Antwan

The anti-Christ that is expected to come is a leader lead by Satan that will have control of a world-wide government. He will attempt to set himself up above everything called "God", and will desire to be worshiped as God, setting himself up in God's temple in Jerusalem; in other words, he is the one that opposes and tries to take the place of Christ, who will come to power in the world. The difference between the anti-Christ that is to come and the anti-Christs that were at work in John's day up into the present is that the ones at work then and now bring in heretical teachings to secretly ensnare believers in Christ; some don't out right come against Christ, but twist the true doctrine. Some ways we can see the spirit of anti-Christ at work today are things that downplay the principles of God, from taking prayer out of schools, to taking the ten commandments out of public places in fear that it will offend those who don't believe in them.

****/sexual fantasy (**** of the eyes), sexual sin/adultery/fornication (**** of the flesh), and self-righteousness/vanity--materialism (pride of life) are examples of the worldliness John was talking about. Getting entangled in such is detrimental because these things are only temporary, and will pass away with the world; if we become seduced and ensnared by these things, we will pass away with the present world and the things of it.

The term "world" in this case refers to the present system and order of this age that caters to the natural man and the flesh and is opposed to God. Loving the things that are pleasurable to the flesh--looking lustfully on someone, boasting in the possessions that we may have, indulging in gratifying the flesh (even if it goes against God's commands), etc.--are the things that keeps us away from loving the Father.

I believe John encourages them to keep them from becoming discouraged from continuing on the right path, and also because he probably doesn't want them to become concerned about feeling as if their salvation is on shaky ground regarding the topics written before about hatred, sin, darkness, etc. He encourages them by reminding them that they have already overcome this present world and the evil one that controls it through their position in Christ.

How does hate and unforgiveness blind us spiritually? I think hate and unforgiveness blocks us from experiencing God. Since God is love, how can those who truly know Him hate someone that is not only created in His image, but is also one of His children (in Christ). Also, we are required to forgive as God is willing to forgive us, and if we do not walk after God, Who is light, in this way, it causes us to stand in darkness and remain blind as to where we are spiritually. If we have been darkened by hurt and hate, how do we come into the light? The way out of the darkness of hurt and hate is to follow the commandment of God, which is to love God and one another.

I believe the way to obey Christ without being legalistic/self-righteous is to live life in such a way that is pleasing to God out of love and thanksgiving for the sacrifice He made in saving us. This takes the focus off of us and puts it on God.We don't live a morally upstanding life to get the credit, but because of what God did for us. So to me, legalism is being "good" for selfish motives, so others can see the "good" we do, but love is selfless, taking the focus off one's self and putting it unto God.

The assurance we have if we do sin is that we have an Advocate with God the Father--Jesus Christ, who is at the Father's right hand pleading our case. That in itself is comforting, but also, not only is Jesus pleading the case of those who place their trust in Him, but His blood/Himself has already provided the sacrifice for our sins, so this gives Him the right to plead our case. This should make us want to avoid sin out of love and gratitude for the sacrifice that has been made.

I would define "confession" as being honest with God and others about who we are, all of who we are, the good and the bad, but especially fessing up to our faults to God and fellow believers. Confession of sins is important, because it allows God to forgive and cleanse us of the sin. In addition, in confessing, we are not only honest with God and others, but we are preventing self-deception. If confession of sin stops, the one who doesn't confess, and their relationship to God and His church are again strained. If we confess our sins, God can be trusted to forgive us and cleanse us from sin. The difference between (God's)forgiveness and cleansing, is that God's forgiveness concerns Him not holding us to the verdict of sin we have committed; through the blood of Jesus, we do not have to pay the price required for sin. Cleansing refers to God helping us overcome the sin that we are in so that we don't have to go back to it, as well as washing our conscience, so we don't have to bare the burden of the guilt of sin.

What is the result when a Christian walks in darkness (continues willfully to do what he or she knows to be wrong)? The result of a Christian continuing to do what he/she knows to be wrong is that they begin to deceive themselves regarding their relationship with God and fellow believers; the deception is that they believe they can remain in sin and not hurt the relationship with God and other Christians, which is not true. The fellowship with God is hurt because the one walking in darkness knowingly does what God has told them not to do; the fellowship with other Christians is damaged, because in sinning, they are separated from the group in following God/being in the light; they, in a sense, are not truly "fellow" Christians with the others because they are taking another path. The result of walking in light is that we have fellowship with other believers, because we are on the same path--towards God, and in God. When we continue to walk in the light, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

Why is our fellowship with fellow Christians so often on a surface level? I believe fellowship with other Christians is often on a surface-level, because we often pretend with one another, wanting fellow believers in Christ to know only what we think are our "good" qualities, and trying to cover our sins and flaws, sometimes even deceiving ourselves into thinking that we can hide these sins from God. How can we have a fellowship at a deeper level in Christ? To have a deeper relationship with fellow Christians in Christ, we all have to be honest to one another about who we really are, and when fellow Christians are honest about their shortcomings with us, we should love and accept them in Christ, and recognize that they are a work in progress, gradually becoming more like Christ over time; realize it is not an overnight thing. Honesty and acceptance/love in Christ is what makes the fellowship unique.