Elisha had a revelation of Jesus Christ and Abba Daddy GOD! [Thu svc @ New Creation Church. Pastor Joseph Prince]

Elisha had a revelation of Jesus Christ and Abba Daddy GOD!

Thursday, 6 October 2005 service @ New Creation Church. Pastor Joseph Prince

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15)

"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Galatians 4:15)

In the New Testament, because of Jesus Christ, we are now introduced to this name of our GOD -- Abba or Father. We can now approach our GOD as Daddy GOD! We call him Abba Abba (x2).

Did you know the prophet Elisha had this revelation as well?

"And Elisha saw [it], and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces." (2 Kings 2:12)

Elisha cried "my father, my father" or Abba Abba. Twice. Seems to foretell the sending forth of the Spirit of Jesus Christ into our hearts for which we cry Abba Abba.

That's the reason why Elisha received the double portion anointing vis-a-vis Elijah! He had a revelation of the spirit of adoption in the family of Abba Daddy God!

Elisha had a revelation of Jesus Christ and GOD as Abba Daddy God!

The fact that "my father, my father" or Abba (x2) was cried out also points Elisha having a relevlation of Jesus Christ as the second person of the Trinity. Elisha also rent his clothes into 2 pieces.

SO folks the key to a double portion anointing / spirit is to see GOD as Abba Daddy GOD and run into his loving arms of embrace!

P/S. Elijah = God (El or Elohim) is YHWH
Elisha = God (El or Elohim) is Saviour (Ye'shua or Jesus).

Good Grace! Saying thank you or eu-charisteo to Jesus Christ!

Many times the words - "thank", "thanks", "thanks-giving", and their variants and cognates - are translated from the Greek word transliterated as eu-charisteo.

This word eu-charisteo can be broken up into its constituents:

Eu. This word means: well; good. As seen in its use in Eu-logia; Eu-phoria.

Charisteo is a compund of the the word -- Charis.

Charis is a word many Christians are familiar being defined as: the Divine Grace unmerited favour and power effectual on individual(s) or situation(s).


THEREFORE, we see that GRACE is implicit and manifested in Thanks-giving! We are in fact saying GOOD-GRACE when we acknowledge Jesus Christ in our thanksgiving to Him!


Eu-charisteo [Strong's #2168] is first used in the New Testament in Matt 15:36 and here the word is found in the miracle of the multiplication of the seven loaves and fishes.

"And he [Jesus Christ] took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks [eucharisteo being translated into "gave thanks"], and brake [them], and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude."

Matt 26:27 is the second time eucharisteo is used in reference to Jesus having taken "the cup, and gave thanks [eucharisteo] and gave [it] to them, saying, Drink ye all of it" at institution of the first holy communion / Lord's Supper / eucharist.

THUS in the above two incidents and in many others in the scriptures where eucharisteo is offered to the LORD, we can see that the action of giving thanks or eu-charisteo produces miracles and manifests the LORD's Grace and spiritual blessings into the natural realm.

I remember Kenneth Copeland once said that "Thanks-giving is the big gun of faith!"

Now I understand why.

Romans 5:17
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."

How does one receive abundance of grace, etc? We say thank you or EU-charisteo to Jesus Christ! and we keeping expecting God's favour in our life.

Grace is manifested by speaking. [Many times, the eu-charisteo or thanksgiving offered to our LORD is expressed orally!]

Faith is by hearing! [Romans 10:17: Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ!]

Say GOOD-GRACE or eu-charisteo today! when you thank Jesus Christ and watch your miracle manifest!

Turning the other cheek : Decoding Matthew 5:39

Heard during the Thursday, September 22 sermon

"But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:39, KJV)

Think about it. When the right hand is used to slap somebody's face (the person standing face-to-face with the individual executing the slap), that slapping hand would usually connect with the left-side of that person's face. That would be the most convenient flow-through of the slapping action.

If the hand connected with the right cheek as is indicated in Matthew 5:39, it would not be the palm of the hand that connected with the face but rather the knuckles. This suggests that: not so much that force was intended to be inflicted by something else was intended.

THIS ACTION OF SMITING ON THE RIGHT CHEEK WAS A CHALLENGE TO A DUEL. Later in Europe, this action developed into using a glove to strike the right cheek to signal the challenge to duel.

Therefore, by turning the other cheek, Jesus is simply saying: DON'T ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE TO DUEL.

It does not mean, that the Christian, rolls over and plays dead when attacked. Rather, Matthew 5:39 is an exhortation to not be agitated into reacting. TO be an ACTOR not RE-ACTOR. To be a Thermostat and not a Thermometer.

The same principle applies and is followed through in Matthew 5:41

"And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain."

The Romans had a law that compelled their subjects to carry their loads one mile. After that mile, the subject was free to go. By volunteering to carry the load another mile, the subject reverses roles with the Roman. The Roman was in control at the onset because it was he who issued the order to compel the subject to carry the load. The subject was helpless to refuse this Roman ordinance. But by going beyond the ordinance and offering to carry the load one extra mile, the subject was now in control of the situation. The subject is now the leader and not re-actor.

WORD OF GOD TO PASTOR PRINCE:

As Christians, we are in Jesus Christ under a Melchisedec Priesthood.

Hebrews 7:1 "For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him"

Under this priesthood, we receive blessings ALL the time!

We must repent of our fear of not-enough, no-health, etc. We are no longer under the previous Levitical priesthood where under the Law, the individual received blessing or cursing depending on whether he did good or bad according to the Law.

Under the Melchisedec Priesthood, we should only expect blessing! We should not expect cursing (calamities, negative happenings, etc) in our lives!

The New Covenant Melchisedec Priesthood only gives and gives! Levitical priesthood of the Old Covenant only demands and demands.

[Side Note: During Communion, one is receiving from GOD not giving to Him]

If one is a good receiver, one becomes a powerful giver!

This is the mentality that we should have: See Jesus in His Glory as a giver and receive from Him.

JOHN 12:36 - 41 (Green's Literal Translation)

36 While you have the Light, believe into the Light, that you may become sons of Light. Jesus spoke these things, and going away He was hidden from them. 37 But though He had done so many miraculous signs before them, they did not believe into Him, 38 so that the Word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he said, "Lord, who has believed our report? And the arm of the Lord, to whom was it revealed?" Isa. 53:1 39 Because of this they could not believe, because Isaiah said again, 40 "He has blinded their eyes" and "has hardened their heart," "that they might not see with the eyes" and "understand with the heart," "and be converted," "and I should heal them." Isa. 6:10 41 Isaiah said these things when he saw His glory, and spoke about Him.

John 12:36-41 does not imply that GOD is blinding the people. The cross reference to Isaiah 6:1-10 shows that it is the people who wilfully "Hearing you hear, but do not understand; and seeing you see, but do not know", and GOD is His soverignty allows their eyes to be shut. However all truth is parallel, therefore and stating this proposition in a reverend manner, if you see Jesus for everything He truly is, HE should heal you!

Isaiah 6:1-10

In the year that King Uzziah died, then I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up. And His train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphs. Each one had six wings; with two he covered his face; and with two he covered his feet; and with two he flew. And one cried to the other and said, Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory! And the doorposts shook from the voice of the one who cried; and the house was filled with smoke. Then I said, Woe is me! For I am cut off; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live amongst a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of Hosts. Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, snatched with tongs from the altar. And he touched it on my mouth, and said, See, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin is covered. And I heard the voice of Jehovah, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us? Then I said, Behold me. Send me! And He said, Go and say to this people, Hearing you hear, but do not understand; and seeing you see, but do not know. Make the heart of this people fat, and make his ears heavy, and shut his eyes, that he not see with his eyes, and hear with his ears, and understand with his heart, and turn back, and one heals him.

If you see with your eyes and hear with your ears and understand with your heart, and be converted (i.e. turn back), you should be healed!

##Nugget
We seem to trust more in Creation than in Jesus' work of Redemption!We expect the sun to rise everyday, for the rains to fall, etc. When there is drought or a hurricane hits, we are stunned. That shows we seem to trust more in nature's 'blessings'. However when someone is healed, sometimes, we are surprised. Why is this so?

We see in the Word tha Jesus' work of Redemption was infinitely greater than Creation. Therefore, this mindset ought to change! We must trust more in Jesus!

Recall, Luke 8:22 - 25

"Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled [with water], and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him."

The disciples seemed to place more faith in storm (Creation) than Jesus! That is why Jesus had to remind them to look to Him, "Where is your faith?" Jesus is OUR Faith. Faith (Jesus) was in the boat all along. Jesus is the author and perfector of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Don't say you don't have faith. We do! Often it is misdirected. Fear is faith in reverse gear. Misdirected faith is when one believes that disease will strike you more than GOD will protect you!

Actually, all fear is illogical if we think about it.


This is because Jesus covers for every eventuality!

HE came out to bring you in! Excerpts of Sunday 1st service sermon by Ps Joseph Prince @ New Creation Church on September 18, 2005

HE came out …
To bring you IN!
1st Service of Sunday, September 18, 2005

Most Christians know that Jesus came down from heaven to die for man’s sins on the cross. But the greater truth is that He came out of the Holy of Holies, just to bring you back in with Him! Jesus’ words and actions in the Gospel of John is typified by the furniture in the tabernacle of Moses… right down to the order in which they were arranged!

Overview

... And in His temple everything says, "Glory!" (Psalms 29: 9, NASB)

“Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” (KJV John 13:1)

“And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's [son], to betray him;” (KJV, John 13:2)

“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,” (NKJV, John 13:3)

“He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.” (KJV, John 13:4)

JESUS knew who HE was. HE was secure in His identity.

HE knew “He had come from God and was going [back] to God”. That is why, HE could humble himself and wash the feet of his disciples. Object lesson: If a person is proud, this is often the manifestation of deep-seated insecurity.

The Gospel of John has 21 chapters. The whole gospel typifies the Tabernacle.
The first 12 chapters depict Jesus Christ coming out of the Tabernacle (starting from the Ark of Covenant in the Holy of Holies).

The last 9 chapters depict our High Priest going back therein. HE “was going to God” (John 13:3)

The journey begins with … THE HOLY OF HOLIES
“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].” (John 1:18)

In the Tabernacle, Jesus as our High Priest offers prayers as of sweet-smelling incense. Only Jesus Christ knows the Father intimately.

It ends with us the redeemed ones also returning together with Him to the Father and resident in His bosom of love as well.

“Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23).

We are the ones whom Jesus loves! Jesus is the Shepherd who comes out to look for us the lost lambs and bring us back to the Father’s bosom where He is.

The Veil between Holy of Holies & Holy Place

Hebrews 10:20; John 1:14

HOLY PLACE

The Golden Altar of Incense - See John 1:18

Table of Showbread
Ex 25:23-29; 37:10-16

http://www.domini.org/tabern/sbrdtabl.htm
http://www.hopeofisrael.net/tab3.htm

“Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.” (John 6:32)

“For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” (John 6:33)

The Golden Lampstand
Ex. 25:31-39; 37:17-24

http://www.domini.org/tabern/lampstnd.htm

“When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?” (John 8:10)

“She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” (John 8:11)

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

NOTE the context in which Jesus Christ introduces himself as the Light of the world. The Light of the world (Jesus Christ) is to show world how perfectly the work of Jesus is in cleaning us up, NOT to show up our sin.

## Nugget
Only a sinner can hear the voice of Saviour. If you don’t admit you are a sinner, you cannot hear the voice of Saviour.

“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5)

Jesus in John 9 revealed Himself as light of the world to blind man and because of this revelation, the man saw. This blind man was called out of the Jewish world to where Jesus is. (John 9:35) Blind man had received revelation of Jesus as the Christ.

THE LAST MENTION OF JESUS AS LIGHT in John is John 12:46 “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” Before this is some 21x Jesus is referred to as Light in John.

As we noted earlier, John 12 is the pivot point. From John 13 onwards, Jesus turns around and heads back into the Tabernacle. This is the reason why last mention of Jesus as Light is in John 12 because from hereon, the Holy Spirit becomes the “lampstand revelation”. Holy Spirit takes over as light to reveal Jesus Christ.

## Nugget
Don’t go on Eden’s Diet. Go to Redemption Diet.
This means: don’t put your trust in eating the right foods, produce, etc to be healthy. All of creation including the food is fallen. Instead, trust Jesus to be your Health!

OUTER COURT
The Brazen Altar

Ex 27:1-8; 38:1-7

The Brazen Altar is a picture of the Cross.

“Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” (John 12:31)

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto me.” (John 12:32)

“This he said, signifying what death he should die.” (John 12:33)

IMPORTANT: The word “men” is in italics in John 12:32. It was not there in the original. Thus the understanding of John 12:32 should be: JESUS will draw all the sin, sickness, poverty, death, destruction, old things etc, and finish it all off at the Cross as the Last Adam and in exchange we receive the fruits of His Righteousness!

NOW AFTER FINDING THE LOST SHEEP …

Jesus Christ turns around and heads back to Abba.
We now see the furniture of the Tabernacle in reverse.

The Laver
John 13:3-5,10, John 9:5-7

“Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;” (John 13:3)

“He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.” (John 13:4)

“After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe [them] with the towel wherewith he was girded.” (John 13:5)

This is not the re-generation washing which is accomplished at the Cross (Brazen Altar) and note the words of Jesus in John 13:10. Notice the sequence. Brazen Altar of John 12 came first before John 13 (washing of Water of Word).

“Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash [his] feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.” (John 13:10).


Table of Showbread

John 13:23-26

“Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped [it]. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave [it] to Judas Iscariot, [the son] of Simon.”

In this passage, we see again the showbread symbolized.

The Golden Lampstand

John 14:16-17

“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 seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

Isaiah 11:1 – 5

“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.”


The Golden Altar of Incense

Ex 30:1-10; 37:25-28

http://www.domini.org/tabern/gincaltr.htm
http://www.hopeofisrael.net/tab3.htm


JOHN 17

The whole chapter 17 is usually coloured red in Bible. All of these are Jesus’ words in prayer to Father. See especially John 17:1-3.

http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Jhn/Jhn017.html#top

The Golden Altar of Incense typifies Jesus Christ. The Golden Altar of Incense is paralleled in John 17.


NOW THERE IS A PROBLEM!

The Shepherd / High-Priest cannot bring sheep into to the Holy of Holies because the sheep is dirty.

Jewish writings hold that, GOD dwells at the east-side of Eden.

Genesis 3:24 states “So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”

Some translations have it as GOD in place of “Cherubims” in Genesis 3:24.

So there is a flaming sword guarding the way to the Holy of Holies / Eden where GOD is.

“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man [that is] my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.” (Zechariah 13:7, last mention of sword in OT)

We see that the reference to shepherd in Zechariah 13:7 is a reference to Jesus:

“Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.” (Matt 26:31)

Indeed, when Jesus went to the Cross, most of his followers and disciples fled in fear.

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:30)

The Sword of Judgment which was meant for us because of our sin was sheathed in the body of Jesus Christ in place of us. The picture is of sword piercing our Shepherd as HE carries us sheep into the Holy of Holies.

The Veil between Holy of Holies & Holy Place - John 19:30


NOW THAT WE ARE INSIDE THE HOLY OF HOLIES, the sword is no longer that of judgment against us. The Sword now protects us instead! We are now in the ETERNAL zone with Abba, we are cared-for and care-free!

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And [having] an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."

(Heb 10:19-22)

Mishkan
Janet Shen's website on the Tabernacle

What ‘Spiritual Blessings’ And ‘Redemption’ Really Mean - - Pastor Joseph Prince @ New Creation Church on 28/8/2005 (Excerpts of 1st Service)

Ephesians 1:3 tells us that: “Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual [Strongs’s #4152 or pneumatikos] blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ…”

Thayer notes that the Greek word transliterated as pneumatikos simply has the meaning of: BELONGING to the Spirit. Therefore, the “spiritual blessings” of Eph 1:3 are not solely intangible! Rather, these “spiritual blessings” carry the characteristics and qualities of belonging to the LORD’s Spirit.

Further proof of the foregoing understanding of pneumatikos can be obtained when referring to pneumatikos as used in 1 Corinthians 15:44.

“It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual [pneumatikos] body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual [pneumatikos] body.” (KJV, 1 Cor 15:44)

1 Cor 15:44-47 speaks of Jesus Christ being clothed in natural human body whilst He walked on Earth before His crucifixion AND then resurrecting from the dead in a spiritual [pneumatikos] body. Clearly post-resurrection, Jesus Christ went about ministering to his flock in a body which was very much tangible! The disciples could touch and feel his body. Yet Jesus Christ in His Glorified Body could do much more. Much, much more. HE could pass through walls. HE could appear and then disappear. Re-appearing somewhere else much further away. Jesus was not constrained by space and time in his post-resurrection pneumatikos body.

Therefore, we see from the use of pneumatikos in 1 Cor 15:44 when applied to Jesus’ spiritual body that pneumatikos is not solely intangible. It also includes -- physical tangible bodies that carry the glorified qualities which belong to the Spirit.

APPLICATION: Our pneumatikos blessings of Ephesians 1:3 include blessings which are physical and tangible carrying the characteristics and qualities of belonging to the LORD’s Spirit. The blessings are for us to enjoy NOW because of the past-tense of Ephesians 1:3.

“So also it is written, ‘The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.’ The last Adam {became} a life-giving spirit.” (NASB, 1 Cor 15:45)

“Living Soul” –- can have the propensity to be selfish.
“Life-giving Spirit” –- is purely unselfish. His Name is Jesus!

“However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.” (1 Cor 15:46, NKJV)

“The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.” (1 Cor 15:47, NKJV)

The Link Between Spiritual Maturity And The Deity of Christ. Excerpts from Thu, 22 Sept 2005 sermon by Ps Joseph Prince @ New Creation Church

The Link Between Spiritual Maturity And The Deity Of Christ
Excerpts from Thursday, 22 September 2005 sermon by Pastor Joseph Prince @ New Creation Church

There are different levels of spiritual maturity among Christians. Some are “children”, some are “young men” and some are “fathers”. So how does one reach the level of “fathers” in terms of spiritual maturity? It has to do with knowing Jesus, especially His deity. Is Jesus really God to you? [Exposition on 1 John 1:9, 1 John 2:12 and 1 John 2:13]

Most of time when “little children” appears in 1 John, it is a reference to the Greek word transliterated as teknion # Strong’s 5040, which is reference to ALL Believers in general. It is “a term of kindly address by teachers to their disciples.” In fact, some translations have it as “little darlings”.

The word teknion is used only from 1 John 2:1-2 onwards:

“My little children [teknion], 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.”

By implication, 1 John 1:9 was written to Gnostics since it is not prefaced with the words “my little children”:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9 contradicts 1 John 2:12 which reads: “I write unto you, little children [teknion], because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.”

So which is which?

1 John 2:12 is the true position for Believers in Jesus Christ. Not 1 John 1:9.

What does 1 John 2:12 mean? Does it mean that only the existing sins of a particular individual were forgiven during the time when John was writing this epistle? Then if the individual committed new sins in the interim before the epistle reached him, he would not be forgiven of them! This is illogical!

What 1 John 2:12 really means is that: ALL of our sins for all time – past, present and future – are forgiven because of Jesus Christ!

The word “confess” in 1 John 1:9 is homologeo #Strong’s 3670: say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent.

What is saying the same thing with GOD in this context with respect to our sins? It is “YES, Jesus I believe in you as my Saviour and that you died to propitiate for my sins”.

When the word homologeo is thus understood, 1 John 1:9 is seen in this light: IF we agree with GOD that Jesus is Saviour and that He died to propitiate for my sins, then HE [GOD] is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Accordingly, we should no longer misunderstand 1 John 1:9 to mean that we are only forgiven when we ask God to forgive us of that particular sin. The work of Jesus Christ on the Cross was and is perfect. We are forgiven of all sins irrespective of whether we had specifically asked God to forgive particular sin or sins.

HOW GOD COUNTS CHRISTIAN MATURITY

1 John 2:13

“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 [paidion #Strong’s 3813], because ye have known the Father.”

1 John 2:14

"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 abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one."

FATHERS. This is the most advanced stage of Christian maturity. Fathers are the heads of family. Have leadership roles. They can reproduce. They are the source or origin of provision, etc. How to reach this stage? The key is this “because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning”. Who is this “him that is from the beginning”? Jesus Christ! See John 1:1. These Christian Fathers have known Jesus Christ as the GOD of eternity.

paidion (Strong’s 3813) = a young child

LITTLE CHILDREN. This is the first stage of Christian growth. A paidion may know of the Father and His love but they may not necessarily have a deep revelation about Jesus Christ as GOD.

YOUNG MEN. This is the intermediate stage of Christian growth. Characterized by having “overcome the wicked one”. [Trivia: The scholar Strong, remarks that the Greek word translated as “young men” refers to those who are in the natural, youths up to 40 years of age.] The Spiritual understanding of this phrase “young men” is those in Church who use the Word of GOD to overcome in spiritual warfare. Often quoting “It is written …” This is the stage that the Church in general is passing through now. Again, “young men” in general may not necessarily have a deeper revelation of Jesus Christ as GOD even though they are skilled in using the Word.

1 John 2:18

"Little children [paidion], it is a last hour, and as you heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have risen up, from which you know that it is a last hour." (Green's Literal Translation)

What is the antichrist spirit?

"Who is the liar, except the one denying, saying that Jesus is not the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one denying the Father and the Son. Everyone denying the Son does not have the Father. The one confessing the Son also has the Father." (Green's Literal Translation, 1 John 2:22-23)

THE ENTIRE INTENT OF EPISTLE OF 1 JOHN IS TO AFFIRM THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST AS GOD. ANYONE WHO REJECTS JESUS AS GOD HAS AN ANTI-CHRIST SPIRIT!

1 John 5:10-13 (Green's Literal Translation)

10 The one believing in the Son of God has the witness in himself. The one not believing God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the witness which God has witnessed concerning His Son. 11 And this is the witness: that God gave us everlasting life, and this life is in His Son. 12 The one having the Son has life. The one not having the Son of God does not have life. 13 I wrote these things to you, the ones believing in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have everlasting life, and that you may believe in the name of the Son of God.

Jesus is THE way and ONLY way. If this was not so, it would have been stupid for Jesus to suffer as HE did on the Cross!