Part Two - The First Epistle of John

The first epistle of John is an exhortation to love God, our brothers, and Torah. John understood that the spirit of the law rested on the law of love. He explains to us that sin is transgression of God's law. He points out that learning to love one another is a process that is a witness to the world. John understood the Torah and that lawlessness was Torahlessness. This epistle is a great discourse on how God's people are to be obedient to God and His Torah.


Their Spiritual State - 1 John 2.12-14
I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father.
I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.

Look at John’s love and patience! Look at how he builds up the believers. He is exhorting them to continue in the Word of God--the Torah. How do we know God? He reveals Himself in His Word. His written Word is the Torah and the rest of the Bible. God is teaching us His law.

When we are resurrected from the dead at the end of the age we will enter the Millennial Kingdom (MK). God’s kingdom has law. We are learning His law now in order to be able to teach the nations in the MK! John understands this. He is shortly going to write a book about what happens when mankind despises the laws of the Eternal One. It will be the Book of Revelation.

　

Do Not Love the World - 1 John 2.15-17
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.

John tells us to “not love the world.” He reported Jesus praying for them, “I do not pray that thou should take them out of the world, but that thou should keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in thy truth; thy word is the truth.” - the Gospel of John 17.15-17

We are in this world but are not to be in love with the things of this world. The lusts of flesh, eyes, and pride of life is the way Satan walks. That is not the way Yeshua walked--He laid down His life for us. How are we sanctified? By the Word of truth--Torah. God’s law is contrary to how the world walks. If we do not understand the Torah we cannot be sanctified. We are sanctified and set apart because we are a nation of laws!

That was what once made the United States of America a great nation. We were a nation of laws. Those laws protected the citizens and were honored by the citizens of the nation. We are now living in a nation that is becoming lawless. God’s laws are no longer respected. Abortion, gay marriage, and the culture of greed are replacing God’s commands. If you have no understanding of Torah you will not understand how to live in God’s kingdom.

　

Deceptions of the Last Hour - 1 John 1.18-23
Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

What is the spirit of Antichrist? It is a spirit of lawlessness! They went out from us. They were not of us because in their hearts they did not want to obey God. If you disobey God you are disobeying His Law! They are deceivers. They are denying that Jesus is the Messiah! If you despise God’s Torah you despise the Father and the Son!

The MK will establish Yeshua’s reign on earth! Those who walk in His ways and obey His commands will reign with Him! We will be kings and priests. We will be teaching the nations God’s Torah! Jesus is going to establish His kingdom and the “law will go forth from Zion!” Isaiah 2.3

What did the Son do? He obeyed His father! That is why He will sit on the throne in Zion and “the government will be upon His shoulders.” Isaiah 9.6-7

　

Let Truth Abide in You - 1 John 2.24-27
Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

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.

What did they hear in the beginning? The Word of God. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God." We abide in the Word. If you do not read and meditate on God’s Word how can you know Him? How can you abide in Him?

You won’t need a man to teach you if you abide in the Word. He will teach you. You will come to understand what He desires of you--you will be transformed into a new creation man! John understands all this. John understands the Torah. He knows what the kingdom is going to be like. He is going to be a judge in the coming kingdom! (Matt 19.28). A judge understands the law! John is going to be a judge in the MK.


The Children of God - 1 John 2.28-3.3
And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

John says that if we abide in Him we will not be ashamed at His coming! If we practice righteousness we are born of God. In order to practice righteousness one must understand the Torah.

God is calling us His children. God loves it when His children obey His commands and live a joyous family life. John says those who practice righteousness will be like God! We will be changed in the twinkling of an eye! (1 Corinthians 15.51-53). This hope purifies us! Only a person who loves God would have this hope!


Tomorrow: Part Three