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Short Commentaries by Al on the Book of I JohnReturn to the Index of Short Commentaries |
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I John 2:24 - “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.” How can man - for that matter, how could God - make it any plainer? The doctrine of Christ that was preached “from the beginning” of the preaching of the gospel is what must remain in the mind of the Christian. Otherwise he separates himself from God. “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father” (23). And when something is preached that the Son didn’t preach (personally or through His apostles), there is a denial that what the Son preached is enough, or a denial that all of it is correct. Don’t deny the Son of God by preaching something different - or by forgetting what He preached. To preach (by word or practice) more or less than what Christ preached is to deny Christ. Only by retaining the truth that was preached by Jesus and His apostles can you “continue in the Son, and in the Father.” I John 3:22 - “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” This is the epistle that encourages us with the confidence that our prayers are actually heard in Heaven when “we ask any thing according to his will” (5:14). It is the epistle that promises that we will not die for our sin (5:17) if we sincerely repent from it (1:9). But this epistle also assures us that God answers our prayers “because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” My feeling of certainty - my statements of confidence - that I am faithful and that God is blessing me are by themselves no guarantee that God is pleased with me. His guarantee of those blessings - of His answering my prayer - is contingent upon my obeying the commandments He has sent to me by the hands of those who penned the Bible. Only in those words may I learn what pleases Him (Micah 6:8). God spoke to Abraham. When He wanted something different believed and done, He spoke to Moses and had him write it. When He wanted those commandments replaced, He had eight others write His new covenant. If He ever wants us to believe and do something different from what’s written in the New Testament, He will confirm it to us in writing with miracles (Heb. 2:1-4). He hasn’t done that. Believing and obeying the New Testament is the only way to please God, have a sure hope of Heaven, and have our prayers answered. I John 5:12 - “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” How does one “have” the Son of God? John doesn’t say in this epistle; the answer must lie elsewhere. Are they right who say, “when you have it, you just know it”? The Bible is its own best commentary; let’s look in other passages to see what it says. If I went “into” my house, could you say that I “have” my house? The Bible says that those in the first century “were baptized into Jesus Christ” (Romans 6:3). Would they then “have” Christ? If I “put on” my coat, would you say that I “have” my coat? The inspired word of God says, “as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). Surely none can deny that such as have come “into” Christ, and have “put on” Christ, now “have” Christ. New life begins with baptism (Romans 6:4), and in Jesus is all we need to know about life and godliness (II Peter 1:3). In Jesus - having Jesus - we have eternal life. Many who think now that they have Jesus, will later be rejected by Him because they have not come into Christ - have not put on Christ. Baptism isn’t the only step. Belief that He is the Son of God must precede it (Mark 16:15-16). Repentance from sin must precede it (Luke 13:3). Confession of that faith in Christ must precede being baptized into Christ (Acts 8:36-37). Do you have Jesus? |
A. L. Parr; P. O. Box 662; Lincoln, IL 62656-0662 Toll-free Phone: (844) 650-3223 alparr@acts1541.org |