It seems like Christianity and Jesus are increasingly under attack. What's going on? What we'll be looking at is what happens when Christians use human wisdom to interpret the Bible, twisting scripture away from its intended message. This blog is dedicated to using Scripture itself to interpret and help us understand Scripture. You are welcome to add your comments and thoughts. Other viewpoints are welcome. Disagreements are welcome.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
So You May Also Have Fellowship With Us -1 John 1:3
Over the past two weeks I've made ten posts based on 1st John. These give the characteristics of a Christian (or non-Christian). An index to these posts is provided below.
Are these ten points a test that can be used to determine a person's Christianity? Yes and no. You can not go through the list, checking of yes and no, and adding up your "points" to see if you are a Christian. The Christian walk is not a steady walk. At times we fall back, make wrong choices and just plain screw up.
Where you can see the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is in how the react to learning they might be have one of the characteristics the define a non-Christian. A Christian will be immediately concerned and looking for a way to change their life to address that problem.
John concludes the list of characteristics with love:
#10 - "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murder, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him." 1 John 3:14
Understanding what love is... what love looks like... is a problem in American culture today. What our culture defines as love in many cases is not truly Biblical love.
In my previous post I used homosexuality as an example, and it works well as an example here. Many in American culture today, in particular young people, think that to exclude a practicing homosexual from the church (for example) church leadership is not loving. The truth is, to include a practicing homosexual as a part of the church is a very hateful thing to do. It shows no love at all.
Our culture is very much oriented toward not hurting any one's feelings or their self-esteem. Notice the word used here: self-esteem. Almost anytime you see the word "self" you can be sure it's not Biblical. The Bible is not about "self" it is ALL about God.
What is the most loving thing someone can do for another person? Think about something that lasts forever.
To include someone in the church is to tell them, and the world, that they are okay. God accepts you. That's not true. Look at Matthew 25:31-40. In these passages Jesus separates the sheep from the goats. The sheep and the goats are those people who lived in obedience to God (sheep) and those who rejected God (goats).
1 Corinthians chapter fives describes a situation in which a man who is involved in sexual sin is accepted by the Corinthian church, and the church is proud and boasting about its acceptance of this man. This sounds like the "Christian" churches that call themselves reconcilingchurches. They accept sexual sin in their membership and not only that, they are proud about it and they boast about it!
What did Paul say to do about this situation? He says to hand the man over to Satan and tells the church their boasting is not good. Paul writes: "But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother, but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler." - 1 Corinthians 5:11
This sounds very mean spirited, to kick someone out of the church. But in reality it is the very best thing you can do for them. While they are in the church they are thinking they have no problems. After all, they go to church regularly, so they must be saved. But the truth is they are heading for hell and the lake of fire. Instead of leading them to Christ the church is blinding them.
By "turning them over to Satan", they will then be able to see their sin and their need for a saviour. Yes, their feelings get hurt, but they get eternal life. That truly is love.
I need to be clear that I am not claiming that Christians in church are pure, free of sin and they sit in judgement over others, deciding who to let in and who to keep out of heaven. There is not one person in the church who does not deserve to go to hell. Everyone is a sinner. The difference is that Christians struggle with sin, knowing they are doing wrong and struggling to do what is right. The difference is that Christians are trusting that Christ died to pay their penalty for sin, so that when God looks at them He sees the righteousness of Jesus not the sinfulness of man.
Have you turned away from sin (repented) and trusted that Jesus has truly and fully paid the penalty for your sin?
But as I pointed out in that post, it is impossible for any of us to obey God's commands perfectly. In fact, the law was not given to us so that we can learn to obey it perfectly, the law was given to us so that we will know we are unable to obey God's law (Romans 7:7) and as a tutor that leads us to Christ (Galatians 3:24).
"I would not have known what sin was except through the law." - Romans 7:7
I explained in that previous post that while Christians do sin, it is because they fall into sin, they do not dive into sin. Christians struggle with sin, they do not accept sin as being good and right.
Here is today's verse:
#9 - "He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God." 1 John 3:8,9
If we look at the original Greek for this verse, it has a deeper meaning than we get from the English translation. This verse is talking about having a continuing lifestyle of sin without repentance... without a struggle with sin.
The example that jumps right out is that of homosexuals being ordained as ministers, priests and bishops. To be a leader in a Christian church you must be a Christian. A homosexual who has turned away from homosexuality, and who is no longer practicing homosexuality can be a minister, priest or bishop. That person may even fall back into the sin of homosexuality... that is something that happens with fallen people such as us.
On the other hand, a homosexual who says, "I'm gay and I'm proud of it." is not a Christian and thus can not be a church leader, or even a church member. Instead of repenting of their sin, turning away from, and struggling with it, they are embracing their sin. That's what this verse is saying. If we embrace our sin... plan our sin... and do not struggle with our sin... then we are not a Christian.
One point I'd like to be very clear about: I said that a homosexual may not be a member of a church. This is true. The church is the body of Christ. If you are not a Christian you are not a part of the body of Christ, you are an enemy of God. However, that does not mean homosexuals are not welcome in church. Everyone is welcome to attend church services, classes and events. The doors are open to you. Come learn about Jesus Christ and how he died on the cross to pay the penalty you owe for disobeying God.
"By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me [Paul] also..." 1 Corinthians 15:2-8
#7 - "See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father." 1 John 2:24
The Expositor's Bible Commentary (Frank E. Gaebelein) points out the importance of the word "remains".
"The use of the special Johnnine word "remain" (abide) gives weight to the warning. The Word of the gospel must not only be heard but it must be given a vital place in one's life. "
Does God's word have a vital place in your life? Do you read your Bible daily? Do you love God's word or is it another book that sits on the shelf?
This characteristic of a non-Christian is very easy to understand. If you deny that Jesus Christ is the Savior, then you are not a Christian.
#7 - "Who is the liar? It isthe man who denies the Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist--he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also." 1 John 2:22,23
1 John 4:2,3 repeats this:
"This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world."
Recognize that "Jesus Christ" is not a name. The term "Christ" is a title. It means savior. It is synonymous with the Hebrew word Messiah. If you deny that Jesus Christ is the savior, then you are not saved. This makes sense because:
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." - Acts 4:12
We are now at the 6th characteristic than can be used to distinguish a Christan from a non-Christian..
#6 - "They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if the had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us." 1 John 2:19
Those who are Christians enjoy the company and fellowship of other Christians. All Christians immediately have something in common, the Bible and Jesus Christ. Someone who does not enjoy the fellowship of Christians is probably not a Christian.
Although this seems straight forward, I do have a word of caution. Just because someone attends church, that does not make them a Christian. Just because a church calls itself Christian, that does not make that church a Christian church. Walking away from people or a church that is not truly Christian is not what John is talking about.
I've attended church services in mainline churches, and felt totally out of place. For example, this past summer I visited a New England church in which communion is all about radical hospitality and everyone is invited to partake of communion. This is not a Christian church. It is a church I'd leave and never return to. In doing so I would not be doing what John describes in 1 John 2:19, because in this case I am not leaving Christian fellowship.
John is also not referring to someone who leaves one Christian church to attend a different Christian church. There is no one church that has a lock on Biblical truth. Different churches have different missions, different styles of worship, offer different classes, etc. We may find our gifts to be a better fit with a different church, or with a different group of Christians, and that is okay.
The person John is talking about here is the person who rejects fellowship with Christians.
My wife became a Christian several years before I did. At times she would be working around the house and would be singing spiritual songs and hymns. I love her singing, she has a wonderful voice. But those songs grated on my nerves. I did not like them and I did not want to be around her when she was singing them. That's what John is talking about.
The previous four posts were about the characteristics of non-believers. In 1 John 2:3 we see what a Christian looks like.
#5 - "We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands." 1 John 2:3
Verse 5 continues: "But if anyone obeys His word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him. Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did." - 1 John 2:5,6
The test of knowledge of God is moral conduct. This is a tough requirement. When I first read these verses I was discouraged. There was no way I could obey God perfectly. It seemed as though I was always doing something wrong, so God's love could not be complete in me because of my failure.
The description in 1 John 2:3 is repeated in 1 John 3:24 - "The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him and He in him."
Again in 1 John 5:2 it is repeated again: "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments."
This same characteristic of a believer is also given in other places in the Bible, for example Revelation 12:17 - "So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus."
Again in Revelation 14:12 - "Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus."
There are three characteristics listed here:
1 Faith in Jesus Christ 2 Love 3 Obey God's commandments
We also see that we are to walk as Jesus did. We see this same thing in 1 Peter 2:21 which says - "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."
How did Jesus walk? What did Jesus come to do?
"And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled Himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!" - Philippians 2:8
"'My food,' said Jesus, 'is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.'" - John 4:34
Throughout the New Testament we see that Jesus walked in obedience to God (Matthew 26:39,42, Mark 14:36, John 14:30,31, Romans 5:18,19 and many others).
We can learn a little more from the book of Titus. It says the same thing as 1st John, but in a different way -- "They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good." - Titus 1:16
Here we see that it is life-style, our behavior that sets a Christian apart from a non-Christian. When someone becomes a Christian there is a resulting change in their behavior. We can not be perfect in our obedience as Jesus was. But we can walk the path He walked, striving--out of love--to live in obedience and love through the strength we get from our faith in Jesus Christ. Yes, Christians still sin, but it is a falling into sin, not a willful diving into sin.
Love and Obedience
If you want to summarize the Law of Moses, Jesus boiled it down to just two action items. Love God and love your neighbor. But what does it mean to love? This is too big of a topic for this post, I'll be discussing it in a future post. However, to summarize, the word used for "love" in the New Testament is an action word. It means to love with your actions. It does not saying anything about loving with your feelings. Biblical love is all about doing loving actions. What are the most loving actions? Would you consider obeying God's commandments, doing what God told us to do, to be loving God?
#4 - Love The World, You're Not A Christian - 1st John
The fourth characteristic of a non- Christian is loving the world. (See previous post.)
#4 - "If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world." 1 John 2:13,14
In his book, "Manifesto For A Revolution, The Kingdom of God On Earth" Alex Robertson explains what the Bible means when it uses the word "world".
"The devil is never to be underestimated. He is the master of fraud and subversion. All earthly fraud and subversion pays homage to him. As the devil is 'the prince of this world', his false kingdom is also of this world. It involves wealth, power, status and glory in this world--all that the devil has to offer. The true kingdom, as Jesus said, is 'not of this world'.
But is Jesus' kingdom not coming to earth? Yes! He didn't say it wasn't coming to this earth, he said it was 'not of this world.' The earth and the world are very different in the Bible. The earth means the physical creation; the world refers to a spiritual system. God is the king of the earth, but the 'prince of this world' is the devil. The earth is the Lord's, but Satan is 'the God of this world.' (John 12:31, 1 Corinthians 10:26; 2 Corinthians 4:4)"
The things of this world include our culture, the wisdom of mankind, and other religions. Many people claim to be Christians, yet they place culture in authority over God's word. An example of love for the world is point number two of the eight points of Progressive Christianity:
"Recognize the faithfulness of other people who have other names for the way to God's realm, and acknowledge that their ways are true for them, as our ways are true for us."
This expresses the "truth" of our culture. It is called post modernism and involves the belief that each person can have their own beliefs and that all beliefs are equally true. You can have your truth and I can have my own, different truth--and both "truths" are equally true. According to 1st John those who believe this are most likely not Christian.
On the other hand God says there is one truth:
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." - Acts 4:12
The third characteristic of a non- Christian, as described in the book of 1st John is: (See previous post.)
#3 - "The one who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going because darkness has blinded his eyes." 1 John 2:11
In this verse the word "brother" refers to someone who is a Christian. It refers to your Christian brothers and sisters. If you hate another Christian, you are walking in darkness.
Tony [not his real name], a member of our church had been divorced. He had met another woman and asked our pastor to marry him. The pastor declined on the basis that the Bible says you may not remarry while your original spouce is alive. Tony was upset and felt the pastor's manner had been rude when he told Tony he could not perform the marriage. Tony found another pastor who would perform the marriage, and has since refused to step inside the first pastor's church... not even to attend the funeral of a friend.
A characteristic of a Christian is that they are forgiving and do not hate any other Christian.
What is hate? The Bible is not talking about feelings. It is talking about actions. Biblically, hate is the absence of deeds of love. Love expesses itself in concrete actions of love.
"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself." - Leviticus 19:18
Hate is considering your own needs first (1 Corinthians 13:5) and disregarding those who are truly in need (Luke 10:30-37).
Love is putting the needs of others before your needs. Whenever a Christian brother has a true need and you, as a Christian, do not help them, then you have hated your brother and you walk in darkness.
The Ten Commandments give us God's definition of love. For example:
If you love God, there is nothing more important to you than God; you do not have idols in your life; and you never use God's name in an inappropriate manner.
If you love your parents you honor and obey them.
If you love other people you do not lie to them; you do not steal from them; you do not murder--which Jesus defined as being angry at someone. God looks at your thoughts and sees your anger as being the same as murder.
This is why throughout the Bible love and obedience to God are equated as being one and the same thing.
A few years ago I attended a local festival. I walked around asking people the question: "Would you consider yourself to be a good person?" Out of about 300 people I spoke with that day, 290 said they were a good person. Most people think they are good. But the Bible, and our conscience, tells us something different.
If you answered this question by saying, "Yes" you reveal that, as 1 John 1:8 says, the truth is not in you. You are not a Christian.
The Bible tells we all are sinners: "For all have sinned..." - Romans 3:23
There is no one who does not sin. Based on God's standards, there is no one who is good. What are God's standards? Start with the Ten Commandments and Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5,6 & 7). Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever taken something that did not belong to you? (Even something small?) Have you ever looked at another person with lust? Jesus said that if you look with lust you have already committed adultery in your heart. (Matthew 5:27-30) These are just three of the Ten Commandments.
On the other hand Christians know they are not good people, because they know they fall far short of God's standards for good.
"We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands." - 1 john 2:3
If when you face Jesus on judgment day, you feel you are good enough to get into heaven, then you are not a Christian. No one is good enough. We have all failed to meet God's standards and we owe the penalty for breaking His law... it's the death penalty. The only way we can avoid the death penalty is if someone else is willing to pay that penalty for us, on our behalf. And Jesus Christ did that on the cross.
"We are telling you about what we ourselves have actually seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us." - 1 John 1:3
"I write this to you who believe in the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life." - 1 John 5:13
1st John provides a list of characteristics that define someone who is not a true Christians. This series of posts looks at these characteristics as described in 1st John.
There is no scoring used for these characteristics. There is nothing in the Bible that says that if you met any of these criteria, you are not a Christian. John only says that he provides this list so that believers will know they are truly saved.
Here is the first one:
#1 - "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the true." 1 John 1:6
What does it mean to walk in darkness? Most of us believe we are walking in light... we think we are good people. Would you consider yourself to be a good person?
Have you been living with someone or having sex outside of marriage? Then you are living in darkness.
Do you regularly go out to get drunk or use drugs? Then you are living in darkness.
Are you looking at pornography, or spending a lot of your time reading romance novels? You are living in darkness.
Do you regularly use the name of God as a cuss word? Do you download copyrighted music from the internet? Do you regularly tell lies? Then you are living in darkness.
These are just a few of the clearer, easy to see examples.
In general...
If you are not actively trying to live a life in obedience to God, and struggling with sin, then you are living in darkness.
If you are not putting effort into knowing God, reading your Bible regularly, then you are living in darkness.
You can not claim to have fellowship with God and be willingly involved in sinful behavior. Sin separates us from God. You can not have fellowship with God when you are separated from God.
Do you know what it means to live in obedience to God? Do you know what sin is?
Definition of Sin
To sin is to disobey God, meaning to break God's laws.
"Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact sin is lawlessness." -1 John 3:4
We are all sinners. We all break God's laws.
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." - 1 John 1:8
The difference between a Christian and a non-believer is that a Christian falls into sin and struggles with sin. A non-believer dives willingly into sin.
