The Commandments of God (Love God)

I John 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.” (I John 3:11 – This is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.)

(Jesus didn’t come to take away the laws, but to fulfill. If we look at the commandments of old, ie. 10 commandments – they all have to do with relationship with God or with Others! Even the sacrifices they were told to do were to help restore them to relationship with God. Of course, the sacrifices were done away with when Jesus – the ultimate sacrifice – offered himself once and for all so we don’t have to offer sacrifices any longer. But He did not abolish any of the laws! He fulfilled them.)

I John 2:8-9 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. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.”

(This is no new commandment, but Jesus is making it new “again” because of the true light that passed away the darkness. We who love our brother, walks in the light.)

I John 2:15 “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. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that does the will of God abideth forever. (love others, love Him)

(We need not make anything on this planet our “precious”. So important that it comes between us and God. This becomes idolatry. That is why if we “love” things on this world, God’ love is being compromised.)

I John 3:23-24 “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. And he that keepeth his commandments dwellethh in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hat give us.”

(We fulfill the commandment of God when we “believe” Jesus is the Christ, and when we love one another. We know that someone is truly of God when they keep his commandments. We don’t “keep” his commandments first, we cannot until we have receive the love of God and the forgiveness of our sins – fully.)

Love our Brother

I John 2:10 He that loves His brother, abides in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”

(When we love others (walk in love and forgiveness daily) we “know” God - abiding in him, and WE SHALL NOT FALL!)

I John 2:11 “But he that hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and knws not whither he goes, because that darkness has blinded his eyes.”

(When we hate our brother (do not love them) we are blinded, and we wonder why we don’t get any answers from God. We stumble and fall. This hate unforgiveness) blinds us, and we cannot see clearly the word of Truth, nor God’s direction, and causes our sins to overtake us! I John 1:7 – If we walk in the light (love our brother) then Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.) Unforgiveness puts up barriers of God’s provision, and relationship with him, resulting in our demise.)

I John 3:10-12 “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil; whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that w should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.”

(In LOVE the children of God are manifest and those that do not love are of the Devil. When we “do” righteousness, we are LOVING our brother. Cain demonstrated that he did not love his brother because he killed him. )

I John 3:14 “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abides in death.”

I John 3:15 “Whosoever hates his brother is a murderer; and ye know that no murder hath eternal life abiding in him.”

(When we don’t forgive our brother, it means we are murderers. And murderers cannot inherit the kingdom of God.)

I John 3:16 “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us, we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

(When we “RECEIVE” the love of God into our own hearts, we will be able to prefer others every day, giving of ourselves daily for others.)

I John 3:17 “But whoso hath this world’s good, and sees his brother hath need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”

(If a person says He loves God yet doesn’t help another, we need to question that person’s love.)

I John 3:18 “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

Know God – Perfected Love

I John 2:3 “And hereby we do know that we know him if we keep his commandments.”

(This is a fruit of “knowing” God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are to Know Jesus, and to Love Others. See “His Commandments.”)

I John 2:4 “He that says I know Him and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in him.”

(This is saying that your actions speak louder than your words. If you do not demonstrate love for others, but say I “know” God, this person is a liar and is very deceived.)

I John 2:5 “But whoso keepeth his word (this truth and loves the brother) in him verily is the love of God perfected. Hereby know we that we are in Him.

(When we believe the word (and then do the word) God’s love is perfected in us. THEN we can say we “know” Him.)

I John 2:6 He that says he abides in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”

(More evidence of a person truly abiding (knows) God. When we do, we WILL walk as Jesus walked, effortlessly.)

I John 3:1 “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God, therefore the world knoweth us NOT, because it knew him not.”

(His WONDERFUL love causes us to be his children. And when we are up against opposition in the world because we are believers, it’s perfectly normal to have the world be against us, they were against Jesus too.)

I John 4:2 “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God; Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God; and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it would come; and even now already is it in the world.”

I John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world….We are of God; he that knoweth God hears us; he that is not of God hereth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”

(We KNOW God because we hear the truth. If we don’t know God we are in error.)

I John 4:7-8 “Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loves not knoweth not God, for God is love.”

(Evidence of our love of God is that we love each other. And I found that in order to love others, we first have to receive God’ and forgiveness for ourselves first. (I John 4:10)

I John 4:9 -10 “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Here is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins

(Love is so clear here, and the most important aspect of a believer. Since God is love, that should be our walk with others. But again, until we know we are loved personally by God, we won’t have what we need to love others. John 4:10 above)

I John 4:11 “ Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”

(Other scriptures come to mind that back this up. The story found in Matthew about forgiveness. The king forgave one of his servants of hundreds of dollars, yet that same servant didn’t forgive another for a few dollars. We are to forgive because God forgave us, and this is love.)

I John 4:12 –13 “…..if we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his spirit.”

(Evidence of God’s love, is that we love one another. And as we love one another our love is perfected! Perfect love casts out all fear.. II tim. 2:7. His spirit is what helps us to love, we cannot without it.)

I John 4:15 “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him and he in God.”

(Again, the spirit within us helps us believe this. It is the spirit that draws us to salvation. This is evidence that we dwell in God, to confess that Jesus is the Son of God.)

Fellowship (Righteousness, Peace and Joy) Abiding (continual relationship)

I John 1:3-4 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship IS with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

(When we fellowship with other believers, and fellowship with God and Jesus, results in our joy being full.)

I John 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth; But if we walk in the light (love), as he is in the light (love), we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

(Fellowship with God causes us to walk in the light. If we do not walk in the light, then it is proof that we are not fellowshipping with God. Walking in the light, means we have fellowship with each other I read in scriptures that when we fellowship with others, we are fellowshipping with God! I enjoy going to church now, because in doing so I’m fellowshipping with God! And when we have fellowship with God and with others, our sins are forgiven. This tells me that if I don’t walk in this light (love) my sins are not forgiven. I realized then when I am angry with someone or have unforgiveness, it puts a block between myself and God, and squashes His blessings. Jeremiah 5:25 says that our sins and iniquities prevent good things from happening to us. We do it by our own bitterness toward the brethren. I realized that EVERYTHING we are involved in EVERY DAY of our lives, involves people. How we live with people is the true test of our fellowship with God.)

II John To Fellowship with God brings fullness of joy

I John 2:24 “Let that therefore abide in you (God’s love) which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye shall continue in the son, and in the Father.”

(Abide in what you know to be truth (love). God’s love is truth. And when we abide, we shall remain constant with the Son and with the Father. Love God and love others is the bottom line.)

Truth

I John 3:18 –21 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condmen us NOT then have we confidence toward God.”

(We are IN The truth when we love. If we don’t’ have a “guilty” conscience, yet we are clean, this causes us to have confidence in God.)

I John 3:22. Whatsowever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”

(Remember, keeping commandments is to love God and others – and when we do this, THEN whatever we ask, we shall receive of him!)

Anger and hate

I John 3:12 “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because of his own orks were evil, and his brother’s righteous.”

(People get angry when they do things wrong. So then they lash out on others.)

Seducers

I John 2:25 “These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you; but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, shall abide in him.”

(Seducers are people who lead you away from the truth in believing a lie. Since we have the “truth” in us, we need to continue to abide in Him so that we are not pulled away. Be remaining constant in God’s love, truth, and fellowship, no man need to teach us anything, we get it straight from the Lord who has anointed us with His love. If we start listening to others and don’t seek the word out for ourselves, we can be pulled away from the truth to believing lies. It’s important to get all our teaching straight from God and God alone so that when we hear a lie, we see it clearly.)

Righteousness

I John 2:29 “If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that does righteousness is born of him.”

(This has nothing to do doing everything perfectly. Righteousness means to love the brethren. _________________. And this is evidence that we are born again of Him, when we “do” the righteousness – which is to love the brethren.)

I John 3:10 “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil; whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”

(I see this as a combined statement, based on the previous verses and chapters in I John, that “doing” righteousness is LOVING your brother.)

Promises of God

I John 2:25 “And this is the promise that he promised us, even eternal life.

(God has promised us eternal life, when we receive the sacrifice of Love unto salvation.)

Blindness of Eyes

I John 2:11 “He that hates his brother, …. Hath blinded his eyes.”

Can’t hear from God

I John 2:11 “He that hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness and doesn’t know where he is going.”

If and Then

Scripture	IF we do this	This happens
I John 2:24	“…. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you..” (remain in love for God, others, self)	Ye shall continue in the son and in the Father
I John 1:8	If we say that we have not sin	We deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us
I John 1:6	If we say that we have felloship with him and walk in darkenss	We lie, and do not the truth
I John 1:9	If we confess our sins	He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness
I John 1:10	If we say that we have not sinned	We make Him a liar and his word is not in us

Sin and Jesus

I John 1:8-10 If we say we have no sin, we decive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteouesness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

(In reading the portions above this scripture, sins are forgiven when we walk in fellowship with God, in His love, choosing to walk in love with the brethren. Then if we sin, we can confess those sins and receive forgiveness and restoration. We have to be willing to see our sins within. When we walk in the light of His love (fellowship) the sins are easily seen, then can be easily confessed so God can remove them. See “fellowship.”

I John 2:1-2 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. And he is the propitiation (the act of atoning for sin or wrongdoing) for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

I John 2:12 “I write unto you little children because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.”

(We are God’s children, and because of that our sins are forgiven. And since God knows it’s hard for us to love perfectly, and to do all things perfectly, Jesus was given. So that when we do sin, we have Jesus to forgive. John 2:2)

I John 3:8 “He that commits sin is of the Devil…. For the purpose of the son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

AntiChrist = Anti-Love (Unloving Spirit)

I John 2:18 “Little Children, it is the last time; and as he have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

(The bible says that in the last days people will become lovers of self more than lovers of God. These are the anti-Christ’s. Love perverted. It was never intended to be used for ourselves in a selfish, self-centered way. But to love our brethren as we love ourselves. To treat others as we would treat ourselves.

I John 2:19 “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 manifested that they were not of us.”

(The manifestation was this: That they did not love God or their brother. They knew of the love, because they started out there. But left that love, and turned that love to love the world and the things in it. I John 2:15-17 talks of loving the world.)

I John 2:21-22 “Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ. He is antichrist, that denies the Father AND the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father. But he that knowledgeth the son, has the Father also.”

(Only the love of God can reveal Jesus as the Son of God, and God as our father. And it’s His love that draws us to repentance in the first place.)

I John 3:13 “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.”

Equipped by God

I John 2:20 “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and he know all things.”

(We have the ability to know what we need to know, and it is given us from the Holy Spirit. We don’t need anyone teach us if we tune into the teachings from the Holy One.)

Liars