Not everyone who says they know God truly knows God. Those who truly know God do not practice sin habitually and intentionally, for
that is living in darkness. Fellowship with the Father and Son means living in the light, not in darkness. Genuine believers fellowship with
God and with one another, not in sin, but in obedience. But if they do sin, they can confess their sin, meaning to admit the guilt, and God
is faithful and just to forgive them their sins. Why? Because of the blood of Jesus, which means because of His suffering and death.

John explained that there are false believers who say they know God, but they do not obey Him. These are liars. Genuine believers love
and do not hate. Those who hate their brother are still in darkness. John was addressing bad behavior that resulted in false teaching.
John would also encourage the community to remain faithful, even if some have left due to false teachings. He explained that they were
never really one of us. Although John encouraged them to love one another, he made a clear separation from those who left. 

Danger lurked in the early church in the form of false teaching. False teaching leads to false belief, which leads to ungodly living. John wrote to protect the flock from false teachings. John repelled any teaching that downplayed the seriousness of sin. He wrote against disobedience, hatred, and loving the world.  He wrote that whoever loves the world, the love of the Father is not in Him. It is  aligned to the statement, “Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 Jn 2:4). Thus, every genuine  believer must not love the world nor the things in the world. Otherwise, the truth is not in him, and the love of Father is not in him. 

John reminded the readers of the old commandment, which is also the new commandment. He was writing about loving one another. John further explained that those who hate their brother are not in the light; they are still in darkness. But those who walk in the light love other disciples, and they do not stumble nor do they lead others to sin. John would then encourage the readers about knowing God, forgiveness of sins, overcoming evil, and strength. The writer would then warn against loving the world because the one who loves the world does not have the love of the Father.

John made his purpose clear. He wrote so that readers would not sin because living in sin is walking in darkness. However, he warned that anyone who claims to have no sin is a liar. What did he mean? He meant to say that all are sinners; however, those who walk in the light confess their sins. They are not comfortable with the darkness. The author then made a strong connection between knowing God and keeping His commands. Furthermore, John would make a connection between the light and loving the brothers, and hatred and living in the darkness. 

John claimed to have personally witnessed the Lord Jesus Christ in the flesh, yet he declares that the Son of God is eternal. The writings of John reveal that Jesus is truly God and truly man. The author also wrote about true fellowship with the Father and the Son, as well as the fellowship of believers with one another in Him. John emphasized that God is light and there is no darkness in Him. Thus, all who claim to have fellowship with Him should walk in the light and not live in darkness. Although true believers cannot claim to be sinless, they cannot live in the darkness. Instead, they should confess their sins, for that is part of living in the light. Such forgiveness and cleansing are made possible by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

John provides a solid introduction about Christ's divinity and humanity, claiming Christ existed from the beginning, before creation, and as its Creator. 1 This introduction mirrors the Gospel of John's prologue. 2 John presents Christ as the Word of Life and Eternal Life, addressing early Docetism, which taught Christ only appeared human but never became man. John corrects this false teaching and another error: that one can continue in sin while claiming to walk in the light.

John, the apostle, wrote this letter amid the rising false teaching, an early form of Gnosticism. This early form denied Christ's humanity. The false teaching confused the believers. The apostle wrote to defend the doctrine that Christ, even though God, was also human. He also assured the believers of their salvation and instructed them to walk in truth and love. John affirmed the incarnation, which rejected the early Gnostic teachings. The author also claimed to have been an eyewitness to Christ Himself. John would also emphasize the fellowship of believers in Christ.

Peter, the apostle, urges believers experiencing persecution to honor Christ in their hearts and to explain their hope in Him. The believers must present the gospel with reason and with gentleness and respect. 

The first three sermons showed that Jesus is God through the writings of John. The fourth examined Paul’s witness to Christ’sdivinity. The fifth drew from the book of Hebrews. The sixth sermon was from the letters of Peter. The seventh sermon highlighted the divinity of Christ as seen in the writings of Isaiah, the prophet. The eighth sermon proved that Christ is God based on the prophecies of Micah, Daniel, and Malachi. The ninth sermon reminded us to contend for the faith, just like the apostles and church fathers expressed through the Creeds, such as the Nicene, Chalcedonian, and Athanasian. This tenth sermon will highlight some of the significant Post-Reformation creeds. 

The first three sermons showed that Jesus is God through the writings of John. The fourth examined Paul’s witness to Christ’s divinity. The fifth drew from the book of Hebrews. The sixth sermon was from the letters of Peter. The seventh sermon highlighted the divinity of Christ as seen in the writings of Isaiah, the prophet. The eighth sermon proved that Christ is God based on the prophecies of Micah, Daniel, and Malachi. This ninth sermon reminds us to contend for the faith, just like the apostles and church fathers expressed through the Creeds.