December 17 - I John 1-5
This letter of I John is blunt and repetitious. This style is understandable since John wrote it in his old age. The older I get the more I tend to be "to the point" and to repeat myself. I think a lot of it comes from having really centered on what is important and what is not. These themes come through loud and clear in I John, don't they? What do you think about John's emphases? They are pretty important, aren't they?
We all sin. (1:10) However, the Christian keeps God's commandments. (2:4) In fact, if a person does not practice righteousness, he is not a Christian. (2:29) A born again person does not continue to sin constantly, because he is born of God. (3:9) All of this is blunt, but it is true. When we sin as Christians, we are to confess our sins, and he will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1:9) It does not appear to me that John means we will keep committing that sin indefinitely, but that He will cleanse us of it, so we can practice righteousness. After all, we are saved from sin, not to sin.
If we are saved we will love other believers. (2:9) We don't get to pick. That means all believers. That means your husband or your wife, if they are believers. This is true because God is love. (4:8) Therefore, if God is in us, we have the ability to love others, especially other believers. (4:11) In fact, if you hate your brother, you are not saved. (4:20) If you have a problem with this, you have a problem with God's truth. It all fits together, doesn't it? Then, why don't people believe it and practice it? I believe we try to fit Christianity to how we want to live. That is not possible. God sets the rules, and He is our judge.
Finally, the spirit of Antichrist denies that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. (4:2,3) We must not listen to anyone who has the spirit of Antichrist. They are spreading Satan's lies about Jesus. The world will like what they are saying and reject us, but that is evidence of the truth. (4:6) We must not want to be accepted by this world. The world killed our Lord, and the world will be against us, if we follow Him. However, we can have full joy, if we do follow Him, because He is the giver of joy. (1:4) I pray that you will have this joy as you love God and keep His commandments. His commandments are not burdensome. (5:3) It is a joy to know Christ and to live for Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II John, III John, and Jude.
We all sin. (1:10) However, the Christian keeps God's commandments. (2:4) In fact, if a person does not practice righteousness, he is not a Christian. (2:29) A born again person does not continue to sin constantly, because he is born of God. (3:9) All of this is blunt, but it is true. When we sin as Christians, we are to confess our sins, and he will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1:9) It does not appear to me that John means we will keep committing that sin indefinitely, but that He will cleanse us of it, so we can practice righteousness. After all, we are saved from sin, not to sin.
If we are saved we will love other believers. (2:9) We don't get to pick. That means all believers. That means your husband or your wife, if they are believers. This is true because God is love. (4:8) Therefore, if God is in us, we have the ability to love others, especially other believers. (4:11) In fact, if you hate your brother, you are not saved. (4:20) If you have a problem with this, you have a problem with God's truth. It all fits together, doesn't it? Then, why don't people believe it and practice it? I believe we try to fit Christianity to how we want to live. That is not possible. God sets the rules, and He is our judge.
Finally, the spirit of Antichrist denies that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. (4:2,3) We must not listen to anyone who has the spirit of Antichrist. They are spreading Satan's lies about Jesus. The world will like what they are saying and reject us, but that is evidence of the truth. (4:6) We must not want to be accepted by this world. The world killed our Lord, and the world will be against us, if we follow Him. However, we can have full joy, if we do follow Him, because He is the giver of joy. (1:4) I pray that you will have this joy as you love God and keep His commandments. His commandments are not burdensome. (5:3) It is a joy to know Christ and to live for Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II John, III John, and Jude.