APOSTOLIC CHURCH & THE "MARK"

1 John.2
[1] My little children, 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:
[2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
[3] And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
[4] He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
[5] But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
[6] He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
[7] Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
[8] Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
[9] He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
[10] He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
[11] But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
[12] I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
[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, because ye have known the Father.
[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.
[15] Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
[16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
[17] And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
[18] Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now are there many Antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
[19] They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
[20] But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
[21] I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
[22] Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
[23] Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
[24] Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
[25] And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
[26] These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
[27] But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
[28] 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.
[29] If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

Vs 18 Speaks of "Antichrist" and Vs 22 goes on to state that an Antichrist is he "who is a liar that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?" Deny how? This is not speaking of unsaved sinners that have not yet believed, but is referring to those among us who deny Jesus is the Christ by not "keeping his commandments" vs 4. This entire portion of scripture is focused on not "hating our brethren!"

So when we hate our brother, we deny the Son and the father! And we are Antichrist. It is not a matter of "lip service" we can say we know him all we want, but if we do not keep his commandments, especially the "greatest" LOVE...we deny him!

1 John1:11 "For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.:"(1John2[7] Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.)

So we see the main theme is the LOVE commandments! When we do not keep them, we are "Antichrist" and we are "marked" as such. The following verse shows us to not be as CAIN!.....

[12] Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

[13] Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

[14] We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

[15] Whosoever hateth his brother is a {murderer:} and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

[16] Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

[17] But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
[18] My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
[19] And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
[20] For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
[21] Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
[22] And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
[23] And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
[24] And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.



Vs 15 makes it clear that one is a "murderer " a "CAIN" if he hates his brother. What is hate defined?

It is defined by WHAT IT IS NOT, but what love is...1Cor 13: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing.
4 Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity braggs not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil;
6 Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Charity never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now stays faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.(LOVE)

When we back-bite, slander,falsely accuse, judge (outside scriptural church discipline) we are hating!!! It does not matter what you justify with words, "oh I don't hate them, but they need to quit sinning/doing/saying... be what I think they should be like,look like, act like etc....." It is what we do, not what we say we do not do!

If we are slicing and dicing with our tongues...James 3:1 "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

3Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

4Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. ( for they loved not the truth)

15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

The 'Word' says if our words are not what "Love" says...then it is opposite = Hate! And we take the "MARK" of Cain.

The "SCHISM" that happened was not out of "love"...but hate!1 Cor 11: 17"Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you:"

And the "Heresy from the divisions is lack of "Love" not doctrinal "touch not,taste not,handle not" little fox's destroying the vineyard."

It is men puffed up, on both sides who have let the enemy "Accuse the Brethren" of "whatever" so they can be "right" and further their own "agenda's". They have fallen to the "APOSTASY" and have forgotten their "first love...Love itself!" And are deceived that we have the love of God, but like the ten brothers of Joseph, cast out their own brother, because of jealousy,pride,and self righteousness!

[16] "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
In all of our ecclesiastical "machinations" has either side 'Right vs Left' ...really obeyed God and laid down our life? Our thoughts, opinions, man made dogmas and peripheral "straining at gnats & swallowing camels?"

The "Love of the World" crept in...not the obvious "Kosmos" of the un-believing world, but the "Ecclesiastical World" we set up, "in the holy place!" His Church. An abomination of desolation!

You see dear reader, when MAN calls "The Church" what can not be found in Bible as such, just because this group or that group passes resolutions, condemns this or upholds that, matters not one whit to God.

When Jesus says he will "MARK" his disciples that they shall be known..."for they shall have Love, one for another" that's the "Mark" he will see, not what we say!

"WE love them, we just won't fellowship with them" Really? Seriously? Does anyone really believe The Word of God returns void? "can the eye say to the toe I have no need of thee?

While God will judge us each according to our works, to avoid him seeing the "wrong Mark"....we need a 2 Chronicles 7:14 Church- wide alter call!

We need to re-organize our man-made institutions that give rise to "Presbyterianism" in structure, and model ourselves on the Bible and not the denominational daughters of Rome.Take the 666 Gold/mammon equation out of leadership and the "preacher-worship" also and we just might be included in God's end-time prophetic VICTORY!