Category: ReadScripturePlan

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3 John: Greet the friends by name

Read 3 John

The last of the short letters from John includes simple reminders to help us improve as ministers of the Gospel. This short narrative seems to be a very personal letter written to John’s friend, Gaius.

John begins with words of encouragement and appreciation for the way Gaius is leading the church. This is similar to his approach in Second John; namely, there is no “but” in reference to Gaius.

It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 3-4

I know we are not to seek earthly glory and honor, but those words must have been so comforting to Gaius. As we read the rest of the letter, we can sense the tension in the church, the strain Gaius must be feeling as their leader. John acknowledges the issue, supports Gaius, and declares he will not let the issue fade. John will confront Diotrephes.

Division by Diotrephes

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. 3 John 9-10

Perhaps John wrote a letter that Diotrephes intercepted.  Commentors propose two schools of thought that drive Diotrephes: 1) church polity or 2) church doctrine. The first idea is that John is extending his reach too far as the overseer of churches. This is like a contemporary denomination leader trying to control a local church. We don’t have much to discuss regarding church doctrine or polity for that matter, but something has created a considerable division between John and Diotrephes.

The early church is exhibiting signs of struggle as the next generation begins to emerge. John certainly sees the concern and assures his family that he is aware of the problems. I suspect Diotrephes will be long gone if John were able to visit in person. His negative impact will continue to echo in the church if it goes unattended. John will address the nonsense.

What is the problem with Diotrephes? He loves to be first. More than that, he is spreading malicious nonsense about John and his leaders. It gets worse. He does not welcome other believers and encourages others to do the same. This is more than just a personality clash, but we don’t have many clues about the issues at hand.

Presently, there is much talk about Millenials in churches and businesses. As this demographic matures and takes positions of leadership, changes will be required. The question remains relevant today. How do we accept the “me” culture without losing the “we”? Was Diotrephes the first Millenial?

Conflict Resolution

John provides an incredible example of how leaders should lead leaders. The carefully chosen words support Gaius while addressing the need for intervention.

How do we resolve conflict given a great distance and lack of realtime communication? It’s not difficult to imagine the challenges facing John in ancient times. He had to employ emissaries to convey messages just like Paul used to communicate with distant churches. It was important to support the messenger to establish credibility. Referring to Demetrius, John wants those in the house church to listen.

We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. 3 John 12b

Closing

John’s kindness is remarkable. I hope we can learn from his pastoral care for Gaius and friends many miles away. Sometimes distance can be a friend. Not having immediate access to his cohorts means he has to take care, to choose his words wisely. But is this limited to distance? Shouldn’t we treat everyone with this much grace? I wonder what would happen if we were to end conversations with this:

I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name. 3 John 14

Don’t miss the last phrase: Greet the friends there by name. I’m sure I’ve written about this before, but learning names is central to gaining the trust and respect of others. John begins his letter by showing his love and respect for Gaius — by name. He ends the letter by reminding us to do the same. I don’t have any problem remembering the names of my earthly children, brother, or sisters. Lord, help me remember the names of my spiritual family!

 

p.s., The following seems a bit out of place, but I didn’t want to lose the thought.

Prosperity Gospel?

I was surprised to read that some have used 3 John 2 as a foundation for their prosperity Gospel as if this were a license to accumulate wealth and material possessions.

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 John 2

I point this out not as my observation, but that from others who have taken this verse out of context and created their own personal movement. In my mind, everything about this verse (along with verse 1) is a simple greeting. The more literal translation it this:

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 2

By carefully lifting “in all respects you may prosper” and engraving that in stone, it is possible to promote some form of prosperity gospel. In the infamous words of Forrest Gump, that’s all I have to say about that.

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2John: Walking in the Truth

Read 2 John

The book of Second John contains a mere 13 verses as labeled by those who divided the Bible neatly for us around 500 years ago. This short epistle manages to expose some controversy for some in the church these days. I’m not going to try to stir the pot intentionally. Instead, I prefer to read the letter as if it were written to someone John knew well and wanted to encourage. My prayer is that we learn how to lead well by recognizing those who are in the trenches in ministry doing the work Christ called them to do.

John is a senior pastor or perhaps a bishop by modern definition. He feels the burden of responsibility to preach the Gospel as he heard it from Christ first hand, and he presses into his role as a leader of churches across the land.

The commentators agree that Second John was written in light of First John. That sounds funny just writing it there, but the point they seem to make is the second letter is not only brief, but it’s also somewhat incomplete without being viewed in the context of John’s former writing. In other words, you need to read First John before reading Second John. Using this as a background, we recall the thurst of the first letter was to warn the church about those who are trying to divide it into factions that propose false doctrine. John used the term “liar” to identify those who would suggest that Jesus was not fully man and fully God. There were those in the church that were woefully misguided and were leading many astray.

It’s helpful to glance back at First John before going too far.

Now that we have some context, it’s easy enough to imagine John writing to someone who is on the frontline of a young church fighting to keep people focused. Let these words minister to those of you who are struggling to keep people focused on the Gospel message:

To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth 2 John 1:1

Two things immediately jump out to me: 1) this amazing lady and her children were chosen by God and 2) John and all of his leaders love what they’re doing.

Can you imagine getting a letter like that from someone you know is a great ministry leader? How about someone who personally knew Jesus Christ? I would be on my knees in a puddle of tears in no time. For those in leadership positions (which is just about everyone whether you know it or not), this is how we should address anyone who looks up to us. Begin by affirming God’s call in their life and reminding them they are deeply loved by the Father and by those of us who walk around in skin. You, my friend, are loved.

And…

The word “and” here is a crucial conjunction. John doesn’t begin with laudatory words followed by “but…” Not at all. He uses the word “and.” You can dive into the Greek via Long’s concordance at this point if you like, but don’t miss the point that John’s exhortation is a positive reminder.

And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. 2 John 1:5a

What is that command? Remember how Jesus summarized the 600+ rules of Jewish law?

I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. 2 John 1:5b-6

Those of you that know me have heard me say over and over again that we should love one another with everything we’ve got. As John reminds us here, we should be known as a people that walk in love.

Why so much emphasis on love? There are a few reasons that come to mind. We could say Jesus said so, but I think it’s much deeper than that. Though many among us prefer a checklist to execute, this is a reminder that we should walk in love because that was precisely what Jesus demonstrated during His brief ministry on earth. Everywhere He went, people wanted to touch Him, to hear Him; to see Him was enough.

You may think I’m strange, but I don’t see Jesus walking around with a grin pasted on His face giving high-fives to everyone in His path. There was something about the manner with which He talked to people that oozed out the kind of love we’re supposed to emulate. It’s difficult to define, but it’s incredibly easy to see. John reminds this dear lady and all those in her house that this kind of love is required and it is a joy to embrace.

John’s warning is strong at this point. He wants her to know that many are going around misleading others.

I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 2 John 1:7-8

This is why we need to read Second John after First John. I the previous letter, John goes into more detail, so he doesn’t have to explain a lot here.

His guidance here is extreme:

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work. 2 John 1:10-11

The commentators’ perspective is helpful at this point. From what I’ve read from various sources, the custom of the early church was to invite traveling ministers into your house and take care of their basic needs. I can imagine people wandering from city to city and village to village as they proclaim the Gospel and spread the amazing news about Jesus. John draws the line here. Don’t endorse them in any way! Well, that doesn’t sound very loving, does it?

The NIV Application Commentary is helpful here:

These troubling verses should be viewed as “emergency regulations,” tied directly to the crisis at hand. They are directives from the battle zone, and they underscore the extreme danger the church is in when it not only tolerates, but actually invites into its ranks those whose teachings undermine traditional Christology.1

The early church was comprised of many house churches. The “rule” created here is put in place to keep disruptors from coming into your church and deceiving others. This is not a rule about shunning hospitality to strangers, not at all. The people John is referring to are seeking to disrupt the fellowship. They’re not merely wandering around looking for a bed and breakfast. John gives church leaders permission and authority to say no to those who would otherwise destroy the koinonia, the fellowship of believers.

Discerning who to say no to and who to tolerate is of utmost importance. John’s point is not trivial. He draws the line around those who deny the incarnation of Christ. The same would be true of those who are offended by the virgin birth or the reality of the resurrection. These are clearly inconsistent with the life and teaching of Jesus. But what about the current debate on sexuality? How about women in leadership?

We can quickly create a list of issues and apply the rule of locking the door, of saying you are not welcome here. Or we can just let anything go; every view is ok, right? No. That is not right. But herein lies the problem.

I want to suggest that we can love someone completely without agreeing with their theology. We can love someone who doesn’t know Jesus. We can love someone who worships a statue five times a day. We can absolutely love that person. But we must not let that person come in an teach in the church. This is truly black and white.

If it were only so easy to distinguish between the shades of gray, and so we don’t have all the clarity we might desire and the battles rage on. Our friends in the United Methodist Church are not so united anymore as a result of such fighting. Honestly, I think Screwtape is applauded when this happens.

John quickly closes his letter on a more positive note:

I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings. 2 John 1:12-13

In other words, there’s lots more to say, but for now, I hope you get the point.

It’s funny how I started this post suggesting this was a short letter, then commenced to writing thoughts that only scratch the surface of what is taught here. We have a lot to learn. God helps us first to love each other and give us discernment that makes you smile. Help us see those who are intent on destroying that which you have given us to manage — even Your church.

 

  1. Guthrie, George H.. NIVAC Bundle 8: General Epistles, Revelation (The NIV Application Commentary). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
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1John: Conclusion

Read 1 John 5:13-21

Imagine for a moment that you are a pastor to pastors spread across the country. Over the course of 30 or 40 years, you’ve helped plant churches (in today’s vernacular) all over the place, and you’re trying to communicate across great distances — with no internet! From what we read in John’s first letter, there is some theological debate that is threatening the church. Don’t think building or incorporated entity; we’re talking about the big-C Church here.

John reaches out through a short letter to address the issues he’s aware of to set the record straight. Like many things in this life, these complex issues are rather simple.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13

John’s choice of words here is quite interesting. Perhaps there were two types of people reading his letter, those who believe and those who do not believe in the name of Jesus. For those who are living inside the faith, here is your assurance: you have eternal life. It’s pretty evident that those who don’t believe don’t have eternal life, but John doesn’t need to belabor the point.

For those on the inside, there’s more, much more!

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15

Those who believe in the Son of God get a royal invitation to the throne room. Not only can we approach God, but we can also ask for anything. He not only hears our requests, but He will also give us what we ask for with one provision: “according to his will.” Perhaps this is the sticky point.

Yesterday I listened to a Tim Keller sermon, Your Plans; God’s Plans. One of the many wonderful points in the sermon comes from Proverbs:

The plans of the righteous are just Proverbs 12:5

Keller eloquently explains the transformational nature of growing in Christ by immersing ourselves in His presence through prayer, scripture, etc. As we make decisions, we learn about God’s will in our lives, not before. Read that again. It’s important to understand that we have free will even if we exercise that privilege in the presence of God’s perfect will.

As we grow closer to God, the things we ask for are more in line with His will. The more in line we are with His will, we will see sinful actions of ourselves and those around us. This isn’t a license to patrol the streets and pass out tickets declaring, “sinner” from the street corners; instead, it’s a humbling experience when we discover our own sinful nature and have one of those “aha” moments.

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. 1 John 5:18

I see a lot of memes these days in my Facebook feed from friends who are part of recovery programs (typically drugs or alcohol). The consistent theme is that the “old you” doesn’t have to be the “new you.” If you’re still alive, the story is not done. I’m really grateful for this assurance from my friends. I’m even more appreciative to know this is God’s promise to us.

We Know

Read these two verses and over-emphasize the words, “we know.”

We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 1 John 5:19-20

We know we are His children.

We know He gives us understanding.

We know what is true.

We know He is the Son of God.

We know we have eternal life.

We know.

Enough said. You get the point!

Now go and throw away your idols.

Mic drop.

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1John: Whoever Has the Son Has Life

Read 1 John 5:5-12

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:5

Have you ever considered the idea that you should overcome the world? In just a few verses, John plants the seed that we can move beyond worldly vices and issues. Perhaps that’s an understatement. John conveys the imagery that those who are born of God, those who have been adopted into His family, have overcome the world — past tense. This isn’t up for debate. But what does it mean? I’m glad you asked!

The world in this context is an artifact of our brokenness, our lustful desire for things of this world: money, power, fame, sex, drugs, food, possessions, and all the trappings that go along with these things. When we were reborn in Christ, we gained the power to move beyond all of these worldly desires. As we read in the verses just before the one above, our loyalty has shifted from chasing personal pleasure to a deep joy for loving God. The only barrier we have to leap over is one of belief in Jesus.

Water and Blood

John’s explanation of who Jesus is includes the phrase “water and blood” three times in the next three verses:

6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 1 John 5:6-8

The strength of John’s apologetic argument here is that three witnesses testify in complete agreement — Jesus is the One who fulfilled the prophecies in water and blood, but what does that mean? And why use this phrase three times?

There are at least two essential facets to discuss. I’ll take the easiest first, then dive into the second.

In Judaism, there is a requirement for two or three witnesses for any trial (see Deuteronomy 19:15). The mere fact that the reference for witnesses is way back in Deuteronomy is important to consider. This wasn’t just a law; this was part of their life for literally hundreds of years. Unlike our self-contained world of internet browsers and secured homes, the people of John’s day lived in community. Each person’s actions were visible, or at least they had a much greater opportunity to be seen by others. John makes the point that there are three who come forward as witnesses. Case closed, in his mind.

The water represents Jesus’ baptism, and the blood points to His crucifixion. These two bookends are vitally important. Historians tell us that John is writing to his congregation to dispel heretics of his day, namely the Gnostics. This group denied the incarnation of Jesus. Incarnation is significant, even if it’s hard to understand! Jesus was both God and human at the same time. The Gnostics maintained that the Spirit descended on Jesus at His baptism, but left Him at Golgatha. From their point of view, Jesus was a man before baptism and upon crucifixion.

The NIV Study Bible notes help explain the importance:

Throughout this letter John has been insisting that Jesus Christ is God as well as man (1:1-4; 4:2, 5:5). He now asserts that is was this God-man Jesus Christ who came into our world, was baptized and dies. Jesus was the Son of God not only at his baptism, but also at his death (v. 6b). This truth is extremely important, because, if Jesus dies only as a man, his sacrificial atonement (2:2, 4:10) would not have been sufficient to take away the guilt of human sin.

I can’t begin to understand the motivation behind the Gnostics point of view except to consider they simply could not believe Jesus was who He claimed. They created a doctrine to support their flawed belief, and many were being drawn to this perspective. As humans, we tend to listen to those we can see and hear before we latch onto faith in that which is unseen. John puts it this way:

We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 1 John 5:9

Before we cross our arms and say, “the Bible said so,” we need to remember that John was an eyewitness to the death and resurrection of Jesus. Those that speak against the incarnation of Jesus and the sufficiency of His sacrifice did not know Jesus the way John knew Him. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, John knew there was something incredibly special about Jesus, but once he had breakfast on the beach (John 21:12, Luke 24:40-43, Acts 10:41), he was radically changed.

John’s Gospel account is very different from Matthew, Mark, and Luke, in many ways he zeroes in on a much shorter timeframe of Jesus’ ministry to help us focus on the significance and the reality of who Jesus really was. When John talks about God’s testimony here, he has no doubt that Jesus was fully God and fully man, the Son of God. This makes me jump back to Job 40 where God finally speaks. Job gets it. How about us?

John summarizes his point rather bluntly:

Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 1 John 5:10

There are only two groups of people in the world: those who believe and those who do not. There is no in-between.

The conclusion is amazing:

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:12

Which side of the line do you stand? How about the person sitting next to you?

Eternal life is not ours to offer or give to anyone — the choice belongs to God, and it is between God and every individual on earth. Those of us who have made the choice to accept Christ have the honor to be His witnesses. We get to lean on the shoulders of John, Paul, Luke, and others. We don’t quote the Bible at a non-believer; rather, we learn from those who have gone before us so we can love people better.

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1John: The Command to Love

Read 1 John 4:20-5:4

Before we wrap up John’s first epistle, let’s rewind just a bit and look at how the end of chapter 4 carries into the first few verses in chapter 5. I’m sure I don’t have to remind you that our chapter and verse numbering system was created for our convenience1. John did not consider his letter as a document with five chapters. Look at the footnote if you’re interested. Don’t misunderstand me, the numbering system is very helpful, but sometimes it’s better to read a letter as a letter.

Without a doubt, John’s primary purpose in his letters to the church is to remind people of Jesus’ command to love God and to love one another. Loving God is rather difficult to express, though it’s easy to say. Imagine some interaction between one who claims to be a Christian and one who is a staunch agnostic. How do you think the agnostic will respond to the Christian’s statement about loving God? It’s utterly irrelevant to the agnostic. But what if the Christian demonstrated unbounded love for his neighbor, for others, even the agnostic? It seems like this approach would at least be useful in engaging with those who are far from Christ.

Thus far, John’s letter explains that when “we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us” (1 John 4:12). In other words, we need to learn how to get along. If not, to put it bluntly, we are liars:

20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. 1 John 4:20-21

That’s pretty straightforward. The purpose of this statement is not to create a rule for us to follow; it’s to move us toward becoming more Christ-like in our very nature. Yes, it’s a command, but no, it’s not just another rule. John doesn’t expect his congregation to understand this completely, so he continues the thought in the next few verses:

1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 1 John 5:1-2

Lately, I’ve been lost in the idea of imago Dei, the concept that we are created in the image of God. Oddly enough, the cite I found for a brief definition for the term comes from PBS.org:

The term imago Dei refers most fundamentally to two things: first, God’s own self-actualization through humankind; and second, God’s care for humankind.2

Those two thoughts are worthy of many hours of study. For now, let’s focus on the concept that God loves His creation. If this assertion is accurate, and it is, then for us to more like the One we claim as our Father, we must not only love one another but enjoy the process!

3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. 1 John 5:3-4a

Loving God’s commands is not a burden to be carried; it’s a privilege to enjoy. Focus on the final phrase:

This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4b

Overcome the world! Can we just read that phrase and turn the page? Have we become so complacent that we don’t recognize the incredible victory that is ours?

Football season is upon us. Some care about this more than others. While you might not care who won the Super Bowl this past February, I’m pretty confident that anyone who is even remotely associated with the New England Patriots is still walking around with some swagger in their step. Though the team of coaches and players involved in the game is limited to fewer than 100 people, the number that considers themselves part of the world champion team is far greater. Some might even fight you if you speak against Tom Brady or any member of the squad. My guess is there are aunts, uncles, third cousins, etc., who are remotely associated with the team who are quick to say things like “my team” or “we won.”

My point is this: we are quick to attach ourselves to earthly things that other people can see, even when we know they are of little significance from an eternal perspective.

My brothers and sisters, let us learn to love each other and enjoy the time we get to experience life on earth together. Don’t do this out of compliance with rules, do so with great joy!

We have overcome the world! We aren’t told to brag about the victory, but how can we keep this to ourselves? We won! Go and love your neighbor!

 

 

  1. Biblegateway.com’s explanation: Where Do Verse and Chapter Numbers Come From?
  2. PBS.org definition for Imago Dei
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1John: Whoever Does Not Love Does Not Know God

Read 1 John 4:7-21

We frequently hear reference to the “love chapter” as 1 Corinthians 13. This may be true, but after re-reading this passage, we might think differently about this assertion. The overwhelming theme of John’s thoughts here is love. Here are some phrases that grab my attention in today’s reading:

  • God is love.
  • God lives in us.
  • His love is complete in us.
  • He has given us His Spirit.
  • We rely on the love God has for us.
  • Whoever lives in love lives in God.
  • In this world, we are like Jesus.
  • There is no fear in love.
  • Anyone who loves God must also love his brother and sister.

That’s quite some list! Each item could be a book title (probably already published, but I’m not looking). In an attempt to unpack these powerful thoughts, let’s take a look at the bookends, then add the filling. Think about this like an Oreo cookie.

God is Love

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7-8

Many years ago I led the worship team at Monument Community Presbyterian Church. One of the songs we sang too many times was based on these verses; well, it was precisely these two verses sang over and over again. The ending of the song was a rather cheesy tag: First John four seven and eight! I’ll never forget the passage as a result. Isn’t that part of the goal for songs?

The thought John is planting in our mind is simple and yet profound: God is love. The real kind of love. The type of love Paul talked about in his letter to the church in Corinth. It is possible to have this kind of love in our lives because we have the Spirit within us. I would venture to say it is not possible to have complete love for another without Christ, though the world would suggest otherwise.

I listened to an Andy Stanley sermon recently that suggested that Jesus offered both grace and truth at the same time. This might seem like a contradiction in our minds, but the great reality is that God’s love for us is both comforting and convicting at the same time. It’s both.

The other bookend in this passage tells us to do something.

Love our Brothers and Sisters

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. 1 John 4:20-21

Did John call me a liar? That’s not very loving, is it? Truth doesn’t always come across as loving. Thinking back on the Stanley sermon mentioned above, when the Pharisees departed the scene and the woman caught in adultery was left alone with Jesus, He didn’t say, “there, there, it’s all good…” Instead, Jesus pointed out the truth of her sin and left her with this thought:

And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” John 8:11

Read the whole story from John’s perspective or perhaps my blog post from last year. The last five words are key: Go and sin no more. The truth is, those Pharisees that just walked away were right; she was caught in the act of adultery. But Jesus looks beyond the sin into the eyes of the sinner. Grace remains. Leave your life of sin and chase after that which is of God.

It might be a challenge to love your brother and sister, but the truth is we must do both.

The Middle

If those are the bookends, the chocolate cookie part of the Oreo, what’s in the middle? I’m glad you asked! John tells us what we need to know at the beginning and end of his thought. In the middle, he provides some practical how-to steps.

To begin with, God showed us how to love by sending Jesus to live with us, to walk around in the flesh (see the previous post), and then to offer the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. That last step is not for us to repeat, per se; rather, it’s meant to drive home the significance of Christ’s earthly ministry. I’m sure you get that, but I didn’t want to leave that hanging out there!

With these events in mind, John tells us we should love one another. The resurrection of Jesus proved beyond a doubt that He was the Messiah. His promise of sending the Spirit was fulfilled in a few weeks after the first Easter. Here is our first how-to step:

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. 1 John 4:15-16

The evidence of acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God is not a badge to wear or an inscription in the cover of a Bible given to us on that great and wonderful day when we publicly declared our faith. Those are good things, but the complete expression is demonstrated by acting like Jesus.

This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 1 John 4:17

I find this verse challenging and inspiring at the same time. We are like Jesus. I don’t know about you, but that just raised the standard a mile for me.

One last thought about the middle of this passage: fear.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

Why would John bring up fear? Remember that all of John’s friends from the beginning of his ministry have been hunted down and killed for their faith. Martyrs for Christ. Another badge you should not seek to earn.

Our first-century leaders were seen as revolutionary. They were leading a cause that was counter-cultural. In a time when hostile takeovers were demonstrated by physically taking over areas of the world, killing all who stood in the way, and demanding submission, the disciples were preaching love.

Fear was likely the first thought that entered the mind of someone that encountered the early Christians. Fear of family rejection. Fear of social condemnation. Fear of being seen as one standing against the local authorities. Fear was real. John needed to make the point that love is far greater than fear.

So What?

I mentioned Oreo cookies as the metaphor for this post, but if you know me, you know that I don’t eat Oreos anymore. When I did, it was the double-stuffed Oreos. And then I would carefully remove the cookie parts and make double-double-stuff. I liked the creamy insides a lot more than the cookie outsides. There’s the rub.

The bookends of this story are incredibly important. We must recognize that God is love, then demonstrate our understanding by loving our brothers and sisters. That’s not a suggestion; it is what we must do.

Lord, help us to live out these words with confidence that You are working in our lives.

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1John: Jesus in the Flesh is a Huge Barrier

Read 1 John 4:1-6

Today we get to listen to Pastor John as he speaks to his struggling church about something they shouldn’t be fighting about: the incarnation of Jesus Christ. The passage provides a clear we versus they framework along with details that we should view with great emphasis.

I’ve talked about how important the church-word “incarnation” is for Christ-followers in the past. Reading this passage stirs up that hornet’s nest once again. Forgive the soapbox, but as we seek to build relationships with those far from Christ, we simply must wrestle with this concept.

God in the Flesh

Those of us raised in Christian homes probably have never stopped to think about how crazy it sounds to question the authenticity of this assertion: Jesus was God in the flesh. We tend to jump straight to John 3:16 without hesitating to consider the full implication of the thought. But this is why Jesus stayed up late with Nicodemus in John 3. And probably why John had to summarize everything Jesus was teaching during that all-nighter. If you remember, the seminal verse is not offered in red letters. Look for yourself: John 3:16. The red letters stop at verse 15.

If we don’t believe Jesus was actually a man that walked and talked, we are truly lost. I’m very confident that anyone who is in their right mind would agree that Jesus was a man. But this isn’t the same as being God and human at the same time. This is the definition of incarnation. This is the big deal that John is addressing with his fledgling church.

To begin the discussion, John provides an important preface:

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1

The idea of false prophets is disturbing. Many look good on the outside but are absolutely wolves in sheepskin. John understands the problem and provides an answer key for his beloved church.

Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 1 John 4:2-3

From John’s perspective, there is an obvious distinction between those who are and those who are not from God. Those who accept the truth of the incarnation are on the right and those who don’t are on the left.

Search your soul. Prayer and meditation offer the opportunity to hear from God. By this, I mean real prayer and sincere meditation. Music is one medium we can use to get lost in prayer, but I would encourage you to use music as a way to prepare yourself for hearing what God has to say. Get lost in the Spirit. Seek to discern His voice above everything else.

When we arrive at this point, the real voice of the loving Father is clear, and we are ready to hear this affirmation:

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

We will hear the voice of the Spirit and know the truth.

We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 1 John 4:6

Surround yourself with people that are listening to this truth. Remind yourselves that there are many who haven’t tried to understand how amazing our God is that He would send Jesus in the flesh to walk and talk amongst dirty, lost, contrary, foolish humans.

If He was willing to get dirty, so will I. Great song. Listen to So Will I and pray for hearts that fully embrace the concept. Think about those who are far from Christ who can’t sing that song, who don’t understand the deep meaning behind each thought.

Know the truth: the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Now go and be a light to a dark world.

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1John: Love With Action and Truth

Read 1 John 3:11-24

I’m one of those who was raised under the adage of “actions speak louder than words.” My mom and dad didn’t have much to give financially, but that never prevented them from showing kindness to others and giving what they could. They taught us to do the same. For many years, I heard the louder call to get a good education, high paying job, and take care of my family by working hard. None of this is terrible, of course, unless we learn the lesson to ignore our brothers and sisters in need. These short verses provide a call to action, a demand to do something more than just talking about the other side of town.

John begins by reminding his readers about the age-old story of Cain and Abel.

Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 1 John 3:12

Here’s a brief overview of the story in Genesis 4 from Hebrews:

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. Hebrews 11:4

In short, Cain didn’t select an offering that was of any value; he merely grabbed some fruits of the soil. Abel was careful to select choice meat from some of the firstborn from his flock. Abel’s choice revealed his thoughtfulness while Cain’s offering was something like, “here, this should do.” That did not sit well with God. The story of Cain and Abel is an interesting story that compels us to look for the root cause of the problem–a matter of the heart.

So where is our heart? John removes the gloves and smacks us with this reality:

Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. 1 John 3:15

He’s repeating lessons he learned from Jesus. The bar is raised high for those of us who call ourselves Christ-followers. In this case, hate equals murder. And the punishment for murder is death.

That’s hard to hear, but John isn’t done yet. The next challenge is the center of daily conversation at our home.

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:17-18

Is this why we distance ourselves from those in need? Not knowing every Chris, JC, John, Bill, Lucy, etc., means they can’t be my brother or sister; therefore, I don’t need to care for them. If I keep my head down and eyes averted, I can avoid John’s call for compassion.  I hope you feel the tension in this approach.

Who is my brother or sister? Who is my neighbor? Honestly, if I find myself asking these types of questions, I’m pretty sure I not only know the answers, but I am most likely guilty of being cold-hearted. I am not acting as one who is a son of God, adopted into His royal family.

John reminds us we should not be this way! If we jump back to Genesis 4 and read the whole story of Cain and Abel, we see a God who gives second chances all the time. Even for murderers. For those of us who have chosen to follow Christ, we should want to do that which pleases Him. As a bonus, He promises to give us anything we ask.

Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. 1 John 3:21-22

The verse above implies that we keep his commands. John makes this as clear as possible in the very next verse:

And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 1 John 3:23

Why is it so hard to love one another? That’s a trick question, of course. If you get to know me well enough, I will no doubt let you down at some point. Not that I mean to but I am hopelessly human. I will make mistakes. I will misinterpret your intentions and say something hurtful. It’s hard to love one another because it requires a genuinely selfless heart that is more focused on what God than personal agendas.

The prize is worth the effort.

The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. 1 John 3:24

God promises to live in us, His Holy Spirit.

Search your hearts, all those who call Jesus Lord and Savior. See that God is there all along, even when we make mistakes. Who is your neighbor now? Who are your brothers and sisters? If the Spirit lives inside you, I think you know the answer now.

Now that you know go out and love others. Go out with confidence knowing that the Father is smiling.

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1John: Children of God Don’t Keep On Sinning

Read 1 John 2:28-3:10

The title for this edition, Children of God Don’t Keep On Sinning, is a bit troublesome. Have you ever parted company with someone that you’ve been deeply involved with? Whether this is a personal relationship or business partnership, the decision to go separate ways is always difficult. When it comes to matters of Christ’s Church, you can multiply this difficulty by a thousand.

Reading First John is like listening to one side of a phone conversation. We don’t know what is being said on the other end, but by seeing John’s facial expressions and hearing his tone of voice, I’m convinced this is a call that breaks his heart. One or more of his church startups is splitting. Worse, those who are leaving are trying to mislead those who are faithful. They’re all quite new in their faith, so they really don’t know how to react.

Imagine John sitting in exile on an island trying to encourage his flock. His words give us a model to follow. Notice how he accentuates the positive while only implicating the negative. When he says, “don’t keep on sinning,” I think he’s referring to those who are leading them astray. This is the stated purpose of the letter (1 John 2:26, 3:7). It might be a stretch, but perhaps John hopes the secessionists will read the letter as well and come back with changed hearts! Notice that the bulk of the letter implores us to love our brothers and sisters, even when they sin against us. John emphatically tells us to keep on loving others, even when it hurts.

Further, the message I hear from his words is not to talk bad about those who have offended me. This is a call much more significant than “let it go,” it’s a call to radical love. Trust that God has a plan. Know that the redeemer can always redeem, far beyond my capability and comprehension.

I hope you can see the message within the message. With that said, let’s walk through today’s passage.

If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him. 1 John 2:29

Knowing that Jesus is righteous doesn’t mean we are perfect, but it affirms that we are born of Him. At a recent Bible study, Marci reminded us that our birth in Christ means that we have His DNA mixed with ours. When we are born again, we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), we are changed forever for the better. All that to say, being born of Him is a huge deal!

Don’t expect the world to stand up and cheer, but please hear these words:

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1

We are His children, heirs to His Kingdom with all the rights and responsibilities inherent with that prestigious honor. To amplify this definition, John adds the following incredible statement:

But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-3

Christians often say we are washed in the blood of Jesus; we are purified by His redemptive sacrifice. While this might make sense in circles of mature Christ-followers, this message would likely confuse those who have yet to step across the line of faith, or as in this case, have left before fully understanding the significance of Christ’s sacrifice. The emphasis here is on the simple word: hope. Strong’s Concordance defines the Greek term like this:

elpis (hope): to anticipate, usually with pleasure Strong’s Concordance

We have hope. And our job is to share that hope with others.

No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. 1 John 3:6

If we extract this one verse, we will miss the critical transition in John’s words to his flock. His words do not suggest that we are not His children because of our sin nature. Don’t read this verse in isolation. He immediately follows this with his intended purpose:

Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. 1 John 3:7

There are those who would lead you and me astray. Our focus needs to be on the love of the Father. He does not want us to wander off with those who would mislead us.

John wants to clarify his definition, just in case there’s any doubt.

This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. 1 John 3:10

Going separate ways is hard. Watching a church split is painful and confusing. We are imperfect beings that don’t always get along well. When this happens, don’t lose your love for your brother or sister. We know this is right, even when it seems impossible. Do what is right in God’s eyes. Let the Father be the Father. He is always faithful.

John isn’t finished with his lesson, but I have to pause and ponder these thoughts. I hope you have space to do the same.

 

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1John: Who is the Liar?

Read 1 John 2:18-27

In a world with many shades of gray, remember one thing which is clear: belief in Jesus or not. There is no in between. There is no gray. We are either with Jesus, or we stand against Him. While this sounds harsh to those who prefer an all-inclusive vacation resort where anything goes, I’m afraid it’s time to face reality.

Honestly, this had to break John’s heart. From everything I’ve read by John, he was truly gifted as a shepherd-teacher. He loved his flock and cared for each one as a precious jewel. I believe He wrote these words with tears in his eyes:

They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. 1 John 2:19

John was not the least bit concerned about the number of those attending weekend services; he focused on changing lives. The cold reality is that some will hear and understand the message, however eloquently presented, while others will not. Even worse, some will discern a different message than the pastor intended! We will lose some along the way. My hope and I think John’s perspective, is that one day those we have lost will regain their perspective, recant their mistakes, and return to Christ.

So many churches have split over minor differences, disputes that arose because one party could not appreciate the other person’s perspective. John clarified that this was not some petty difference.

I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 1 John 2:21

He returns to the theme of this letter: who is the liar?

Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 1 John 2:22-23

These strong words get my attention, how about you? As mentioned at the beginning of this article, there is no room for gray. We either affirm or deny Jesus is the Christ. Those who choose the latter are antichrists.

These words are not designed to encourage us to mount our high-horse and puff out our chests with pride. I’m not advocating that we add this to our pious quiver of religious efficacy. Not at all. There will be those in churches who disagree on many matters, but this foundation is clear: we must acknowledge Jesus is the Christ. Everything else is second place and beyond.

This morning, Danielle Strickland’s Instagram post quoted Henri Nouwen that seems to fit this passage well:

Dear God,
I am so afraid to open my clenched fists!
Who will I be when I have nothing left to hold on to?
Who will I be when I stand before you with empty hands?
Please help me to gradually open my hands and to discover that I am not what I own, but what you want to give me. And what you want to give me is love, unconditional, everlasting love. Amen. Henri J.M. Nouwen

The thought that caught my eye was his second question: Who will I be when I stand before you with empty hands? This is a sobering reality that defuses self-righteousness completely. One day we will all stand before our Creator with open hands. When we do, what stories will we have to tell?

Jesus cleansed us from our sin, washed away our iniquities. This is the blessed assurance I have heard all my life, a hymn sung with full voice. My question is this, once all of that is washed away, what is left? May we have countless stories of love and sacrifice for the least, the lost, and the lonely. I pray that Jesus will sit next to me with a huge smile as proclaim, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40)

Lord help us to have this posture of open hands today, long before we stand before You. Thank you for John’s reminder today:

As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—eternal life. 1 John 2:24-25

The promise of eternal life is somewhat difficult to wrap our minds around, but it helps keep present troubles and worries in perspective. John calls us to step back and take a broader view. I don’t know about you, but I need this reminder frequently.

John’s clear warning applies to us today as much as his young church in the first century.

I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 1 John 2:26

There will be those who will try to lead us away from Christ. Some will do so in ignorance, others quite intentionally, perhaps lost in their world. We refer to these as cults, a topic worthy of discussion some other time. Suffice it to say at this point, be aware that they do exist and pray for discernment.

In John’s day the Gnostics proclaimed a different message. I briefly referred to the Gnostics in the introduction to this letter. That group is long gone, but others exist today. There are those who warp God’s word into versions that suit their desires and personal agendas. Don’t rely on Google or Wikipedia to explain the differences. Be a part of a fellowship of believers where you are free to ask questions. No topic should be off limits if we are to grow.

Remain In Him

John concludes this section with a loving reminder.

But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him. 1 John 2:27

We are anointed by Christ to do His work. This is a genuine privilege that demands our full attention. We’ve heard the lessons. Now it’s time to put words to action and live a life that reflects this reality.

 

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