1John 2:1-14
Outline:
I. \\#1:1-2:11\\ The Essentials of Fellowship.
A. \\#1:1-4\\ There is a FELLOWSHIP.
1. \\#1\\ John introduced the One with Whom the fellowship
was, although not by name.
2. \\#2\\ John re-emphasized the fellowship.
3. \\#3\\ John invited his readers to join in that
fellowship.
4. John revealed the One with Whom the fellowship was.
5. \\#4\\ John told his readers a product of joining in this
fellowship.
B. \\#1:5-2:11\\ How to know you have this fellowship.
1. \\1:5-7\\ If you have this fellowship, you will not abide
in darkness.
a. \\#5\\ John explained this truth with the symbols of
light and darkness.
b. \\#6\\ John stated the truth.
c. \\#7\\ John reversed and restated that truth.
2. \\#1:8-2:2\\ If you have fellowship, you will understand
sin.
a. \\#1:8\\ You will understand you are a sinner.
b. \\#1:9\\ You will confess your sins.
c. \\#1:10\\ You will understand that you have sinned.
d. \\#2:1-2\\ You will understand your Advocate.
3. \\#2:3-6\\ If you have fellowship, you will keep His
commandments.
4. \\#2:7-11\\ If you have fellowship, you will not hate your
brethren.
II. \\#2:12-14\\ John’s Audience
A. \\#2:12-13\\ Little Children
B. \\#2:13-14\\ Young Men
C. \\#2:13-14\\ Fathers
III. \\#2:15-29\\ John’s Warnings
\\#1:1-2:11\\ The Essentials of Fellowship.
I. \\#1:5-2:11\\ How to know you have this fellowship.
A. \\#1:5-7\\ If you have this fellowship, you will not abide in
darkness.
B. \\#1:8-2:2\\ If you have fellowship, you will understand sin.
1. \\#1:8\\ You will understand you are a sinner.
2. \\#1:9\\ You will understand confession of sins.
3. \\#1:10\\ You will understand that you have sinned.
4. \\#2:1-2\\ You will understand your Advocate.
1John 2:1 My little children, these things
write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any
man sin, we have an advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous:
a. \\#1\\ The Goal - "that ye sin not"
(1) This should be the goal of every Christian. Not
just the super saints, but all of us.
(2) Although this is the goal, it is not a practical
possibility due to our corrupt flesh and fallen
nature.
(3) So John continued…
b. The Remedy - "And if any man sin, we have an advocate
with the Father"
(1) An advocate is a defense attorney.
(2) This is the person who pleads the case for the
accused.
(a) However, take note.
(b) If we have sinned so that we need the
Advocate, we are not merely the accused.
(c) We are also the guilty.
(3) Notice who our case comes before.
(a) "the Father"
(b) This Judge makes no mistakes.
c. The Person - "Jesus Christ the righteous"
(1) Jesus has worn so many hats in our salvation’s
plan.
(a) Lamb
(b) Priest
(c) Intercessor
(d) Here we see that He is our Advocate.
(2) Jesus not only paid for our sin.
(3) He is also the reason why we KEEP our salvation
even when we sin.
d. \\#2\\ The Means
1John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our
sins: and not for ours only, but also for the
sins of the whole world.
(1) Jesus is also the "propitiation for our sins."
(a) That means "offense remover."
(b) Jesus’ death does not just secure
forgiveness for us.
(c) It expunges our sins, that is, removes them.
(2) But not just for us, but for "the whole world."
(a) When Jesus died, He paid the price to remove
the sins of every human being—even those
who would not accept Him.
(b) The only condition required is that the
propitiation be applied, the guilty sinner
must believe on Jesus and surrender to Him.
C. \\#2:3-6\\ If you have fellowship, you will keep His
commandments.
1John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know
him, if we keep his commandments.
1. \\#3\\ "Hereby"
a. This is the first time John used the term, but he will
go on to use it 8 times!
b. John used the word to say, "This is how…."
c. In this sentence, John was saying, "This is how "we
know that we know Jesus."
d. Remember John’s overall goal.
(1) It’s about fellowship with God and Jesus
\\#1John 1:3\\.
(a) There is a fellowship to be had.
(b) How to get this fellowship.
(c) How to make certain you have fellowship.
(d) How to keep fellowship.
(2) Here John was telling the readers a third way
that they could know they had fellowship with
Jesus.
2. We know Jesus "if we keep his commandments."
a. You do not need a theological degree to understand
John’s statement.
(1) If you do what Jesus has commanded, you know Him.
(2) If you do not do what Jesus commanded, you do not
know Him.
b. Implied with that command are at least two thoughts:
(1) If you know Him, He will be giving you commands.
(2) If He is giving you commands, He will be giving
you the ability to keep those commands.
c. All of this points to the fact that if we know Jesus,
He will change our lives.
(1) Remember, we are not talking about perfection.
(2) John had already stated we sin \\#1John 1:8-10\\
and declared our need for an Advocate
\\#1John 2:1-2\\.
(3) But if we have fellowship with God and His Son,
there will be a noticeable, powerful,
permanent, shift toward god-like living.
3. \\#4\\ John restated and strongly re-emphasized the same
statement.
1John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth
not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is
not in him.
a. If you say you know Him but do not obey Him, you are a
liar.
b. If you say you know Him but do not obey Him, the truth
is not in you.
(1) John is big on truth. He used the word 10x in
this book.
(2) Why was John big on truth? Because like in
\\#1John 1:8\\, if the truth is not in you then
you are LOST.
(3) Why are lost if the truth is not in you? Because
Jesus IS the TRUTH.
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.
4. \\#5\\ Then John reversed the prospective in the next
verse.
1John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him
verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know
we that we are in him.
a. In \\#4\\, John said if you do not keep Jesus’
commands, you are a liar.
b. In \\#5\\, John said if you do keep the commands…
(1) God’s love is perfected within you.
(2) We "can know that we are in him."
c. John told his readers how four Bible words go
together: the word, the truth, commands, love.
(1) Many today feel that these are either/or
combinations.
(2) You can have the love of Jesus within you OR keep
His commands BUT not both.
(3) John clearly revealed that if the WORD and the
TRUTH are in us, we will LOVE like God while
OBEYING God’s commandments.
(4) This is the ONLY reconciliation of all four of
these Christian characteristics.
5. \\#6\\ John restated the same truth AGAIN.
1John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought
himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
a. Stating this truth the third time, John included our
Example, Jesus Christ.
(1) John was still making the same point (i.e. that
if we have fellowship with God and His Son, we
will obey His commandments) but with a major
addition.
(2) If we know Jesus, not only should we be doing
what Jesus said; but we should be living like
He lived.
b. For anyone who is in Christ, bringing the Master’s
example into the equation should settle all arguments
against John’s premise. (i.e. If this is what Jesus
did, it is what I should do.)
D. \\#2:7-11\\ If you have fellowship, you will not hate your
brethren.
1John 2:7 Brethren, I write no new commandment
unto you, but an old commandment which ye had
from the beginning. The old commandment is the
word which ye have heard from the beginning.
1. John stated the fourth way we could know we have
fellowship with Jesus and the Father.
2. He began by reminding the readers of an old commandment.
a. "no new commandment" - John was saying that this was
not something new.
b. John used one of his common writing styles in
stating the command: he tantalized his audience by
discussing the command before he states it.
(1) This is verse 7, and John does not state the
command until verse 10.
1John 2:10 He that loveth his brother….
(2) The command is to love the brethren.
c. It was "not new" because Jesus had commanded it,
several times before the cross.
Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you,
That ye love one another; as I have loved you,
that ye also love one another.
Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love
one another, as I have loved you.
Joh 15:17 These things I command you, that ye
love one another.
(1) This was an "old commandment" which they had
heard "from the beginning," the beginning of
their walk to follow Jesus.
(a) This command began at the beginning of
Jesus’ earthly ministry and…
(b) This command had been taught to them since
the first days they had followed after
Jesus.
(2) John had always thought much of love among the
brethren, being the only writer to record Jesus’
command the three times as listed above; but
John placed an even greater emphasis on it in
this epistle.
1Jo 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard
from the beginning, that we should love one
another.
1Jo 3:14 We know that we have passed from death
unto life, because we love the brethren. He that
loveth not his brother abideth in death.
1Jo 3:17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and
seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his
bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the
love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word,
neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
1Jo 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we
should believe on the name of his Son Jesus
Christ, and love one another, as he gave us
commandment.
1Jo 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for
love is of God; and every one that loveth is born
of God, and knoweth God.
1Jo 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought
also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love
one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is
perfected in us.
1Jo 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth
his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not
his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love
God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That
he who loveth God love his brother also.
(a) Notice that in the multitude of statements
John wrote repeating this command, he did
not really add additional truth but merely
repeated variations of the same statement.
(b) In most of these statements, the truth was
twofold:
i. If we are in the fellowship, we will
love one another.
ii. If we do not love one another, we are
not in the fellowship.
(4) For John to repeat that truth so many different
times:
(a) It must be a very important truth!
(b) It seems very likely that the believers to
whom he was writing were not demonstrating
love for one another as Christians should—
perhaps because of the rise of Gnosticism
among their ranks.
(c) And based on \\#1John 3:17\\, we would have
to say that the kind of love that John
expected from the true believer was a
sacrificial love that loves no matter how
we have been treated.
i. We must always remember that in the
Bible, love is never just an emotion.
ii. Love is an action.
3. \\#8\\ However, there was something that was new to these
believers.
1John 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto
you, which thing is true in him and in you:
because the darkness is past, and the true light
now shineth.
a. At this point, John still had not revealed with the
command was.
b. He described it first:
(1) The statement that he was going to make "is true
in him."
(a) The "HIM" is Jesus.
(b) That means Jesus modeled this truth as He
had all other truths.
(2) "and in you" - That means we should model it
too—IF we are in fellowship with Jesus and the
Father.
(3) And the reason the statement he was about to give
will be true is because "darkness is past, and
the true light now shineth."
(a) John was saying the statement is true
because we are now in the light, i.e. we
are saved.
(b) John was already saying that if the
statement is not true in our lives, it is
because we are not in the light.
4. \\#9\\ The Statement
1John 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and
hateth his brother, is in darkness even until
now.
a. The truth was plainly revealed in this verse.
(1) If we are in the "light" (having fellowship with
the Son and the Father), we will love our
brothers.
(2) If we do not love our brothers, we are-—even at
this present moment——in darkness.
b. Whatever group to whom John was writing this epistle,
must have had some issues with this evidence of
salvation.
(1) Why?
(2) Because John mentioned it repeatedly.
\\#1John 3:10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 4:20, 21, 5:16\\
c. There is no doubt that these verses were written to
admonish Christians to love other Christians, but it
should not be overlooked that we are to likewise love
our enemies.
Lu 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your
enemies, do good to them which hate you,
5. \\#10\\ As emphatic and dogmatic as John preached this
truth, he seemed to take the truth up notch in verse 10.
1John 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in
the light, and there is none occasion of
stumbling in him.
a. "there is none occasion of stumbling" made it sound
like this is one evidence that Christians will
always get correct.
b. I do not think that is what John was saying, mainly
because Christians can commit ANY sin that a lost
person can commit; but it does seem that John was
strongly declaring this to be one evidence that
should ALWAYS be present in a person who is walking
in the light of fellowship with Jesus.
6. \\#11\\ John restated and re-emphasized this truth.
1John 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in
darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth
not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath
blinded his eyes.
a. Anyone who "hates" the other brethren:
(1) "is in darkness."
(2) Is walking "in darkness."
(3) Does not know "whither he goeth."
(4) And has been "blinded" by darkness.
b. John described this person as being so lost that he may
not know it!
c. John’s emphasis and elevation of this truth makes it
obvious that some of his readers needed to hear these
truths. While we cannot know what the Bible does not
say, that along with the emphasis John placed on
Jesus coming in a physical body, it seems likely that
the false teaching of Gnosticism had divided this
group of believers.
Note: As already pointed out, 1John made sudden turns in his
conversation, much like the conversation at a supper table. The book
gives no warnings that one topic is completed and no introductions as
a new topic is begun. Such is the case here. While the first
section of John’s epistle fits together nicely under one topic, the
Essentials of Fellowship, John appears to leave that topic all
together and to speak about three levels of Christian growth. We
will discuss what he wrote under the heading of "John’s Audience."
II. \\#2:12-14\\ John’s Audience
A. While there was no formal declaration to whom John wrote this
epistle, in these verses John did speak directly to three
groups of Christians.
1. The three groups:
a. the little children,
b. the strong men,
c. and the fathers.
2. These three groups appear to represent three levels of
growth in Christ.
3. Each group is mentioned twice, although some of what was
said is repetition.
4. Although John commonly used the term "little children" to
speak to all of his readers, the context in these verses
indicate the phrase is a reference to those who are
extremely young in the Lord.
B. "little children"
1John 2:12 I write unto you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven you for his
name’s sake.
1. \\#12\\ "your sins are forgiven you"
a. Little children do not do for others. Others do for
them.
b. The statement given speaks of what was done TO and
FOR the little children.
c. They WERE forgiven because of the actions of Another.
d. John was saying their sins were forgiven because of
the work of Jesus.
(1) The "little children" did not contribute to their
forgiveness.
(2) The "little children" were too helpless and too
sinful to help themselves be forgiven.
(3) This is the case with all who come to Jesus, i.e.
all who come to Jesus begin as "little
children."
1John 2:13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye
have known him that is from the beginning. I
write unto you, young men, because ye have
overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little
children, because ye have known the Father.
2. \\#13\\ "because ye have known the Father."
a. "little children" start only able to be forgiven for
sinners have no spiritual ability whatsoever before
salvation.
b. But as with a child, the first indication of growth
is that they become "aware."
(1) An infant becomes aware of his needs and desire
immediately after birth.
(2) The first step of growth for a Christian is
to becomes "aware" of God.
c. John did not say what it is about God that we first
understand.
(1) Perhaps there are so many things the new babe in
Christ begins to grasp that it is hard to know
what is first.
(2) But it all begins with an awareness of "the
Father."
C. "young men"
1. \\#13\\ "young men, because ye have overcome the wicked
one"
a. The second level for the Christian is to become the
"young men."
b. John will not explain what caused "the little
children" to become "young men" until the next verse,
but they have matured.
c. Now because of their acquired strength, they can do
battle and overcome "the wicked one," Satan.
1John 1:14 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.
2. \\#14\\ John’s second statement about the "young men"
described them and explained what caused them to mature.
a. "ye are STRONG." Why?
b. "the Word of God abideth in you"
(1) "young men" are those who have grown strong in
Christ because they have grown strong in the
Word of God.
(2) There is no other way to become strong in the
Lord than through discerning and righteous use
of the Bible!
c. "ye have overcome the wicked one."
(1) The young men did not overcome the "wicked one"
and THEN become strong.
(2) They became strong THEN defeated "the wicked
one."
(3) BEFORE Christians can overcome "the wicked one,"
they MUST become strong through the Word of God!
D. "fathers"
1. Although mentioned twice, John spoke the same truth of
the "fathers."
1John 2:13 I write unto you, fathers, because
ye have known him that is from the beginning….
1John 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers,
because ye have known him that is from the
beginning….
2. The only difference in the two verses is that \\#13\\ is
present tense and \\#14\\ is aorist tense. Otherwise,
the statement and words used are the same.
3. "fathers" is the next step of growth in the Christian
life.
a. "little children" have done for them.
b. "young men" do for themselves.
c. "fathers" do for others.
(1) "fathers" provide for others.
(2) "fathers" protect others.
(3) "fathers" love and guide others.
4. Notice that what the "fathers" knew is similar to what
"the little children" knew.
a. \\#13\\ "ye have known the Father."
b. \\#14\\ "ye have known him that is from the
beginning."
5. Both levels of growth spoke of having knowledge of God.
a. The difference was in the term used to describe God.
b. While the "little children" know God only as their
Father (the One who conceived them, loved them, and
provided for them); the more mature group of believers
have learned much more about God.
(1) They have learned that He is, was, and always
will be.
(2) They have learned that He is the One not bound by
time.
(3) They have at least begun to understand God as the
One Who created all things and Who is the all-
powerful One.
c. The notion being set forth is that the more you grow
and handle the Word of God, the more you will know of
the Father.
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