The children of God and the children of the devil....

Please see 1st John 3:7-10 directly below. 

1st John 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

1st John 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

1st John 3:9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

1st John 3:10 n 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.

This phrase "Little children" is a favorite of John's. It expresses his pastoral care and sense of belonging together in the family of God and the new life that God had given to those he was writing to. 

John asks them to not allow anyone to deceive them ( 3:7 ) And, then clarifies for them what was apparently being put on them, that was deceptive. Here's what he said. "he who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous" There is a similarity in God's children to the Lord Himself. A family resemblance as one commentator said. God's children look like Him in the way that they live

Apparently, there was a false teaching going around that stated one could be considered right with God, even though their life was not right in terms of how they lived. But, John states otherwise here. 

Then, to further clarify what the truth is, he says, " He who sins is of the devil" In other words, the person who is practicing, or living a consistently un-righteous life, and is sinning as a habit, that person is not of God, but rather is of the devil. 

And, concerning the devil John says, "for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil" And, the person who has been born of God does not sin, ( as a rule, as a habit, as a way of life etc, they do not practice sin as it were ) They will sin, but, that's not what characterizes their life and lifestyle. The reason God's children don't practice sin, is because they are born of Him. 

They do not sin as a way of life, because, God's seed remains in them. They can't sin, because they have been born of God. So, if a person has truly been born of God, or born again, saved, changed by God, through faith in Jesus Christ, then they have a new life, and it's not one of sin, but rather one of "not sinning"

Again, not perfection but, general tenor, the way they are most of the time, what characterizes them, the kind of life they live, etc, etc. 

He sums up this thought in 3:10. This is how you can see if someone is of God or of the devil. The person who has been born of God, practices righteousness, is of God. The person who does not practice righteousness is not born of God, and then John add, nor he who does not love his brother. 

So, these two characteristic's ......practicing righteousness, and loving your brother are 2 marks of the christian. 

John has more to say along this line.......we will try and deal with the rest of the chapter in the next few days. 

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia 

"Behold what manner of love"

John, calls us to behold the type of love that our father has bestowed on us. ......and then describes it, by saying, "that we should be called the children of God"

This is indeed what He has done in our lives. He has made us His children. He calls us His children, we are those that belong to Him. 

As a result of our being His children, the world ( as described in 1st John 2:15-17 ) does not know us. They know a life and way of living, that does not include God, leaving God out, and is headed by Satan, and rivals God. They do not know us. They don't recognize or understand us, because they don't know God, and don't understand Him. 

Now, ( at this time ) we are the children of God; as to the future, it has not yet been revealed to us, we can't see it, but, here's what we do know. We know that when He is revealed ( this is about the 3rd mention of the appearing once again of Christ that John has made in this letter ) two things are going to happen. 

1. We shall be like Him.

2. We shall see Him as He is. 

The Bible teaches us that we shall see Jesus, face to face. And, we will know Him, even as we are known by Him. A close personal, and intimate knowledge of Him.  

And, we are told that we shall be like Him. In what ways? 

First of all, we will be where He is. And, we will have a body like His. We will see the Father, and the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Angels, and all the saints who are in heaven with God. We will all be together, forever and ever. 

John, goes on to say concerning this hope, that every person who has this hope in himself, purifies himself, just as He is pure. 

Hope and purity are linked together. The fact of hope, of our seeing Him, of His appearing, of His return to the earth, has the effect upon us of purification. We cleanse ourselves. 

Continuing on with this cleansing of ourselves, John now says, that whoever commits sin, also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And, you know that He was manifested to take away our sin and in Him there is no sin. 1John 3:4-5

Commits sins, means, practices, or this is their lifestyle, this is what characterizes their lives, they are given over to sin. They are then guilty of sin, and or of lawlessness. That's what sin is. It's lawlessness, or the breaking of and violating of God's law by transgressing it, and neglecting it, being unrestrained and unregulated by His command and His will. That's what it is to practice sin.  

One or two more thoughts here. 

1. We know that He was manifested, in order to take away our sins. That's the reason He came here, to take away our sins. And, in Him there is no sin. He took them away, but there is no sin in Him. ( where did He take our sins, and what has happened to them )

2. Whoever abides in Him, or is walking with Him, is in the light etc, the born again child of God, does not sin. That is, they do not practice sin as a lifestyle. It's just the opposite of what was said earlier. There was the "whoever commits sin" people, and here there is, the "does not sin" people. Without Christ, and not abiding in Christ, practicing sin. Abiding in Christ, with Him, not practicing sin. 

3. The person who is sinning as a practice, has neither seen Him, nor known Him. 

Seeing and knowing Jesus changes your life, with respect to sin. 

John, has a lot more to say about all this in the remainder of this chapter. 

To conclude, with what we started with. What kind of love is this, that God has given to us, that has changed our lives. Praise God, and thank You Lord, for giving us Jesus Christ. We would be still in darkness without Your love working in our lives. 

We love you , and bless You Lord. 

In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Concerning those who try to deceive you. ( comparing truth and lies )

 See 1st John, 2:18-29

This is another stated reason for writing this letter. The first four reasons are......

That you may have fellowship with us, and with the Father, Son and Spirit.

That your joy may be full.

That you sin not.. 

Concerning those who try to deceive you. 

Here in 2:18-29, John explains that it is the last hour, and then gives alot of detailed explanation about that statement. 

The last hour, means, the last days. Jesus Christ is coming back to the earth. They had been taught that "Anti-Christ" was coming. Anti, meaning against, and Christ here, meaning instead of the true Christ. This man is coming. See 2nd Thess 2, and Rev 13.

But, John, add, there are many antichrists already. Others who were against Christ, and promoting another Christ as it were. These many antichrists, are for us evidence of the last hour, last days. 

They, ( antichrists ) went out from among us. These had been there with the apostles and other true believers, but, they were not of "us" they were not true christians. Had they been, they would have continued with the apostles, but, they left, and were thus seen for what they were all along, they in fact were not of us. They were antichrists. They had a different doctrine, and they were against the true Jesus as presented in the Word of God and here in this letter by John. 

However, John says concerning his readers, his little children in Christ, he tells them what they have, and it's effect upon them. 

They have an "anointing from the Holy One" What is this? It's a ref to the work of the Holy Spirit within them, that results in them knowing all things. Or, being able to discern, distinguish between truth and error. 

Here's another reason not mentioned yet. 

See 1John 2:21......

I've not written to you because you do not know the truth, but just the opposite, it's because you do know the truth, and that no lie ( falsehood, no intentional falsehood, whatever is not what it seem to be, perverse, deceitful ) and in context, he is talking about false teaching, specifically teaching concerning Jesus Christ. 

Liars, are people who deny that Jesus is the Christ. That person is antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 

Now, what does this mean? 

Please notice, the serious consequences to this denial. See 1st John 2:23.

The person who denies the Son, does not have the Father either. He who acknowledges, or believes in Jesus Christ, has the Father also. 

So, what is this lie, and who are these liars? The denial that Jesus is the Christ, or the Messiah, that God has come in the flesh, that Jesus Christ, was and is God, and that He came also into this world in the form of a human being, a man, and at the same time remaining God. See 1st John 4:3. This is the most serious error, and lie that a person could tell and believe in, for it means they will not have the Father, and without the Father, they have no salvation. 

So, in light of all this, the reality of the antichrists, the departure from their midst of these people, the lies they were telling about Jesus, and what they ( the true christians knew, and had in themselves, ) he says, "let that abide in you, or let what you know and have been taught stay in your life, don't depart from it, and don't let it depart from you. If you let it stay with you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father. 

And, here's the promise that He has promised us. ETERNAL LIFE. 

So, this is why I've written to you, it's out of concern for you, because of those who try to deceive you. Those who would try and lead you astray. Those who would promote another Christ, and try to get you to deny what you have had from the beginning, and adopt this false teaching. 

Lastly, he says, the anointing you have received from the Lord, it abides with you, ( it's really the Holy Spirit, and the gifts of the Spirit, giving you that discernment ........see 1st John 2:20 )

You do not need anyone to come along and teach you some new doctrine is the idea in 2:27b. The Holy Spirit is, and will continue to teach you all the things you need to know. He is true, and He is not a liar, and just as He has taught you, you will continue in Him. The Holy Spirit's faithful teaching in your life, is an assurance of your continuing on in the Lord. 

And now he says in 2:28-29.......Abide in Him, stay in Him, stay with Him, don't depart from Him, that when He appears we will have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. Just stay with Him. He is going to come again, and when He does, because you have remained in Him, you will be confident, and not be ashamed.

This chapter ends with a thought that will be very developed in the next chapter. It's been being dealt with already in one form or another in the first two chapters, but will get additional detailed treatment in the next 3 chapters. 

1st John 2:29  If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

We know what Jesus is, and we also know that everyone who is like Him, is born of Him, or are truly born again, are from Him, know Him, are saved, are abiding in Him, are in the light, in the truth, and are saved. Similarity to Jesus is the evidence of new life. 

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia 

What the Lord says about the world, loving it, and His love.

1st John 2:15  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1st John 2:16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.

1st John 2:17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

In 1st John 2:15-17, the Lord speaks to us about what not to love, and what it means if we do love what we are told not to love ( the world or the things in the world ) He describes in detail what is in the world, and concludes with what will happen to the world, and contrastingly, what will happen to the person who does the will of God. 


Do not love the world or the things in the world. This is the first thing He says to us.
This does not mean that you cannot interact with, participate in and be part of the things that are around us in our world. That is, sometimes this teaching winds up being understood as I cannot watch TV, I cannot go to sporting events, I must not take part in any social celebrations etc, etc. In other words, it's falsely misunderstood to mean I must shut myself off from the world around me. 
I do not believe that is what's being taught here.


Well then, what does it mean? 
The word "world" used here, means "that organized system headed by Satan which leaves God out and is rival to Him" And it might be added, that though God loves the world of men, ( John 3:16, ) but, believers are not love at all that which organizes against them, ( men ) and against God.  See 1st John 5:19, John 3:19, and James 1:27, 4:4


Secondly, we are told here, that if anyone loves the world that the love of the Father is not in him. A man cannot love the world and the Father at the same time. It's like when Jesus said, you cannot love God and money, and or, you are either with me, or you are against me. 


Thirdly, we are given a detailed explanation as to what is in the world that leaves God out and is rival to Him. There are three things. 


1. The lust of the flesh.
2. The lust of the eyes.
3. The pride of life. 


These three things have been defined as the desires of passion, possession, and position. 
It's wanting to fullfil you lusts, i.e your passions ( understood in the bad sense, passions are against God's will, i.e sex outside of marriage etc, ) and then, materialism, wanting to have things, and stuff, and then finally, pride or position, that is, instead of letting God guide you into His will and place for you, that you make your own way, and insist on doing what you want, and becoming what you want to be without regard for God and His will etc. 


John tells us that these lusts, these desires, these cravings are not of the Father, but are of the world. 


Then in closing, he tells us that the world is passing away. It is on it's way to an ultimate end. Rom 8, speaks about this, and so does 2nd Pet 3, and of course the book of Revelation. 


On the other hand, the person who does the will of God, see 1st John 4:23, And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 


So, we were  born apart from God, and in a world that leaves God out, and seeks to be god and rivals Him. But, by trusting in Jesus Christ, we are born again, and now live in this world, but loving Him, and living with Him, following Him, obeying Him, keeping His Commandments, etc, etc. 


Thank You Father, in Jesus name. 
Pastor Bob Grenier.

calvarychapelvisalia's webcam video October 27, 2011 08:31 AM

How to be strong in the Lord......

1Jo 2:14* I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.

John had written to the fathers, ( those older, and more mature in the faith ) because they had known the Lord from the beginning. They had known the Lord for a long time is apparently what he meant. 

And, his writing to the young men, and says three things about them.

First of all he says they are strong. Meaning, powerful, valiant, mighty, having the strength of soul to sustain the attacks of Satan, firm, sure.....

Secondly, and I believe this is the secret if you will of their strength, he says, "and the Word of God abides in you" They had the Word of God in them, it was abiding in them. Abiding, or remain, dwell, continue, not to depart, to be present, held, and to kept, continually. to remain as one, and not to become different. 

Thirdly, he says, that they have overcome the wicked one. Or, they had prevailed against the wicked one, the enemy, the devil. They had been able to hold fast against the power and temptations of the devil. 

So, we can see that being strong, is really a result of the Word of God abiding in us. This is what Jesus modeled for us when He began His ministry in Matt 4. 

As Satan attacked Him, Jesus responded with the Word of God. As a man, Jesus has the Word of God in Him. And, this is what we can do, and if we do, we also like these young men, will find ourselves overcoming the wicked one. 

Meditation in the Word is God's way of filling us with His Word. In a non christian sense, meditation means to empty your mind of all thoughts. In the Bible meaning, it means, to fill your mind with the Word of God. 

You can do this, and it's the key to victory over Satan. He cannot overcome the Word of God, but can be overcome by the Word of God. 

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia 

Sins are forgiven for His names sake.....

PLease see 1st John 2:12

Here, once again John gives us a reason he wrote this epistle. 

He has given us a few already.

One, so that his readers could have fellowship with he and the other apostles, and with the father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

Two that their joy, or our joy might be full.

Three that they would not sin. 

And, now another reason is given with respect to the world.

He apparently repeats himself two to three times here, but, let's see if we can understand why he did this, and what he was trying to say.

He calls them "little children" perhaps a ref to the fact that he had been their spiritual father as it were. Used by the Lord to bring them to Christ, or to pastor them, and nurture them in Christ. 

I write to you because "your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake"

This is the primary fact in our salvation, that God has forgiven us of our sins.  Forgiven means, to leave, let, forsake, let alone, depart, expire, disregard, omit, not to discuss now, keep no longer, go away from, leave something behind, to leave one by not taking him as a companion. 

In other words, and we can get the idea pretty clearly, this is what has happened to our sins, through the fact of God forgiving our sins. They are gone. They no longer exist, they have vanished as it were. You could not find them if you looked for them. They are no where to be found. 

And, the forgiveness was " for His names sake" What does this mean? 

It means, "because for His name's sake your sins are pardoned" Or "through His name, and on account of confessing His name" 

It seems that it simply means, that forgiven sins, are because of who Jesus is, and what Jesus has done for us, and of our confessing Him as our Savior, and of our confessing our sins to Him etc" In other words, it's having to do with Jesus Christ being the forgiver of sins in our lives. 

Oh Lord. Thank You. 

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia