1 John 2:23 KJV [23] Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.  You cannot have one without the other. The only way to have a right relationship with God is to have a real relationship with Christ. There are many in this world who claim to know God but reject Christ. They want nothing to do with Christianity, nothing to do with the cross and nothing to do with those who believe.  Our verse is very simple. If you deny Jesus, then you know not God. If …

1 John 2:22 KJV [22] Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.  I recently read an article on the study of lying. Psychologists say the average person lies two to three times every 10 minutes. While reading the article, I must confess, I wondered if it was true or a lie. It certainly sounds unbelievable.  There are three things that never cease to amaze me about lying. Those who tell the lie, the content of the lie and those who choose to believe the lie. …

1 John 2:21 KJV [21] I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. I remember a Bible college teacher who often used a particular quote when he wanted to challenge us to study. He would say, “A good Bible student is a student of the Bible to his grave”. This has stayed with me down through the years and has served as a reminder of the importance of learning and relearning what has been written.  I’m sure you have heard the saying, “anything …

1 John 2:20 KJV [20] But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. The word “unction” is translated from the Greek word, “chrisma”, which means “the anointed One”. The word Christ stems from this same word. Though the person of Christ is not with us, he was with the apostles, but his Spirit is with us today. The presence of Jesus lives in our hearts through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Every true believer is indwelled with the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation.  Once the Holy Spirit moves into our heart, …

1 John 2:19 KJV [19] They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. The church is encouraged when people are added to the membership. It always boosts the moral and strengthens the congregation to see new faces sitting in the pews. The absence of membership has the reverse effect on the church. It can be disheartening to see people leave and go to another church …

1 John 2:18 KJV [18] Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. John wants the “little children” to be aware of both the time in which they are living, and the dangers of the time in which they are living. This is good for all believers, but the strong and mature should already be aware of these facts. Our text shows us the value of discipleship in the lives of young Christians. We must make them …

1 John 2:17 KJV [17] And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. This verse contains a world that is passing and a will that is profitable. If we as believers pursue the will of God over the things of this world, then we have an assurance that it will profit us in this world and in the world to come. God’s will is permanent, and the world is passing. Time is forever passing in this world. Man cannot stop time, nor can he make more time. Each …

 1 John 2:16 KJV [16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. This world has many sinful pleasures. The Bible teaches us that those pleasures are only for a season. These worldly pleasures are not worth the price we will have to pay to enjoy them. In order to avoid these worldly pleasures, we must be aware of what they are. The problem is that there are so many pleasures in this world, where …

1 John 2:15 KJV [15] Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. The word used for “world” is kosmos. This word has a considerable amount of meaning. It can be used to represent creation, humanity and a system. For example, when the Bible speaks of the Lord making this world, it is speaking about its creation. When it tells us that God loves the world, it is speaking of the world’s humanity. When the Bible commands us not to love …

“Helping the Young ” 1 John 2:14 KJV [14] I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. John again reminds the fathers and young men why he has written to them. The fathers are the spiritual leaders of the church, and the young men are the strong warriors of the church. The young have received a personal admonishment from him in verse twelve, but here John …