1 John 2.1-29 tells us that John wrote this letter so that we do not sin (as defined by the Torah); there is help for the sinner to restoration; the test for knowing God; love in action as defined by the Torah; our state spiritually is measured in categories described as little children, fathers, young men; worldliness attacks our relationship with God; the world’s characteristics is described and it is only temporary because the world (Olam Ha Zeh) is passing away; the dangers of false religion and false messiahs who teach against the Torah; how to identify false teaching; how to protect ourselves from a spirit of false doctrine; the promise of eternal life; God’s anointing will teach us the truth; living in Yeshua means we will keep his word in the Tanak and not be ashamed when he comes (John 14.23; 1 John 1.6).
v 1…My little children (newborn babes), I am writing these things to you that you may not sin (“ah-mar-tah-no” meaning a great sin). And if anyone sins (a great sin), we have an advocate (who answers charges) with the Father, Yeshua the Messiah the righteous (tzadik);
v 2…and he himself is the propitiation (mercy seat-see Rom 3.25 notes) for our sins (sin nature); and not for ours only (Jewish people), but also for the whole world (the non-Jews as well who believe as the elect).
v 3…And by this we know that we have come to know him (in a redemptive way), if we keep his commandments (in the Torah-the concept of “keep” means to incorporate the Torah into our lives, and to stay in line with the pattern, picture, shadow, blueprint by doing certain things, at certain times, at certain places and by certain people as God has commanded; following the Torah is the assurance for a believer in Yeshua that God’s spirit (his purposes and control) is in them (their hearts and desires); we don’t get judged on whether we kept all the commandments, we get judged on whether we “know” him in a redeeming way-Matt 7.21-23).
v 4…And the one who says, “I have come to know him,” and does not keep the commandments (a doer of the word0Rom 2.12; Jam 1.22, 2.26; Matt 7.22-23) his commandments (in the Torah) is a liar (contradicts himself; perverts the truth) and the truth is not in him (that he is a believer),
v 5…but whoever keeps his word (a doer of the Torah as it applies), in him the love of God has truly been perfected (keeping the Torah is how we love God; it is an action, not an emotion-Deut 6.4-9; John 14.15). By this we know that we are in him (the assurance of it);
v 6…the one who says he abides (lives) in him (his purposes) ought himself to walk (comply with) in the same manner as he walked (the Torah-Yeshua was sinless so he kept the Torah-1 John 3.4; Rom 3.20; 1 Cor 11.1-2).
v 7…Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have heard from the beginning (in the Torah), the old commandment is the word which you have beard from the beginning.
v 8…On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in him and in you because the darkness (ignorance and blindness of the world) is passing away (the Olam Ha Zeh is passing away into the Olam Haba-Heb 8.13), and the true light is already shining (the Olam Haba is here now, but not yet in a believer; “in part” in 1 Cor 13.9-13).
v 9…The one who says he is in the light (of understanding) and hates his brother is in darkness (ignorance and unregenerate) until now.
v 10…The one who loves his brother abides (lives) in the light (of understanding and knowledge) and there is no cause for stumbling (scandal) in him (to his brother).
v 11…But the one who hates his brother is in darkness (ignorance) and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness (of hate) has blinded his eyes.
v 12…I am writing to you, fathers (more mature in life) because you know him who has been from the beginning (1 John 1.1). I am writing to you, young men (Greek “neaniskoi” or young servant) because you have overcome the evil one (prevailed in early life; triumphed over the passions; had strength and vigor). I have written to you children (Greek “paidia” or newborn-Heb 5.13) because you know the Father (in a redemptive way).
v 13…I have written to you, fathers (Greek “pateras”), because you know him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men (young servants), because you are strong, and the word of God (in the Tanak) abides (lives) in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
v 15…Do not love the world (in activity or attitude), nor the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of (or “to”) the Father is not in him.
v 16…For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh (inherited, depraved desires) and the lust of the eyes (used to incite craving) and the boastful pride of life (ambition, honor of position, to be seen in high places, pursuing high ranking connections, etc) is not from the Father, but is from the world.
v 17…And the world (Olam Ha Zeh) is passing way (into the Olam Haba-Heb 8.13; 2 Pet 3.10-12) and its lusts (desires); but the one who does the will of God (as defined in the Torah-John 7.16-19) abides (lives) forever (in the Olam Haba).
v 18…Children (“paidia” or newborn), it is the last hour (Greek “eschate hora” meaning of the Olam Ha Zeh; the last two days eschatologically), and just as you heard (from Paul’s writings and from what the writer taught) that antichrist (“antichristos” or false messiahs, or one in opposition to Yeshua in false teachers and doctrines) is coming (2 Thes 2.3-4); even now many antichrists (false messiahs) have arisen (posing as Messiah or against him); from this we know it is the last hour (in Jewish eschatology false messiahs and prophets get worse).
v 19…They went out from us (from the talmidim who had a Torah-based faith in Yeshua), but they were not of us (not believers-Matt 7.22-23), for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us (the reason this was allowed by God’s decree).
v 20…But you have an anointing (empowerment) from the Holy One, and you know all things (have access to knowledge; to learn quickly; he refreshes the memory and enlightens our understanding).
v 21…I have not written to you because you do not know the truth (as defined in the Torah), but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
v 22…Who is the liar but the one who denies that Yeshua is the Messiah? This is the antichrist (false messiah kind of nature), the one who denies the Father and the Son.
v 23…Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father (for there to be a Father there had to be a Son; has no correct view of the Father); the one confesses the Son has the Father (completing the sense of the verse).
v 24…As for you, let that abide (live) in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father (continuity in the body of doctrinal truth about him).
v 25…And this is the promise which he himself made to us; eternal life.
v 26…These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you.
v 27…And as for you, the anointing (empowerment) which you received from him abides in you and you have no need for anyone to teach you (they didn’t need these false teachers-John 16.13) about all things, and is true and not a lie, and just as it has been taught you, you abide in him.
v 28…And now, little children (young talmidim), abide (live, have faith, hold to his word) in him, so that when he appears (in order that) we may have confidence (boldness in action) and not shrink away (Hab 2.4; Heb 10.38) from him in shame at his coming.
v 29…If you know that he is righteous (Yeshua walked in the righteousness as defined in the Torah), you know that everyone also who practices righteousness (as defined in the Torah) is born of him (good works from the Torah is a result of being justified; proof that one is born again-1 John 2.3-4).
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