I'm Writing to You

Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul during his imprisonment by the Romans near the end of his life. The book of Ephesians has 2 big ideas to convey to the people.

1. Our Salvation is Accomplished in Christ
2. Because of that our lives should be different

We Are All Against God

Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Slaves to our passions

Our lives are filled with desires. So much so that entire religious orders have been created to deal with our passions. It is part of the human condition to desire. As with everything else in creation post Genesis 3 our desires have been corrupted.

We seek things, experiences and feelings to fill a void that can only be filled by the greatest desire we could fulfill.

But I am getting ahead of myself. How does being a slave to our individual passions show up in our lives?

Doing What Is Right In Our Own Sight

It is all about me. It is my way or the highway. Songs have been written and are being written to highlight that MY truth is the only truth and that MY way is the only way. I don't have to worry about what happens to someone else because I needed to get somewhere. A perfect illustration of this is seen on the road. I've got to get where I am going, and I have to get there now. That means if you are in my way, WATCH OUT! Run a yellowish light, check. Swerve in and out of lanes, check. Ride the Shoulder, check.

Ephesians 2:11-12 ESV

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands--- 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

There was no difference between us.

I skipped ahead to verses 11-12 to highlight the point that there is no difference between us and them. There is no distinction. We are living in a culture, even a world, that is becoming more and more polarized. This letter was written to a Gentile church and it included this reminder that there was no difference between the Jew and Gentile believers as well as the between believers and non-believers. At one time we were all alienated from God. What follows is a reminder to all of us that God ultimately is the one who saves.

God Does The Work

Ephesians 2:4-10 ESV

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ---by grace you have been saved--- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

God Sends His Son

God rich in mercy, abounding in love, sends Jesus to live a life free from sin. This is not just so that those after Him would have an example. It was also to demonstrate the great love of God. That God would send his perfection to die for our imperfection.

We are made alive through Faith in the Risen Christ

We were all DEAD in the world. We create and build and earn and store, seeking something incomplete. WE are trying to fulfill an longing that we lost in the Garden. Through the sacrifice of Christ we are able to satisfy this desire. We are able to commune with God, worship Him and experience the fullness that can only come through Him.

This gift is freely given so no one can claim their own salvation

Best of all this gift is given freely. We receive this grace by faith and NO ONE could ever claim to have earned it. This is a claim that separates the Christian from other religious systems. We don't have a God whose love has to be earned. This is why the life of the Christian should be marked by JOY even in difficult circumstances.

Grace Through Faith Creates Joy

Ephesians 2:14-22 ESV

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

He is our Peace

Through God there is Peace. The Shalom of God descends upon and dwells among his people. Joy and Peace should mark our lives. This does NOT mean that we do not have difficulties. It does not mean that we we never be anxious. What it does mean that in difficult moments we dwell on what God has done. When we feel anxious we remember the grace that God imparted to us. Shalom...

Brought Everyone Together

This is an interesting time to be alive. I am seeing both unity grow and divisions sharpen in the most unlikely places. Politics, Race, Money, Prestige, fandoms are being used as wedge issues. What needs to be driven home, especially in our camp is that we are all image bearers of God. We were all against God and that there are no levels to that. We are all now brothers and sisters, fellow citizens with the other saints.

We are alive together in Him

Ultimately we are all alive together in Him. We will live this life together as his bride, the church. We strive to fulfill his commands on this earth. We live lives worthy of His Sacrifice. We strive to be in unity with each other and be mindful of those outside of our fellowship that have yet to be drawn in.

The Life in the Clouds Podcast had their first live event last weekend. We spoke to Renovate Life Church, our home church, closing out the series on marraige. You can see the livestream above.

If you want to hear us preparing for the event you can listen to the latest episode of the podcast below.

Finally here are our notes.

Carlton- Our family statistics- we live in the whirlwind; it doesn’t just happen to us; we actually make our home there.

Example: Graduation-marriage-ministry-princess mighty-MD….princess mini....ordination…..the little prince…..now it’s 20 years later.

Personality stats- Carlton likes to cook with all the pots and pans, on all the burners. I like 1 pot/pan wonders in the oven- set it and forget it and minimize the mess. Our personalities and ways look diametrically opposed, but the beauty of it is that God brought us together to become one.

Scripture

'So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. ' - Matthew 1:17

God has a multigenerational vision and as his creation we need to have a similar eye.

What are you doing that will live beyond you? Children? Business? Legacy

Our lives are not our own
Contrary to what the world is telling us

Different people will enter our lives

Our lives before marriage matter - Singleness
Our lives during our marriage matter
Our lives after our marriage matter - Till Death Do Us Part

During our pre-marital counseling we were asked to create a vision - we want our marriage to be both impacted by and impactful to the people around us. This means that we need to be connected to the right people. Our marriage will not survive in a vacuum

As singles we had family, mentors and friends pouring into our lives.

As marrieds we have other families praying for us and around us.

As parents we have other parents praying for us and around us.

Lesson #1 - Heed the Lessons and the Warnings Around You

Wisdom and Folly call out to us in the street. Proverbs is a good illustration.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” - ‭Proverbs‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Lessons I have learned (Carlton)

• Marriage is permanent; far from casual
• Marriage is difficult; effort and hard work is required
• Marriage is fun
• Marriage is rewarding

Lesson #2 - What You have Learned is not Just for You

The value of marriage is when it is shared. Acts is a good illustration.

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” - ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:42-45‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Gospel spread house to house; Family to family.

Share Your Story/Life - Shared lives - This is why we enjoy counseling and recommend it to every couple we meet. Marital and pre-marital. I know there is a stigma about counseling after marriage. Don’t wait until you have an issue to seek out a 3rd party.

What works for us/Principles we have learned and teach

1. Focus and develop a relationship with God
2. Your Spouse Is Not Your Enemy
3. Only One Can be Crazy at Any One Time
4. Have a Budget; review and change it
5. Fight Fair; no slander
6. Plan for Fun

Our God didn't give us his leftovers. Neither should we.

(Malachi 1:6-14 ESV) “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord's table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. But you profane it when you say that the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord. Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations."

So this is the fruit of one of those ideas.  I decided that I wanted to hear some of the sermons that I have been reading read aloud.  So that is what I did.  I read Francis Grimké's sermon, "Christ's Program for the Saving of the World."  This is  very raw version of it.  Even though it needs polish and my daughters walks in right in the middle of it.  I thought I would put it out there as an exercise in showing my work.

Take a listen.  Leave a comment.  Let me know what you are talking yourself out of.  Get started on something and don't forget to show Your Work.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. - Proverbs 13:12

My latest sermon at my home church.

Here are my notes.

_1These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: 2Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. _

Last week we spoke about Joseph, who through God’s guidance interpreted the Pharaoh's dreams and saved not only Egypt but his family from a famine. At the end of Genesis the children of Israel had moved into Egypt and God was continuing to keep the promise he made to Abraham.

6Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. 7But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.

God had told Abraham was that his children would be as numerous as the stars and this was happening with each new child born. God had also told Abraham that his descendants would also face adversity, Genesis 15:12-14 and that part of the story was about to happen.

8Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us.10Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” 11Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel.

God Calls a Redeemer

As the Egyptians attempted to destroy the nation of Israel a redeemer was born. His name was Moses. His very life was a miracle. His mother saved his life when he should have been killed by decree of Pharaoh. He lived right within the courts of the Pharaoh only to escape to Midian. It was there that God began to reveal himself to his people.

4When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. -ch3

God begins a progressive plan of revealing himself not just to his chosen people but also to the entire world. He start by Revealing His Name

_11But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”12He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” _13Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’” 15God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.

God revealed His Name and this overcame Moses’ objections. He said that He would be with Moses. There is a confidence when you travel with God. After Moses returned to Egypt and began to meet with the leaders in Israel as well as the Egyptians leaders. This is where God began the next step in revealing Himself. God Began to *Reveal His Power. * God’s goal was to reveal His Glory and He struck right at the heart of their culture.

At this time the idea of God was accepted. In fact in Egypt there were a lot of different gods. God wanted to reveal Himself in a way so that there would be no doubt that He was God. So God struck at Pharaoh through a series of plagues.

1. Water Turned to Blood

2. Overwhelmed by Frogs

3. The Dust Became Gnats

4. Overcome by Flies

5. The Egyptian Livestock Die

6. The Skin of the Egyptians is covered by boils

7. Heavy Hail falls form the sky

8. Swarmed by Locusts

9. An Oppressive Darkness covers the land.

Even through all of this Pharaoh’s heart would not budge. In fact God was hardening his heart.

27But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. 28Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me; take care never to see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.” 29Moses said, “As you say! I will not see your face again.”-ch10

At this point God moves on to the last step of revealing Himself. God Reveals His Plan to Israel. Ch 11

3Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household. 4And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. 5Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, 6and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.

_7“Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. _

13The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.

Do any of you notice that this plan that God reveals to the Israelites in captivity foreshadows another shedding of innocent blood?

It is at this point that I want to talk to you frankly. Things are not going to get any easier for us. We are living in a culture that is becoming increasingly more hostile towards us. Christianity is going to be marginalized, ostracized and much of it is our own fault. The conversations that frustrate me the most are not the ones I have with unbelievers. They are the ones that I have with the family. We have marginalized God’s influence in our lives. TV, technology and entertainment has a greater impact on us than the Word of God. We are so weak that we don’t even know what we believe anymore.

This is why getting into your Bible is so important. It is God’s revealed Word for your life. This is where your purpose will be found. Not in the blowing of the wind or your feelings.

We are losing a generation because we are unable to explain what we believe. We are also unwilling to examine ourselves from the scriptures.

My challenge to all of us, myself included, is to love Him by keeping His commands. That means going and making disciples. I should be discipled and I should be making disciples.

If you knew that the destroyer was coming tonight. Wouldn’t you want to make sure that every house was covered by the blood. Becuase it will be exactly as the Lord said it will be for those who are not covered.

_29 At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. 30And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead. _Posted with Blogsy

What problems did they face?  Among a variety of religious authorities espousing different teachings, how were they to know who was right?  How were men and women to be put right with God?  How could Christians in the midst of a pagan culture live lives truly pleasing to God?

Only one way, answered Paul, through Jesus Christ!  His answer holds true for us as well.  The details of our struggle have changed since those days, but the principles are timeless.

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 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.  > You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.  We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. - 4:1-6Which System does it appeal to?  God’s System or the world Do those who are acknowledged mature agree?  Test it.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. - 4:7-9Does it point people towards Christ and his Love? This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. - 4:10-12Does it recognize his sacrifice on the cross? We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.  And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. - 4:13-16Does it recognize the Gospel?  God came as a man, Lived a Sinless life so that we sinners would have eternal fellowship with the Father. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.  If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. - 4:17-21Notice what it says here about Fear.  How can we experience this life without fear?  That leads us into Chapter 5. Chapter 5
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. - 5:1-5We Win.  Revelation! This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son.  Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 5:6-12Spirit = Holy Spirit Water = Baptism
Blood = Cross
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. - 5:13-15Your Salvation ensures your access to God. Saved by Grace and we Walk By Faith
If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. - 5:16-18You are no longer bound to sin.  You have strength to overcome in Christ Jesus You have the Holy Spirits prompting to convict and push you to repentance
Who God Calls He Protects
We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. - 5:19-20You are Different and that is OK. What you have is worth a strange look?
Don’t you want to share it?
Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. - 5:21I hope that this has spoken to you the same way that it did to me.  Let me know in the comment section what God has shared as you have read? 

This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.  And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. - 1 John 3:19-24Talking a good game may get you past people for a time. Your ACTIONs will eventually reveal you.
Believe in the Son and love one another...
Those who follow the Son, follow the Father as the Son does
Those who DO the will of the Son, do the will of the Father.
Those who know the Son, know the Father
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. - 1 John 3:23-26What are you sharing with those you disciple?

Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 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. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. - 1 John 3:7-10*The fruit of the seed that planted in us.  The Holy Spirit convicts us and drives us to repentance.*  ** Are you driven to your knees when you sin?  Do you even care?  Do Not be lead astray like those who indulge...Jesus destroyed the yoke of sin over us.  The kosmos/world system that we talked about last week is powerless over the life of the believer.  We just have to focus on God.When we do fall, repent, and refocusThis is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. - 1 John 3:11-14Do you love your Brother/Sister? Are you jealous of him/her?How you treat the family shows where your heart is? Is it all about you?  Are you Conceited or a Martyr? Don’t be surprised if the world hates you.  That is how it should be.  They hated Him, so why would you be any different?

The epistle, or letter, of 1st John is written to all of us in general and specifically to the church at Ephesus.  John is writing this as he nears the end of his life.  The Ephesian church is not that different from our own American church.  John speaks about the Ephesians in Revelation chapter 2 verse where he writes that “… You have forgotten your first love.”There are 4 issues that are impacting the church at Ephesus.1. An Easy Familiarity with Christ – The believers that John is writing to are the older children and younger Grandchildren of the believers that Paul met in Acts 19.  He spent 2 years with them and God lit a fire there.  The issue is that over time the intensity of the fire was being maintained.  This lead to a rejection of the High Standard…2. The High Standards that Christianity Sets – The church was called to be set apart.  They were called to be different.  They would be hated for that difference.  The church had begun to reject this.  They didn't “really” want to be different.  They wanted to be liked.  The church was not in danger of be persecution.  It was in danger of being changed.3. Seductions/Threats from the Inside – This came and fulfilled the warning that Paul left to the Ephesians in Acts 20:29-30, “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.”  The thought was to improve it. Give it intellectual respectability. Make it sound like popular philosophy.4. Gnosticism – This came out of popular culture of Rome at the time.  The Gnostic elevated the spirit over the body.  In fact they despised it.  The spirit was planted in this dirty soil.  The Gnostic hoped to overcome the evil in the body.  Stoics, Freedom through denial/willpower and the Epicureans, Freedom ultimately through Indulgence.This is the backdrop on which this letter is painted. Over the last 8 days I have been sharing my notes from when I was studying through this book. Consider these quick hits.

If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him. > How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. - 1 John 2:29 - 3:3

* Should be NOT Will be.  It is what we are not what we are becoming! * We are different because He was different. * All will be revealed when He returns.  We will be like Him.  We will not be Him but we will be like Him * We strive to be hagios/holy because we believe in Him.  It is not an oppressive weight.  It is a privilege.> **Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. - 1 John 3:4-6

* The Law was never meant to save.  It was there to reveal men’s sins.   * Sin shows how much we need Him.  He takes away the sins of the world.   * If we find ourselves stuck in continuous sin we should examine ourselves.

The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. - 1 John 2:17*Boom> *Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.  They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. - 1 John 2:18-20**There are 2 ways to look at the word prefix anti as it relates to the word antichrist.  The common understanding of how we use anti is to talk about something that is against something else.  In this case an antichrist is someone or thing that is against Christ.  Another way to use anti is in something that imitates something but is not of the same nature.  A False Christ.  I don’t have time to get into this but if you go to Revelation 15 you will see two types of antichrists.  The first is the dragon which Satan raises up out of the sea .  Clearly that is Against Christ.  The second is the beast that looks like the lamb.  I hope that we will do a walk through Revelation soon.

John ends this passage with a reminder that we have an anointing called the Holy Spirit that allows us to know the truth.  

Did you know that the word Anointing here comes from the Greek word Charisma which means to smear on?  Smear On?  Gives you a new perspective when someone is said to have plenty of Charisma.> *_I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that 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 2:21-23_This is a shot at those who had begun to allow the idea of some secret knowledge steal away the sufficiency of Christ.  This was a reminder to those who were flirting with Gnosticism that that was leads to destruction.  That there is no way to access the Father except through the acceptance of the Son.> *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. And this is what he promised us–even eternal life. I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit–just as it has taught you, remain in him. And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. - 1 John 2:24-28*Don’t forget your first love.  John is reminding us about what we have known from the beginning.  Remember back in the first chapter we talked about how he is referring to the incarnation of Christ, His Life, His Death and Resurrection.  Remember the Gospel.  The Holy Spirit will confirm these things for you.  Continue to examine yourself and your walk in light of you growing exposure to the light of God.  Walk with Him and continue to deepen your relationship with Him.*
I hope that you are being blessed by my notes from 1 John. See You Next Week. Enjoy the Free Friday Videos.

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. - John 14:15**Do You Get To, or Have You Got To?> Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. - 1 John 2:15There are somethings in this world that I love.  I love the sound of wind blowing through the trees in my backyard when I have one of those quiet moments.  Which are rare with a wife and 2 little girls.  I love a vanilla snowball with marshmallow.  I do not think that these things are what John is writing about in this verse but it could be.  

The greek word in this passage is Kosmos.  It means world system.  This is what John is talking about. The system that would say that you can be pleasing to God apart from Christ.  He is talking about a system that says to live beyond yourself as long as it is not for Christ.  To give as long as it is not for Him.  This world’s system belongs to Satan and we have to decide if we are going to be obedient/love to one kosmos or the other.> *May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. - Galatians 6:14> If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. - 2 Peter 2:20> I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. - Romans 7:10-11> 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 2:16Notice that this system uses the same formula to capture us.  This is how Eve was tempted in the Garden:> *When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. - Genesis 3:5*Satan comes back at Jesus the same way:> *The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” - Matthew 4:3> “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”  - Matthew 4:6> Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” - Matthew 4:8-9*Adam chose one and Jesus chose another.  Which will you choose?*

We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 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 2:3-6We say things like It is not about religion but a relationship.  The question is who is our relationship with?  There is a Gospel song that is titled the Shepherd’s Song.  In the song it says, “My Sheep Hear My Voice and Come Running To Me.”  It goes on to ask, “If you say that I am your shepherd, why aren't you following me?”  That question is right here in this passage.  

This is not to say that we need to apply some sort of litmus test but how do you know if you are in a relationship with someone?  You want to please them.  Would you say you were loving your spouse if everything they asked you to do you turned and did the opposite?  Isn't the same true with your relationship with God?

Get To or Got To?

Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. - 1 John 2:7*There is nothing new about this:> * “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:34-35> “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love... My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” - John 15:10; 12*Yet it is new as you are growing in your relationship with Christ and have been regenerated> *Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. - 1 John 2:8*Living life as God’s Child is not as linear as we try to make.  It is not a formula?  It is not as simple as we try to make it even though it is simple.  As we allow more of God’s Light to flow through us then God’s Love can be seen.> *Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. - 1 John 2:9*It is impossible for you to walk in God’s Light and hate your brother.  If you walk in the light it will chase away the darkness.  Let it search your heart.  Don’t turn from it and return to the darkness or accept part of light but get burned by the part you cannot accept.> *Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.  But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. - 1 John 2:10-11*What happens when you apply this John test to your life?   I am not talking about disliking the habits of another brother.  There maybe personality clashes that occur between family.  I am talking about open hostility and a desire to undermine what they are doing.  Or maybe you covet what another brother has?  How about wanting their life?  Or Ministry?  Or Family?> *I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. - 1 John 2:12*Here John is talking to all believers and reminding them that there assurance comes on account of Christ. This is the basis on which we Rest.> *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 evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father. - 1 John 2:13Here John is talking to 3 different types of believers.  

The first are the fathers.  These are the mature believers.  These are the old saints.  I am not talking about age here but age does often bring a certain perspective that is often discounted by the younger.  I remember reading the 23 Psalm as a child, in fact it was the firs piece of scripture that I learned.  As a 9 year old it doesn't have the same impact as it does now at 34.  I suspect that it will have an even greater impact at 54.

The second are the the young men.  There are believers that have learned to stand in the face of the enemy’s attacks.  They have learned to rely on Christ.

The third, The Little Children, are described using the Greek word paidia.  This word means immature little folk.  These are believers who have come to know Christ but have not grown yet.

I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. - 1 John 2:14John begins to further clarify the distinction between the “fathers” and the “young men”

The father known Him.  How  do you know Him?  By spending time with Him?  How do we spend Time With Him?  Prayer, Study, Walking As He Did

The young men are strong and God’s Word Lives in Them and they have overcome the evil one.

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. - Ephesians 6:17