We Know
The apostle John gives the child of God confidence throughout his first epistle. He does so by focussing on things that "we know", the phrase appearing 17 times in the book. Among the topics addresses, we find our relationship with God, our spiritual walk, and eternity.
1 John 2:3 states of the Lord that "...we know that we know Him if we keep His commandments." Many feel that they are a child of God, but we can know for sure. If we will do the will of God, then we know Him. John continues, "He who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in Him. By this we know that we are in Him." (1 John 3:4-5) If we will obey God's word "...we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given to us." (1 John 3:24)
1 John 5:18 reads, "We know that whoever is born of God does not sin..." As the children of God, we are called to holiness and righteousness. John wrote, "If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him." (1 John 2:29) We must keep ourselves from sin, for "...he who sins is of the devil..." (1 John 3:8), and "...whoever abides in Him does not sin." (1 John 3:6)
What a wonderful thought, that we are "born of God". The Lord God is our Father - He has adopted us as children and given us victory through His Son (1 John 5:4-5). Praise be to God that we can know Him, and be known of Him!
John speaks about some spiritual truths that we know. Notice at 1 John 2:18, the apostle tells us that "...we know that it is the last hour." Some in the religious world talk a lot about the last days and events surrounding it. Here, the apostle very plainly tells us that in his time, the last hour had come. We have been in the last days since the first century (Hebrews 1:1-2).
We will hear folks speak about the antichrist a lot today. Theories abound about who the Antichrist is, where he will come from, etc.. But friend, John had alraedy told us about the antichrist (not a specific person, but a class of people), and indicated that they were present in his day. Who is antichrist? Folks who have turned from the faith (1 John 2:19) and deny the Christ (1 John 2:22; 4:3; 2 John 7). We are in the last days, and have been since the first century, but do not know when the end will come (Matthew 25:13). Thus, we must always be ready.
“Praise be to God that we can know Him, and be known by Him!”
Again, John reminds us of something we know and can be assured of, "...we know that He hears us..." (1 John 5:15) What a wonderful avenue and blessing prayer is. We have the ability, through Christ Jesus, to have our petitions brought before and heard at the throne of heaven. Let us be sure to ask in faith (James 1:6-7; 5:15-16), and in accordance with the will of God (1 John 3:22; 5:14; James 4:3).
In 1 John 5:20 we find that "...we know... the Son... has given us an understanding..." God has not left His children in want. John presents himself throughout the book as a trustworthy witness (1 John 1:1-4; 4:14; 5:13). The apostle Paul emphasized that we can and muset understand the will of God (Ephesians 1:17-18; 3:1-6). We need to be diligent students of the Scriptures, that we might gain the understanding it provides.
When the end comes, John says "...it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him..." (1 John 3:2) What a wonderful promise. We will not wear this corrupt body into eternity, but will receive a new, eternal body (1 Corinthians 15:35-44).
John says of the Christ, that "...we know love, because He laid down His life for us." (1 John 3:16) God has demonstrated love to us (Romans 5:8). We need to demonstrate love to one another (1 John 3:18; 4:9-11; 5:2).
And finally, we are told that "...we know the spirit of truth and the spirit or error." (1 John 4:6) God is the source of truth. Jesus told us that the word of God is truth (John 17:17), and that He Himself is truth (John 14:6). Satan is the source of error (John 8:44). Let us not believe everything that we hear, but "...test the spirits, whether they are of God..." (1 John 4:1) There are many who teach error, so we must be like the Bereans, who "...searched the Scriptures daily..." (Acts 17:11)
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Answering The Atheist
The Atheist's Complaint:
How should the Moabites be treated? Deuteronomy 2:9 tells the Israelites to not fight against them or take their lands, but Judges 3:28-30 and Jeremiah 48:2 says to kill them and take their land. Is there a contradiction?
Response:
What the questioner had done is demonstrated that the relationship between Israel & Moab changed over the course of time. For the verses presented to be contradictory, it would be necessary that the LORD said at the same time, "do not fight them or take their lands" and "kill them and take their land". Such is not the case.
Deuteronomy 2 records the history of Israel as they approached the land of Canaan. As they did so, they sought to cross over the land belonging to Edom (v 4-7; Numbers 20:14-21), but were not permitted. Having skirted the land of Edom, they then passed through the wilderness of Moab (Deuteronomy 2:8). It was then that the LORD cautioned the people, "Do not harass Moab, nor contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession." (Deuteronomy 2:9). They were on their way to receive a possession - the land of Moab was not part of it.
Many years later, when Israel was established in the land, we find that God used Moab as a means of punishing Israel (Judges 3:12). Israel served Eglon, king of Moab for 18 years (v 14), until Ehud came as a deliverer (v 16-23; 26-30). What the exact passage of time was, we cannot be sure, but it was over the period of several generations.
Given the relationship of the two countries at the time of Moses, God instructed him to leave them alone. However, at the time of Ehud, Moab had become an enemy of Israel, and thus Ehud was given a different message than Moses. Circumstances had changed.
Many, many more years passed, and then we come to the word of the LORD against Moab, as givne through the prophet Jeremiah. it seems that the questioner believes these words were spoken about Israel's actions toward Moab. Such is not the case. The things recorded against Moab in Jeremiah were accomplished by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.
There is no contradiction.
This article is in response to Skeptic's Annotated Bible.