3 LETTERS of JOHN

-----Complete notes can be downloaded from our website - www.countrybiblechurch.us -----You may contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] 2 Thessalonians 2:5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? This seems to be a mild rebuke. The things Paul had already taught them were sufficient to refute the false teaching about the Day of the Lord. “I was telling” is an imperfect, active, indicative, which means it was ongoing or recurring instruction. He no doubt taught them with much more detail in the past than he did here, and this was just a reminder. Paul wasn’t with the Thessalonians very long, but he still gave them in-depth teaching concerning things to come. Eschatology is important, even for new believers. 2 Thessalonians 2:6 - And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he may be revealed. Paul continues the thought presented in verse 3. Here, he presents the third thing that must take place before the Day of the Lord begins. He doesn’t state who or what restrains him because the Thessalonians already knew that. And you know what restrains him now, to hold fast, retain, hold down, or suppress. The present tense indicates that the restraining ministry was already in force and working during the time this epistle was written. This is also verified by verse 7. so that in his time he may be revealed. Jesus Christ is in control of history. Anti-christ will be revealed when Christ decides and not a moment sooner. Ecclesiastes 3:1 . . . There is an appointed time for everything, and there is a time for every event under heaven. he may be revealed Anti-christ cannot come into power or be revealed by his own power. This means that Satan doesn’t know when The Restrainer will be removed, so he must always have someone in mind and be grooming him to be the anti-christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:7 . . . For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. For the mystery of lawlessness – MUSTERION, n. nsn; to make manifest or reveal a thing previously secret or unknown. The mystery is the fact that there will come a time when evil and wickedness will reach a peak and there will be no restraints on it. is already at work – ENERGEO, v. pmi; to be at work; to be effective or operative. The present tense indicates that the mystery of lawlessness was already working and indeed has continued to work up until the present time. Notice that the spirit of anti-Christ was working even though The Restrainer was restraining. Things can get bad even before The Restrainer is removed. 2 Timothy 3:13 . . . But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. Matthew 24 covers the Church Age, Tribulation, & 2ndAdvent The Church Age is covered in verses 4 – 8 The Tribulation is covered in verses 9 – 26 The 2nd Advent is covered in verses 27 – 51 1 Timothy 4:1 . . . But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times, some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. 2 Peter 3:3-4 . . . Know this first of all, that in the last days, mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4) and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation." "There is indeed iniquity recorded in the Old Testament, but nowhere is there an explanation of its cause, course, and consummation in the man of Sin. Satanic attacks upon the written Word of God form by no means the least important aspect of the Mystery of Lawlessness. The Bible has been kept from the people, it has been publicly burned, it has been maliciously mistranslated, and its teachings diabolically contorted. "When all these methods, used by the professing church itself, proved of no avail, the master mind of iniquity guided human minds into paths of the other extreme. Instead of the Bible being a closed book it became a wide-open book, and, incidentally, open to a new method of Satanic attack. Among men it became a virtue to be 'broad-minded,' 'liberal' in one’s views, especially toward the Bible. This 'liberalism,' the opposite to the bigotry of ecclesiasticism, assumed a hypercritical attitude toward the Word of God, and now, three hundred years later, it has become almost universal. Its gospel is not the Gospel of our crucified Lord and risen Savior, but a 'social gospel,' the creed of which is human works and exaltation. The glory of man has eclipsed the glory of God, and the world is being prepared for a master mind among men, a superman. The Mystery of Lawlessness is thus gradually approaching its final consummation-in the Man of Sin." Vol. 91: Bibliotheca Sacra Volume 91. 1934 (363) (361–362). Dallas, TX: Dallas Theological Seminary

-----Complete notes can be downloaded from our website - www.countrybiblechurch.us -----You may contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawless- ness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4) who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Let no one in any way deceive you . . . EXAPATAO v. aas; to deceive completely, beguile, or seduce. It is easy to deceive people these days because so many are spiritually illiterate. Most people live by their emotions and are easily duped by smooth-talking predators. Romans 16:17-18 . . . Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites [emotions]; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. . . . for it [the day of the Lord] will not come unless the apostasy comes first . . . APOSTASIA n.nfs; departure, a falling or moving away from. “In 2 Thess. 2:3, ἀποστασία is used in the absolute sense as an event of the last days alongside or prior to the appearance of [the man of lawlessness]. Vol. 1: Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. 1964- (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (513). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans There have been periods of apostasy since the beginning of the church, however this apostasy is referred to as “the” apostasy. It will be a worldwide, complete apostasy that is distinguishable from all the others. “The noun is from aphístēmi; Transitive “to remove” either spatially or within a relationship, “to win over,” “to seduce,” middle voice “to remove oneself,” “to resign,” “desist,” “fall away.” Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1995). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (88). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans. “The Greek word that is here translated as “falling away” is apostasia. The root word actually means departure or removal from. Paul says that before the Day of the Lord begins there must first come a removing. There are two kinds of removal that are going to take place. First, the organized church will depart from the faith—that is what we call apostasy. But there will be total apostasy when the Lord comes, and that cannot take place until the true church is removed. The Lord asked, “… when the Son of man cometh [to the earth], shall he find [the] faith …?” (Luke 18:8). When He says “the faith,” He means that body of truth which He left here. The answer to His question is no, He will not find the faith here when He returns. There will be total apostasy because of two things: (1) the organization of the church has departed from the faith—it has apostatized and (2) there has been another departure, the departure of the true church from the earth [the Rapture].The departure of the true church leads into the total apostatizing of the organized church. The Day of the Lord cannot begin—nor the Great Tribulation Period—until the departure of the true church has taken place. . . The organized church which is left down here will totally depart from the faith. We see it pictured as the great harlot in Revelation 17.” McGee, J. V. (1997). Thru the Bible Commentary (electronic ed.) (2 Th 2:3). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

-----Complete notes can be downloaded from our website - www.countrybiblechurch.us -----You may contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him, 2) that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Now . . . DE, conj. used as a transition to introduce something else. The preceding subject dealt with what will take place at the Second Advent, now Paul addresses their concerns concerning the Rapture and the Day of the Lord. . . . we request you, brethren . . . EROTAO, v. pai; to request, entreat, beseech. He addressed them as brethren which could have had a calming effect on them. Some may have started to doubt whether they were truly believers and the fact that Paul called them brethren would be reassuring to them. . . . with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . PAROUSIA, n. gsf; to be present, to arrive; technical term used for the coming of Christ. One may ask, “Which coming, the Rapture or the Second Advent?” The answer to the question is determined by the context of the verse. The Thessalonian believers were badly shaken in their composure. Why were they so shaken? Because they were afraid that the Day of the Lord had already started. If the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ referred to the Second Advent and not the Rapture, they would not be upset or shaken. They knew that the judgments of the Day of the Lord had to precede the Second Advent so why all the distress? Furthermore, if they were experiencing the suffering associated with the Day of the Lord, the Second Advent would cause them to celebrate, not be upset. Their suffering would be over. On the other hand, if the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ referred to the Rapture, they would have great cause to be alarmed. If the Day of Lord had begun, it would mean they either missed the Rapture or Paul had lied to them and they would not be delivered from wrath to come. Paul told them in 1 Thess. 1:10 to wait for Jesus who would deliver them from the wrath to come. He told them that they were not destined for wrath because Jesus would deliver them from it 1 Thess. 5:9. They rightly understood Paul to mean that they would not suffer any judgment Day of the Lord. . . . and our gathering together to Him . . . EPISUNAGOGE, n. gsf; to assemble, to cause to gather together, "It occurs elsewhere only in Heb 10:25, where it refers to assembly for worship. D. E. Hiebert says: “These assemblies are a precious foretaste and anticipation of that future assembly of the saints ‘unto him’ when our Lord will be present, not as now by His Spirit only, but in the visible glory of His person.” The Thessalonian Epistles Chicago: Moody, 1971], 301). Martin, D. M. (2001). Vol. 33: 1, 2 Thessalonians (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. Church age believers will be gathered together with Him at the Rapture, 1 Thess. 4:13-18 and therefore, will not be gathered together with Christ at the Second Advent because they will already be with Him when He comes from heaven to defeat His enemies on earth. Read: Rev. 19:11-16. 2 Thessalonians 2:2 . . . that you may not be quickly shaken . . . SALEUO inf. ap; to move to and fro, to wave, shake, or waver. Metaphorically, to move in mind, agitate, disturb; to be unsettled, deeply distressed, upset. . . . from your composure . . . NOUS sn. gsm; mind, mental perception and apprehension, “While, in the OT, the heart (kardía) is used to represent man’s whole mental and moral activity, the word “mind [noús]” in the NT is used to denote the faculty of thinking.” Zodhiates, S. (2000). The Complete Word Study Dictionary James 1:5-8 . . . But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

----Complete notes can be downloaded from our website - www.countrybiblechurch.us -----You may contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] 1 John 4:2-3 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3) and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. 2 John 1:7-8 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8) Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. God has put a restrainer on the antichrist so that he cannot come when ever Satan decides, but when God decides. It is important for us to know that the antichrist will not come on the scene until the Tribulation. Until that time, the Holy Spirit will keep on restraining him until the time is right. I have covered this in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10 (2-10-2011) and there is much to learn in these verses. 2 THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 2 LESSON #19 (2-10-11) We learned from Paul’s first epistle to the Thessalonians that he had informed them about the Rapture but they were unclear about what would happen to believers who had already died. Would they miss the Rapture or would they be included? Paul addressed this in 1 Thess. 4:13-18. He also told them they would be delivered from the wrath to come, 1 Thess. 1:10 …and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come. Read: 1 Thess. 5:1-10. Here, in this epistle, Paul again addressed their concerns. Liars and conspirators led them to believe the Day of the Lord had already begun. Had Paul lied to them? Had they missed the Rapture and had to go through the judgments of the Day of the Lord after all? It’s easy to see why they were so shaken. The first part of this chapter was written to straighten out this matter. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him, 2) that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Now . . . DE, conj. used as a transition to introduce something else. The preceding subject dealt with what will take place at the Second Advent, now Paul addresses their concerns concerning the Rapture and the Day of the Lord. . . . we request you, brethren . . . EROTAO, v. pai; to request, entreat, beseech. He addressed them as brethren which could have had a calming effect on them. Some may have started to doubt whether they were truly believers and the fact that Paul called them brethren would be reassuring to them. . . . with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . PAROUSIA, n. gsf; to be present, to arrive; technical term used for the coming of Christ. One may ask, “Which coming, the Rapture or the Second Advent?” The answer to the question is determined by the context of the verse. The Thessalonian believers were badly shaken in their composure. Why were they so shaken? Because they were afraid that the Day of the Lord had already started. If the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ referred to the Second Advent and not the Rapture, they would not be upset or shaken. They knew that the judgments of the Day of the Lord had to precede the Second Advent so why all the distress? Furthermore, if they were experiencing the suffering associated with the Day of the Lord, the Second Advent would cause them to celebrate, not be upset. Their suffering would be over. On the other hand, if the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ referred to the Rapture, they would have great cause to be alarmed. If the Day of Lord had begun, it would mean they either missed the Rapture or Paul had lied to them and they would not be delivered from wrath to come. Paul told them in 1 Thess. 1:10 to wait for Jesus who would deliver them from the wrath to come. He told them that they were not destined for wrath because Jesus would deliver them from it 1 Thess. 5:9. They rightly understood Paul to mean that they would not suffer any judgment Day of the Lord. . . . and our gathering together to Him . . . EPISUNAGOGE, n. gsf; to assemble, to cause to gather together,

-----Complete notes can be downloaded from our website - www.countrybiblechurch.us -----You may contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] To love the world is to lose everything, including the thing loved. To love God is to gain him and his kingdom. The world is waning, (diminishing) it is God alone and his faithful servants who abide. The will of God is the exact antithesis of “all that is in the world.” The one is the good power “that makes for righteousness;” the other is the sum of the evil powers which make for sin. The contrast is not between “passing away” and “lasting forever,” but between “passing away” and abiding till “the age” comes. But as “the age” is the age of eternity as distinguished from this age of time, the rendering “abides forever” is justified. H. D. M. Spence-Jones, ed., 1 John, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909), 25. According to interpretations of the Bible, unbelievers will spend an eternity in hell, which is described as a place of eternal punish- ment. This is based on verses like Matthew 25:41, which speaks of "eternal fire," and Revelation 20:15, which says those not in the Book of Life will be thrown into the "lake of fire". The punishment is described as eternal, not finite. Matthew 25:41 Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels. Revelation 20:15 identifies the "lake of fire" as the place where those whose names are not in the Book of Life will be thrown into the lake of fire . Revelation 20:15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. 1 John 2:18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour. Extended verse: 1 John 2:18 Children/Students, it is the last hour, (Refers to the time preceding Jesus’ second coming) and just as you have heard that the antichrist will come (in the Tribulation); even now (in the Church Age) many antichrists (have come). Therefore we have come to realize that it is the last (favorable) time (to advance in the Divine Dynasphere to spiritual maturity). “it is the favorable) time” Romans 13:11 And this do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 1 Timothy 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 1 Peter 4:7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. “the antichrist is coming” Matthew 24:4-5 And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. 5) "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many. 1 John 2:22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.

-----Complete notes can be downloaded from our website - www.countrybiblechurch.us -----You may contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] Where does the power and victory come from? We all should be able to answer that question: Everyone fails in life. If you don’t fail, how are you going to succeed? No one ever succeeds in life without failure. It is failure that determines your metal and grit, not success. You have to avoid self-pity and bitterness. Life is not fair, we shouldn’t think otherwise because we know that we live in the devil’s world. Millions of unbelievers and believers never get over the trials and tribulations they face in life. Their lives are colored by bitterness, resentment, and revenge. So what are you going to do when you face testing from a rotten system or something worse? 1. Cast your problems on the Lord 2. Trust in the Lord to take care of your troubles, in His way and in His time. 3. Our job is to “Pray”, “Wait”, and “Trust” 4. Keep your focus on the Lord, not on your troubles! 5. Consistently, keep on learning Bible Doctrine. 6. God will show you His faithfulness and His power when you continue to pray, wait, and trust in Him. 7. If you become a victim of evil and wicked people, it should be the making of you, never the breaking of you. 1 John 2:17 And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever. Expended verse: 1 John 2:17 In fact, the world/'cosmic system' and its lusts will all pass away, but anyone who executes the will of God (self-motivation/positive volition toward God and His Word) keeps residing forever (in a superior resurrected body - rewards in eternity future). (Note: Pastor-Teacher R.B. Thieme says) this is NOT an 'eternal security' verse. Instead, this verse indicates there will be at least two different categories of resurrected bodies. A 'lesser' resurrection body for believers who lived in the cosmic system and never advanced in spiritual maturity. Read: 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 The cosmic system promotes “human good” which is wood, hay and stubble and burned away so they go into eternity 'naked'. Next a superior resurrection body for those who 'execute the will of God' and live and function primarily in the Divine Dynasphere. “Divine Good” production of gold, silver and precious stones remain with you in eternity. This is probably also connected with the wreaths/crowns of righteousness, life, and glory. The following is by: The Pulpit Commentary, H. D. M. Spence-Jones Seeing, then, that the love of the world and the love of the Father are absolutely incompatible, which must we choose? Not the former, for its object is already passing away; while not only does the Father abide forever, but he who loves him and does his will abides forever also. The world is passing away, it has its sentence of death in itself; its decay has begun. And even if it did not pass away, our capacity for enjoying it would certainly come to an end. Read: Isaiah 24:3-6, 2 Peter 3:10-20 Zephaniah 1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold Will be able to deliver them On the day of the LORD's wrath; And all the earth will be devoured In the fire of His jealousy, For He will make a complete end, Indeed a terrifying one, Of all the inhabitants of the earth. Isaiah 66:22 For just as the new heavens and the new earth, Which I make will endure before Me," declares the LORD, "So your offspring and your name will endure. Isaiah 65:16-20 Because he who is blessed in the earth Shall be blessed by the God of truth; And he who swears in the earth Shall swear by the God of truth; Because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hidden from My sight! 17) "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18) "But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing, And her people for gladness. 19) "I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people; And there will no longer be heard in her The voice of weeping and the sound of crying. 20) "No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, Or an old man who does not live out his days; For the youth will die at the age of one hundred And the one who does not reach the age of one hundred Shall be thought accursed.

-----Complete notes can be downloaded from our website - www.countrybiblechurch.us -----You may contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but from the world. Extended verse: 1 John 2:16 “Because all that (from verse 15) is in the Cosmic System, the lust from the flesh (OSN), the lust from the eyes (mentality of the soul), and the arrogant pattern of life (residence and function in Cosmic One), is not from the Father, but from the cosmic system.” All that is in the Cosmic System will fall into two separate categories corresponding to the Two Cosmic Dynaspheres. We have the lust category which will portray Cosmic Two and we have the pride category which will portray Cosmic One. the lust of the flesh - This is one of those passages which helps to explain that even though the Old Sin Nature is found in the cell structure of the body, it also has a strong influence on the soul. the lust of the eyes – This is referring to the “eye” but it doesn’t mean simply the physical eye, it also refers to mental perception, and mental lust as well. So we have the lust of the eyes which involves the mentality of the soul. This is one of those passages which helps to explain that even though the old sin nature is found in the cell structure of the body, it has as strong an influence on the soul the boastful pride of life – This is clearly under the classification of Cosmic One which is noted for its pride and arrogance = bios -which means the pattern of life. Life = Zwh - means the function of life. The arrogance of life as a pattern is what is in view here. So this is a reference to residence and function inside of Cosmic one. is not from the Father, - The believer residing and functioning inside the cosmic system cannot live the Christian way of life and cannot fulfill the plan of God. God the Father is the inventor of the Divine Dynasphere, and He invented it out of the two systems of divine love that had existed in all eternity past — personal and impersonal love. The two cosmic Dynaspheres are not from God the Father. but from the world. – Of course, God has nothing to do with the Cosmic Dynaspheres except to condemn them. 1 John 1:5 …God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. Satan is the originator of the Cosmic Dynasphere, and he is against everything that is good, righteous, and loving. Proverbs 2:11-15 Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you, 12) To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things; 13) From those who leave the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness; 14) Who delight in doing evil, And rejoice in the perversity of evil; 15) Whose paths are crooked… Darkness is found 163 times in the (NASB). Principles 1. This means that the Christian way of life can only be lived inside the Divine Dynasphere, and there is no Christian way of life apart from the Filling of the Spirit. 2, It further implies that all believers who reside and function inside the Cosmic Dynaspheres cannot live the Christian way of life. 3, God's will, God's plan, God's policy, God's purpose for your life can only be realized inside the Divine Dynasphere. 4, Residence and function inside the Cosmic Dynaspheres prevents the believer from fulfilling the plan of God and glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ and has tragic results in eternity as well as in time. However, no believer can lose his or her salvation. We cannot dodge troubles or testing: Many organizations in this life are rotten to the core – like the judicial system which favors the criminal and tries to make a jackass out of the police officer. Today it is not the citizen that has the rights, it is the criminals. A bad system has its victims. When the believer is the victim of a bad system (and sooner or later if you stay with the Divine Dyna- sphere you will be) you are going to have to pass the system test. You have a boss who is unfair. That is a rotten system. You do a good job, but he fires you. You got a rotten deal. What are you going to do? Be bitter? Are you going to get even? Are you going to become vindictive? In such a situation you have the chance to have the greatest power and victory over that rotten deal.

-----Complete notes can be downloaded from our website - www.countrybiblechurch.us -----You may contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] 1John 2:15 Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Extended verse: 1John 2:15 Stop loving the world (Cosmic System) or anything in the world! If anyone keeps loving the world (Cosmic System), the love from the Father (Unconditional Love and Personal Love) is not in Him. The believers involved in the Cosmic Dynaspheres cannot live the Christian way of life, which is residence and function inside the Divine Dynasphere. The greatest hindrance to glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ and fulfilling the plan of God for phase two is to become involved in the Cosmic System. Romans 12:1-2 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. A believer’s consecration to God and his transformed lifestyle is demonstrated in his exercising his spiritual gifts in the body of Christ. All natural abilities and spiritual gifts are from God. As a result every Christian should have a proper sense of humility and an awareness of his need to be involved with other members of Christ’s body. James 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. John 15:19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the hates you”. Principles 1. Without unconditional love from residence and function in the Divine Dynasphere the believer becomes a flawed character and suffers personality disaster. 2. The believer who resides in the cosmic system without use of rebound, not only loves the cosmic system but is classified as antichrist, hater of God, enemy of the cross, and therefore a flawed character. 3. The believer inside the cosmic system who has reverse process reversionism is incapable of either category of love - personal or impersonal love. 4. The love from the Father includes both personal and unconditional love which could only be developed inside the Divine Dynasphere. 5. Without residence and function in the divine dynasphere the believer is a flawed character incapable of the necessary honor and integrity to fulfill these mandates. 6. No one improves his personality without the development of unconditional love. Unconditional love is the sum total of your honor, your integrity, and your advance and momentum in the spiritual life. Without unconditional love, personal love cannot be sustained or perpetuated in life. 1John 4:5-6 They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. 6) We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 1John 5:4-5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. 5) And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1John 5:10-11 The one who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the witness that God has borne concerning His Son. 11) And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Read: Ephesians 2:1-7 1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. Extended verse: 1John 2:16 “Because all that (from v 15) is in the Cosmic System, the lust from the flesh (OSN), the lust from the eyes (mentality of the soul), and the arrogant pattern of life (residence and function in the Cosmic One), is not from the Father, but from the cosmic system.”

-----Complete notes can be downloaded from our website - www.countrybiblechurch.us -----You may contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] Random Thoughts 1 John 2 has no mention anywhere of unbelievers, it is talking strictly about believers, and believers in connection with the conflict of the Dynaspheres. This is one reason why it is very important to identify your right pastor and stick with him even if you live a distance from his church. Many people choose a church by its geographical location from their house. They consider a short drive more important than growing in grace and knowledge from the teaching of their right pastor-teacher. The apostle John is the human author of this epistle; however, this letter was written under the ministry of God the Holy Spirit. John also functions, again, as the non-resident pastor for advancing believers by providing in written form, non-face-to-face teaching. It is best to have face-to-face teaching, but today, we have Live Streaming which comes in second place. 1 John 2:14 I have written to you, fathers, (mature believers) Because you have known Him (occupation with Christ) who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, (positive advancing believers who continue their momentum inside the Divine Dynasphere), Because you are strong (through the Holy Spirit), and the word of God abides (remains) in you, And you have overcome the wicked one. “the word of God” is a reference to Bible doctrine contained in the canon of scripture that resides in the soul of the believer in the form of epignwsis – full knowledge of Bible doctrine. Our virtue is related to epignosis doctrine. One could say that the full knowledge of doctrine from epignosis is our virtue. You don’t lose your virtue by sinning, you lose your fellowship, you lose your relationship with the members of the Trinity; Being out of fellowship and losing your virtue are two different things. Losing your virtue is negative volition toward doctrine, which causes us to lose our integrity as well. Satan loves to rob us of our virtue. The fact that you sin doesn’t make you different from anyone else; we all sin. We don’t lose our virtue by sinning, we lose our virtue by being negative toward doctrine. The loss of virtue is in the phrase “doctrine is not in us.” The type of sins we commit, therefore, are symptomatic; they are symptoms of loss of virtue — e.g. jealousy, arrogance, bitterness, vindictiveness, implacability, hatred, revenge tactics, gossip, maligning, judging. These sins are symptomatic of loss of virtue. These sins are symptomatic of loss of virtue. At first glance, you can see that this verse is similar to the verse just before this one. John, in verse 13, was writing to the fathers, young men, and Children; in verse 14, he was reminding them that he had already written them about some things in verse 13. The first sentence of verses 13 and 14 are the same except verse 13 begins with “I am writing to you” and verse 14 begins with “I have written to you”. The rest of the first sentence starts out in both verses with the same differences. Also, the rest of the sentences dealing with “fathers”, are exactly the same. The second sentence addressing the “young men” are different. Verse 13 says, “I am writing to, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. Verse 14 says, “I have written to, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” We will not cover “fathers” because they are essentially the same in both verses. I have written to you, young men, (positive believers who continue their momentum inside the divine dynasphere], because you are powerful/strong (through the filling of the Holy Spirit plus walking by means of the Spirit). Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. And you have overcome the wicked one. “Overcome” is simply a synonym for winning — “and you have defeated [won over] the evil one.” These are the people for whom the command “love not the cosmic system” is not given; they have already passed that point. Neither people nor false teaching have lured the advancing believer from the straight path of his momentum, by the Grace System of Perception that he uses daily. The “evil one” is the last word in the verse. (Evil) PONEROS, πονηρός, (adj. accu. sing. mas.). being morally or socially worthless, wicked, evil, bad, base, worthless, vicious, degenerate The evil one of course refers to Satan as the inventor of evil. He is called the evil one because he invented the system called “evil.” The evil one is Satan and his cosmic Dynasphere.

-----Complete notes can be downloaded from our website - www.countrybiblechurch.us -----You may contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] 1 John 2:13 because you know Him - This is a good translation because it emphasizes the fact that they have learned these things in the past and they have now arrived at the point where learning all of this doctrine has great meaning to them. They now see the purpose for the days when they were not motivated. They didn’t want to go to Bible class; they didn’t want to hear doctrinal teaching and yet they went anyway and they learned a lot. Principles: 1. Spiritual maturity comes to the believer who is consistent in keeping his priorities straight. Number one priority: Bible Doctrine. Only Bible doctrine resident in the soul can cause spiritual growth or momentum in the Christian way of life. 2. Consistency in the residence and function inside the Divine Dynasphere is characteristic of the believer who attains maturity. 3. Consistency is the key to success, no matter what we are pursuing. Example: Parents who consistently punish their children when they are disobedient are successful in rearing obedient and respectful children, but parents who threaten their children for being disobedient, but seldom or never do anything to punish them, rear horrible disrespectful children that blame their miserable lives on everyone except themselves. 4. Consistency in the spiritual lives of believers is important indeed! Believers who consistently learn Bible doctrine will eventually grow in grace and knowledge and reach spiritual maturity which opens the big-time grace that God prepared for every believer in eternity past with blessings that last forever. This includes Escrow Blessings, Surpassing Grace Blessings, Occupation with Christ, a strong relationship with God, Crowns, and Rewards. 5. Believers who don’t care about their spiritual lives remain biblically ignorant which will be exposed at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Their relation to the world is much stronger than their relation to God. These believers are still loved by God, but He will never force them to adopt the unique spiritual plan that He made for them in eternity past because He gives every person volition, the right to make their own decisions. 6. We must be consistent in rebound and reentry into the Divine Dynasphere. Before we can return to the (D.D.), three categories of contamination must be dealt with: 1. unknown sin in our life, 2. human good in our life, 3. and evil in our life. 7. Rebound also results in the filling of the Spirit which means reentry into the Divine Dynasphere, the place for building momentum. 8. In addition to perception of doctrine, there must be consistent application of doctrine in two categories: Category #1, the testing of the distraction of Thinking; Category #2, the distractions of People. This demands the switching from whatever our attitude may be, to Unconditional Love. 9. Knowledge is the key and the key word in describing perception of doctrine is Spiritual Knowledge. The word “Wisdom” is used for the application of doctrine.