by Gary L. Evans
(revised 8/2/2023)
Epistles of John — Part 10
1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
John has written this letter to us who believe on The Name of The Only Begotten Son of God so that we may know of a certainty that we have Eternal Life, and so that we may believe on The Name of The Only Begotten Son of God.
Rev 19:11-13 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
This is The Name of The Only Begotten Son of God which we believe: The Word of God. Remember, In The Beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and The Word was God. This is that same One Who was In The Beginning with God. And because we believe in (obedience to) Him, we have Eternal Life.
1Jn 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
We may have confidence from our belief in Him, that God hears our prayers, and answers our prayers, and grants what we ask for in accordance with His Will.
1Jn 5:16 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 sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
There is only one unpardonable sin which cannot be forgiven, which leads straight into The Lake of Fire on The Day of Judgement. With that one exception, we may ask our Father to forgive and to offer Eternal Life to anyone. However also remember, that anyone who commits the capitol crime of first degree murder cannot have Eternal Life while dwelling in a flesh body, but there still may be hope for them in The Millennium. But don’t even bother praying for anyone who commits the unpardonable sin, which can only be committed by one of God’s Very Elect. I cannot comprehend how any of God’s Elect could possibly commit that sin, which would be paramount to Lucifer’s original sin committed in The First World.
1Jn 5:17-18 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
The word “keepeth” is from the Greek “tay-reh’-o” which means “to guard (from loss or injury, properly by keeping the eye upon), that is, to note (a prophecy; figuratively to fulfil a command); by implication to detain (in custody; figuratively to maintain); by extension to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively to keep unmarried).” And the word “toucheth” is from “hap’-tom-ahee” which means “properly to attach oneself to, that is, to touch (in many implied relations).”
No one of The Regeneration can commit wilful sin, but guards himself or herself so that Satan cannot attach himself to him or her. The Holy Spirit in us overcomes the deception of Satan.
1Jn 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
How do we know that we are of God? Because we obey His Law, which is proof that we have The Heart and Mind of The Son of God.
1Jn 5:20-21 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and 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.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.
Epistles of John — Part 11
2Jn 1:1 The elder unto 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;
The word “elect” is from the Greek “ek-lek-tos’” which means “select; by implication favorite.” Our Father chose us at the end of The First World for special service to Him in this Second World.
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
The word “foundation” is from “kat-ab-ol-ay’” which means “a deposition, that is, founding; figuratively conception.” It is derived from “kat-ab-al’-lo” which means “to throw down.” So this word means “overthrow.” Our Father chose us before the overthrow or destruction of The First World on earth so that we would be brought into The New Covenant sealed by The Blood of Christ and inherit Eternal Life.
Eph 1:5-6 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
The word “predestinated” is from “pro-or-id’-zo” which means “to limit in advance, that is, (figuratively) predetermine.” We were predestined to believe in The Name of The Only Begotten Son, and also to bring others into the faith, in the sense of adopting children in The Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, The Christ.
The word “lady” is from “koo-ree’-ah” which means “Cyria, a Christian woman.” It is the feminine form of “koo’-ree-os” which means “supreme in authority, that is, (as noun) controller; by implication Mr. (as a respectful title).”
Mat 12:49-50 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
So we are the brothers, sisters, and mothers of Christ Jesus in this world, because we do The Will of God The Father. And it was our Father’s unmerited favor toward us when He chose us at the destruction of The First World for special service to Him in this World. He has brought us into belief in The Only Begotten Son, and into The Truth of God’s Word. And His Will also is for us to call others into belief in The Truth and into The Love of God for His children.
2Jn 1:2 For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
The Word of God is The Truth, and it is for The Truth’s sake that John is writing this epistle to “the elect lady and her children.”
Joh 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
And The Truth of God’s Word dwells in us by The Holy Spirit, which is The Spirit of Truth. God promised in The New Covenant to give us a New Heart and a New Mind and write His Law in our hearts and minds so that we would do it and be His people and He would be our God. The Holy Mind of Christ will dwell in us forever.
2Jn 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
The word “Grace” is from “khar’-ece” which means “graciousness” and is derived from “khah’ee-ro” which means “to be full of ‘cheer’, that is, calmly happy or well off; impersonal especially as a salutation (on meeting or parting), be well.” When from our Father, it is unmerited favor, because we do not deserve Eternal Life, but He gives it to us because He loves us, and because of The Only Begotten Son, and because of our belief in Him.
2Jn 1:4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
This assembly had made new converts who were obeying God’s Word, which is The Truth.
1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
Darkness is symbolic of lies and deceit.
1Jn 1:7 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 cleanseth us from all sin.
The Light is symbolic of truth and sincerity. Thus we see that this “elect lady” did have somewhat to be commended for, in that the children she had adopted in The Name of Jesus were showing themselves obedient to God’s Law and God’s Will in this world.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.
Epistles of John — Part 12
2Jn 1:5-6 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, 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, ye should walk in it.
The Greatest Commandment is this:
Deu 6:5-7 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
And the Second Greatest Commandment is this:
Lev 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
Jesus taught us these precepts also:
Mat 22:35-40 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
As our Heavenly Father taught us The Law back In the beginning of His Written Word, back in the first five books of the Bible, so did His Only Begotten Son teach God’s Law during His ministry on earth. And these two commandments lay the foundation for all of The Law, because God’s Law is The Law of Love, and all of the precepts taught in it guides us with much detail how to love God and how to love one another.
2Jn 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
John reminded this assembly to be diligent to obey God’s Law, because there were already many antichrists in the world at the time John wrote this letter. And now there are many more in this world than then. The definition of an antichrist is anyone who claims to be a Christian but who teaches what contradicts The Word of God, making The Father and The Son out to be liars and deceiving people with falsehood. These same false “Christians” also do not recognize The Holy Mind of Christ dwelling in us when we speak to them, because they do not have The Holy Spirit themselves.
2Jn 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
Our full reward is the inheritance of Eternal Life which we will receive at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ back to this earth to establish His Millennial Kingdom. We must remain on guard to protect our own minds from being deceived and also to preserve The Truth as we endeavor to teach others.
2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
Anyone who transgresses God’s Law and does not adhere to the doctrines taught by Christ Jesus does not have The Holy Spirit or Holy Mind. But anyone who obeys The Law and adheres to the doctrines of Christ does have The Holy Spirit, and has fellowship with The Father and The Son.
For example, Satan attacks God’s Servants by attempting to deceive them into transgressing God’s Law. And Satan’s servants do the same. So many antichrists teach that we no longer have to obey The Law, that Jesus somehow changed it and now allows us to disobey deliberately. Have you ever heard such a doctrine?
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Jesus said that He did not change The Law, but obeyed The Law.
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Jesus said that not a dot of an “i” or a cross of a “t” would pass away from God’s Law for the eternity, because the earth is eternal. Therefore The Word of God is eternal.
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
There will be many who are spiritually dead in The Millennium because they will not be worthy to take part in The First Resurrection. Therefore anyone who disobeys even the smallest statute of God’s Law and teaches others to disobey also, will be among the dead when our Lord returns as King of kings and Lord of lords. But those who obey The Law and teach others to obey also will be called great in The Kingdom of Heaven.
Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Do not be deceived by religious hypocrites, such as those self-righteous scribes and Pharisees who were relentless trying to find fault with Jesus in order to condemn Him to death. Hypocrites today are just like those during the time Jesus walked this earth. They do not obey God’s Law, even though they pretend to be righteous before men. But as True Christians, we love God in sincerity and in truth, and the evidence of our love is our obedience to His Law of Love.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.
Epistles of John — Part 13
2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
If anyone who claims to be a Christian does not agree with the doctrines we are taught in God’s Law and in the teachings of Jesus Christ and His Apostles, then we must shun them. Such people are antichrists, and we must have no fellowship with them. The words “God speed” are from the Greek “khah’ee-ro” which means “to be full of ‘cheer’, that is, calmly happy or well off; impersonal especially as a salutation (on meeting or parting), be well.” Today we customarily tell someone “goodbye” when they leave our company, which in old English is the shortened form of “God be with you.” But in this case when confronted with an antichrist, we must not even say goodbye. We should just be silent when they leave.
2Jn 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
If we did bless them, then we would show our agreement with their false doctrines and thereby take part of the lies and deception they propagate in this world. We must never do such a thing, or we will be held guilty of their false teaching.
2Jn 1:12-13 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.
John gives his salutation and expresses his hope for visiting them, and also relays greetings from the members of their Elect Sister, which was another Christian assembly where he was located when writing this.
3Jn 1:1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
There is no way to determine if this was written to one of the men named Gaius who were converts into The Faith in Jesus and mentioned in the book of Acts. But John is very pleased with him. And since the early assemblies (and still today) were usually held in the homes of various members, Gaius no doubt holds assembly meetings in his home.
3Jn 1:2-3 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
Other Apostles had brought a good report about this Christian.
3Jn 1:4-7 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
The Apostles did not ask for money or support for their teaching. But this Gentile helped them anyway out of his love for them.
3Jn 1:8-9 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth. I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
Nothing is known about Diotrephes except what is written here. Obviously he wanted to take command and control of the main assembly himself and had rejected The Apostles. It is clear that Gaius remained faithful to The Apostles and to the true doctrines.
3Jn 1:10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
So we see an example of how one deceitful false “Christian” can literally take control of an entire assembly and begin to lord over it, and in turn manage to cast out the very Christian missionaries who had originally established the assembly.
3Jn 1:11-12 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
John highly recommends a man named Demetrius to Gaius.
3Jn 1:13-14 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.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.