Part 4 of my 1 John chapter 4 study

Continuing from part 3 of my 1 John chapter 4 study

Colossians 1:15 (KJV)

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Jehoshua is the firstborn of all creation. Jehoshua wasn't created but rather He was born i.e. begotten from the Father.

The phrase "firstborn" comes from the greek word "prototokos" (strongs 4416) and means "firstborn, first begotten"

A pretty straight forward meaning that theologians and pastor's have over-spiritualized and twisted. By taking this meaning of firstborn literally we stay harmony with the rest of scripture that says Jehoshua was begotten from the Father. By over-spiritualizing it, you make none effect of God's word and His testimony that Jehoshua is His only begotten Son.

One has to ask how can Jehoshua be the very image of God if He isn't of the same substance and wasn't literally born from Him. Not only is Jehoshua the image of God, Holy scripture declares that he is the express image of God (Hebrews 1:3). This is why the Father can refer to His Son as God (Hebrews 1:8).

The phrase "express image" comes from the greek word "charakter" (strongs 5481) and means "express image, the exact expression (image) of any person or thing, exact representation or copy of any person or thing, engraving  (character), the figure stamped".

As we can see,  the scriptures are clear in regards to the relation between Jehovah and Jehoshua and the manner in which Jehoshua is begotten from the Father. The question is, do you believe this? If so, the Father dwells in you via His Holy Spirit. If you don't believe this, then you may not have the Father's Holy Spirit in you.

Back to 1 John chapter 4,.Let's look at verse 16:

"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. Jehovah is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."

John tells the brethren that he and the other disciples have known and believed that God loved them. Remember, what did John was the manifestation of God's love?

In verse 10 of this chapter, it was Jehovah God sending His Son Jehoshua to be the propitiation for our sins. In verse 11, John continues to say that Jehovah so loved us by giving us His only begotten Son then we as brethren ought to love one another.

On the sermon on the mount, Jehoshua told us to be perfect just as His Father in heaven is perfect. What a tall order one might say and it is, but remember we have the Father's Spirit in us because we confessed that Jehoshua is His Son. What type of perfection is the Son of God talking about in relation to being like the Father?

Matthew 5:44-48 (KJV)

44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Jehoshua is telling us that in order to be perfect, like our Father in heaven, that we need to go beyond loving our brethren and love, bless and pray for our enemies and those that hate us. How often do you hear this in Churches? In the so called present truth Churches, character perfection is often associated with outward external things. They talk about dress, diet etc. which in and of themselves are good things but they will never perfect our character.

Out of the mouth of the Son of God, character perfection is rooted in love and not only love for those who love us but love for those that hate us and spitefully use us.

Jehovah is not merely love, but He Himself is love. The teaching that Jehovah had to have two co eternal beings alongside Him in order to love, otherwise He wouldn't be love is absolutely false. Jehovah needs no one to love in order for Himself to be love, as this scripture proves that Jehovah Himself in His very being and essence is love.

Verse 17 of 1 John 4:

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world."

Remember, that love is made perfect when we love our enemies. It will be this and not the outward externals that will give us confidence in the day of judgment. When we love our brethren and enemies, we will be a perfect representation of our Heavenly Father here in this world. We will be righteous ambassadors of the one true God.

Verse 18 of 1 John chapter 4:

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."

Many in the history of Christendom have marred the character of Jehovah and used fear as a tool to keep churchgoers in line. This is still being done today. The subtle threat (sometimes not so subtle) of Christendom's clergy is that if you don't believe their denominational creeds or attend their meetings then you are in apostasy or were never saved to begin with. Many of the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference Pastor's are guilty of this and fit the profile of the false shepherds that will be judged according to Jeremiah 23.

Did God give us a spirit of fear?

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

True believers in the Messiah do not walk in fear. Love is the opposite of fear in this context. There is a fear that is biblical and good to have, however anything other than a fear of Jehovah is a fear that brings torment. Perfect love which is evidenced by us loving our brethren and enemies, casts out any fear of judgment from the Father and Son.

Love also casts out fear of what might happen in the future. Didn't Jehoshua tell us not to worry about the future?

Matthew 6:25-34 (KJV)

25Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?32For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Fear leads to a worry of where our food, drink and clothing will come from. Love has faith that these things will be provided to us by the Father who is love and knows we have need of these things. The only condition isthat we seek the Kingdom of Jehovah God and His righteousness.

Matthew 10:22-28 (KJV)

22And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.23But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.24The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.25It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
26Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.27What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

While many Christians tend to walk in fear or men and in fear of being persecuted, Jehoshua says the exact opposite in that we are not to fear those who can only kill our bodies but not our soul. Our fear is solely to be given to the Almighty God Jehovah who can destroy both our body and soul in Ghenna. Jehoshua says not to fear those who would also malign your character. They did the same to Him eventually killing Him. Many Christians, by not be willing to be persecuted for the truth, try to make themselves above Jehoshua. However, the Son of God says that we are not above Him and that it is enough to be like Him and that if they called Him all manner of evil that they will do the same to His true believers. Some may even be killed like He was. Brethren, we are not to fear but we are to have the love of God the Father and His begotten Son Jehoshua Messiah.

Verse 19 of 1 John chapter 4

"We love him, because he first loved us."

This is one of the most powerful statements in the bible. This takes away all pride from the believer. We didn't wake up one day out of nowhere and just started loving God and coming to salvation in His Son.

The Father in heaven bestowed His unlimited love on us before we ever even thought of coming to the cross and accepting His Son as our Saviour. What is one example of God loving us first?

John 3:16 (KJV)

16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God's love was manifested towards us in that He gave us His literal begotten Son so that we could have eternal life. Verse 9 of this chapter speaks of this being the evidence of God's love for us. The plan of redemption was compacted between the Father and Son from the foundation of the world. It was their love for us that made them willing to risk eternal loss.

Revelation 13:8 (KJV)

8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Romans 8:28-39 (KJV)

28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We as believers in the Messiah were called according to the Father's purpose. This passage shows the absolute Sovereignty of Jehovah God Almighty. Remember, He loved us first and had a purpose for our lives from the foundation of the world. We are the election and everything that we go through in our lives works together for good because we love God. How do we know that we love God?

By keeping His commandments (1 John 5:2-3).

Jehovah God foreknew us, we are not accidents and we were not born by chance. The Almighty God of Heaven and earth predestinated us meaning "appointed us beforehand" to be conformed to His Son's image. Again, the Sovereignty of Jehovah cannot be denied. He had an ultimate purpose for us before the foundation of the world. Do you know how much the Father loves you?

You were a thought in His mind and not only just a thought but every aspect of your life was before Him and He from the beginning had a purpose for every part of your life.

Did you know that the Father called you unto salvation, it was not of your own doing?

Romansn8:30 (KJV)

"Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called"

Brethren, when you gave your life to the Messiah, you were simply responding to the call of the Father. Verse 30 also says those whom He called, He also justified (to render just or innocent, free, righteous). Isn't that amazing? The Almighty Father Jehovah regards you as innocent, just and righteous. Brethren, this isn't future, this is now!

That is not all though, not only does our perfect Father in heaven justify us but He also glorified (to esteem glorious, full of honour, magnified, glory) us. Wow! The Father Almighty esteems us as His glorious children full of honour. Never let anyone tell you different including any of the Pastor's in Christendom (SDA included).

The conclusion of the matter in Paul's eyes, is that if all this is true then who can be against us? If Jehovah God is for us then we are to fear nothing or no one at all.

Verse 32 of Romans 8, here we see the security of knowing that the Father loves us. This secure knowledge of the Father's love is in that He sacrificially gave us His very own Son begotten from His bosom. This is why the trinity doctrine of any kind is downright blasphemous as it attempts to destroy the beautiful truth that the Father loves us so much that He gave His literal begotten Son to die for us. This would be the teaching of the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference churches. The Roman Catholic/Protestant trinity while not as evil eventually obscures this beautiful truth of a real Father and a real Son.

It is only by this knowledge of a true Father-Son relationship between Jehovah and Jehoshua that we can have the assurance of freely being given all things by the Father and Son.

Verse 33 of Romans 8, with all this beautiful truth of the Father's purpose and love for us, we can now rightly understand that no one, including any Pastor or Church denomination, can lay any charge against us. It is only God Almighty Jehovah that justifies us. Many Church goers are deceived into thinking their Pastor's and denominational leaders can shut them out of the Kingdom of Heaven just because they no longer wish to go to their stated meetings or be part of their denomination. I REPEAT ONLY JEHOVAH GOD JUSTIFIES US!!!

Verse 34 of Romans 8, Paul asks the  rhetorical question, who is he that condemneth? Paul now turns our attention to the Son of God. If a Church leader or a denomination condemns you because you don't agree with their doctrines they will answer to the Messiah as they are trying to usurp His authority as our High Preist. Jehoshua paid the price for us, we belong to Him and His Father alone as they purchased us. For any man to condemn us is a reproach to the Son of God. It is Jehoshua who makes us right before the Father of Heaven and never any man. Jehoshua is alone our intercessor.

Verse 35 of Romans 8, Paul gives the most comforting words a believer can hear. Paul emphatically states that no one, and that includes any man or woman who has ever lived, can seperate us from the love of Messiah. This verse exposes the false teachers in the General Conference and even some Present truth preachers, that try to condemn you if you leave the Church or disagree with their doctrines, creeds and prophesies.

Let Jehovah be true and every man a liar!!

Paul says that no circumstances can separate us from the love of Messiah, whether it be natural disasters, persecution by sword, disease, lack of food, lack of clothing etc.

Next time someone condemns you for being sick, give those pharisees this verse.

Verse 36 of Romans 8, Paul says we are sheep being led to the slaughter in this world. The heritage of true bible believing followers of Messiah is one of death by sword, death by stake, death by wild animals, torture, imprisonment. For an example read Hebrews 11. No Joel Osteen best life now scenarios for the true saints of the Most High but rather being suffering servants like our Messiah. Now that is being Christ like!!

Verse 37, however in all these tribulations, persecutions and sufferings we are more than conquerors through the Son of God that loved us so much as to lay aside amd empty Himself of the glory that He had with the Father before the world existed (John 17:5). Too many Christians believe that in order to be a conqueror that they have to be successful in the things of the world such as business, social standing etc. However in Jehovah's economy success is not measured in earthly accomplishments or treasures. Success in the Kingdom of Jehovah is enduring hardships and trials while still upholding the faith in the Son of God.

Revelation 1:5-6 (KJV)

5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

John the beloved makes a present tense statement in verse 6 that Jehoshua has made us King's and Priests unto God and His Father. Remember, John was a prisoner on the Island of Patmos and had also suffered immense persecution being dipped in hot oil. Yet even with all this He still looked at himself as a King of the Most High God.

Brethren, what makes you a King unto God is not outward material success but rather suffering hardship as a good Soldier of Jehoshua Messiah.

Verse 38 and 39 of Romans 8, if the previous verses weren't enough to cement the Father and Son's love for us, Paul makes a final declaration that there is not any circumstance or person living in this green earth or even an angel in heavn that can seperate us from the love of Jehovah the Father which is in Jehoshua Messiah. If that isn't enough to convince you, I leave you with the Messiah's words:

John 10;27-30 (KJV)

27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.30I and my Father are one.

Jehoshua makes a declaration that is unbreakable by any man including any so called Church leader. He says that we as His sheep hear His voice as He is the good Shepherd. The Son of God then says He gives us eternal life, my brethren this is a present tense statement not a future one. Be assured of your salvation brothers and sisters. You are adopted into the Godhead Family. We are not illegitimate children, we are sons and daughters of the Almighty Jehovah and Jehoshua His Son is our elder brother.

See brethren, what the Churches of Christendom don't tell you, is that they do not have authority to say whether you are saved or not saved or whether you are getting eternal life or whether you are not. Jehoshua says that no man can pluck us out of His hand or the Father's hand. Oh, but your Pastor says you are lost because you left the Conference! Nonsense, these false shepherds speak lies, Jehoshua says that His Father is greater than all and that the Father gave us to the Messiah His Son. Any man that tries to condemn you because you left his denomination or Church will answer to the Almighty Father as they have absolutely no power to remove you from the Father's strong hands.

The Father who is greater than all (elder, larger, more, greater especially in age) including His Son is one with His Son meaning of the same Spirit and purpose. The Father and Son will never allow any man to condemn you or take you out the Lamb's book of life. When someone tells you that you are not in God's will anymore because you left their denomination or you keep the feasts, know that the Father and Son have your back and will hold the accuser accountable in the day of judgment.

1 John 4:20-21 (KJV)

20If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?21And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

This is often seen in the Churches, people claiming that they love God yet they treat their brethren poorly. Many will often justify poor behavior towards their brethren by stating their love for God and that they put God first and that God is who they owe their allegiance to. While it is true that God comes first and we ultimately owe our allegiance to Him, we cannot separate how we treat our brethren from our relationship with Jehovah God. This is an inseparable truth. The amount we love our brothers and sisters in Messiah is the amount we show that we love our Heavenly Father.

Many don't like this verse because it puts a real tangible responsibility on us to have sincere love for our fellow Israelites. Of course, this commandment of love also extends to our enemies (Luke 6:35).

We are told to have fervent love for our brethren with sincerity and not hypocrisy.

1 Peter 1:22 (KJV)

 22Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

anupokritos is the greek word for "unfeigned" (Strongs 505) and means "undissembled, i.e. sincere: - without dissimulation, (hypocrisy), unfeigned."

Peter is telling us to love the brethren of the faith with sincerity and not hypocrisy. One of the biggest complaints about the denominational Church system is that people just go and smile and say all the right things and the just go back to their weekly lives without building any real relationships. This is not sincere love. This is merely a superficial social nicety.

Not only are we to have sincere love but also a fervent love for our brothers and sisters in the faith. The word fervently can also be rendered "intently". This means we are to intently do things and say things that show our love for the members of the household of faith. This type of love is in stark contrast to the superficial relationships many have in the denominational Church settings where it is all about outward words and facial expressions but yet very little depth of relationship.

1 Peter 4:8 (KJV)

8And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

By having a fervent love for the brethren, we will solve many of the petty and sometimes not so petty issues we have with each other. Many relationships in the Israelite Congregation end because of a lack of fervent love. Because we are not perfect and have our battles with the flesh, we will at times offend each other. This solution to this is love not proving that we are right. Even if we sin against each other, it is our fervent love for each other that is supposed to cover it. Too many relationships as believers are broken up to due a lack of love on either one of the parties or both of the parties.

Both John and Peter are emphasizing love for the brethren in Messiah, however we are also to love our enemies.

Luke 6:27 (KJV)

27But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you.

We are to love both our brethren and our enemies, however John and Peter are emphasizing love for the brethren because they will be the ones we will have fellowship with. The brethren are the ones we will have deep intimate relationships with, whereas with unbelievers we will not.

In verse 21 of 1 John chapter 4, the beloved tells us of an old commandment given by the Father which is to love our neighbor. This commandment goes beyond the new covenant and is actually from the Torah.

Leviticus 19:18-19 (DNKJB)

18Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the JEHOVAH.19Ye shall keep my statutes....

The commandment to love our neighbor as we love ourselves comes from the statutes of the Torah. The beloved John is reminding the brethren of this old commandment. If we don't love our brethren, then John is implying that we don't love God. If Jehovah is love itself and if we have Jehovah in us by way of His Spirit, then we will naturally have love for our brethren and even our enemies. Giving anything less than love to our brethren and enemies is an act of selfishness being that our Heavenly Father bestowed His love upon us by giving us His only begotten Son to be a ransom sacrifice for us.

John 3:16 (KJV)

16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.