In this series, given in the early days of Waverley Christian Fellowship, Kevin Conner teaches through the New Testament letter of 1 John.
Be sure to get a copy of Kevin’s book on this topic. Visit www.kevinconner.org/1John for details.
Kevin Conner Teaches
Jewels from 1 John (Part 9)
In this podcast series given in the early days of Waverly Christian Fellowship, Kevin Conner teaches through the New Testament Letter of One John. Be sure to get a copy of Kevin's new book on this topic, visit kevinconner.org/onejohn for details. Have confidence and not be ashamed before him that he's coming. If you know that he is righteous, either everyone to do with righteousness is born of him. Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we recall the sons of God. Therefore, the world knoweth is not because it knew him not. The love of now will be the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him, shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifyeth himself even as he is pure. Whosoever committed sin transgressives also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law, and you know that he was manifested to take away our sins, and in him is no sin. Whosoever abide upon him sineth not, whosoever sineth hath not seen him neither known him. Little children that no man deceive you, he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous, he that committed sin is of the devil for the sineth from the beginning. For this purpose the son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God, if not commits sin, for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God, and this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil. Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveeth not his brother. Alright, I'm going to take up a particular word in our short time together tonight, but let's just take a brief moment to review what we've covered, because what we're covering tonight sort of is a lead-on or follow-on from what we've looked at at the last two weeks together. Two weeks we looked at the proton, which means what? In the beginning, and the eskaton, which is the end, the last right, three and a half years of Christ ministry, or the first half of annual seventeenth week, three and a half years of antichrist ministry, the last half of the seventeenth week. So we have half a week here, half a week here, Christ, antichrist. First three and a half years, signs and wonders done by Christ, signs and wonders done by antichrist, first half of the week in mercy, last half of the week in judgment, seed of the woman, seed of the serpent, consummated, believers, believing, deceivers, deceiving. And we saw that over the period that the church age of two thousand years approximately is bounded by half a week, half a week, or three and a half years, beginning and end. And during this period of time, we had the body of Christ in formation, Christians, anointed ones, as we've been looking at. And the spirit of Christ that is at work in both the head and the body, the same spirit in the head, the same spirit work in the body to form the body of Christ. And on the negative side, that when the Holy Spirit was poured out, the spirit of antichrist began to work too. So we have many antichrist, many Christians, many antichrist, forming the body of antichrist and the spirit of antichrist is at work today, forming that. And we're living in the consummation way down here a short time before this period. We're living right here in the consummation of both these bodies to be made manifest. So as you can switch that off, thanks David. And so we want to take up another thought from here now. In verse 28, the word I want to get across to you tonight briefly is, I didn't leave that on because you had all that the last two weeks and you should have had all that down. The word I want to get across tonight is this word appear and the word coming. Now you'll notice in verse 28 of chapter 2, because it's the same Greek word that's used and translated in John's epistle, particularly two ways which I'll give you here. The word appear 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. So we have the word appear. I'm not going to take time on it tonight because we're limited in our time for study. It's finero and it actually means to be made manifest, to show himself, to be brought out where he could be seen. It's the thought we have here to make manifest or to be manifest. Then in verse 28 we have the second word I want to draw your attention to, the word coming. That we may not be ashamed before him at his coming and the Greek word here is perusia and referring to the second coming of Christ. Then in verse 2 of chapter 3 we have the word appear. It does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. In verse 9 the same Greek word is translated manifested and you know that he was manifested or he appeared to take away our sins and in him is no sin. Then in verse 8, same Greek word again, the light of power of the verse. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested or he appeared that he might destroy the works of the devil. Verse 10, same Greek word. In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the devil. So the Greek word for appear is translated appear. Verse 28 appear twice, in verse 2 appear, appear. And then in verse 5 it's translated manifested and verse 8 and verse 10 it's translated manifested. So I want to share just a few thoughts with you briefly on the appearing of Christ. Christ appearing, Christ manifesting himself to us and consummating at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. All right, I want you to go over to Hebrews chapter 9 here and we'll sort of take this as our foundation verse and then come back to John and use the references just in our sort of the same diagram we've used here. Hebrews chapter 9. And we're going to take from verse 24 through to 28. Hebrews 9 verse 24 through to 28. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. Now yet that he should offer himself often as the high priest enterth into the holy place every year with blood about us for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world but now once in the end of the world or end of the age happy appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed I demand once to die but after this the judgment so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. And unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin under salvation. You'll notice in that verse there that the word appear or those verses that the word appear is used three times. And we have three different Greek words that sort of are related but sort of set forth a very similar pattern here on this aspect of the Lord's coming. So let's do our good old favorite line everybody should know that line by heart now. Everybody know the significance of that? (laughs) You know that's not our fault isn't. All right and we want to take these three words and then see how John it is a pistol is sort of dealing with the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and taking up a very similar thought. All right so we'll use Hebrews first of all as our base here and we have the word appear that used three times and it's like this. First of all we had the word that used of his past appearing. Christ appeared for us, past appearing. And then we have another word that used which speaks of Christ present appearing. And then we have a third word that used that speaks of Christ's future appearing consummating in the second coming. All right now let's look at Hebrews and pick out these three words here. First of all we'll take verse 26 which refers to the past appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ. For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world but now once in the end of the world or end of the age the word world there is the end of the age referring to the Old Testament Age. Once in the end of the age the Old Testament Age not the end of the world or the world or never come to an end. The age will but once in the end of the age half he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. So in verse 26 we have Christ past appearing. Then in verse 28 we'll go to we have Christ's future appearing. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that looked for him shall he appear the second time. This was his first coming, his first appearing. This is his second coming, his second appearing. So unto them to look for him shall he appear the second time without sin under salvation. So we have his past appearing his first coming. We have a future appearing his second coming and John's taking up the same thought that when he shall appear there will have confidence and not be ashamed before him and he's appearing and he's coming. Two different Greek words of course but referring to one and the same event. Then we go back to verse 24 where we had the third use of the word and because of our short time tonight I'm not going to bother you with Greek words here which three different Greek words having a different should of meaning. For Christ has not entered into the holy place as made with hands which are the figures of you but into heaven itself now to appear in the presence of God for us. So verse 24 we have his preparing. All right, now let's put it this way. His past appearing relates to, of course it involves the virgin birth and he's 30 years there but particularly content after the first thing half years at the cross. You see what verse 26 says. But now once in the end of the work he appears what for to put away soon by the sacrifice of himself. So he's first the thing by the virgin birth consummating in the cross and putting away sin by the sacrifice of love. So he's past appearing. And then we have his future appearing at the close of the three and a half years. Close of the three and a half years consummates first appearing, putting away sin. Close of the second three and a half years consummates second appearing. He's coming and this time as Paul says or the writer for the Hebrews says and to them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin under salvation. In other words, he's not coming as a sin sacrifice. He's not coming as a sin offering. He appears, he appeared the first time to put away sins by the sacrifice of himself. This time he appears not as a sin offering but appears unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin under salvation. Fall salvation, fall redemption. That's what's involved in the word zozo, salvation. Fall salvation, salvation in spirit, soul and body. The ultimate redemption of the body consummates there. So just as this consummated is first appearing after the first three and a half years that consummates his second appearing. Now here we are in between 2,000 years of the church age where Christ is appearing for us in heaven. Here he appeared on earth. Here he's going to appear from heaven coming to earth again. But here he appears in heaven for us. Secret appearing, that's in good in verse 24. Christ is not added into the holy places made with hands which are figures of the true but into heaven itself now to appear in the presence of God for us. So his presence, present appearing is in heaven for us. Here is on earth to put away sin. Here it's in heaven and here it's coming back from heaven to us here in the millennial kingdom. Now I want you to go over to John's epistle here and I want you to see the same word that you used here, finero, this past appearing. And John gives us four reasons why Christ appeared. He's past appearing. So let's just touch on these references briefly. Four reasons why Christ appeared. Number one, John chapter one, which we've already looked at, that's the same, remember the word appear or manifest it's the same Greek word that you used here. All right, John chapter one and verse two. For the life was manifested. Verse one, we need to probably pick up that which was from the beginning which we've heard, which we've seen with our eyes, which we've looked upon our hands of handle of the word of life, the word made flesh, the incarnate Christ, for the life appeared, the life was manifested and we have seen it. All right, number one, his first appearing here was to manifest the life of God. The eternal life, the life of God manifested in flesh, the word made flesh. Number two, the second reason for his past appearing is chapter three, verse five, which we just read a while back, chapter three, verse five. And you know that he was manifested or he appeared to take away sins. So number two, confirming what Hebrews said, he appeared to put away sins by the sacrifice of himself. So number two, he was manifested or appeared same Greek word to take away sins. Take our sins away. So manifested life, manifested to take away our sins. Number three, the third purpose John brings out about his appearing or he's being manifested is in verse eight, chapter three, verse eight. The middle of the verse, for this purpose, the son of God appeared or was manifested that he might destroy or bring to naught the works of the devil. All right, so works of the devil. Note the progression here. He was manifested to reveal the life of God. He was manifested to take away our sins. He was manifested to destroy the works of the devil. Past the appearing, he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. All right, number four, the fourth reason is chapter four and verse nine, where we had the same Greek word, chapter four, verse nine. In this was manifested, the love of God toward us because that God sent his only begotten son into the world that we might live through him. The word manifested is the same Greek word, he appeared. The love of God. So the fourth reason John says is the love of God. All right, the same Greek word. So in John, when he speaks of Christ past appearing, he appeared to manifest the life of God. He appeared to take away our sins. He appeared to destroy the works of the devil. He appeared to manifest to us the love of God. All of that points to Calvary's worth. 'Cause Calvary is a revelation of the love of God. It's a revelation of the life of God. It's a revelation where sin was judged, the revelation where Satan was judged, all in his past appearing. All right, now let's go to back to verse 28 here. And we'll go to his second appearing and then come back to the present one in a few minutes we'll finish. All right, verse 28, "And now little children abide in him "that when he shall appear." Now, he's already appeared once, bodily, the incarnation, the virgin birth, the incarnation, the word made flesh. He's already appeared to do these four things according to John's epistle. Now, he's pointing to the future when he shall appear that we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his perusea. Now, it's a very interesting thing. They go back to verse 19. And just as the anti-Christ and the many anti-Christ were made manifest and appeared, so John is saying, listen, let's read verse 19. They went out from us, but they were not of us, but if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us, but they went out that they might be made manifest, same Greek word, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. So the anti-Christ and the anti-Christ appeared and will appear. But we're not looking for the appearing of the anti-Christ. We're looking for the appearing of Christ. That's what John is saying. Well, look, those anti-Christ, the anti-Christ is gonna come. You've heard that anti-Christ shall come. Well, look, Jesus is coming. Christ is coming. You've heard that there's many anti-Christ and they're appearing on the scene, they're being made manifest. But don't worry about that because Christ is going to appear. He's gonna be made manifest. And I want you to have boldness and confidence and don't be ashamed before him or he's coming. And you know, a lot of Christians are gonna be ashamed and just have no confidence when he comes. Oh, well, Jesus and the comma wasn't ready. Yeah, it's just a shame before him, he's coming. And then verse two, and verse three of chapter three, tremendous hope for you, which we're gonna pick up in another session. Well, other now are we the children of God, we're sons of God, children of God, not queer, full mature sons, techno and little children. And it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him. How many want to be like Jesus? And if you like Jesus, it's like God because Jesus is the expressed image of God. When we see him, we shall be like him. For we will see him as he is. And every man that has this hope, looking for that blessed hope, and the glory is appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, every man that has this hope in him, not in himself, it's not having a hope in me, it is a hope in me, but this hope in him. What does he do? Purify himself, he's pure. I wanna spend a whole night, I think, on the laws of purification that John's eluding here. How do we prepare for Christ's appearing? All right, now, I want you to go back to Hebrews and then we'll finish on this 'cause our time has gone. Hebrews chapter nine, let's just go back to this now. All right, Hebrews 924, let's pick this up and let's read it again. For Christ is not entered into the holy places, made with hands, which are figures of the true, but into heaven itself now to appear in the presence of God for us. Now, Jesus appeared on earth, the incarnation, the word made flesh, and the consummation of his ministry on earth at the cross, life of God, take away our sins, destroy the works of the devil, and manifest the love of God. We're looking for his future appearing, but it's a very interesting thing, and it's our time is limited here, but it's very interesting that after the resurrection, it's a fantastic study just to go through the appearance of Jesus and how he appeared on the road to Emmaus, and then he broke bread. And then he appeared to them by the seaside and then disappeared. And we have all these tremendous appearances of Christ, and nearly every time that Christ appeared, and this word that you see of here is literally to show oneself, to reveal himself, then he disappeared. And then he'd appear again, and nearly every time Christ in this secret appearing, which is loaded, now every time in the secret appearance of Christ here, he was always at communion. Now, this Paul or what is Hebrews talking about here? The whole chapter is using the picture of the tabernacle, we'll finish and start. He is taking in this because he's used the three different words, p-translate appear, and the whole of Hebrews nine and 10, particularly chapter nine, is dealing with the tabernacle of Moses, and he's taking the picture of Aaron the High Priest and his ministry in Israel and the three appearing of Aaron. This is the picture that you have. Aaron had three appearing, and all of the money to the Lord Jesus Christ of this. So what does Aaron do? Here is the nation of Israel out here, and when Aaron came out, particularly on the day of Atonement, I'm using because that's what the book of Hebrews is built around, not pass over, not pass but the day of Atonement, and that's what these chapters are dealing with. So on the day of Atonement, which this language is talking about, this is what we find. Aaron came out, not his garments of glory and beauty, he laid them aside until he went in here. By appearing at the brazen altar to put away sin, not by the sacrifice of himself, or in contrast to Jesus, but to put away sin by the sacrifice of an animal. So all Israel gathered here and saw this appearing, disappearing of end the High Priest to put away sin by sacrifice. Then, that was the measurements of the adequate curtains, everybody remember that, 1500, 1500 qubits, linen area of 1500 qubits of linen area here, 1500 year old Christ appeared, 60 pillars here, 60 men in the bloodline to Christ. When he dies on the cross, blood and water, when he died on the cross, blood and water, braids and other, braids and labor. So Christ appeared at the end of the age, Christ, Aaron appears here. Then having burnt the body here on the altar, and he now takes the blood within the veil. And sprinkles it on the mercy seat. And nobody dare touch him as he entered into the presence of God for Israel. Touch me now, touch me now, I'm not yet ascended. Don't touch me until I do what Aaron shadowed me doing. So they couldn't see him, but they knew he was in the presence of God for them. Him having not seen, we love, and the joys with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Because they knew their High Priest was in there, they couldn't see him, but they knew he was in the presence of God for them. On the basis of, this sacrifice for sin. See, the tremendous picture in this, and the holy place was what? 10 by 10 by 22,000 cubits. And these three articles of furniture, all church-age printed, the communion table, these 66 books of the word of God, gifts of the Spirit, anointing eyes of prayer and intercession and so forth. Within the veil, there's no veil now, 'cause the cross went the veil. When he died on the cross, the door wasn't rent. When he died on the cross, the veil was rent. There's no veil. This is all one. We have access into the holiest of all. The day of the time was made possible by Calvary, we've never entered into it. But it's already done at Calvary. And here he is, sipped on my right hand on the mercy seat, the turn of God. So here he was ministering in the presence of God for them. But then, when that was finished, he appeared the second time without a sacrifice for sin. And he lifted up his hands and blessed the nation of Israel and put his name on them. You can see the tremendous picture. Jesus Christ, our high priest, has appeared to put away sin, not by the sacrifice of an hour, but by the sacrifice of himself. Now he has appeared in the 2,000 cubits in the persons of God for us. We can't see him, having not seen, but we love him. Blessed are they that have not seen. Blessed are they that have seen and believed, but more blessed are the day who have not seen yet believed. Did you know we are more blessed than those who saw him because it takes more faith to trust when you cannot see. And just as this ministry was finished, he came up the second time. Christ is going to leave the heavenly mercy seat, the heavenly sanctuary, and come the second time to them that look for him. And when we see him, we will be like him. - Be sure to visit kevinconner.org for more information about Kevin, his books, and his ministry. (gentle music) (guitar music)