1 John 2

Continued Teaching on Christians’ Communion with God And One Another

Purpose

In this section, John continued his thoughts on how Christians should respond to ongoing sin and find assurance that they are living in a right relationship with God and with one another.  Many commentators believe that the specific issues he addressed were in direct response to Gnostics or revisionists who were confusing believers with false teachings about Jesus. 

Principles

John reminded his readers in this section that fellowship with God is possible only when we deal with sin in our lives. This is true of believers as well as unbelievers. John articulated four fundamental principles that underlie fellowship with God to facilitate his readers’ experience of that fellowship. One must renounce sin, obey God, reject worldliness, and keep the faith to live in the light of God’s presence.                 - Thomas Constable

We Have An Advocate

Communion

Vs. 1 - My little children, 

John uses “beloved” and “my little children” to show how much he cares for these Christians. While writing with force because of these false teachers who are pulling them away from the Lord, John adds these loving, emotional touches to reveal his love for these believers.                - Brent Kercheville

Vs. 1 - I am writing you these things so that you may not sin.  

John had just explained that, despite false teaching to the contrary, temptation and sin would still be part of the Christian experience and that the correct response was to confess rather than to conceal.  Perhaps false teachers were claiming that real followers of Jesus had completely eradicated all sinful desire, and John wanted to manifest these misconceptions.  

But here, the apostle clarified that, even though God has promised to forgive when we confess, His mercy should move us to Christians to flee temptation.  John did not encourage sin but rather explained it. 

Advocate

Vs. 1 - But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous one. 

As John had already stated, complete eradication of sin was not possible for the Christian.  If it were, there would have been no need for a Messiah.  Because we could not remove our own sin, Jesus Christ became the “Helper” we so desperately needed.  

The Greek word translated "Advocate" is parakleton that transliterated into English is "Paraclete." It means one who gets called to the side of another to help. Jesus used this word four times in the Upper Room Discourse to describe the Holy Spirit (John 14:16; John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7). He called the Holy Spirit another Paraclete like Himself (John 14:16). This is the only other place in the New Testament where "Paraclete" appears.                          - Thomas Constable

John is not saying all this so that people might think that sinning is normal behavior for Christians, as if it does not matter if they sin. On the contrary he wants them not to sin. But it is inevitable that they will sin sometimes, and he wants them to be assured that when that happens, cleansing is available because of the atoning blood of Christ. On the basis of his death, Christ can ask the Father to forgive the sinner.      - Don Fleming

Atoning Sacrifice

Vs. 1 - He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins

We have an advocate because Jesus is the “propitiation” for our sins. Some translations read, “atoning sacrifice.” The imagery refers back to the Law of Moses when, on the Day of Atonement, blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat, which symbolically resided on top of the ark of the covenant, and atonement was made for the sins of the people. This symbolized the removal of guilt due to sin. Atonement had been made for the people. Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.               - Brent Kercheville

The picture of the advocate is universal, for all men have experience of a friend coming to their aid; but the picture in propitiation is from sacrifice and is more natural to the Jewish mind than to ours.  The great basic truth behind this word is that it is through Jesus Christ that man's fellowship with God is first restored and then maintained.           - William Barclay

Unlimited Atonement

Vs. 1 - and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.

This verse provides strong support for the fact that Jesus Christ died for all people (unlimited atonement). In His death, the Lord Jesus provided salvation that is sufficient for all, though it is efficient only for those who trust in Him (2 Corinthians 5:14-15; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Hebrews 2:9; Revelation 22:17). In other words, Christ’s death made eternal life available for all, but not automatic for all.           - Thomas Constable

This Is How We Know

One of John’s primary purposes in writing seems to have been a desire to refute false teaching that had created confusion and fear among Christians about how to actually “live out” their faith.  Over and over in this short sermon, John reminded Christians that the evidence of being in fellowship, or being in a right relationship, with God was not the absence of sinful desire but the willingness to obey God and love His children. 

The three assertions about knowing God, abiding in him, and being in the light, are parallel versions of a single claim to be in a right relationship with the Father through the Son.               - Smalley

Obedience

Vs. 3 - “This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands.”

Vs. 5-6 - This is how we know we are in him: The one who says he remains in him should walk just as he walked.

John had already recorded Jesus Himself teaching that His followers would demonstrate their faith by their obedience.  

John 14:15 - If you love me, you will keep my commands.

And this teaching is consistent throughout the new testament.  The grace that saves us also trains us.  

Titus 2:11-12 - For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age

We can know that we abide in a relationship with God because we walk just as Christ walked.                    - Brent Kercheville

Love

Vs. 7-8 - I am not writing you a new command but an old command that you have had from the beginning.

John had also recorded Jesus’ own teaching on the greatest commandment. 

John 13:34-35 - I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

The commandment to love one another is old because it is found in the Old Testament and was quoted by Christ. It is new because it belongs to the new age of ‘light’ that began with Christ, in contrast to the present world’s age of ‘darkness’. The work of Christ has given love a new meaning.             - Don Fleming

Vs. 9 - The one who says he is in the light but hates his brother or sister is in the darkness until now.

John reminded these Christians that the test of fellowship with God was fellowship with other believers. Over and over in this sermon, the apostle repeated this principle: Our love for God is demonstrated by our love for one another. 

I Am Writing to You

Vs. 12 - I am writing to you

Most commentators agree that this section resembles poetry and is also difficult to understand.  John seems to have been reminding these Christians of what God was already doing in their lives.  Believers of all ages had been recipients of God’s love and strength.  They had experienced His goodness, and that should lead them into deeper “fellowship” with Him and each other. 

John has been warning his people of the perils of the dark and the necessity of walking in the light, and now he says that, in every case, their best defense is to remember what they are and what has been done for them.  For John, it was of supreme importance that the Christian should remember the status and the benefits he has in Jesus Christ, for these would be his defense against error and against sin.            - William Barclay

Do Not Love The World

Kosmos

Vs. 15 - “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 

The New Testament uses the term "world" (Gr. kosmos) in at least three ways. Sometimes "the world" refers to planet earth, the physical world (Acts 17:24). Sometimes it refers to humankind, the human world (John 3:16), and sometimes it refers to human culture as influenced by Satan, the world system (here).                       - Thomas Constable

Christians must not allow themselves to become affected by the attitudes and behavior of the unbelievers around them. The ordinary people of the world belong to the age of darkness and make their decisions according to what they want for themselves, whether concerning possessions, activities, achievements, or status. Christians belong to the new age of light, the eternal kingdom where God’s values rule and his will is done. They must make their judgments according to his standards, not the standards of the present ungodly world.                 - Don Fleming

Passing Away

Vs. 17 - And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.

As John sees him, the man of the world is the man who judges everything by his appetites, the man who is the slave of lavish ostentation, the boastful braggart who tries to make himself out a far bigger man than he is. The man who attaches himself to the world's aims and the world's ways is giving his life to things which literally have no future. All these things are passing away and none has any permanency. But the man who has taken God as the center of his life has given himself to the things which last forever. The man of the world is doomed to disappointment; the man of God is certain of lasting joy.           - William Barclay

It Is The Last Hour

It was the consistent view of all of the apostles that they were living in the final stage of God’s redemptive plan.  John urged these Christians that, in light of what Jesus had predicted, they should be on guard for false teachers who would attempt to deceive them in the last days. 

Antichrist

Vs. 18 - You have heard that antichrist is coming

Both John and Paul wrote of what seems to be a future enemy of God who will gather power and influence in the last days.  They may have gathered this view from the prophecies of Daniel. 

The revelation concerning the appearance of the world ruler who will exalt himself against God was familiar to John’s audience.                 - Thomas Constable

Daniel 11:36 - Then the king will do whatever he wants. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and he will say outrageous things against the God of gods.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 - Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God.

It seems that there is an endtime figure who is preceded by various other figures who oppose the work of Jesus; there is a spirit of the antichrist at work that will culminate in a person at the end. The warnings are less about identifying this figure and more about being on guard against the forces currently opposing God, recognizing that these could come from within the church and not just from authorities outside.    - Brian Dennert

Antichrists

Vs. 18 - many antichrists have come

Vs. 23 - Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son.

John considered the false teachers who had been leading Christians away from the “light” of truth to be antiChrist.  They opposed Jesus as the Christ, denying that He was the Messiah.  They “went out” because they didn’t belong.  They didn’t believe Jesus was Who He claimed to be.  

He and the other apostles frequently reminded believers of what Jesus Himself had predicted:

Jesus to His disciples:

Mark 13:5-6 - Jesus told them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will deceive many.

Apostle Paul to the Ephesian Elders:

Acts 20:29-30 - I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Men will rise up even from your own number and distort the truth to lure the disciples into following them.

From other references to ’antichrists’ in this letter it is evident that, when the writer uses this term, he means the heterodox ex-members of his own community: those who, in one way or another, were denying the true identity of Jesus, and the fact of God’s saving activity mediated to the world through him.                          - Smalley

Anointing

Vs. 20 - But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.  

Commentators disagree on the meaning of “anointing” here. Some believe John referred to the Holy Spirit and others, the gospel or word of God.  Either way, John taught that these Christians should lean into the truth of the apostles’ teaching rather than the heresy of the antichrists. 

Remain in Him

Vs. 28 - So now, little children, remain in him

Throughout this sermon, John used different tenses of a Greek word (meinate), translated “remain” or “abide,” to describe how Christians should “stay” in communion with God and one another.  This seems to have been the apostle’s primary purpose in writing, to remind these “children” of how they could be assured of their communion with God and be confident at His coming.

Christians should not reject the truth that they believed that resulted in their salvation. Such faithfulness enables us to continue to abide in fellowship with God. John used "abide" in the same sense in which Jesus did in the Upper Room Discourse. Abiding refers to an intimate relationship with God determined by the extent to which we walk in the light of God’s will that we have.                - Thomas Constable

John probably recalled Jesus’ teaching about branches abiding in the vine, about which he had already written (John 15). The apostle reminded his readers of beholding and becoming, of faith and following.  Only by remaining in the truth could they protect themselves from being led astray by false teaching.  

John 15:4-5 - Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.

Confidence at His Coming

Vs. 28 - so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

Confidence was a theme John repeated in this sermon.  Because of false teaching, these Christians were apparently confused as to how they could be ready for Jesus’ return, “confident and unashamed” when He finally appeared. 

The apostle’s desire was that these believers, whom he affectionately addressed as his “little children,” would continue to walk in the “light” of the truth of God so that they would be ready, like bridesmaids with oil (Matthew 25), for the second advent of Jesus.