I
am currently reading through the book of First John. Let's look at some really
powerful truths that will encourage and challenge us.
In
Chapter 1, we see that sin is something that we all struggle with, but the
victory is ours through Jesus! Verse 9 is the key to being free:
I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (KJV)
Satan
is the father of lies, and one of the biggest lies that he likes to use when we
fall short is to tell you God won't forgive you. But here is what I learned a
long time ago . . . stop right on the spot, open your heart to the Lord and ask
Him to forgive you. The promise is that He will. Then go in forgiveness rather
than condemnation.
In Chapter 2, we must
learn to walk in love so that we will walk in the light.
I John 2:8-11 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. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 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.
Jesus is light and in Him there is no
shadow of turning. His light never fades. If we are going to walk in His light
we must do it in LOVE!!!!!!!!
In Chapter 3 John gets
right to the point.
I John 3:1-2 Behold, what
manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the
sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved,
now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we
know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as
he is.
Look at this -
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What an amazing Love that Father has bestowed
upon us. So much so that He gave His one and only Son.
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Through that Love we become the Sons of God.
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And because of that Love we will some day be like
Him. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In Chapter 4, we get
three really big “eye openers.”
1 - How do we know what
spirit a person might be like?
I John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in
the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have
heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2
- The second is a bit controversial. There are many theologians that would
disagree with me here. But I believe that John reveals who and what God is.
I John 4:8 He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love.
3 - We also see that in order to be like our
heavenly Father, we must Love one another.
Finally,
in Chapter 5, we learn that we overcome this world through the New Birth
. . . but it goes even deeper than
that. We must learn to live a life filled with His Love and presence. We must
learn that being a believer means that we are totally convinced of who, what,
and all that Jesus and the Father are.
