drink in of His Spirit

Verse 5: "They are of the world; because of this, they speak of the world, and the world listens to them." When you're watching the news, listen and watch for how many leaders are saying we need a 'one-world government.' It is going to astound you.

This is what God wants us to know, 1-John 5:18: "We know that anyone who is begotten by God does not practice sin; for the one who has been begotten by God keeps himself by the power of God, and the wicked one does not touch him…. [Why? Because he's not loving the world!] …We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the wicked one" (vs 18-19).

Now that's why we are not to love the world, and we are not to love the things in the world. That's why is says very clearly that 'if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him.' Sooner or later God is going to rescue the world in His time-plan. But this is showing what we should and what we should not be doing in relationship to the world, and the lust in the world and everything there is going to pass away. Without a doubt it is all going to be gone.

I think this is interesting, because we're going to compare this with overcoming worldliness that James wrote. John is writing to those people who have come out of the world. There are some who are going back into it and he's saying, 'You have overcome the wicked one, you have come out of the world, don't go back into the world; and don't let the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh or the pride of life trip you up and go back into the world, because it's going to pass away.

We will see James' message of worldliness—coming out worldliness; how to overcome it. He is talking to people that were already back into the world; not wholly, not totally, but they were into the world. Here's how to overcome worldliness. There are quite a few commands contained here in just these next five verses:

James 4:6: "But He gives greater grace. This is the reason it says, 'God sets Himself against the proud.… [we're told: 'to beware of the pride of life'] … but He gives grace to the humble.'" So, here it is:

How to overcome and come out of worldliness:

• "Therefore, submit yourselves to God…." (v 7)

Whatsoever, you do then, in word or deed, let all be done in the name of Christ—submit yourself to God.

• "…Resist the devil…" (v 7).

Because he's in the world and he hates God. And what does he do before God every day to us? 'He accuses us before God, day and night' (Rev. 12:10)! He ceaselessly is seeking to destroy us, to accuse us and to bring us back into the world! So, we must resist the devil! Now we'll show you then not only must you resist him, but you must also overcome him. We'll cover that later. Notice what happens when you resist him: "…and he will flee from you" (v 7)

• "Draw near to God…" (v 8)

What happens when you draw near to God? "…and He will draw near to you…." (v 8).

• What do you do when you find yourself slipping back into the world?
• How is it that the lust of the eyes and the pride of life and the love of the world affects you? You draw away from God!

So, you "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you..." There is something that is always true that God does, if you don't want Him around He won't be there. If you avoid and neglect Him, He will avoid and neglect you. So "draw near to God and He will draw near to you."

• "…Cleanse your hands, you sinners…" (v 8)

Let's go to 1-John 3; I want to put it here because this is so important. In order to survive in this world and in order to not love the world nor the things in the world—because it's passing away—this is what we need to have in the forefront of our minds so that we cleanse ourselves. How do we cleanse ourselves?

1-John 3:1: "Behold!…."—to grasp, to comprehend, to understand. In other words, let this be the mental power of God's Spirit

• to keep you from going back into the world
• to draw you close to God
• to cleanse your hands and your life

Verse 1: "Behold! What glorious love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God!…." Remember, Rev. 22 says that we will see His face. That's something! So if there's any one thing that we need completely, spiritually burned in our minds is this right here:

"…For this very reason, the world does not know us because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be; but we know that when He is manifested, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him exactly as He is" (vs 1-2).

What is this supposed to do for us? Verse 3: "And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself… [cleansing himself] …even as He is pure."

• How do you cleanse yourself?
• How do you purify yourself?

This tells us how it is done; here's why we do it, 1-John 1:7: "However, if we walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His own Son, cleanses us from all sin." That's how we cleanse our hands. This is how we cleanse ourselves. This is how we overcome the world.

Verse 9: "If we confess our own sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

That's why these commands are given. So if you find yourself slipping into worldliness, because the world has its attractions for you… That doesn't mean you can't have physical goods. That doesn't mean that you can't have even fine physical goods. It just means this: Don't let the lust toward any of those things consume you, and don't get carried away with it! Enjoy it for what it is, but realize it's all going to pass away.

The next time you see some of these old classic cars, remember: They were just as zippy to the people who first bought them as whatever new car you may get. It's all going to get old and pass away; same way with anything in this world.

That's why he says here, James 4:8: "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you…." What do you do when you do that? You confess your sins!

• "…purify your hearts, you double minded" (v 8).

Because where does sin always originate? In the heart! Jesus said, 'Out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts.' That's the first thing He said; evil thoughts first. If you try to please the world and you try to please God you become double minded.

• Have we seen that?
• Have we seen that in the Church?
• Have we seen those people that have wanted to have the acclamation of the world?
• What happens to them? They become double-minded!
• And then what happens after they become double-minded? They begin bringing in the ways and the doctrines and the things of this world.

When you become double-minded, then you are torn. What does Christ say? What does Christ say? 'No man can serve two masters!' Anyone who is double-minded is serving two masters. It won't work. Here's the solution:

• Repentance: "Be grieved… ['afflicted,' KJV)] …and mourn…" (v 9).

Does afflicted refer to fasting? Yes, it does! David said, 'I afflicted my soul with fasting' (Psa. 35:13). So when you're repenting and you fast; that's how you draw close to God.

"…and weep…" (v 9). In other words, come to a deep, spiritual conviction of the sins!

• "…let your laughter be turned into grieving…" (v 9)
• "…and your joy into mourning" (v 9)

In other words, the wonderful things of this world that makes people happy. What happens when you have the Spirit of God and you see all of these people out there in the world doing things, which seemingly make them happy? It makes you mourn inside that they would be so joyful to do these things.

• Verse 10: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you."

In other words, put God first!

• exalt God and not the world
• exalt God and not your sins

• Verse 11: "Brethren, do not talk against one another. The one who talks against a brother, and judges his brother…"

This helps remove a lot of strife and contention.

• Have we had strife and contention?
• Brother against brother?
• Church against church?
• Because of going back into the world?
• Have we had strife against strife?
• And brother against brother?
• And doctrine against doctrine?
• Of those who want to go back in and teach the things of the antichrist?
• Yes!

So, that's why God is scattering the Church. So that we can all get down to the fundamental level of loving God and loving each other. I see that happening everywhere in the world; I get letters from all different places in the world. So here then are the Ten Commandments as it were, the ten points that James gives of coming out of this world:

• Submit yourselves to God
• Resist the devil
• Draw near to God
• Cleanse your hands
• Cleanse your heart, because that initiates the sin
• Repent
• Let your laughter be turned to sorrow
• Let your joy be turned to gloominess
• Exalt God by humbling yourself to Him
• Don't talk against the brethren

If we all do these things then there's nothing that's going to be there to be, be talked about.

I just want to cover one other aspect of this. I want you to notice how this follows right along in a pattern that is age-old.

1-John 2:15: "Do not love the world, nor the things that are in the world…. [v 16]: …because everything that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pretentious pride of physical life—is not from the Father…" (vs 15-16).

Now, let's understand that Eve went through the same thing. She saw the fruit, it was pleasing to the eyes, desirable to make you wise in the world. Now, Christ had to go through the same thing. Jesus Christ had to go through the same thing.

We will understand something that's very important. That when Jesus said that He 'was tempted in every way like we are,' He was tempted by these very things. Who is the 'god of the world' that came to tempt Him, but none other than Satan the devil.

Luke 4:3: "Then the devil said to Him, 'If You are the Son of God… [it's challenging His position] …command that this stone become bread.'" Of course, that was really tempting—wasn't it? The things of this world, the pride of life and so forth.

Verse 4: "But Jesus answered him, saying, 'It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God."' Then the devil led Him up into a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time" (vs 4-5).

The whole love of the power of this world! That's why, brethren, we're not to want to have the power of this world and loving the world. Believe me, everyone who wants to have power in this world must love the world. Because Satan 'ain't gonna' give it to you unless you do! Then when you do, then he's going to compromise you with lies. He's going to compromise you with illicit sex. He's going to compromise you in such a way that he has got you—hook, line and sinker! All we have to do is witness the political things that are there today.

Satan came and tempted Him in saying, v 6: "…'I will give You all this authority, and the glory of them all; for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I desire.'" Everything in the world is not of God, it passes away. It's of Satan! But, notice what you have to do to get it:

Verse 7: "Therefore, if You will worship me in my presence, all things shall be Yours." If you want to know where those who rule the world get their power, you got it right here.

Then he challenged Christ, v 9: "Then he led Him to Jerusalem and set Him upon the edge of the temple, and said to Him, 'If You are the Son of God…'" Notice in each case: if, IF:

• "…if you will worship me…" (v 7)
• "…If you are the Son of God…" (v 9).

shows that God the Father gave Christ the choice to make. Everyone of these was a choice.

"…'If You are the Son of God, cast Yourself down from here; for it is written, "He shall give His angels charge concerning You to keep You; and in their hands they shall bear You up, lest You strike Your foot against a stone"'" (vs 9-11).

So, even if you know the Truth and even if you know the Scriptures that are right, and Satan accurately quoted that—if you will read it in the Old Testament—

• you are not to misuse the Word of God
• you are not to misuse the gifts of God
• You are not to misuse the power of God

Verse 12: "But Jesus answered and said to him, 'It is clearly stated, "You shall not tempt the Lord your God."' Now, when the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from Him for a time" (vs 12-13).

All the ministry of Christ was given to overcoming the world; was given to overcoming Satan; was given to overcoming so that He could bring the love of God so that those who love God the Father and Jesus Christ will abide forever.

We see that the love of the world comes from the world and the world is passing away. The love of the Father comes from the Father and will be doing the will of the Father.

1-John 2:17 says: "…abides forever." Right on the heels of all of that the antichrist is active!

All. Scriptures from: The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, A Faithful Version

Scriptural References:

• 1-John 2:12-17
• 1-John 1:2-4
• 1-John 2:1, 7-8, 12-14
• 1-John 5:13
• 1-John 2:1
• 2-John 5
• 3-John 9, 13
• Revelation 1:2-3, 10-11
• 1-John 2:1
• Revelation 2:1, 7
• Revelation 19:9
• Revelation 21:5
• Revelation 22:18-21
• 2-Peter 1:12-16
• Matthew 23:29
• Luke 1:1-3
• 1-John 2:12-17
• Revelation 13:16-18
• 1-John 2:15-17
• Luke 6:31-32
• John 16:7-13
• Ephesians 2:1-3
• 1-John 3:4, 8
• 1-John 4:3-5
• 1-John 5:18-19
• James 4:6-8
• 1-John 3:1-3
• 1-John 1:7, 9
• James 4:8-11
• 1-John 2:15-16
• Luke 4:3-7, 9-13
• 1-John 2:17

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Daniel 12
• Revelation 12:10; 22
• Psalm 35:13

Also referenced: Books:

• Interlinear Greek-English New Testament by George Ricker Berry
• The King James Version Defended by Edward F. Hills

FRC:bo      Transcribed: 2/25/07     Reformatted/Corrected: August/2016