1 John 1, That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us, which was shown to us; That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you.

           
He is saying here that we have witnessed these things and we are telling you what we have witnessed.

           
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.

           
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him, in God is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth, for we are in darkness while he is light. We have no fellowship with him.

           
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. It is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ which atones for our sin. Thus bringing us into a relationship with the Father, and bringing us into the light.

           
Verse 8, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. However, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, which is commandment breaking. If we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and his word is not in us.

           
My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Jesus Christ intercedes for us with the Father. He is our high priest.

           
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby, we do know that we know Jesus Christ, if we keep his commandments. He that sayeth, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him truly is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that sayeth he abides in Christ ought himself also so to walk or behave, even as Christ walked or behaved.

           
If we are in Christ and he is in us, we will be doing the things that he did and what did he do? He kept the Father's commandments, John 15:10: If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. If he is dwelling in us, he will still be keeping the Father's commandments in us. And if we are residing in him, dwelling in him and he in us, if our branch is plugged into the trunk of the tree, John 15, is plugged into Jesus Christ, we will be doing what he did, which is keeping the Father's commandments.

           
Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you have heard from the very beginning. And 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 shines.

           
He that sayeth he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loves his brother, abides in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and knows not where he is going, because that darkness has blinded his eyes.

I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake, for the name of Christ, for the sacrifice of Christ. I write unto you, fathers, because you have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because you have known the Father. I have written unto you, parents, because you have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.

Love not the world. Love not the things of this society. Neither the things that are in the world.
If any man loves this world, the love of the Father is not in him.

           
If you love the things of this world, if you set your heart and your desires on the things of this world, then you are not loving God. You are loving this world. And that is because the things of this world and carnal mindedness is enmity against God, Rom 8:.7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8: So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. They that love the pleasures of the flesh and are not subject to God cannot please Him.. For the lusts of the flesh have nothing to do with the light of God. They are darkness.

           
Verse 16: For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away with the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God will abide for ever. Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard, the antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

           
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 known that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written unto you because you know not the truth, but because you do know the truth, and there is no lie of the truth.

           
Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is an antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son.

           
He is saying; if you deny that Jesus is the Son of God, you are an antichrist, which only makes sense because you're anti Jesus, then you're antichrist.

           
Whosoever denies the Son, the same hath not the Father, [Those who deny Christ; have no knowledge or relationship with God the Father, nor with Jesus Christ the Son. They stand on their own tradition and opinion and NOT on the WORD OF GOD. So how can those who deny Christ claim that they are God’s people? ] but he that acknowledges the Son hath the Father also. Let that, therefore, abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning. If that which you have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, that is, the words of Christ and the words of the Father, the words of life. If it remains in you, you also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

           
And this is the promise that he has promised us, even eternal life. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which you have received of him abides in you, and you need not let any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things.

           
And this anointing is the anointing with the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit shall led you into all truth. And as John is writing here, but as the same anointing, the same Holy Spirit teaches you of all things and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, you shall abide in God.

           
And now, little children, abide in him; that when he shall appear, speaking of Christ as God, when he appears [returns], that we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

           
If we abide in him and keep his commandments, when he comes, he will receive us with gladness, and we will receive him with gladness and joy, because we are abiding in him. Yet if we turn from him and turn to sin, we shall be ashamed of ourselves and ashamed of our behavior when we see him because he will be looking at us and saying, "You sinners, depart from me. You workers of iniquity." And then we shall be filled with shame at our downfall and our disgrace.

           
If you know that he is righteous, you know that every one that does righteousness is born of him or is of him.

           
God is righteous and all who are righteous are of God. For true righteousness is the keeping of the commandments of God. If we do what we think is right, we are being self-righteous. And if we do what God says is right, then we are partakers of God's righteousness. As he is righteous, so we should become righteous by partaking of his righteousness and keeping his commandments.

           
Chapter 3: Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore, the world knows us not, because it did not know him. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

           
We are the sons of God now. That is, we are begotten. IF we have repented, turned from our sins, had our sins atoned for through the sacrifice of Christ. We may now enter into the throne room and into the presence of the Father.  And we can call him our Father and he will call us his sons.

           
We have not yet been born again. For when we are changed to spirit, then we will become born fully of the spirit and at that time, we will be born again; for John 3:6: That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7: Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8: The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
.

           
Every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as God is pure. Whosoever commits sin, transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. Sin is the breaking of the commandments of God.

           
And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. That is, in Jesus Christ was no sin.

           
Whosoever abides in Christ sins not: whosoever sins; hath not seen him, neither known him.

           
If you abide in Jesus Christ, you will keep the commandments of God as Jesus Christ did. You will not sin by transgressing the law. You will not sin by breaking the commandments of God. You will keep his commandments as Jesus Christ said.

         
If you attempt to change God’s commandments around and do things your own way instead of the way that he commanded: YOU ARE SINNING!  Even though such a person may appear righteous in his own eyes.  For example: if the Seventh day Sabbath (Saturday) commanded by Almighty God is rejected in favour of the pagan Sunday worship forced on the Bishop of Roman by the Sun Worshipper Constantine.

           
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as God is righteous. He that commits sin is of the devil, he that transgresses God's commandments is of the devil. For the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was made known that he might destroy the works of the devil.

           
Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

           
That is, the Holy Spirit of God, the seed of God remains in a person who is of God. And he is-- becomes born of God. Therefore, he does not sin because God does not sin.

           
Verse 10: In this the children of God are known, and the children of the devil: whosoever does not righteousness - that is, does not keep God's commandments - is not of God.

           
Neither is he that loveth not his brother. If you hate your brother, if you hate other human beings, if you look down on other people, you are not of God.

           
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he his brother? Because his own works, his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

           
Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hates you. You know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loves not his brother abides in death. Whosoever hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

           
The obvious question that comes up here is, who is your brother? And Jesus Christ handled the same question asked of him. He was asked, "Who is my neighbor?" And he told the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

           
Every man is your brother because we are all the sons of Adam. We are all the creation of Jesus Christ. If we hate or despise any man, any human being anywhere, we are not the sons of God, or it is a serious problem that we need to repent of and quickly correct ourselves on.

           
If we are a child of a father and we hate our brother, do we not then hurt our father? What father would like to see one of his children kill another or harm another or abuse another? No father likes to see that happen and God is no different.

           
He doesn't like to see us hurting one another, abusing one another, and hating and killing one another. God is not willing that any should perish and his law defines our behavior. It defines the way that we can behave and be at peace and in harmony with him and with one another.

           
The law protects people. It gives them certain rights. It gives you the right to life and protection against being murdered. It gives you the right to your property and protection against having it stolen and so on.

           
God's law is holy, and just, and good, Romans 7:12: Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. It protects all of his children. And if any of his children break his laws, they are involved in either hurting God or hurting some of his children. And those who hurt the other children are eventually going to be disciplined. They are going to be corrected; and if they will not change, they will be removed. The law of God defines LOVE: for Romans 13:10: Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

           
All those who are willing to embrace God's commandments and stop hurting the other children and offending God, they will have a part at some point in entering the family of God. And those who are adamantly insistent on doing things their own way, and hurting God and hurting God's other children will have to be removed for the good of the family.

           
Now, verse 15 of chapter 3: Whosoever hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and sees his brother having, in need or being in need, and shuts up his bowels of compassion from his brother, how dwells the love of God in him?

           
If you see another person hurting, or in pain, or in need and you don't have compassion and you don't try and help him; where is the love of God in you? Remember faith without works is dead. If you love God and were filled with love from God, you would be helping your brethren.

           
My little children let us not love in word, or 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 knows all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

           
He is saying if our heart or conscience is good and doesn't condemn us and we're comfortable with our conscience, we should also be comfortable with God.

           
Now, our conscience is simply those things that we have learned which guide our behavior. And if we learn the things of God and we are confident that we are keeping the commandments of God, then we are at one with God. And if we know the things of God and we are not confident that we are faithful and acting in a good conscience toward God, then we have a problem between ourselves and God and we must do something about our behavior and correct ourselves.

           
Then whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments.

           
And that is one of the primary reasons why prayers are not answered; because we do not keep his commandments. There is no way that we can go to a restaurant on a Sabbath or a holy day and pay people to serve us and cook for us, and give us the things that we order and then go home and pray, there is no way that God will answer our prayers.

           
And there is no way, that if we work a bit late into the Sabbath or we decide to spend the whole day in the Sabbath watching TV, instead of spending time with God or if we neglect the things of God. And if we abuse his law, by thinking, "Oh that's just a little thing. It's not important." Or by taking the attitude that, "Well, I'm only flesh, I'm weak and if I can get away with this, well, it doesn't matter."

           
If we have those kinds of attitudes or if we say we must believe in the Bible as an interpreted by Herbert Armstrong or as explained by James Malm or as explained by the Pope. If we have that attitude of allowing someone to come between us and God's word, and we commit that kind of idolatry [spiritual adultery], there is no way, brethren, that our prayers will be answered.

           
God answers those who keep his commandments. Not just one of them, all of them. And if we want answers to our prayers, and if we want healing and this kind of thing, we must be keeping all of God's commandments.

           
Right now, the church and all of the groups calling themselves the Church of God are full of idolatry. They are full of Sabbath breaking. They are full of all manner of sins and then they wonder why their prayers are not answered and why there are no healings.

           
It is because they do not take pleasure in the things of God. They do not hold God's commandments to be precious and holy and right and good. They are doing their own thing in their own way. And everyday, they're getting a little bit further from God. They are not keeping God's commandments. Therefore, he is not listening to them. Not answering their prayers.

           
What we need today is a revival among all the groups in the Church of God. We need to wake up and realize how far away we've gotten and we need to start turning back toward our Father, back toward God. We need to repent and embrace him and seek him with all our hearts and all our strength, and get right with our God.

           
Verse 23: And this is his commandmen;t that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another. We should love one another, be charitable, be empathetic, be sympathetic as he gave us commandment. And he that keeps his commandments. [That is, not just the commandment to love, but all his commandments] dwells in him, and he in him.

           
That is, if you keep God's commandments, the spirit of God and of Jesus Christ will dwell in you. And if God's spirit dwells in you, then you are dwelling in God. You are a branch which has been grafted into the trunk of the tree. You are the branch. Jesus Christ is the trunk of the tree, John 15:1-8. And if you're grafted into the trunk of that tree, into Christ and Christ is dwelling in you, you will be keeping all the Father's commandments, even as Jesus Christ kept his Father's commandments.

           
Verse 24: And he that keepeth his commandments, any person who keeps God's commandments dwelleth in God, and God in him. God will dwell in that person. And hereby, we know that God abides in us, by the Spirit which God has given us.

           
Chapter 4: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets have gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.

           
That is, every spirit or every prophet or every person who confesses that Jesus Christ is literally dwelling in you and  is keeping the Father's commandments in you and that you must keep the Father's commandments, as Christ kept the Father's commandments. Because Christ dwelling in you would be keeping the Father's commandments now within you as he has always done. So, anyone who confesses that the spirit of God and the spirit of Jesus Christ is dwelling literally in you, and empowering you to keep God's commandments, that is a spirit of God.

           
And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is in your flesh, is come in your flesh, is dwelling in your flesh. Everyone who says that Jesus Christ is not keeping his Father's commandments while he is dwelling in you, anyone who says you do not need to keep every single one of the commandments of God, that person is not of God.

           
So, any person, or prophet, or apostle, or evangelist, or ordinary person and any spirit that comes along and says, "You cannot keep all of God's commandments. The flesh is too weak. You can't do it. It's not necessary." That person is an antichrist. He is against God. He is not of God because the spirit of God in you, the spirit of Jesus Christ dwelling in you will empower you to keep all of God's commandments.

           
Does that mean your foot will never slip? No. It means that if you do make a mistake, you will quickly repent as soon as you find out about it. Like David did when he committed his sin with Bathsheba and his eyes were blinded by his lust. And later, the prophet Nathan came to him and his eyes were open and he saw himself as God saw him and he quickly repented.

           
Even so, we need to quickly repent, as soon as we see our error. So, every person, or prophet, or spirit; that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come and dwelling in our flesh, by the spirit of God, and that he is not keeping the commandments in us as he's always done, such a person or spirit is antichrist.

           
Whereof you have heard that antichrist should come; and even now already is in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome antichrist or the spirit of Satan: because greater is he that is in you. That is, God in you, Christ in you. Greater is he, Christ in you, than he that is in the world, which is Satan in the world.

           
They are of the world, that is, of this Satanic society: therefore, speak they, the things of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God: he that knows God hears us; he that is not of God does not hear us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

           
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God. He that loves not knows not God; for God is love. 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.

           
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we are also to love one another.

           
No man hath seen God at any time. That is, the Father. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us. So, if we have God's spirit and God's spirit is given to those who obey him, Acts 5.

           
If we turn from our sin, repent, and turn away from sinning, the sacrifice of Christ can be applied to us. And then we can have access to the Father and he will give us his spirit. He will dwell in us.

           
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in that person, and that person dwells in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwells in God, and God in him.

           
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. We are like God and we are like Christ. There is no fear in love; but perfect love cast out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.

           
And we love God by keeping his commandments. And we love our fellowmen by keeping God's commandments. And if we have God's commandments, we need have no fear because we are filled with the love of God. It is when we are breaking God's commandments that we have a fear of being judged, of being condemned, because we have consciousness of guilt.

           
He that fears is not made perfect in love. That is, he does not perfectly keep the commandments of God, which are the definition of love.

         
Brethren; this is referring to the fear of judgment from God. If a lion roar outside your tent; you might fear, but you need not fear the anger of God if you are pleasing him by keeping all of his commandments. God is a God of LOVE who loves all of his children.  He is loath to discipline his children and only does so to turn them away from hurting his other children, by breaking his laws.

         
Many fear the coming Great Tribulation and speak of a rapture, or place of safety; to avoid this correction.  I TELL YOU THAT THE WAY TO SAFETY, TO AVOID THIS CORRECTION: IS TO REPENT AND TO BEGIN KEEPING ALL THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD.  YOU WILL NOT BE TAKEN TO ANY SAFETY, AS LONG AS YOU POLLUTE THE SABBATH BY WORKING, OR BUYING, OR SELLING  ON GOD’S SABBATH [SUNSET FRIDAY TO SUNSET SATURDAY] AS JESUS CHRIST OBSERVED AND COMMANDED HIS PEOPLE: AND CONTINUE TO BREAK HIS COMMANDMENTS.

           
We love him because he first loved us. If a man say “I love God”, and he hates another man, his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother  whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment have we from God, that he who loveth God should love his brother also.

           
Chapter 5: Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and everyone that loves God that begat, that is, the Father loves him also that is begotten, that is, the Son.

           
If you love the father, you love the Son. And if you love the Son, you love the Father. So, everyone that loves him that begat also loves him that is begotten of the Father or his Father. If you love the Son, you love the Father. If you love the Father, you love the Son.

           
Verse 2: By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God. Here we have the love of God clearly defined.

           
Verse 3: This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous; For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

           
This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one.

           
Now, there are people who would dispute this particular verse (above) and say it was added to prove the trinity, added in the Middle Ages. I don't know about that, and I really don't have a problem with it.

           
Obviously, my spirit is part of me and God's spirit is part of God. So, I really don't have a problem with that. What I have a problem with is the interpretation that people put on this that somehow it enforces or proves the trinity.

           
It does not. It proves there is a Father, and the Son, and that they both have God's spirit. And that's all it is saying.

           
Verse 8: And these three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit [the gift of God}, and the water, [baptism and commitment to keep the commandments], and the blood, [the atoning sacrifice of Christ]: and these three agree. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself and he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believes not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record; that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

           
In other words, by the fact that this Son of God, Jesus Christ was resurrected and given eternal life, that is a witness or an example to show us that if the Son dwells in us, we can also have eternal life.

           
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. Dwelling in you by the power of God’s spirit.

           
If Jesus Christ is not dwelling in you through God's spirit, and if he's not keeping God's commandments in you through God's spirit, you do not have eternal life. If Jesus Christ is dwelling in you through the power and the vehicle of God's spirit, and he is keeping God's commandment in you and through you, then you have eternal life dwelling in you; because you are keeping all of God’s commandments as Christ did..

           
Verse 13: These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that you have eternal life, and that [unintelligible] dwells in you and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that is, in Christ, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us.

           
So, this is the second key to healings and answered prayers. We must ask according to his will. And sometimes we ask amiss, and we ask because we want, and we don't think about what would be right in his eyes.

           
Now, when we're sick and we're ill, we want to be healed. We want to be healthy. But sometimes God allows us to be ill so that we can learn something. And what do we need to learn? Perhaps humility. Perhaps, we are too involved in the things of this world and we need to have time to turn back toward him. Perhaps we need to learn to have empathy, sympathy and consideration and love for our fellowmen and we need to learn not to dwell so much on our own selves, on our own desires.

           
There are many reasons. Many more that could be gone into but the fact is that sometimes things happen to us for a reason. Sickness can be a tool that God uses to help in molding us into the kind of persons he wants us to be. It can be a tool he is using to build our character.

           
And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sinneth not unto death. There is a sin which is unto death: I do not say that you should pray for that. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

           
And that sin is the sin that is repented of. If we sin, we realize it, we acknowledge it and repent of it, that is not unto death, for we shall be forgiven.

           
There is another sin which is unto death. We might call this the unpardonable sin. And this is the situation whereby we sin and when we realize it and it's pointed out to us, we say we are justified in doing that. God is wrong. We are right. We enjoy doing this, and we're going to keep doing it, and we're not going to repent, and we're not going to stop doing it, then we cannot be forgiven.

           
We can only be forgiven if we acknowledge our sin and repent of it. Be sorry for it. And sorry enough to turn away from it, and stop doing it.

           
Now, I realize that some people have weaknesses in certain areas and they find themselves falling in that area from time to time. Almost seems like a habit. And God will help with that and it may take some time in overcoming it. As long as we realize that it is sin and we are doing our very best to overcome it, and we are seeking God, he will help us. He will empower us. He will forgive us.

           
But if we say, "Oh, I'm enjoying this and I'm not going to try and stop." And it's just that attitude of total rebellion, it cannot be forgiven.

           
Verse 17: All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. We know that whosoever is born of God does not sin; but he that is begotten of God keeps himself from sin, and the wicked one cannot touch him, cannot reach him, cannot tempt him.

           
Verse 19: And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come. He is coming and dwelling within us and has given us understanding, that we may know him that is true, and that we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

            
            Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

           
Yes, keep yourselves from idols. And what is an idol? And idol is anything that comes between you and God. Can your church be an idol? Yes it can. Can your friends be idols? Yes they can, if you value them more than you value God or God's word. If you allow them to lead you astray, if you go along with what they are doing, even when you know it is wrong, you have valued them more than you have valued God and God's commandments.

           
Can your minister be an idol? Yes. Can some man be an idol? Yes, if you regard the Bible through their eyes. If you say, "Wemust understand the Scriptures as interpreted by this or that person," then that person has become your idol and you have become an idolater and spiritually speaking, an adulterer because you have preferred and loved someone else more than you have love your God.

           
You must always put God first. Jesus Christ dwelling in you will be keeping the Father's commandments. He will not allow himself to be lead about and lead into sin by your friends or your minister. He will be testing and judging all things spoken by anyone against the standard of his Father, against the standard of God's word. And he will be faithful in keeping the Father's commandments. And if you don't want to keep the Father's commandments, if you regard the Father's commandments lightly and are willing to follow other people, then Jesus Christ will not long dwell with you and within you.

           
What you are doing is cutting yourself off from the trunk of the tree, cutting your branch off from its trunk, from its roots and you will eventually wither up and die and be thrown into the fire because you did not regard the words of God and the spirit of God and the spirit of Christ as of more value than the things of this world and of more value than the friendship of this world.

           
Now, the book of 2 John, The elder unto the elect lady and her children. John is identifying himself here as an elder which simply means an older person in the faith. Someone long experienced in the faith, who is able to help others because of his experience and the wisdom that he has developed and learned and then taught by God. And the church is being presented as the elect lady, that lady who is called of God.

           
The elder unto the elect lady and her children. The church as a whole is referred to as the elect lady and the members are referred to as children, those people who have God's spirit. And they are all the church. So, the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth. So, all know the truth love God, love Jesus Christ and love the brethren.

           
For the truth's sake, which dwells in us, and shall be with us for ever. Grace be unto you brethren, dear brethren, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

           
I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in the truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto you, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love; that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

           
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is dwelling in our flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Jesus Christ kept the Father's commandments.

           
In verse 6: This is love, that we walk after the Father's commandments. If Jesus Christ is dwelling in you, he will be keeping the Father's commandments in you. If he is in your flesh, you through his strength and his power will be keeping the Father's commandments. How do we know this? Because Jesus Christ said, "I have overcome the world." And since he overcame and he is dwelling in you, he will give you the power and the strength to overcome the world, even as he did.

           
Any spirit or any person who doesn't confess that we need to keep the commandments of God and that we can do so through the power of God dwelling in us is a deceiver and an antichrist.

           
Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in this doctrine of Christ, does not know God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son dwelling in him.

           
That is, the spirit of God and the spirit of Christ, both of them are dwelling in him. So, the Father and the Son are both dwelling in you through the power of God's spirit. Do you think that if the Father's spirit, that is, the spirit of God is dwelling in you, that it will not be keeping his own law?

           
Of course, God will keep his own law, his own commandments. And if his spirit is dwelling in you, it will empower you to keep the Father's law, the Father's commandments. And at the same time, Jesus Christ kept his Father's commandments. And if the spirit of Christ be in you, then it will empower you to also keeping the Father's commandments.

           
Whoso transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, has not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that bids him God speed is a partaker of his evil deeds. That is, his commandment breaking.

           
Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

           
The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

           
And of course the elect sister and her children, he's referring to that particular area and particular group of the church where he did reside during that time.

           
The third letter of John: The elder unto the well-beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. Beloved, I would above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers. For I rejoice greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth, my children or my students.

           
Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; which have borne witness of thy charity, thy generosity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shall do well: Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

           
We, therefore, ought to receive such, that we might be fellow helpers to the truth. I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receive us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he receive the brethren, and forbids them that would, and cast them out of the church.

         
Sometimes certain men become known as elders, or prophets,  or apostles [Rev 2:2]; who are not worthy of that distinction. Diotrephes was not filled with the love of God and was self-willed; neglecting the commandments of God: From such turn away.

           
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good [consistent with God’s law]. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil has not seen God. Demetrius has a good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true, that Demetrius is of good reputation.

           
I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.

           
John here is encouraging and exhorting those people who would receive the saints and do good and help them out and help them on their journeys because they are journeying for the sake of God in Christ. He is saying, "You have demonstrated your faith by your works and you have demonstrated your love by your actions. And have revealed that God is dwelling in you."

           
If we are of God and God is dwelling in us, we will engage in godly behavior. We will love others. We will help them to the best of our ability, within our means. We will encourage each other.

           
It is not so today in the various groups making up the Church of God. There are many different groups, all of them jealous over their own positions and their own groups and their own ideas. And yet most of them have nearly identical doctrines. Where they differ is on authority, on who's in charge and on their governmental system of how they operate; so that this person or that person might rule the roost.

           
And they don't cooperate with one another and they don't show the love of God for one another. Instead, they envy one another. They compete with one another and they engage in selfish behavior.

           
Remember the words of Jesus Christ when the disciples came to him and said, "Lord, there are other people, strangers casting out demons in your name, should we forbid them?" And Jesus said, "Forbid them not. For he who is not against us is for us, is with us."

           
We need not to condemn others simply because they have a different leader. No. We need not to condemn others. We are not to condemn others simply over the matter of whether they permit a little bit longer hair or a different bit of dress or makeup or some such nonsense which is not biblical and has nothing to do with keeping the commandments of God.

           
We should instead cooperate with one another, help one another and work together for the furtherance of the gospel. And why are there so many groups and so many so-called splinters and schisms and divisions? Is it not because our hearts are not set on the ways of God? They are set on this leader or that leader or this idea or that idea. And we are not putting God first, we're not putting God's word first. And we want to be followers of this person or that person.

           
Brethren, that is spiritual adultery against our Father and against Jesus Christ: It is idolatry. It is allowing persons or things to come between us and our God.

           
How many of us will run along with our friends and hedge on this and do that which we know is not really right just because we want to have our friends, or we want to be part of this group, or have this social club, which is what many of this churches have become; And we do not rely on the word of God?

           
That's wrong, brethren. We have to start putting God first. Relying on his word regardless of what anybody says. It is because we have gotten so far from our God and we have quenched his spirit by not putting him first and his commandments first. That is the reason why our prayers are not answered. We are not being healed. And there are so many divisions and so much confusion and frustration and competition. It is because we are lacking in the love of God toward our fellow saints and toward this world and because we are wrapped up in ourselves, in our own little groups.

           
We lack the love of God and we lack the spirit of God and we have quenched the spirit of God because we are not keeping his commandments. We are allowing societies, or groups, or individuals; to come between us and God and we are also not keeping his commandments.

           
We say we observe the Sabbath and then we go out and pay others to serve us on a Sabbath: which is an appalling abomination before God. It is time that we started looking at ourselves in the mirror of God's word and we started understanding what God thinks of us and started taking a serious look at what God thinks of us.

           
It is very natural and worldly to want to think the best about ourselves, but it is really time we woke up and started examining ourselves in the mirror of God's word and started realizing what God really thinks of us. And it is time to wake up and straighten up and repent and turn to God with a whole heart before he gets out the rod of correction.

James David Malm copyright 2009