The American Wisdom Series 
 http://www.americanwisdomseries.com

Presents 

Revelation 2:17  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:13-14
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

This Bible Study was originally written by Roger Christopherson,
 published at http://www.theseason.org/ 

Without the leading by the Holy Spirit, there is no understanding of the truths, for all the truth of the Scriptures are revealed to us by God's Spirit.

 Now here is our revised study of:

1 John

Chapter 3

"God's Love, and Effect on us; Inward Purity, Outward Manifestation."

I John 3:1 "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not."

Our heavenly Father is telling us to stop and think on this, Behold, Think on the manner of love that our heavenly father has given to each of us that believe on His name. The Father is calling you one of His children, a child of God. "Sons of God" simply means "children of God". You are absolutely children of the living God, and even a Kenite that accepts the only path to salvation, by adoption becomes a child of God, under the blood of Jesus Christ.

God is the Father of all, and when any soul comes to the understanding that they have sinned, and repents to the Father in Jesus name, they are then a son of the Living God. However God does have an election that is not by adoption. Those of the election are true born.

I John 3:2 "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 children of God. When Jesus Christ returns to earth at the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet, we shall see Jesus exactly as He is, as those that saw Him rise in the heavens during His ascension which would make His appearance about thirty three. As a young man with his pierced hands and feet that gave of Himself for all of our sins.

As part of the bride of Christ, we have a Husband that we can be proud of, and when He speaks to you tenderly, as He did in the Song of Solomon, you know of His love for His bride. This is speaking in a spiritual sense. Jesus is completely righteous, and we have the best there is, so why would you chose a fake, when you can hold out and wait for the best, the perfect husband, Jesus Christ.

I John 3:3 "And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure."

Jesus is teaching in simplicity here, You are perfect when you repent. Why? In I 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." When we repent of our sins in Jesus name, we are cleansed from All sin, not part of it, and we receive righteousness through Christ. Directly after repentance you are perfect, you are purified. That is what this verse means when it states that you are purified, because He is pure.

He brings you to His level spiritually speaking in perfection. That is why you must ask for forgiveness when you have fallen short of God's standards. You will sin again, but when you do, that is the time to repent again. It will cause you to be on guard every day, and to be quick in seeking forgiveness when you do fall. Keep yourself a virgin bride, spiritually speaking, avoiding the traps of the evil one when he tries to draw you in. Don't take part in that false wedding that shall come first, when the "instead of Christ", the Antichrist (Satan) comes to earth to deceive all of mankind.

It is time to take that seal, as spoken of in Revelation 9:4; "And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads." That seal of God, is the knowledge and understanding of the Word of God which we are studying now. It is that Word that grants you eternal life because you now know how to tell the difference between "what is holy" (Jesus) and "what is profane" (Satan). Satan simply can not prevent you from having that eternal life, for it is by your choice whether you allow him to deceive you or not. It is God that promised it to you, and He has the power to keep that promise, but you have to prepare yourself, in this final generation so that you will not be deceived by Satan, the "instead of Christ" [the Antichrist].

I John 3:4 "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."

Did you get that? "Sin is the transgression of the law."

American Wisdom Series note: And we just read it in the New Testament! Well I'll Be! Many churches teach that the law is done away with, but that is not what John nor Jesus said. That is dangerous talk. Then there are others that spiritualize this, and say that someone in Christ doesn't chose to do anything that isn't righteous.

My fellow Christian, when you become baptized and go under the water, when you come up from that water, those natural instincts that God has placed in all men and women will still be there, and that is why we study God's Word so we can keep our emotions under control and disciplined. God's Word sets the standards that God accepts, not some board of deacons. When you falter, repent and get back on course. As long as you live in the flesh, you will have the emotions and temptations of the flesh. Learn from God's Word what is sin, and not sin and don't let others put a guilt trip on you, when it is uncalled for.

It is not alright to sin. The law was given as our schoolmaster, and when Christ came to earth He did not destroy the law, but He fulfilled it. Christ was the capstone on the old, and just as it was the schoolmaster, it is still the schoolmaster. The law tells you what will get you into trouble, while you are living in the flesh. So because transgression against the law is sin, obviously the law is not and was not done away with. All of God's laws are in effect, accept those blood ordinances that are not laws. They are statutes that have to do with those ordinances. Christ's blood fulfilled all those requirements, and in and through repentance to the Father in Jesus Christ's name, the blood of Christ blots out the Father's judgment of you for those sins. Christ's blood takes the place of those blood sacrifices.

Many of the laws are warnings to the dangerous things that can happen to you when these laws are disregarded. One who turns his back to Sodomy these days, generally finds himself with a incurable disease. Even though repentance is sought for those wicked acts, the person still must pay the physical price to their own person for their actions in them. When a person sets out to rob another person, many times the victim has a weapon and wounds or kills that attacker. This is right according to God's law, yet the robber is sent to the heavenly Father to account for his actions in the flesh body. What I am drawing attention to is the fact that when you break God's laws, there is a price to pay, in most cases, even if there is repentance for that act at a later date.

Now lets review this verse; When you sin, you are breaking the law, because sin is the breaking of the laws of God. If there was no law, there would be no sin, because you simply can not transgress that law that doesn't exist. It is only a fool that would say that we have no sin in this mixed up world today.

I John 3:5 "And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin."

Why did Jesus Christ the Son of God come to this earth in the flesh? Our answer is right here in this verse; "to take away our sins." Jesus paid a very heavy price for your sin, however to you it is free upon repentance.

I John 3:6 "Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him."

If you don't watch it, this verse can put you on quite a guilt trip. You could say, I sin all the time, every day, does that mean I don't know Him? No, My my fellow Christian, this word for sin is the word for habitual sinning. One that just does not care for God, or any part of His laws, love or salvation. The habitual sinner could care less about the things of God, His Word, or any desire to seek after the ways of our Lord.

I John 3:7 "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous."

You keep people from deceiving you by staying in the Word, and placing it in your mind. Righteousness is to do those things that are right, and according to God's Word. As long as you want to try to do that which is right, though you fall short at times, when you have Christ, and the Spirit of God within you, and you repent you will be righteous. The heavenly Father will accept you as righteous, for your credentials is the blood of Christ, our advocate with the Father.

I John 3:8 "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil."

For what purpose was Jesus Christ the Son of God manifested? What was the reason for Him coming to die on the cross? "That He might destroy the works of the devil." When is this beginning that the devil started his sinning? It is given in Ezekiel 28, where in the first earth age Satan rebelled and was sentenced to death. It is written in II Peter 3 that the world that was destroyed by the overthrow of the flood [not Noah's flood]. We know that Satan is sentenced to die at the end of the Millennium age. When we realize that this verse covers all three earth ages, for the downfall of Satan, to the coming of the Son of God to pay the price for sin in this earth age, to the destruction of Satan, the son of perdition at the end of the Millennium age, then we can see the depth that John is teaching here.

Live Link to- Ezekiel 28
Live Link to- 2 Peter 3

Many things happened in that first earth age, and it is for that reason that our Heavenly Father could write, "Jacob I loved, and Esau I hated" in Malachi 1:2, and 3. Our heavenly Father knew your soul before you were placed in the embryo of your mother's womb to enter this earth age, and He knows the depth of your mind and thoughts while you live in this age, in your flesh body. We see then the reason that Christ came to this earth.`

Hebrews 2:14 makes it very clear why Christ came to earth to be in the flesh; "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil;" Jesus came to destroy death, which is to say the devil.

I John 3:9 "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

The subject here is manifestation in the flesh, even of the Son of God. If you are born of God, it means that you are not an habitual sinner. The children of God, those that have repented of their sins will remain or stay in God. It is because of this verse that the idea of the unforgivable being broken is unlikely. Because one that is of God, and grounded in His Word, knows that God has warned us that Satan the Antichrist is coming first, and only God's elect are qualified to commit the sin with the clear knowledge that they can be judged on their actions. Others simply don't know and they will have a vail of slumber over them by God to protect them. God will intercede in the lives of His elect to cause His Word to come to pass. This is not speaking of the many of us, in fact most of us, that have free will, but those that are of the election, spoken of in Romans 8, and Ephesians 1:4-7.

American Wisdom Series Note: The apostle Paul comes to my mind when I read this. Paul was made an apostle by the "will of God", not by the "will of Paul". Paul's "will" was to persecute Christians and he was very zealous in his efforts. God did not inspire Paul to attend a tent revival to onvert him, nor did Paul come forward to an altar call. Jesus Christ simply knocked him off his horse with a lightning bolt and said "you're mine

I John 3:10 "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother."

Did you notice this, that both God, and the devil have children on earth that manifest, or bring to light the purpose of each. God's children study God's Word, and know what the plan of God is, and they live righteously as instructed in His Word. The children of Satan, the devil, known as the Kenites are on earth to fulfill the negative part of God's plan.

The Kenites are the Offspring of the Cain, the son of the sexual union between Eve and Satan playing the role of the serpent, the deceiver. After Eve was seduced in the Garden of Eden, God stated to the devil; "And I [God] will put enmity between thee [Satan] and the woman [Eve], and between thy seed [the Kenites] and her Seed [Christ]; It [Christ] shall bruise thy head, and thou [Satan] shalt bruise His [Christ's] heel." [Genesis 3:15] My fellow Christian, the bruising of Christ's heel was done on the cross when the spikes were run through his feet, and the bruising of Satan's head will be at the close of the Millennium age, when Satan is marched into the lake of fire.

The seed spoken of here in the Hebrew text, number 2233 in Strong's Hebrew dictionary, "zera, posterity-carnally, children." In the Greek it is called "sperma", and in the English it is "sperm". The end result of seed or sperm is children, and the offspring of Eve referred to here as Seed is Jesus Christ who was born in the flesh to the virgin Mary, from Eve. The seed or children born to Satan, through Cain are called the Kenites.

If you have trouble with this, go to Strongs Hebrew dictionary, # 7014, "Qayin, kah'-yin, Kajin, the name of the first child, and of an Oriental tribe: Cain, Kenite (s)." Now go to # 7017 "Qiyniy (I Chronicles 2:55), Patron from # 7014, a Kenite or member of the tribe of Kajin: Kenite. I Chronicles 2:55 tells us when three families of these Kenites took over the duty of the priest and scribes from the Levitical priests, and from there God's laws were turned and distorted into traditions.

I Chronicles 2:55; "And the families of the scribes [those that keep God's record] that dwelt at Jabez [Jerusalem]; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab." Coming out of bondage in Babylon, the Kenites had taken over the duties that God told Moses to give to the Levitical priests.

The point that we are making here is that something happened in the Garden of Eden to Eve that is being hidden from those that desire not to know the truth. Remember the fifteenth verse is God speaking to the Serpent, Satan. Then in the sixteenth verse it is God speaking to Eve.

Genesis 3:16; "Unto the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to they husband, and he shall rule over thee." The subject here is sperm and seed, and what took place in the Garden was Eve's conception to the serpent, that we read about in the fifteenth verse.

I John 3:11 "For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another."

We went all the way back to the beginning of this earth age, in Genesis 3:15, 16 and read it, right? Now John is reminding us of it. This is why God created a helpmate for Adam, and children came into the world; that we love one another.

I John 3:12 "Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous."

Did you catch that? "Cain, who was of that wicked one," and that is why it is easy to see who Jesus was speaking to in the Gospel of John, 8:44. "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

Why did Cain slay his brother? Cain slew his brother Abel "because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous." Cain's children are spoken of by Jesus, and they are the ones that sat in the seats that were set aside for the Levitical priests, and those Kenites from those positions planned from the beginning of Jesus ministry to kill him. There is no mystery who the first murderer was, for it is recorded in Genesis 4:8; "And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him."

So why would John bring up this event in this letter? Because he wanted you to settle this in your mind. It is very clear who the Kenites are, and where they came from, as well as what their intended purpose is in this earth age. They are the physical children of both Satan, and his son Cain, and their purpose and works are evil. Friend, if you don't accept that, then you just don't accept the Word of God. You are setting yourself up to be deceived in this final generation. The majority of people have always been wrong, because the would rather follow tradition then do the work of studying God's Word.

When the false one has come, it is our purpose and our destiny as the elect of God to stand against the fiery darts of Satan, with the Gospel armor on, and ready for battle. The religious community hated Christ when He was on earth in the flesh, and it was their leaders that were a bunch of murderers, those Kenites. Are you beginning to get the message of John?

I John 3:13 "Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you."

If they hated Christ when He was here in person, and you represent Christ, of course they would hate you.

I John 3:14 "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."

Upon repentance we have passed from death of our soul, to eternal life. We have a lot of churches today that despise other brothers in Christ. The struggle comes when one teaches the Word chapter by chapter, and verse by verse, and that puts much pressure on their church traditions. Just as Christ spoke to boldly for the religious community to defend their evil traditions, they sought to kill Him. So also when their traditions of today come under attack by the truth of God's Word, the religious community will also fight to defend their traditions.

When churches try to scare their congregations into staying clear of those that teach the Word, they then mix lies and threats to place a barrier between Christian brothers. Friend, you may find fault with an individual, but don't ever find fault with God's Word, or you will be in serious trouble. The entire Word of God, properly translated is very accurate, and it is to bad that more churches are not Bible teaching churches.

I John 3:15 "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him."

When you bring your hatred toward your Christian brother in your heart, that is judged by God just as your murdering that brother, such as the Kenites did to Christ. You want to be careful when you start to tare down houses of God, or churches that teach God's Word. Churches that do not teach God's Word are houses of tradition.

I John 3:16 "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."

This is how you can tell if the love of God is there. You should love the brethren enough that you don't mind planting seeds of truth to give them the opportunity to hear of God's love for them. When you see a brethren acting in error, that is the time to boldly make correction from the Word of God. We are to plant the seed, and only those that have eyes to see and ears to hear the Word of God will understand and repent, and study the Word of God. We are not accountable whether it is accepted or not, but we are accountable in the presenting the truth as it is given in the Word.

I John 3:17 "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

The "bowels of compassion," is the compassion that each Christian must have for one another. When you have no compassion for the Christian brethren in your heart, John is saying that the love of God does not dwell in you.

I John 3:18 "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."

John is not addressing us gently, as he is giving us advise. Many times Christians are the first ones to give verbal support, but when it comes time to put some muscle to the work needed, or support to the deeds that have to be preformed, they run the other way. When God brings forth a people and has given them the substance to set examples of humanity and love, then remember that the famine that is covering the earth today is for the Word of God. People will band together to feed the world, and every cause that bleeding hearts will cry over, but what is important is to love in deed, the sending of the Word, and the truth that God's Word gives.

People are starving to hear the truth, and when the truth does come forth, the religious community finds hatred in their heart against that teaching. The famine today is for the Word of God. Amos 8:11; "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:"

I John 3:19 "And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him."

We should show that brotherly love that Christians should hold dear and care for one another.

I John 3:20 "For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things."

God knows all things. This could put us on a real guilt trip, when our own hearts will condemn us. What it is saying is that in knowing the truth, that when we fall short, and God knows we do, God will see us in our need and know our heart, and help us grow in what we need. God will help us open our eyes to where the needs are and assure or persuade us in our hearts to bring that help. God is the one that gives us not only the conviction, but also the strength to get the job done.

I John 3:21 "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God;"

If within our hearts we do not have a conviction to help another brother, and God hasn't placed within us the need to give care, then we are in good shape. Remember that the subject here is brothers. Who is your brother? Our brothers and sisters are those that believe on Jesus Christ and have repented of their sins to the Father. The brothers are not all the people in the world, but those that you know that love the Lord. Stay away from getting on a guilt trip, and be honest with yourself. Your brethren are those that are helping in the cause of planting the seeds of truth of God's Word, that souls may see and come to the Lord and have eternal life.

Paul talks about this in II Thessalonians 3:5 "And the Lord direct you hearts [minds] into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ."

II Thessalonians 3:6 "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the traditions which he received of us." We are to withdraw ourselves from every Christian brother that is lazy, and not in the hard work in the Lord. Separate yourself from the brother that would take advantage of you.

II Thessalonians 3:7 "For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;" When Paul came to them, he didn't loaf around and cause trouble.

II Thessalonians 3:8 "Neither did we eat any man's bread for naught; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:" Paul set a good example of being doers of the the Word, and providing for his own keep. Christians take care of themselves, and their own. We are to get out and do the best of our abilities to promote God's Word, after we have prepared our selves in the Word.

II Thessalonians 3:9 "Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us." Paul is saying that he had the right to take a wage, but we tried to make ourselves a example to you, to follow us.

II Thessalonians 3:10 "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." If some young person won't work, and he is of age to be earning a living, then saw that person's end of the table off. Don't cater to lazy people, separate yourself from them. This is not a lack of love, but you show your love to them when you require discipline and obedience. This is not referring to handicapped people, or someone that lost their job temporarily, for it may take help from you to get them back on their feet. In giving help to them, even a smile from that brother will be sufficient payment for your help.

II Thessalonians 3:11 "For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies." These busybodies are the ones that draw a check, or income without working, and in their idle time create problems for those that are working and in the work of the Lord. It could be in politics, demonstrating, or anything else that working people don't have time for. This is directed to lazy people who have nothing to do but be disorderly.

II Thessalonians 3:12 "Now them that are such we commend and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread." Kick them out and let them starve if they won't get out and earn their own bread, and be quiet about it.

II Thessalonians 3:13 "But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing." We are still talking to the Christian brethren, that the do what is right. When you kick out that lazy one, and force discipline on him and make him work, don't let it worry you for one moment. You did well in your actions.

II Thessalonians 3:14 "And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, not that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed."

II Thessalonians 3:15 "Yet count him mot as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." Warn him as a brother. When you have a lazy one in your midst, God is telling you to straighten him out, and if he will not straighten out, kick him out of the house. That is a righteous thing to do, and it is better for you both. When he does come to his senses, you will have a brother that you can be proud of.

I John 3:22 "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight."

We try to please God by keeping His commandments. Is everything you do, done to try to please God? When you do, even though you fall short at times, it pleases God when you try. John is saying here that when you follow His commandments, and try to please our heavenly Father, you can ask whatsoever you please, and if it be in His will, He will be pleased to provide it for you.

I John 3:23 "And this is His commandment, That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment."

What is pleasing to God? That we should try to study and do what He has instructed us to do. We are to keep his commandments, and when we fall short, we ask His forgiveness, and pick ourselves up and continue in our work for Him. John is commanding us to love our Christian brothers and sisters. This is the key commandment that is the key to our success, that we love one another. If you fail at this commandment, forget about that list of wants before the Lord.

We are to do the things that please our Lord Jesus Christ. We are to be doers of the word, and not hearers or talkers only. There is pleasure in helping the brethren and teaching His Word. However there is also a time of discipline when you must break off fellowship when a brother in the Lord becomes lazy in the work of the Lord.

I John 3:24 "And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us."

When Christ enters you, His Spirit automatically enters you, and you feel the presence of the Spirit, and you know that He is with you. Don't be afraid to ask, and if God made you a promise, then claim that promise. In the next chapter we will learn how to discern spirits.

                          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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