The Challenge of Love 1 John 2

Introduction
Last week we looked at the background to 1 John and the first chapter.
Jesus – in the flesh. To recap:
We are to live in the light and reflect his love in us.
God promises to forgive.

So what challenges will we face in Chapter 2?
This chapter continues the last thought from chapter 1. We need to remember that this is written as a letter. Originally it did not have chapters. Thus the thoughts flow through the chapters and from one chapter to the next and John Continues the idea of Jesus as saviour.

This letter was written – according to John – so that we will not sin.

1 John 2:1-2
New Living Translation (NLT)
2 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

What does he mean? He wants us to understand that in Jesus we can live the life that God wants us to live. The goal is not to sin, but if we do sin, Jesus is our advocate. An advocate is someone who speaks for and on behalf of others.

Advocate
Noun -
a person who speaks or writes in in support or defence of a person, cause etc.
a person who pleads for or in behalf of another, intercessor
A person who pleads the cause of another in a court of law.
Verb -
To speak or write in favour of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly.

Jesus is our advocate. (The Greek word used is Parakletos, the same word used of the Holy Spirit in John 14-16.) Jesus speaks for us. And he himself atones (makes amends for, expiates, pays the price) for our sins. Knowing God means choosing to live his way, living in relationship of love and obedience.

John  continues in verses 12-14 to explain why he has written this letter. He is encouraging them to remember what they have in Christ.
He also starts his great dialogue on love. It’s a bit like an entrée to what is to come later in the letter. Its like he is giving them a taste of what he will elaborate on later.

Truth 1 – The challenge of love
The command to love has not changed.

Jesus spoke about love – people would know we are his followers by the way we treat each other, by the way we love each other.

John 13:34-35
NLT
So now I am giving you a new commandment; Love each other. Just as I have loved you, love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples

John 15:12
NLT
This is my commandment: love each other as I have loved you.

John repeats the command here in his letter to the Christians. He heard Jesus tell them to love. For John, it has become so important. He speaks of love here and again later in the letter he develops this thought even more. It is this love that is the distinguishing factor. He knows how important love is. Indeed Jesus himself is the very truth of this commandment to love.

1 John 2:7-8
New Living Translation (NLT)
A New Commandment
7 Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. 8 Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining.

Jesus was the embodiment of love – now we are.

Challenge 1
We are to represent that kind of love here and now.

How are we doing? How well are we representing love and living in love.

So when he calls us to love – what is love? If i were to ask people, they would say things like kindness, caring, being nice, wanting the best for someone. They might talk about feelings of love etc. and they would all be true. Love is caring, it challenges people to become who God called them to be, it corrects. But most of all it is patient, kind, understanding, forgiving, keeping no record of wrongs.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
New Living Translation (NLT)
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

So love is:
-Kind, rejoices in truth, stands against injustice, never gives up, never loses faith,
-Always hopeful, endures the horrible stuff.

How are we doing now?

Exercise: What aspects of love am I struggling with? Is there someone I need to forgive? Do I need to take a stand against injustice?
Do I need to be more patient, kind, understanding or forgiving?

If the answer is yes to any of these, take action. Take on the challenge of love. Choose to forgive, choose to be kind etc.

Truth 2
Loving God means not loving the things of this world

1 John 2:15-17
New Living Translation (NLT)
Do Not Love This World
15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

John does not pull any punches when he writes this letter. He is very clear; loving the things of this world means we do not have the love of God in us. OUCH!!
Its really clear – do not love this world. What are the things of this world? It is anything that gets in the way of the call of God and living for him. It is a focus on the temporal things instead of the eternal. It is craving physical pleasure, jealousy, and pride in what we do and what we own.

This is tuff because our society places so much store in these things. We ask at gatherings “What do you do?” We subconsciously ask ourselves – “does what I have measure up to what others have?” John calls this loving the things of this world.

Challenge
Let go of the pleasures of this world and embrace a heavenly perspective.

How do we do this? We need to look at life differently – learn to focus on what is really important – not on what we do, but on who we are?

Colossians 3:1-2
New Living Translation (NLT)
Living the New Life
3 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

Colossians 3:12-17
New Living Translation (NLT)
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

It is the message of Christ - the message of who Jesus is, what he has done for us and who we are in him that should fill our lives. Focus on who we are, not on what we do.

Exercise: What is the main focus of my life?
Is it on earthly pleasure, or on the things of God?
Do I focus on what I do (and compare it with what other people do) and what I have (or want to have), instead of who I am in Christ?

Choose to take time to focus on who Jesus is and who we are in him. When you catch yourself focussing on what you do and comparing what you have, craving what others have etc. Then choose to be grateful for what God has given you. Be deliberate about it. It will change your life.

Truth 3
We have the Holy Spirit

When Jesus spoke about his death and resurrection, he assured his disciples he would not leave them alone. He would send his Spirit to be with them. His Spirit leads and guides us into all truth -the truth of Jesus, the truth about ourselves.

John encourages us in 1John 2:24 to remain faithful to what we have been taught about Christ and remain in right relationship with God. There are those who will want to lead us astray. But the Spirit within will teach us the truth. Be careful who you listen too.

1 John 2:20
But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth

1 John 2:27
I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true - it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

These people had been taught the truth but some were trying to lead them astray into false teaching and wrong living. John says, let the Spirit of God guide you. Be careful who you allow to speak into your life. Don'tbe led astray by teaching that moves away from the truth about Jesus, but stay firm in relationship with Christ.

Challenge
Live in a way that is led by the Spirit of God, not by human wisdom but in Godly truth.

The Spirit speaks to us as a still small voice within us. He will never tell you anything different to God's revealed truth in his Word. He will guide us. When he speaks, he may challenge us to become more God like. He will never do anything or teach anything that moves you away from God.

2 Cor 3:17
For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

John 8:32
And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

God's Spirit guides us into truth, and truth brings freedom.

Exercise: How well am I living according to the Spirit and in the freedom of God's truth? What truth or truths is God wanting me to undetstand to walk in a greater degree of freedom? What will I do today to make a start on the journey to truth and freedom?

Be honest and intentional. It will pay great dividends.

Conclusion
Live in a way that takes on the challenges of Love; the challenge of living God's way, (letting go of the pleasures of the world) and embracing God's perspective. In doing so, let the Spirit of God guide and lead you into all truth. As we embrace these truths and grow in love, we become the women God created us to be.