WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday November 15, 2020

 

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CONFIDENT LOVE

(Emulating divine love)

(1 John 3:11-24, 2 John 4-11, 3 John 5-8)

 

   The first epistle of John is perhaps the most difficult book in the New Testament to outline. In fact, many scholars argue that there is no outline at all, and that John had no logical plan in mind while writing it. Here in this letter, he was most likely writing down his personal, yet divinely inspired thoughts, on various themes as they were put on his mind by GOD.

    In 1 John chapter 3, verses 11-24, John continues these divinely inspired ramblings by jumping back to the subject of “love one another”. However, here in this segment, he raises his plea to another level, as he urges his readers to transform their “words of love” into “GODly actions of love”. What does it profit a man to boast of his love and faith, if that love and faith does not compel him into action? (v.18)

    The fact that we cast everything over to GOD does not give us a right to sit back and do nothing, for the true Christian, can never be just a spectator. Love is not just having knowledge of GOD’s existence, but rather, true love comes from knowing GOD on a personal level through prayer, and a close, careful, and sober study of HIS Word.

    GOD’s love, is, quite literally, a reflection of HIS OWN heart flowing to us through CHRIST JESUS, our SAVIOR, and the infusion of the HOLY SPIRIT in us. When we love our Christian brothers and sisters as CHRIST commands us, it serves as proof that we have passed from death (permanent separation from GOD), into eternal life (new life in CHRIST). A person, that has no love for his fellowman, has not passed into the light, but rather, continues to linger on, in darkness.

    In verses 18-19 the apostle urges us to stop just saying that we love each other and start putting it into action. It is by our actions that we know when we are living in the truth, and knowing that, we can be confident whenever we stand before the LORD, even in those times when our hearts condemn us, as Peter’s did in John 21.

    In reality, the only way we can prove our love for JESUS is by loving others, and the best way to show our love for each other is in our actions towards one another. Love is the greatest privilege the world has ever known, and it is also the world’s greatest enduring thing, however, inevitably, love brings with it, the world’s greatest responsibility. From the beginning, GOD made “responsibility” to be the obverse “privilege”, and then, he made “love” to be inseparable from the two.

    In chapter 15 of the Gospel of John, verses 12-13, JESUS commands us to love one another as HE loves us, and there HE also tells us how to measure that love to see if it is sufficient enough to meet HIS demand. There JESUS states that, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (KJV).

    JESUS goes on to state that we are HIS friends if we obey HIM, and if we obey HIM, HE will no longer refer to us as “servants”, but rather, we will become members of HIS holy family and household of GOD (v.14). Looking back, we now know that for Peter and all the other disciples, love brought a cross that they all had the privilege and responsibility of bearing in their own way.

    Love always involves responsibility, and it always involves a sacrifice. We do not really love JESUS unless we are willing to take on HIS task and take up our own cross. We may never be able to write or think like the Apostle John or be able to travel to the ends of the earth and preach like the Apostle Paul. However, it is a certainty that we can all follow in the footsteps of Peter, by obeying the instructions of JESUS that were laid down to HIS disciples just prior to HIS ascension back into Heaven (John 21:15-17).

    In the first century and beyond, heavy Christian Church persecution dictated that the Believers use “code words”, or expressions, whenever they tried to communicate with each other in the various towns and cities where they had established Christian congregations (mostly “House Churches” in anonymous locations).

    Over in John’s second letter to the Christian Church, in verse 1, we find the code words “favorite mistress”, or “chosen lady” (eklektos kyria”) and her “children” (“teknon”). This expression is being used to hide the identity or exact location of the Church from those who sought to infiltrate it with worldly ideas and false teaching, to the end that it might be destroyed before it can take root. GOD does not wish for us to mix “the holy” with “the profane” (i.e. “miming” with “praise dancing” like in today’s professed Christian church), and the early Church went to great lengths to keep that from happening.

    John begins (v.4) by expressing his joy in how the newly founded network of Believers had been dedicating themselves to the righteous living and truth, that they had been introduced to, through the Word of GOD. Apparently, John had recently met with some of the members of that particular branch of the Church, and wanted to express how pleased he was with their Christian progress, and their behavior in the public forum. Here he reminds the Church to stay in keeping with the commandment of CHRIST JESUS to “Love one another”.

    John also reminded them of how some had gone out of the Church, who did not truly believe their reports about CHRIST, and were giving the world “a bad impression” of how “true Christians” really behave. They did not believe the “human example of perfection” that was presented by JESUS during HIS lifetime here on earth, which was intended to show the world that “Christianity really does produce the best men and women”.

    In this letter, John urges the Church to be diligent so that they might receive the full reward that they had worked so hard for (v.8). He tells them that they must never wander away from the teachings of CHRIST JESUS, and to always keep their fellowship with GOD, and CHRIST, intact (v.9).

    In verse 10, John warns Christians, that, if anyone comes to their church and does not teach the truth about CHRIST JESUS, do not even invite them into your home or encourage them in any way. JESUS perfectly obeyed GOD the FATHER as a “100% human being”, and HIS very life tells us that we should too. Anyone who encourages a deceiver, or false teacher, becomes a partner with them in all their evil works.

    All of the central teachings of Christianity hinges on the “100% humanity” and 100% deity of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. HE is the one and only “Hypostatic Union”, and the only way to GOD the FATHER in Heaven. HE is the one and only truth, and the one and only source of eternal life with GOD in Heaven. No one, who does not teach the humanity and deity of JESUS CHRIST, can ever be held up as a teacher of the Christian Faith.

    We close by taking a visit to the third letter of the Apostle John, in verses 5-8, where he says that Christians must take care of the LORD’s workers. This third letter, just like the previous two, places a strong emphasis on love, truth, and obedience to GOD. It also cites some of the challenges of the Christian Church in its infancy, that, in reality, still exists, in this day and age.

    In the first century, just like today, Church leaders tried to create “their own denominations”, and “build their own personal kingdoms” so that they themselves might “rule over other men”, while under the guise of serving CHRIST and promoting Christianity. They soon forget about being a part of the larger picture that requires us to obey GOD completely and allow CHRIST to serve in HIS role as head of the Church we say we pledge allegiance to.

    Also in the first century, innkeepers were not a beloved bunch, as they had long ago achieved the reputation of being “rip off artist”, who thrived on those who sought shelter from the elements and criminal danger, while they “traveled to and fro”, throughout the Roman Empire.

    In those days, many people traveled by foot to various locations for the purpose of business, religion, and leisure. It became much less of a burden, if one had a friend that they could count on to show them hospitality along their travels.

    In the “House church Era” of Christianity, those who were traveling for the LORD were trained to accept nothing from unbelievers, and all Christians were taught to provide hospitality to those who were partners with them in the truth (the work of CHRIST). They were not, however, to entertain, or show hospitality to those who sought to infiltrate the Church with worldly ideas, antichrist teachings, and worldly behavior.

    People who decided to join the Church had come to the attitude that they desired to “change their way of living” and were willing to adhere to the teachings of JESUS CHRIST, going forward. In fact, anyone who even denied the “deity” and “humanity” of JESUS CHRIST were not to be welcomed into the home, nor the Church, of Christian believers.

    Christians are to support one another in the work of CHRIST. To not do this is to work against CHRIST, and thereby, put oneself in allegiance with satan, who seeks to destroy the Christian Church. Here John is eternally stressing that all Christians be united in CHRIST, no matter where they reside. All fellow believers should, and in fact “must” work together for the good and protection of the integrity of the “Body of CHRIST’, which is “GOD’s Church”.

 

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

 

 

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