I John 3:24 (Part 2)

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Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

THE STUDY:

           In this verse John introduces the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. How does God dwell in the heart of the believer? Through the work and testimony of the Holy Spirit. No believer can ever say that he does not know whether God lives within him. The Spirit of God testifies in the heart of the Christian and gives him this knowledge and assurance.^[1]

          The crowning evidence of this mutuality of life is that God gives the Spirit. Obeying God’s commands and doing what pleases him (v 22) demonstrates faith in God’s Son, Jesus Christ (v 23). God demands that we love one another (v 23). Our obedience to this and, indeed, all God’s commands means we live in him (v 24). The Spirit he gave us (v 24) bears witness to the intimacy of this relationship. It is this Spirit of faith and love who enables us to believe and to love, thus enabling us to know that God lives in us. So God (Father), Jesus Christ (Son), and the Holy Spirit all are affirmed together in this portion.^[2]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that we can rest assure that the love that pours from us bears witness to the one who dwells inside us. Our actions, attitude, and words will demonstrate what and who dwells inside our hearts.

CONCLUSION:

           One summer a man spent some time at Mount Robson, British Columbia, where he camped and lived with fellow mountaineers of the Alpine Club of Canada. On a rainy day a group of them were drinking tea in a tent, when a discussion arose about religion. A young scientist turned to the man with a patronizing air and said, “But you don’t really believe, do you, that Jesus is the Son of God?” he said. “How do you know it is true?” The man simply did what any other convinced man would have done: He looked him straight in the eye and said: “How do I know that Jesus is the Son of God? I know it, because I know Him personally.” For at least a half-minute their eyes locked. Then he turned away. The argument was over.

          I pray this morning you understand that if you have: asked, believe, and have confessed, You then have the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Not a portion of Him but ALL. Why? Because you know Him personally!

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (319). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

^[2] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (129–130). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

I John 3:24

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Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

THE STUDY:

          One of the things that I am finding as I study God’s word is that God is a reactional God! James 4:8 “Come near to God and He will come near to you,” and in this passage we read, “Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him.” This is a prime example of God not violating our free will. We are the ones God is waiting on, not the other way around.

          In this verse we read the word “abide” which means to remain in God! Looking at the entire book of I John we can find this word used over 25 times. This is a great indicator that John is trying to make a point: REMAIN IN GOD! John's readers are followers of Jesus but yet they are being led astray by this new view of Jesus (Gnostics). If they remain in God, He remains in them. We can safely say that if they don’t remain in God, He will not remain in them.

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning knowing this, those who keep God’s word in their heart experience God making his home with them. As an eighth-century English theologian, the Venerable Bede, wrote, “Let God, then, be a home for you, and you be the home of God; remain in God and let God remain in you.”^[1]

CONCLUSION:

           I find, in my own life, times when I try to get God to do what I want and not what He wants. These are those times when we must remain in Him. You might be having a difficult time in your life right now or you might come across someone today who is going through a difficult time. Remember to remain in God and He will remain in you.

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (318–319). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

I John 3:23 (Part 2)

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And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

THE STUDY:

          Some would believe that there are two commandments in this verse; believe and love. But in all reality these two are one in the same. Believing in the Son and loving one another constitute one command. A single purpose clause connects them as one. You cannot believe in Christ yet hate someone. The word “believe” in the Greek (pisteuo) means to have FAITH IN. The word “love” in the Greek (agapao) means to SHOW LOVE. Basically this means, if we have “faith in” Christ we will show “love” toward others. Faith that works flows from faith in Christ. If we have it we will show it, and if we show it people will know we have it. True love is what separates us from the world.

          The presence of the Spirit enables the Christian to receive God’s love and to respond to this love with love to others. This emphasis parallels the exchange between Jesus and “an expert in the law.” There eternal life is said to rest in supreme love for God and selfless love for neighbors (Luke 10:25–28). John insists that faith toward God will be evident in tangible love toward others.^[1]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that belief in Christ should produce love for others. If we don’t love others we may not be one in Christ. We don’t expect anything in return from those we are showing love to. We are expected to LOVE! Loving one another is not an option but a commandment!

CONCLUSION:

          Archbishop Usher was once wrecked on the coast of Ireland, and almost destitute of clothing he wandered to the house of a clergyman. The ecclesiastic was quite wary and somewhat cold and incredulous. “How many commandments are there?” he suddenly asked, thinking to detect an impostor.

 “I can at once satisfy you that I am not the ignorant imposter you take me for,” replied the archbishop, “there are eleven commandments.” “No,” was the sneering comment, “there are but ten commandments in my Bible. Tell me the eleventh and I will give you all the help you need.” “There it is,” said the archbishop, pointing to this verse: “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another as I have loved you.”

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (129). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

I John 3:23 (Part 1)

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And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

THE STUDY:

          We see the word “commandment” in this passage and it should draw our attention to it. But, for many of us, we skip that word and look at the words “believe” and “love.” The word “commandment” (etole) is defined in the Greek as; order, command, instruct! Picture yourself buying a new item that has to be assembled. It comes with instructions and if you don’t follow those instructions there is a good chance the item will not work or look like that which you saw in the store. Another example is when you are given a command to do something but if you don’t fulfill that command there will be negative consequences.

          Being given a command or a book of instructions should not be looked at as a negative but a positive. We don’t see people getting upset because they were given a command to do something that they saw would benefit them. I have yet to meet a person who got upset after being instructed to do something that they realized would caused them great joy.

          The times I have seen people get upset or angry at a command or instruction is when it appears to be something they don’t like. disapprove of, or don't see as a benefit. God’s commandments are not something we will always like but they are for our benefit.

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that God has our best interest at heart. Just as a parent is not lying in bed at night thinking of ways to make their kid’s lives miserable, God is not sitting around thinking of ways to make our lives miserable. His commandments do just the opposite. His commandments are because he knows and wants the best for us.

CONCLUSION:

          The editor of a small weekly newspaper in a town in the West was finding it difficult to fill his columns. So he had his compositor set up the Ten Commandments, and ran them without making any editorial comment. Three days after the paper was published he received a letter saying:

 “Please cancel my subscription. You’re getting too personal.”

          Let today be a day that we embrace God’s commandments and trust that the reason for them is because he loves us and are for our benefit.

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

I John 3:21-22 (Part 2)

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21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

THE STUDY:

The other day we looked at God calling us to be holy which enables us to become what he requires. Thus the confidence we enjoy is both now and preparation for the future. Today as a result of active participation in the truth by real deeds of love, Christians can calm their disapproving hearts and achieve boldness in prayer, and their prayers will be answered because they, as believers, are consciously subject to God’s will (they obey His commands and do what pleases Him). This presumes, of course, that the requests themselves are made in subjection to God’s will.^[1]

The author of Hebrews encourages the believer to approach that throne with confidence (Heb. 4:16; Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace).^[2] The word confidence originally described the full citizen of a Greek city-state who had the democratic right to speak freely. In New Testament times Jesus and the apostles spoke with confidence when they publicly proclaimed the gospel. We have the freedom to go to God in prayer and have fellowship with him and the Son, Jesus Christ.^[3]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning understanding that as we grow in Christ our confidence grows. Our nature starts to become the nature of Christ. What we are asking the Father to do is what the Son would be asking as well.

CONCLUSION:

          Years ago a young missionary had to flee from western China. An infuriated mob hotly pursued him. He hastily boarded a river boat. The mob, too, came on the boat. Then he jumped into the river. The mob began to throw spears at him. Miraculously he escaped, unharmed. When he was telling of the ordeal later, a friend asked him, “What verse from the Bible came to you as you were darting beneath the boat to escape the spears of the mob?” “Verse?” he asked in astonishment, “why, the Lord Himself was with me!”

          We don’t have to have a bible in our hands or a cross around our neck to have the presence of God with us. If we have asked, believed, and confessed then the Spirit of God is with us. This is our confidence!

           

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (1 Jn 3:21–22). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[2] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (316). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

^[3] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (316–317). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

I John 3:21-22 (Part 1)

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21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

THE STUDY:

Yesterday we looked at having this sureness found, not in our works but in our faith in God. In his love and Mercy is where we find assurance. This is found in an all-knowing God. Thus, the love of the all-knowing God enables the people of God to have “confidence before God.” In Greek, parrēsian conveys the meanings “courage, confidence, boldness, fearlessness.” Strengthened by the Judge before whom all will someday stand, we can come, not fearfully, but with assurance. God calls us to be holy and enables us to become what he requires. Thus the confidence we enjoy is both now (specifically related to prayer) and preparation for the future.^[1]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning knowing that we are not hanging on by a thread while God sits there with a pair of clippers ready to snip us into hell. God is doing everything possible to allow us the opportunity to have a relationship with Him. Once we enter into this relationship with Him, we now are equipped to live out this relationship through his strength, power, love, and grace that dwells inside us.

CONCLUSION:

           We’ve often wondered how waitresses could remember the various orders for different meals that they receive day in and day out. And now we know, because while we were getting impatient at our table the other day, we called to the girl: “Waitress, have you forgotten me?”

 And, to the amusement of everyone around, she answered pertly, “Oh, no, sir! Indeed not. You’re the stuffed tomato!”

          Let us remember today that God doesn’t forget us. In this faith we can find confidence in God. A god who is not out to trip us up but catch us when we do fall.

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (127). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

I John 3:19-20 (Part 4)

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By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

THE STUDY:

This morning the word that jumps out at me is “everything!” God knows and sees everything! What is the “everything” God knows? Is it that we are better or worse than we think? Have we failed to love, or have we loved better than we think? God “knows we are basically lovers of the brethren (v 14) and as such, are lovers ‘of the truth’ (v 19).” Is our assurance primarily grounded in our performance or in God’s love and mercy?^[1]

Since the issue here is “whenever our hearts condemn us,” our assurance is found in god’s love and Mercy. God’s forgiving love in the “blood of Jesus” is greater than our hearts. The condition is our troubled hearts, the consequence is that God in Christ is greater than our hearts. And the explanation is that God knows us better than we know ourselves. We can trust his love!^[2]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning understanding that God’s love and Mercy is where our assurance lay. Not how good we are in regards to works but how good God is! Not in our occupation (pastor, teacher, etc …) but in God’s occupation: HOLINESS!

• We also walk away understanding that this love and mercy is not something to be taken for granted. Accepting God and his love and mercy is an act that is initiated by us. This love and mercy can also be rejected and left behind by the same person: US!

CONCLUSION:

           What I find so amazing about God is that he sees us for who we can become and not who we are at moments in our lives. Those moments that are not very appealing. I am reminded of times in my life that I have said something, did something, or acted out over something in a very ungodly way. I would look in the mirror afterwards and think to myself, “I don’t like who I see or what I did!” If it was up to me I would have done away with myself. But God didn’t just see those ungodly acts, He saw who I was to become. For that, I am so thankful!

          This morning, you may have said something or did something, recently, that you are not too proud of. I want to encourage you by letting you know that God has seen what happened but He also sees who you can become. Ask God to forgive you and move toward that person God know you can become.

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (127). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

^[2] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (127). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

I John 3:19-20 (Part 3)

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By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

THE STUDY:

          Why is it that our hearts will tell us one thing but our mind seems to contradict it? The heart may not be a reliable indicator. We may live under self-condemnation, although our actual spiritual condition, known better by God than by us, is secure. A troubled heart may reflect an unnecessarily anxious condition, lacking in trust. But God is “greater than our hearts;” his mercy is the deciding word. He is more merciful to us than is our own conscience. John wants his readers to find their assurance from God, who in spite of knowing “everything” about us yet loves us immensely.^[1]

          If I ponder on something from my past long enough I can fell a sense of guilt. I don’t like what I have done in my past but I have been forgiven and that is where I need to place my faith. My heart may still feel the guilt of it but as for my salvation, due to my repentant heart, I am a child of the King. What I need to do is ask the Holy Spirit to remove this guilt so I can live a life that is fully free in Christ. Just as John has stated in this verse, “for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart!”

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that our spiritual condition is not always dictated correctly by the feelings of our heart. Forgiveness of sin is one thing but guilt of that sin is another. Self-condemnation is not something that directly effects our salvation but our heart. Let God have the guilt as well as the sin and then live a life that is free in Christ.

CONCLUSION:

           A young man found himself divorced and his little girl no longer lived with him. He had visitation rights but as for time with his daughter, it was very limited. Through this situation the father found Christ and went on to live a successful life. He was forgiven of the sins of the past but he always felt the guilt of his daughter not knowing what it was like to have two parents living under the same roof and raising her.  

          In order to live a life free in Christ, the father surrendered that guilt to Jesus and now lives in the fullness of Christ. As for the daughter, she has grown up to be a beautiful young lady and has a wonderful relationship with her dad.

          Don’t let Satan try and take away your Joy in the Lord. Surrender it all (sins and guilt) to Christ and live is His full love!

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (127). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

I John 3:19-20 (Part 2)

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By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

THE STUDY

          Yesterday we looked at the idea of what is in our hearts is what will be demonstrated to those around us. If we have the love of God in our hearts then that is what (and should) be pouring from within.

          Only a faith that works can set our hearts at rest. The plural hearts translates the singular kardia. So the text speaks of one heart. Biblical writers occasionally used the concept of corporate personality in which one person represented the whole community. Here, the many is placed with a singular noun, heart. The net effect is to stress the unity of the body of believers. Although we are many, we have one heart. And when this one-in-heart group acts in love, our common heart can be at rest (peisomen, lit. we will persuade; see Heb 13:18) in the presence of God (emprosthen autou: before him). The expression “reassure … before him” (nrsv) suggests the judgment seat of God or Christ (Matt 25:32; Luke 21:36; 2 Cor 5:10; 1 Thess 2:19; 3:13). The verb “we know” (gnōsometha) is a middle voice suggesting knowledge that validates the claim of the person—for ourselves. A few manuscripts read simply ginōskomen (we are knowing). This knowledge assures us that we belong to the truth.^[1]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH …

• We walk away this morning with the sense that we can have this assurance that we are Children of God! We belong to the truth which sets us free. We don’t have to wake up every morning wondering if we have fallen short or missed the mark. Our fruits will demonstrate our oneness with His Spirit. Friends, family members, and complete strangers will see and know, as well as ourselves, that we are in the truth.  

         

CONCLUSION:

          A visitor asked an old, bedridden woman who said she was trying to be a Christian: “Are you trying to be Mrs. Whyte?” “No, I am Mrs. Whyte.” “How long have you been Mrs. Whyte?” “Ever since this ring was put on my finger.” “That is how it is with me. I do not try to be a Christian. I have been one ever since I put out my empty hand and received Christ as my Savior.”

          Rest assured, if you have accepted Christ as your personal savior, have allowed the Spirit of God to dwell inside you, and have been developing this relationship with Him; the fruit that comes from within will be the truth. Let the very nature of Christ pour from you onto someone who needs Him today.  

Blessings my Friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (126). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

I John 3:19-20 (Part 1)

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By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

THE STUDY

These two verses are difficult to interpret, for the meaning of the text is not clear. The interpreter discovers that the wording is too general for him to give the reader a definitive explanation. In a sense, therefore, our interpretation only approximates the meaning of the passage.

“This then is how we know that we belong to the truth.” The word this refers to the preceding context in which John encourages the Christian to express genuine love for his brothers and sisters in Christ.” True children of God will know that they belong to the truth, because they will be sincere and genuine and live in accordance with the truth of God’s Word.

The person who refuses to acknowledge his sin is a liar and the truth is not in him (1:8; 2:4). But the believer who actively and sincerely demonstrates his love belongs to the truth. Actually, the expression belong to the truth is synonymous with the term born of God (3:9).^[1]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH …

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that our actions will demonstrate our heart. If we are expressing love to one another it is because this is what dwells inside of us. It will be a natural reaction to situations.

         

CONCLUSION:

          I have heard so many Christians say to other brothers and sisters of the faith, “Don’t judge me!” When in fact they are not being judged but being held accountable. I do agree there are, sometime, better ways at revealing to someone their flaws or sins, but we need to realize we are to be “fruit inspectors!”

          What dwells inside us will be demonstrated outwardly and those fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.)^[2] will be evident.

          My prayer for each of us this morning is that we live in the truth which produces the fruits of the spirit and may that be evident to those who we come in contact with today.

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^[1] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (313). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

^[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Ga 5:22–23). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

I John 3:18

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Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

THE STUDY:

John is possibly dealing with a group of people who were saying they loved one another but their actions were not saying the same thing.  John urges moving from lip service to lived-out love. True love works; it expresses itself in actions (see Mark 13:34). One can feel love and not act on it—loving only with words or tongue. But such love is of doubtful value. A “love” that is only words is not really love at all. The faith of which John speaks sees needs and acts to meet them. One with material means to help and in whose heart God’s life is active will instinctively show God’s love by sharing with others.^[1]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• This morning, my heart is heavy with the understanding of many marriages struggling. Not just where I live but abroad as well. In the conclusion of this Blog I want to share something that speaks to couples but can be helpful to those who are single as well.

CONCLUSION:

           In many families today, divorce, desertion, and separation create untold grief and bitterness. Couples who at the time of the wedding declared that they would love each other “until death do us part” exhibit callous indifference when they contemplate divorce. Their wedding vows lie broken like pieces of porcelain on a stone floor. What went wrong?

Love has vanished because it could not flourish in an atmosphere of ever taking but never giving. Love can succeed only in an environment where it is allowed to give, for genuine love is sacrificial giving.

Look at the divine example. God loves nothing more than to be able to give. Indeed, he loved us so much that he gave his one and only Son to die for us (see John 3:16), and out of love for his people Jesus laid down his life. Says John, “We ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”

What does the Lord expect in marriage? Husband and wife should honor and love one another even to the point of being willing to lay down their life for one another. When husband and wife tenderly care for each other by imitating Christ’s example of sacrificial love, they will experience that God keeps them together in marital love and blesses their home and family with years of wedded bliss.

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (126). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

I John 3:17

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But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

THE STUDY:

How appropriate it is, during this time of the year, to be reading about Love. Not just love received but also Love given. Christmas is the time of the year when people seem a little more loving than the rest of the year. We not only see love in people by their heart felt cards and words given but we receive it in the form of gifts.

In this verse we read how Passing love on to another is not merely to express warm thoughts. Shared love has substance. Love consists of giving goods, material possessions (lit. the life [bios] of the world). The word bios appears rarely in the NT and always suggests life in its external aspects; it expresses concern over the affairs of material existence. In 2:16 the NIV translates it as what one “has and does.” Probably it is intended here as the “things of life” the necessities of life in the world. ^[1]

When others have material needs we can open our hearts and respond to their need. Or, instead, we can have no pity. The Greek text is vivid, saying one may be tempted to lock (kleisēi) away one’s inner being from him. To refuse to help another when God has placed the means in our hands is to lock those resources inside ourselves away from the needy other. The verb kleiō suggests a key or locked door, holding someone outside (Matt 23:13; Luke 11:7). To have no pity is to close off compassion to another.^[2]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that Love is not just words but action as well. To say we love someone yet not show it by meeting a need or giving from the blessings the Lord has given us means that the Love of God doesn’t abide (remain) in us.

CONCLUSION:

           Four-year-old Martha, hugging a doll in each of her pudgy little arms, looked wistfully up at her mother and said, “Mamma, I love them and love them and love them, but they never love me back.”

          Let today be a day that God shows His love for His people through you and me! Meet a need, give a hug, say a kind word, whatever the moment calls for, be Jesus!

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (125). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

^[2] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (125). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

I John 3:15-16 (Part 2)

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Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

THE STUDY:

Last Sunday was the second Sunday of Advent which focused on LOVE! These 2 verses are dealing with love and hate. Yesterday we read how hatred is defined as being a “murderer.” Today we read how John defines what Love is “that he laid down his life for us.”

The death of Christ was not a colossal accident; it had a purpose. His was a life given, not taken from him. The NIV inserts the name Jesus Christ for the word ekeinos (that one). In 1 John eikeinos consistently refers to the incarnate life of Christ (2:6; 3:3, 5, 7; 4:17). He “laid down his life,” no earthly ruler had the power to take his life, not even the Roman governor Pilate.

John contends that the only adequate response to this love is to live a life of selfless sacrifice, that is, to live like Christ. Such living is not to earn merit with God, but to express gratitude toward God. This sacrifice and emptying of self extends as far as giving our lives.^[1]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

We walk away this morning reminded that Christ always had US on his mind. Everything He did was because of the love He has for God’s people. The surrendering of His wants, His ways, and His will for the will of the Father is the life we should desire to live on this earth.

CONCLUSION:

           George Atley, a young Englishman with the heart of a hero, was engaged in the Central African Mission. He was attacked by a party of natives. He had with him a Winchester repeating rifle with ten loaded chambers. The party was completely at his mercy. Calmly and quickly he summed up the situation. He concluded that if he killed them it would do the mission more harm than if he allowed them to take his life. So, as a lamb to the slaughter he was led; and when his body was found in the stream, his rifle was also found with its ten chambers still loaded.

          The next time the Holy Spirit moves you to do the Fathers will, remember it is all in the name of Love.  

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (125). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.