The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet 1546 1 John kc 1-4

Not everyone who claims to be a Christian is going to make it in the first resurrection.

Matthew 7:22
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Will going to church and doing many good and wonderful works and saying you believe in Jesus Christ get you into the kingdom of heaven?

Hey, our opinions don't count!

Here is what Jesus Christ says regarding the matter:

Matthew 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
MANY will not!

The question is "Why won't they if they are Christians?"

We just read why not: Because they "do not the will of God".

They really do not "believe" because they know not the Word of God.

They follow the doctrines of their churches and keep the traditions of men and do not "walk with", i.e. "fellowship with" the Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God!

In other words they do not study His Word which means they do not listen to the Word of God.

How could they?

In other words, since they do not know the Word of God how could they possibly know whether they follow Him or not?

Their preachers say they do.

Jesus Christ says they do not!

Who can you trust these days?

John now tells it like it is with some straight forward language.

1 John 1:6
If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
It would seem there are MANY "liars" walking around, aren't there?

It is not that our people are evil folks for they claim to be Christians and fellowship with Christ.

Nevertheless, John calls them "liars"!

They are the many who have been deceived by the MANY preachers and ministers who Jesus Christ said would come in His name (Mat. 24, Mk. 13) and deceive them.

How would they deceive them?

By teaching people how to attend church and sing songs and tithe and roll Ishtar eggs and give to missionaries and collect food for the hungry and do other "good works", etc.

And while they teach all of these "keep-them-busy" traditions instead of teaching the Word of God line by line and chapter by chapter, many promise their congregations that Jesus will return at any moment and "take them up" in the clouds before antichrist wrecks havoc among the remaining sinners.

It just isn't so.

It is also a lie.

So what John is saying is very, very simple.

The Word of God is light.

If you do NOT walk daily in that Word then you do not fellowship with Christ and by default you are walking somewhere else, which can only be in the shadows of darkness.

If you then say you have fellowship with Him you are a liar!

We are to walk in that light and be children of light and children of the day.

1 Thes. 5:5
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
And IF we do "walk in that light" then we DO have fellowship with Jesus Christ and His atoning blood will keep us cleansed from all sin.
1 John 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.
Note: Dr. Bullinger in the Companion Bible also points out that our "fellowship" John is talking about here is not with fellow believers but with the Father and the Son.
1 John 1:8
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Those Christians who walk not in the spirit always think of sin as pertaining only to the flesh.

And since they don't smoke or drink adult beverages or chase after members of the opposite sex or use foul language they think they are not sinners.

Won't they be surprised when they are exposed as spiritual whores and drunkards when Christ returns and they try to cash in all their good works.

Here is what He will say to them:

Matthew 7:23
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
There was no fellowship!

You see, there is more to "believing" in Jesus Christ than just saying you do.

IF you truly believe in Him than you will love Him dearly and want to walk in the light and stay confirmed in His Word and fellowship with Him.

He is our joy and our happiness!

He is also the only one who can forgive us our sins and He has promised to do just that IF we are honest and confess them to Him.

Of course if we do not walk in the light then we really do not know what sins we commit and we may think we are pretty good old guys or gals.

Therefore we won't be confessing the really Big Sins we have that will surely condemn us to hell.

They are the sins of idolatry and self-righteousness for starters.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
We are to confess our sins to Jesus Christ because He alone paid the price as our perfect sacrifice for our sins and He alone is able to wash away our iniquity and forgive us, i.e. cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

And if for any reason whatsoever you think you are a pretty "good old boy" and do not sin then you call Jesus Christ a liar.

That is not a good thing!

It also shows that you are Biblically illiterate and His Word, which is truth, which is light, is NOT in you.

1 John 1:10
If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
What does the Word say about all men concerning sin?
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
You see, the Word of God declares that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and though John will admonish us in our next study to try our best not to sin, we will all occasionally fall short to one degree or another as long as we are living in the flesh.

That is why we have the blood of Christ to cleanse us and why it is we have repentance.

IF we confess our sins and ask for His forgiveness, He has faithfully promised to forgive us!

I don't know about you or how good you are, but knowing that makes this flesh man happy already!

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.


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