MEM

1John 1:3 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.

In the last MEM we were exploring the primary purpose John wrote this epistle to the church, it was to remind them / us of the absolute need for fellowship. The key to that fellowship is abiding, we in the Father and His Son and they in us. We also looked at some of the benefits of this abiding. We would like to continue on with John’s message that being the children of Elohim (God) mandates we live a sin free life; therefore John defines "Sin", so there is no mistaking what sin is and what The Eternal desires of us.

• that "we should be called children of God…" 1John 3:1-2
• the promise of eternal life 1John 5:11-13
• being cleansed of all our sin 1John 1:7
• the anointing 1John2:27
• to Know Him 1John 2:20
• the ability to listen 1John 4:6
• effective power to solve problems with self and Satan 1John 2:14; 4:4

1John 1:7 "…the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."

1John 2:1 (NAS unless indicated) My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; (note the last half says "if" - this ‘if’ should be rare and unnecessary)

An error in modern day understanding is that we constantly sin, even every day - that ought not to be the case - Sin separates us from our Creator and we will not have the desired fellowship benefits.

Being Cleansed from all sin enables Fellowship with Him - it is a place of honor

1John 1:1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands handled, concerning the Word of Life -- 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us -- 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. 5 And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (Removes the shame and restores honor.)

John’s concern is that we do not realize the purpose of Yeshua’s (Jesus’) shed blood (1Jn 1:7). If we have fellowship with the Father and the Son we do so because we have been cleansed by His blood - "from all sin." When we sin we bring shame on His name. When we repent and are cleansed we will be restored to a state of honor and fellowship with the Father, His Son, and the saints. We are cleansed, therefore in a state of holiness, allowing us to know Him and to abide in Him.

1John 3:5 And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.

1John 3:6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. (Has no fellowship)

1John 5:18 We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him and the evil one does not touch him.

Cleanse as used in 1John 1:7 G2511 (Strong)

- Transliteration: Katharizo - Phonetic: kath-ar-id'-zo

- Definition: (edited for length)

Total KJV Occurrences: 18

• clean, cleanse, cleansed • purge, purged • purified, purify, purifying

G2513 (Strong) (the word from which cleansed is derived)

- Transliteration: Katharos - Phonetic: kath-ar-os'

- Definition: (edited for length)

Total KJV Occurrences: 21

• clean • clear • pure

1John 3:4 (KJ2000) Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (i.e.) 1John 4:20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

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. 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.

1John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin… (unrighteousness of heart and life; a deed violating law and justice)

Webster (1828)

UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, n. Injustice; a violation of the divine law, or of the plain principles of justice and equity; wickedness. Unrighteousness may consist of a single unjust act, but more generally, when applied to persons, it denotes a habitual course of wickedness. Rom 1:6. 2 Cor 6.

Every transgression of the law is unrighteousness.

By Abiding In Him and He in us (enabling a guilt free fellowship)

1John 2:6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

1John 3:9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

1John 2:17 And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.

1John 3:14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.

1John 3:17 But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?

1John 3:24 And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. (The Anointing)

1John 4:13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

1John 4:16 And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

1John 4:12 No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.

1John 2:27 And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

Therefore if we have been forgiven, restored, and filled with the love of God we will abide in Him, love Him, keep His commandments, walk in the light, have His anointing and will love our brother in deed and truth.

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.

Next MEM - To Know Him

Proverbs 6:16 There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, 19 A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.

Proverbs 3:32 For the crooked man is an abomination to the LORD…

Proverbs 11:1 A False balance is an abomination to the LORD…

Proverbs 15:26 Evil plans are an abomination to the LORD…

Proverbs 16:5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD…

Proverbs 17:15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous…are an abomination …

Proverbs 28:9 He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.

Webster (1828) ABOMINA'TION, n.

1. Extreme hatred; detestation.

2. The object of detestation, a common signification in scripture.

3. Hence, defilement, pollution, in a physical sense, or evil doctrines and practices, which are moral defilements, idols and idolatry, are called abominations. …In short, whatever is an object of extreme hatred, is called an abomination.

Proverbs 28:5 Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the LORD understand all things.

Daniel Webster (to whom we owe our early dictionary in the USA) said it best: 

The new administration in Washington DC ran on a campaign of "Making America great again". This can happen if we apply the words of wisdom from Daniel Webster; if we neglect his warning we will end up in ignominy.

Definition of "OLD"

#1 Just before the funeral services, the undertaker came up to the very elderly widow and asked, "How old was your husband?" "98," she replied: "Two years older than me"  "So you're 96," the undertaker commented. She responded, "Hardly worth going home, is it?"

#2 Reporters interviewing a 104-year-old woman:  "And what do you think is the best thing about being 104?" the reporter asked.  She simply replied, "No peer pressure."       

#3 I've sure gotten old!  I have outlived my feet and my teeth I've had two bypass surgeries, a hip replacement, new knees, fought prostate cancer and diabetes I'm half blind, can't hear anything quieter than a jet engine, take 40 different medications that make me dizzy, winded, and subject to blackouts. Have bouts with dementia. Have poor circulation; hardly feel my hands and feet anymore. Can't remember if I'm 85 or 92. Have lost all my friends. But, thank God, I still have my driver's license.

#4 I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape, so I got my doctor's permission to join a fitness club and start exercising. I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors. I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down, and perspired for an hour. But, by the time I got my leotards on, the class was over.

#5 An elderly woman decided to prepare her will and told her preacher she had two final requests. First, she wanted to be cremated, and second, she wanted her ashes scattered over Wal-Mart. "Wal-Mart?" the preacher exclaimed. "Why Wal-Mart?" "Then I'll be sure my daughters visit me twice a week"

#6 My memory's not as sharp as it used to be. Also, my memory's not as sharp as it used to be.

#7 Know how to prevent sagging? Just eat till the wrinkles fill out.

#8 It's scary when you start making the same noises as your coffee maker.

#9 These days about half the stuff in my shopping cart says, 'For fast relief.'
 
Now, I think you're supposed to share this with 5 or 6, maybe 10 others.
Oh well, give it to a bunch of your friends if you can remember who they are.

Remember: If your mind goes blank, don’t forget to turn off the sound.

Some thoughts on ‘SIN’

Are you familiar with the concept of karma? You may recognize this term from eastern religions as the idea that good will be rewarded and evil punished. You may reject karma as not being of Christian origin, but do you hold to the same idea without the name? Do you think that sinners other than yourself are getting lenient terms from The Messiah? Consider those who worked all day in the vineyard. They thought the late-comers were paid too much. The elder brother resented the generosity of the father to the prodigal son. Come to Yeshua (Jesus) and rejoice in His grace poured out on others as much as on you and you shall be the children of our Father in heaven. 

Do you think of fear and courage as opposites? Yet The Word teaches that fear and love are opposites. Do you consider yourself to be free of fear? Take a step back to a more basic question. Are you easily threatened; brought into a state of stress by circumstances, conditions, or challenges to your faith? These are precursors to fear. Fear is a sin and like other sins it is preceded by temptation which in this case is the acceptance of a threat. If you are confident of God’s love regardless of any challenge and know that nothing shall harm you or take you out of His hand then you can operate in love which is the true essence of your being. 

One problem with living by the law is the lack of qualified enforcers, although there are many unqualified who apply for the job. God’s word set the standard that he who was without sin should cast the first stone. This is one of the most familiar and quoted Bible passages by unbelievers. It fits with removing the plank from your own eye to see clearly to assist your brother in removing a speck from his eye. Don’t misunderstand these passages to eliminate the concepts of right and wrong. Applying correction to others is something to be done in fear and trembling even for those appointed to the task. Apply the same eagerness you have to judge others to yourself instead. 

(Adopted from blog posts by Dale Cresap)

Ps 1:1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Ps 37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; His steps do not slip.

Ps 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Thy law.

Ps 119:29 Remove the false way from me, And graciously grant me Thy law.

Ps 119:34 Give me understanding, that I may observe Thy law, And keep it with all my heart.

Ps 119:44 So I will keep Thy law continually, Forever and ever.

Ps 119:97 O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

Ps 119:142 … Thy law is truth.

Ps 119:165 Those who love Thy law have great peace, And nothing causes them to stumble.

Blessed be YHVH (Genesis 14:20 And blessed be God Most High…)