Doing His Will Is How You Remain Forever

STUDY: #1021 CHURCH IN THE HOUSES FROM: MARCH 5 @ 11, 2019

TOPIC: "Doing His Will Is How You Remain Forever" 1 John 2:12-17

Our behavior is what speaks of our lives. A child’s behavior attests to his future. It is not about maintaining appearances. In this letter, John teaches us that our communion with God must be reflected in our conduct, in our behavior, in showing a separation from evil. To this day, the false ones have not stopped deceiving people. Today it is to our advantage that we are not deceived. (I John 2:26 “I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.”) For this reason, we read John’s advice so that we can REMAIN FOREVER!

I. John wanted to let the brothers see that their sins had been forgiven in His name. “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.” (Vs.12)

A. For those who know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal savior, this is so true!

1. IT IS BECAUSE OF CHRIST that God forgives us our sins!

2. We are saved by His name!

3. I am writing to you, CHILDREN!

4. Look at this word: children! = means they are apprentices; they are new to the faith.

5. It is not for those who feel great and say: "I am a leader," "Yes, I know," "I am first and foremost," "I am a prophet," "I know what needs to be done," etc. No. It's for a little child WHO DOES NOT KNOW! WHO NEEDS TO BE GUIDED!

6. A child does not look at the person who teaches him face to face, in defiance. Instead the child lowers his head, in order to accept and obey instructions.

7. (Vs.13) In this verse, John addresses believers according to their spiritual age.

8. To the "FATHERS", which are those who "know Him who is from the beginning." It is about the mature believers who have known the sweet company of the Son of God and are satisfied with Him!

9. To the "YOUNG MEN" in the spiritual family, who are characterized by their strength and fight.

10. This is a time of conflict and struggle with the enemy.

11. The young have overcome evil because they have learned the secret of victory.

12. And the "CHILDREN", babies in the faith!

13. Perhaps they do not know much, but they know the Father!

14. (Vs.14) John repeats his words to the "fathers," as he did in the beginning.

15. The reason for this is because they have acquired maturity in their spiritual experience.

16. Once again, the "youth" are mentioned as those who are strong in the Lord and in the power of His strength! (Ephesians 6:10)

17. They have overcome the evil one because the Word of God abides in their lives!

18. Since I was a young girl this has been my experience, that THE WORD OF GOD remains in me. And this has made me a winner! No one, no fad or trend in the teachings, or liberties that have come into my life have remained in me. Much less in my thought, or in my voice!

19. The Lord Jesus defeated Satan in the desert by quoting the Scriptures! 20.This emphasizes the importance of constantly feeding off on the Bible! And to have this knowledge ready to fight off Satan’s attacks! If we want to abide FOREVER, we need the Word!

21. (Vs.15) We are clearly warned that we should not love the world, or the things that are in the world! In the world there is vanity, superiority, wanting to win everything, to show off. All of this is why love for the world is not compatible with love for the Father!

22. A spring cannot pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water (James 3:11), nor can anyone serve two masters (Matthew 6:24), because the heart will bow to only one.

23. (Vs.16) Everything that the world has to offer us can be described as the DESIRES OF THE FLESH, DESIRES OF THE EYES and PRIDE (feeling of superiority towards others that provokes a distant or contemptuous treatment, haughtiness) OF LIFE!

24. The desires of the flesh come from our wicked, sinful nature. They are the body’s lust, (corporal) appetites that come from the wicked, fallen nature.

25. The desires of the eyes are the evil desires that can arise from what we see.

26. The pride of life (arrogance, presumption) is an unholy ambition of selfexhibition and its own glory.

27. These three elements of worldliness are demonstrated in Eve's sin!

28. Biblical commentator, William McDonald, explained it this way, “The tree was good to eat: this is the flesh’s desires. It was pleasant to the eyes: this is the desires of the eyes. It was a covetable tree to achieve wisdom: this describes the pride of life (superiority to others in a disparaging treatment, I have seen and lived so much of this!).

29. Greed and ambition, none of this comes from the Father, it originates in the world.

30. Worldliness is love for the passing things of this world.

31. (Vs.17) THE WORLD IS PASSING AWAY ALONG WITH ITS DESIRES!

32. You do not deposit money in a “bank that is bankrupt!" The world is a "bank that is bankrupt!"

33. Concentrating in this world is like putting your money in the hands of "an empty bank."

34. Smart and wise people do not live for a world that is fading away!

35. DOING GOD’S WILL is what keeps us from all the bad things that happen in this world!

36. If you do your will and not God's, you are diving straight into the world!

37. You do not abide forever by doing this!

38. The evangelist Moody’s tombstone reads: "He who does the will of God abides forever!" This was the verse that marked his life! Will it be equally important to you too? Amen.