This teaching comes from the first Epistle of John. John also wrote the 2nd and 3rd Epistles of John and the Gospel of John and the Revelations of Jesus Christ. This first Epistle of John is best referred to as the “Epistle of No Compromise.” John knew then that God wanted us all to take an uncompromising stand for the true word of God as written in the King James Version Bible and against the false teachings we see from those whose words come from words that are not found in the Bible. (1-John 1:5-6) “5. 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. 6. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.”

We know the Bible is the true and living Word of God and therefore the Bible is how we His sheep get to know Him. If you don’t read, and know what God tells us in the Bible, it is impossible to know God. In the Bible we find the commandments God gave the Jews in Exodus 20: 2-17 in the old testament. Read it and learn what God put down into words, and told us all to live by.

Yes these laws still do apply to us living today. If anyone tells you differently, anyone that tells you this is just you judging them instead of God, just send them here. 1 John 2: 3-12: “3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 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. 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. 9. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 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. 12. I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.”

John tells us the three truths God gave us in this Epistle which helps us obtain and hold onto our salvation.

1. Have a true and total faith in Jesus Christ.

John 20:31 “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.”

2. Be obedient in response to God’s commands.

Romans 16:26 “But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.”

3. Love others as much as you love God, and that love comes from the heart.

Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and persecute you;”

John contrasts in his epistle seven examples of good versus evil, let’s take a look at them.

1. Light versus darkness 1 John 1:5

2. God the Father versus the world 1 John 2:12 -17

3. Christ versus the Antichrist 1 John 2:18-28

4. Good versus evil works 1 John 2:29 – 3:24

5. The Spirit versus the spirits 1 John 4:1-6

6. Love versus pretense 1 John 4:7-21

7. Born of God versus the wickedness of the world 1 John 5:1-21

John also revels to us how God tests us in this Epistle. These tests help us stay on the path to salvation, helping us grow stronger in our faith. I see these seven tests as,

1. False fellowship 1 John 1:6

Learn to have true fellowship with God.

2.False sanctification 1 John 1:8

If we deceive ourselves and how God sees us we will go astray and be lost.

3. False righteousness 1 John 1:10

If His word is not in us, the message of Christ has not taken root ether.

4. False allegiance 1 John 2:4

Those not trusting in God, nor holding to God’s commandments are also liars and not to be trusted with the truth of God.

5. False behavior 1 John 2:6

Those of us that say they walk with the Lord and truly don’t, find the Lord is against them, as they show the world falsely how the Lord walks.

6. False spirituality 1 John 2:9

The Holy Spirit cannot abide in them that live in darkness!

7. False speech 1 John 4:20

He that claims to be against one of God’s flock, and yet to love God is a liar and a fool, and walks in darkness.

John wrote this Epistle because of the conflict within the church of that time. John was stabilizing the flock and the church from the wicked that would bring down the church. John reaffirmed key theological truths about the doctrine of Christ in this Epistle. This is one of the books you should read, living in the times we are living in. He shows us how and why evil is here among us. How they are tearing down the church and accusing the flock with lies to other and to God.

Read this book and it will help you understand why things are like they are these days. It shows you why people are like they are these days. Stay very close to the Lord and read His word. Get right and stay right with God, for nobody knows WHEN He will come!

All Glory to God

His humble servant Lee M Buchanan