"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, an which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness, and shew that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you that your joy may be full." (I John 1:1-4)
The first epistle of John continues, stating: "This then is the message which we have heard of Him and declare unto you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not know the truth ... but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us ...
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous; and He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know Him if we keep His commandments. [he] that saith, "I know Him" and keeps not His commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him. But whoso keeps His Word in him, verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know that we are in Him." (I John 1:5-10; I John 2:1-5)
Note herein that no new commandment has been written but an old commandment which we have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the Word which ye have heard from the beginning.
"Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in Him and in you; because the darkness is past, and the true light now shines ... " (I John 2:8-12)
I write unto you, little children because your sins are forgiven you for His Name's sake.
I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning.
I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one.
I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
And once more, for clarity:
I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning.
I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abides in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
Therefore, love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. Why? Because if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
But ye have an unction from the holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar? Those/he who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Indeed, if a man denies that Jesus is the Christ, he is Antichrist that denies the Father and the Son.
Moreover, "whosoever denies the Son, the same hath not the Father." (I John 2:23)
*[Since the remainder of I John 2:23 consists of "added" words that are not necessarily in the original text, I am going to omit those words here also. However, note that this does not mean that you should not read the rest of this scripture for edification and understanding. I just do not want to sidetrack this post with determining the meaning of the word -- acknowledge!]
Continuing in I John, "let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall CONTINUE IN THE SON AND IN THE FATHER. And this is the promise that He hath promised us, [even] eternal life. These [things] have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
BUT, and this "but" is critical -- "But the anointing which ye have received of Him abides in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him. And now little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that does righteousness is born of Him." (I John 2:24-29)
In other words, amid the instructions to fathers and young men is an understanding similar to the message Jesus gave His disciples. That is, "I and My Father are ONE!" (John 10:30) "If ye have seen Me, ye have seen the Father." (John 14:6-12)
Jesus was God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) The same God who created us in the beginning loved us so much that He willingly became our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7) God in Christ. He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. (John 1:10-11; John 1:1-18) The Lord came forth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:21-23; Luke 1:35)
What do we know from the very beginning?
"In the beginning, God." And, that the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." (Genesis 1:1-2)
The same Holy Ghost - the Comforter -- is the Spirit of God who moved upon the face of the waters when God created the earth. The same Holy Ghost overshadowed Mary so that she could bring forth a son. (Luke 1:35) "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 1:18) "But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 1:20)
And the angel answered and said unto her, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore, also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35)
That which ye have heard from the beginning. If the Holy Ghost is NOT the holy Spirit of God, as the scriptures state, then why is Jesus called the Son of God and not the Son of the Holy Ghost?
The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Christ. Jesus told His disciples that He had to leave if the Comforter -- the Holy Ghost -- were to come into our hearts. Scriptures confirming this?
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you." (John 16:7)
"But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:39)
Jesus said, "And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the SPIRIT OF TRUTH; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees Him not, neither knows Him: but ye know Him; for He dwells with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I WILL COME TO YOU." (John 14:16-18)
Therefore, Jesus Christ must be the Holy Ghost -- yes?
Look again at what Jesus is saying. "But the Comforter, which is the HOLY GHOST, whom THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and COME AGAIN UNTO YOU." (John 14:26-28)
Just before Jesus is taken up, He says, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory ..." (Colossians 1:27)
"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth THE SPIRIT OF HIS SON into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Galatians 4:6)
"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name." (John 1:12)
"Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but OF GOD." (John 1:13)
"Now the Lord is THAT SPIRIT: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (II Corinthians 3: 17)
"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" (II Corinthians 13:5)
Then Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call." (Acts 2:38-39)
When the Holy Ghost comes into your life, you receive both the Father and the Son. One Lord, One faith, One Baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:5-6)
[Therefore,] "ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, he is none of His." (Romans 8: 9)
Yes, indeed, "that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, an which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness, and shew that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you that your joy may be full." (I John 1:1-4)
Let him/her who hath ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.
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