Shouldn't The Promise Be For You?

The Daily (NASB) Reading: 1 John 2:25-29

Therefore what is John calling “us” out of and to abide in “through” the right application of verse 24? (v.25)

First, shouldn’t we establish who the “us” are in verse 25 before we continue? Then we can answer the question: what is he calling us out from?

John first addresses “us” (the reader/hearer) as “teknia” (children), but there are two races that originate from this same “teknia” having both become partakers of Adam’s fall, as we laid out in the previous study, which was the teknia of the devil and the teknia of God (1Jn.3:10).

Hebrews 12:7–10 (NKJV)

7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.

But John was addressing those who chose to remain as “the little children” who made themselves “paidia” (slaves) to this communion of the Word of Life (Jn.6:67-68). So the “us” here refers to those children who are coming to John confessing their sins under the recognition and conviction of their spiritual need as slaves to sin (Matt.5:3; Jn.8:34-36; Lk.5:29-32). Therefore John is calling them out from among the children of the devil to abide with the children of the light who have the promise being made known to them, which is eternal life! (v.25)

So John refers to all of “us” as sinners who need to abide in the message that has been heard from the beginning among the anointed ones, which was the Word of Life. (v.24)

Therefore (the image) of eternal life abides exclusively in knowing Jesus Christ and being known by the Father through Him, for this is the promise - ETERNAL LIFE! But again, it is for sinners, not for the self-made worthy (Matt.9:12-13).

1 John 1:5–2:2 (NKJV)

5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 My little children, these things I write to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

But how may we review the promise by which we are assured of eternal life? (v.25)

The first characteristic of the promise was Christ himself, which has been fulfilled by coming in the flesh and purchasing the promise by his death and being raised in justification that he was truly God and Lord of all.

Acts 10:34–43 (NKJV)

34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth, I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation, whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

But what other promises (these things) may we apply to the Word of Life? (1Jn.1:1)

1 John 1:1–4 (NKJV)

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

Therefore to what (kind) of sinner were the promises given?

Romans 9:8–13 (NKJV)

8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise: “At this time, I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

The promise of eternal life is not merely for those who know “about” God by professing the knowledge of him with their lips but for those whom the Father has chosen to “know” from before the foundation of the world.

However, the promise is not through a nationalism of a favored people group but through the exclusivity of one Man who comes through a chosen nation as a means to give the promise to (a people/ethnos) out of every nation, tribe, and tongue and making them one spiritual organism. This Man embodies and fulfills the promise of eternal life for every nation, and the new man, called the church, does not embody a nation-state that is sent out to conquer every nation to conform it to itself in imperialism. Christianity, therefore, in the church is not a form of nationalism.

2 Corinthians 1:20–22 (NKJV)

20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Galatians 3:16–18 (NKJV)

16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Romans 9:23–26 (NKJV)

23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25 As He says also in Hosea: “I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved.” 26 “And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.”

Revelation 5:9 (NKJV)

9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

Therefore, again, the promise is not exclusive to a nation-state but to any individual that is willing to confess “the need” for the promise. Therefore John also offers an open Table of communion by which anyone who confesses their “unworthiness” of the promise may enter into the discipleship (paidia matheton) and participate in the fellowship of learning around the promise. Therefore the promise is to anyone who has need of it!

Isaiah 55:1–5 (NKJV)

1 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. 3 Incline your ear and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you— The sure mercies of David. 4 Indeed, I have given him as a witness to the people, A leader and commander for the people. 5 Surely you shall call a nation you do not know, And nations who do not know you shall run to you, Because of the Lord your God, And the Holy One of Israel; For He has glorified you.”

Acts 20:7 (NKJV)

7 Now, on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

Acts 20:28–32 (NKJV)

28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. 32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Nor is it exclusively for those who profess to believe that they have been baptized with the assurance of this faith because as the promise was taken from Israel, who sought it through a nation-state, it can be taken from a baptism that has corrupted the message (Rom.10:1-4), which is why John warns them to permit the message that they have heard from the beginning to abide (in them) as it chooses to abide in them still. (v.24)

Matthew 21:42–44 (NKJV)

42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

Therefore, again, John is calling “sinners” out from among the children of wrath and of the devil to be his own dear children in the light (Eph.2:3)! And it is God who has given His only Son for this fellowship in the light (Jn.3:16-21), but only those who abide in “these things” of the message and Word of Life are the ones who are truly baptized out from the world to be His light in the world (Jn.8:12; 9:5; Matt.5:14). Therefore the church is called to be a spiritual organism, one new man (Eph.2:15; 4:24; 3:10), that represents the light of Christ and takes this bread of life to the darkness of the world (Rom.12:5; 1Cor.10:16; 12:12,27).

Therefore John says that those who “practice” this righteousness are born of Christ through this bread by which the world may test themselves to see if they are in the faith.

1 John 3:10–11 (NKJV)

10 In this, the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,

1 John 4:1 (NKJV)

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 John 4:5–6 (NKJV)

5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this, we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

2 Corinthians 13:5–6 (NKJV)

5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. 6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.

1 Corinthians 11:28 (NKJV)

28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

Therefore the communion Table has to be for more than just those who have received the assurance and seal of the Holy Spirit of promise in baptism but also to reveal those who have gone out from the message and anointing that abides exclusively through Christ for those who strive against sin, by which the children of the devil and the children of God are manifest.

1 John 2:19 (NKJV)

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

1 Corinthians 11:18–19 (NKJV)

18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part, I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.

1 John 3:10 (NKJV)

10 In this, the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

Matthew 13:24–30 (NKJV)

24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares, you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest, I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

Matthew 15:12–14 (NKJV)

12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

Mark 9:36–41 (NKJV)

36 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.” 38 Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For he who is not against us is on our side. 41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

Therefore what manner of “nation” is God building if this nation is not a nation-state according to Matt.31:43?

Matthew 21:43 (NKJV)

43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.

First of all, we must recognize that it is a kingdom that God is building, not a nation. Second, the word translated as “nation” here is ethnei in Greek, which can simply mean “people.” Therefore, surely it is a (spiritual) people that God has called out of many nations to make them one man in conformity to the image of Christ to be the higher class or (spiritual) race of men that seek to serve the nations in righteousness and truth to liberate them from the ideologies of men led astray by doctrines of demons.

Mark 16:15–16 (NKJV)

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Matthew 28:18–20 (NKJV)

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

2 Corinthians 10:3–6 (NKJV)

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

1 Timothy 4:1 (NKJV)

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

Therefore “this message” is for those sinners who seek to be liberated from the power and grip of sin, from those who seek to deceive and deprive others of the promise whereby they may be saved and compromise it through their “practice” and in turn deny the Master who bought them and sent them to offer the bread of life and to sanctify it by the Lord’s cup. (v.26, 29)

1 John 2:29 (NKJV)

29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

Matthew 3:13–17 (NKJV)

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

John 13:26 (NKJV)

26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

Therefore how important are “these things” that John has written, and for what purpose has he written them? (v.26)

John has written these things so that they would not be like “nepioi” (infants) being tossed back and forth by every wind of doctrine through deceitful plotting and cleverness of men who deceive not only others but themselves.

2 Peter 3:14–18 (NKJV)

14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they also do the rest of the Scriptures. 17 You, therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

John has written “these things” so that they would no longer remain as infants in their understanding which are always going out and coming back into “these things” that he has written. He has written them so that they would grow up into the head and be the little children that abide in God and the Word of God by which the anointing of the Spirit abides in them.

Ephesians 4:11–16 (NKJV)

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:22–24 (NKJV)

22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Again, the word for children in that passage is “nepioi,” which refers to a nursing baby still glued to the tit. Therefore it refers to those who are the most vulnerable to false doctrine and to the attacks of the deceivers. But that use of the word children is not what John means for those in verse 27 because he says that they have no need for anyone to teach them.

Therefore how do we know that they have no need for anyone to teach them? (v.27)

It appears that this fellowship has an established government through which this anointing abides. And by looking closely at verses 26 & 27, we find that John is addressing two groups of “people” in this fellowship. He has written these things for the children who are being tossed to and fro by the deceivers, and there are many, but John now says, “But as for you,” in contrast to those who have NEED for a teacher. Therefore this second group that he is addressing is the Baptism (Baptisthenai) that administrates the Word of Life (Acts 10:47-48), which is those children who have grown up into the headship of Christ as young men and fathers who have “no additional” head but Christ!

1 Corinthians 11:3 (NKJV)

3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

1 Corinthians 11:7 (NKJV)

7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.

Colossians 1:15–18 (NKJV)

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him, all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Ephesians 5:22–24 (NKJV)

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

The Baptists are those who are no longer children needing to be taught the first oracles and elementary principles of God. They possess the assurance of the promise and are given to be a guide to the spiritual babes, the uninformed or unbeliever, and the lost blinded by sin.

Hebrews 5:12–6:8 (NKJV)

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who, by reason of use, have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

1 Corinthians 14:16–17 (NKJV)

16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks since he does not understand what you say? 17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

1 Corinthians 14:23–25 (NKJV)

23 Therefore, if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.

Therefore “the Baptism” is that spiritual class that serves the Table and administrates the Word of God. They have their senses trained to discern between good and evil. They are the “keepers” of “these things” that were written. They are the righteous who practice “these things” by offering God thanksgiving for the sacrifices of men who have submitted themselves to this spiritual service (Rom.12:1-2). The Baptism is those who bless the fellowship in “these things” by God’s holy Word. Therefore the “anointing” here refers to the body of government that is free to choose to abide among the community that mutually seeks to strive to abide in this promise of eternal life as the hosts of the Lord’s hospitality and goodwill toward sinful men.

Luke 2:12–14 (NKJV)

12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

1 Timothy 3:2 (NKJV)

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;

1 Peter 4:8–11 (NKJV)

8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Therefore John is establishing who the authority is over “these things.”

Matthew 21:23–27 (NKJV)

23 Now, when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?” 24 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: 25 The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Therefore as the Table is for the “equipping” of “these things,” the Baptism is for the assurance and serving of these things. In other words, the bread of life is not true bread if it is offered apart from the water that Christ has turned into wine, in which the new covenant in Christ’s blood is better than the first that sprinkles “things” old and new through the communion Table with the elementary principles that are the shadow of the substance.

John 6:33 (NKJV)

33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

John 6:51 (NKJV)

51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

Matthew 13:33 (NKJV)

33 Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”

Mark 8:15–17 (NKJV)

15 Then He charged them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have no bread.” 17 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened?

1 Corinthians 5:6–13 (NKJV)

6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

Galatians 5:7–13 (NKJV)

7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! 13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Colossians 2:16–17 (NKJV)

16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

Therefore what is necessary for them to abide in the truth if it is not “these things” that John has written? And how do “these things” testify that Christ is true and not a lie? (v.27)

Galatians 6:6 (NKJV)

6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

Ephesians 4:21–24 (NKJV)

21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Colossians 2:6–8 (NKJV)

6 As you, therefore, have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:9 (NKJV)

9 But concerning brotherly love, you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;

Titus 1:9 (NKJV)

9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

Now in application to “these things,” what is he telling them all to wait for and to continue to do to assure themselves of these things? (v.28-29)

Therefore by abiding in the doctrine and practice of the Apostles, like little children, they will be able to grow up and mature in the same pattern and image of Christ’s righteousness as they testify that these things are true.

John 3:11 (NKJV)

11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.

John 3:31–36 (NKJV)

31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Based on this application, how were the deceivers trying to lead the little ones away from abiding exclusively in “these things” delivered to them? (v.28)

Acts 20:29–30 (NKJV)

29 For I know this, that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

Galatians 4:17–20 (NKJV)

17 They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. 18 But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.

2 Corinthians 11:3–4 (NKJV)

3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!

Galatians 1:6–10 (NKJV)

6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

Therefore how are the anointing and practicing righteousness linked? And therefore, why were only those “born of God” considered as those practicing righteousness? (v.29)

Do we betray our profession by denying Christ in our practice of his righteousness?

Titus 1:15–16 (NKJV)

15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but in works, they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

1 Timothy 4:16 (NKJV)

16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this, you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

2 Timothy 3:1–7 (NKJV)

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2 Timothy 3:12–17 (NKJV)

12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

James 1:22–27 (NKJV)

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.