For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 John 5

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4-5

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is an unassisted review of 1 John 5:1-5. John first describes the identity of those born of Christ: those who believe that Jesus is the Messiah has been born of God (v1a).  At the same time, if you love God, you must love those who are born of God (v1b). The bond is love as John has been discussing in 1 John 4 - God is love and the origin of love is God.  In v2, John provides a litmus test of knowing that we love those born of God (or children of God) - we know because "we love God and his commandments" (v2b). Obedience to God's commandments is another measure or litmus test of love - v3. Obedience is not seen as burdensome because we are moved to obedience as a response to God's overwhelming love for us and because God brings about our obedience through the Holy Spirit (see Romans 1:5).  Vv4-5 describe how those born of God overcome the sin and brokenness of the world, including victory over sin and death.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are greater than the world as You became part of the world, died a worldly death, but rose again to defeat both sin and death - thank You Jesus for Your sacrifice and how this gives me victory over sin and death.  I am not deserving of such blessings - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

1 John 4

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 1 John 4:20

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 4:13-21. 

Per the commentary for this text:

Main idea: "God’s love in His people gives them assurance of His presence, confidence awaiting judgment, and power to reflect His character in the world."

Excerpts from the introduction:

• "Our actions are often determined by our identity—who we are and who we think we are. John wants us to be loving (actions), but first he wants us to know we are loved as those who abide in God through the gift of His Spirit (identity)."
• John seeks for us to love as Christ loves us and for us to abide in Him and know Him intimately, including an understanding of how He loves us and blesses us.  As we abide in Him and grow in our relationship with Christ, we are able to be obedient in our love for others - this requires "supernatural assistance" that only the Holy Spirit provides.
• Love of others is evidence of the Spirit and God as the invisible is made visible.
  

Divisions:

1. Love Is an Evidence That We Have the Spirit (4:13-16): "When we experience the power of divine love, we experience the work and enjoy the fellowship of the triune God....Love is certified proof that God now resides in us, not in a pantheistic sense, but through His personal presence....John wants his readers to know, to be assured of many things. Here he wants them to know they abide in God and God abides in them through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the triune God."
   
2. Love Gives Us Confidence As We Await the Day of Judgment (4:17-18): "Love has an intended goal. The word “perfected” carries the idea of completion, being brought to maturity. Abiding in the love of God gives us “confidence,” boldness, for the judgment day. Judgment day is something every person should consider with healthy seriousness. It is real, and it is coming....those who do live in fear of future punishment give evidence that something is wrong, that God’s perfecting work of love has not done its work in their lives. So, out of gospel gratitude for who you are in Christ, love others as He has loved you. The threat of punishment will disappear. The fear of punishment will evaporate. Love never fears judgment or punishment. It is bold. It is confident."
   
3. Love Is a Command Because It Reflects God’s Character (4:19-21): We cannot love God without loving others.  "The Father’s prior love is source and cause for our love of others. If I am not loving others as I ought, then I do not know God’s love as I should....If you do not manage to love His creatures, then you cannot love the Creator."  
   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the love, grace and compassion You have for me - my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.

1 John 4

By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 1 John 4:17

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is an unassisted review of 1 John 4:13-21. John continues his discussion on love sharing first how the Holy Spirit is given to believers and resides in their hearts - v13.  We have faith and testify in Jesus as God and our Savior - vv14-15.  Those who confess Jesus as Lord and Savior - as the Messiah (as Peter did) demonstrate evidence that God is in them and them in God as a child of God adopted by Him - v15.  God loves us, He is love, and if we love Him and others then others will know that we are from God and of God - v16. As we abide in God, love (of Him and others) is perfected in us and this gives believers confidence that we are prepared to face Jesus and be held accountable in our final days - v17. The love we have gives us hope, confidence, peace - fruits of the Spirit (see also Galatians 5:22) - and freedom from fear and condemnation.  No earthly power can hurt us or take our salvation from us - we have a power great than that in the world (see also 1 John 4:4); fear is a measure of lack of faith - see v18. God loved us first and on becoming one of His, adopted into His family as one of His elect, as we abide in Him and Him in us - we love also - v19. The text for today closes with a commandment that we love our brothers and sisters in Christ - we must not hate nor have hardness of heart - vv20-21. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good as You willingly went to the cross, being obedient to death, perfect and sinless, becoming the propitiation for our sin...so that we can can forgiveness from sin, and eternal life with You.  Thank You Jesus for this gift - the greatest gift of all time.  I am not deserving of such a gift.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1 John 4

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 4:7-12. 

Per the commentary for this text:

Main idea: "The Father of Jesus is the God of Love, whose love is manifested in the sending of Christ and is perfected in the love displayed among His people."

Excerpts from the introduction:

• Love is a focus in several places in scripture, including Songs of Solomon 8:5-14, 1 Corinthians 13, and here in 1 John 4:7-21 (as well as 1 John 2:7-11, 3:11-24).
• "John will take us to the very origin and source of love: God Himself. In fact, love is His very nature, and acting in love is His essential character. How do we know? The cross! The cross of Golgotha is an everlasting monument to the truth that our God is love."
  

Divisions:

1. Love Has Its Origin in God (4:7-8): While non-believers may have love, and they often love more than believers so (sadly), believers must follow the example of God's love - first loving Him, then loving others (see also Matthew 22:34-40 on the two greatest commandments). V7 imparts that as believers we experience a new birth and as a new creation, God deposits in our hearts Himself and this includes love - which is from God and is God. It therefore follows that our love of others is evidence that we love God and seek to love as He does (see also John 13:34).  It also follows that if don't love God and others then we don't know God. We are also cautioned "[that] “God is love” does not equal “love is God” (a form of pantheistic thinking), any more than “grass is green” means “green is grass.” Love does not define God, but God does define love. This is John’s beautiful logic: (1) God is love. (2) Those who have been born of God and know God are God’s children. (3) God’s children have God’s nature. (4) God’s children therefore will love."  
   
2. Love Is Seen in the Atoning Death of Jesus (4:9-10): Christ's death on the cross and God's plan to send His Son to die on the cross provide the perfect example of love for us to follow and for which me must aspire as believers. "This world of humanity was in rebellion against its loving Creator. God sent His Son. This world of humanity was not looking for God and even hated Him. God sent His Son."  God sent His Son to save humanity from the sting of sin and death - this is love. 
   
3. Love Is Perfected in Us When We Love Others (4:11-12): "[W]e must go to those who don’t want us there. We must share a gospel they don’t want to hear. We must love those who may hate and even kill us in return. Because we are connected to Jesus through the new birth, we must go and live like Jesus among our friends and our enemies....Loving others is just what we do because the love that has rained down on us now fills us as we abide in Him....when we love one another, (1) it is proof that God abides continually in us, and (2) His love (God’s love for us; His kind of love) is “perfected,” brought to complete maturity. It reaches its intended goal."
   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loved me while I was still hostile and an enemy to You.  Thank You Jesus for saving me even though I did not deserve my salvation.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me for my sin and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[I]f Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

1 Corinthians 15

[I]f Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 1 Corinthians 15:17

Today, I pause my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books to use DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion. The devotion this morning focuses on Easter, highlights 1 Corinthians 15:17, as John Piper gives us 10 results of the resurrection - each supported by scripture:

1. "A Savior who can never die again." Romans 6:9
2. "Repentance" Acts 5:30-31
3. "New birth" 1 Peter 1:3
4. "Forgiveness of sin" 1 Corinthians 15:17
5. "The Holy Spirit" Acts 2:32-33
6. "No condemnation for the elect." Romans 8:34
7. "Jesus' personal fellowship and protection." Matthew 28:20b
8. "Proof of coming judgement." Acts 17:31
9. "Salvation from the future wrath of God." 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Romans 5:9
10. "Our own resurrection from the dead." 2 Corinthians 4:14, Romans 6:4 8:11, 1 Corinthians 6:14, 15:20
    

These are glorious results for believers - rejoice! And God is faithful for all of these promises to come to pass!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, the blessings of my faith and how You save are amazing and impossible to fully comprehend on this side of life.  Thank You for my faith and for these blessings.  Yet I am undeserving as my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

1 John 4

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9

I resume my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is an unassisted review of 1 John 4:7-12. In this text, John continues a focus on love which began in 1 John 2.  We are commanded to love one another (v7) - see also post here from last week on this same topic. Love is described as being from God (v7) and an attribute of God (v8) - v8 also shares how it is a litmus test of whether one truly follows and abides in Christ (vv7,8, 11).  We also have the ultimate example and demonstration of love in v9.  V10 reminds us that the love God has for us - and demonstrated through His death on the cross - is not deserved (see Romans 5:10) and He loved us first, before we loved Him.  V11 shares how we are also to follow His example to love others as He loves us - see also John 13:34. The text today concludes with John sharing how no one has ever seen God (v12); and this text is connected in some way to the following text where John shares that IF we do love one another God is in us and His love is perfected in us (sanctification).  For me the connection of these two statements separated by a semi colon is that John is sharing that while we have not seen God, God is seen in us if we truly follow Him, love Him, and then love others.  We will be a light to others drawing others to God.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who died for my sins - even through You did not deserve such a death.  Thank You for loving me first and for loving me while still an enemy of You.  My salvation is not deserved as my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

1 John 4

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

I resume my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 4:1-6.

Per the commentary for this text:

Main idea: "Genuine Christians will avoid false teachers and will recognize that true teachers possess the Spirit of God and preach Jesus Christ as the risen Lord."

Excerpts from the introduction:

• "Calling out and identifying false teachers is neither fun nor popular. It is, however, both biblical and necessary."
• "Again we are reminded that our greatest dangers are not from without but from within."
•  "God. John provides a fourfold test we must take. This exam is more important than any you will ever take in any school. Its results are of eternal significance."
  

Divisions: 

1. Are You Following False Prophets (4:1)?: All believers have the obligation to assess truth vs lies. See also Deuteronomy 13:1-5, 18:20-22, and 2 Corinthians 11:1-4 for text elsewhere we can use to discern the distinction between truth and lies. Scripture provides ample warnings about false teachers: see also Matthew 7:15, 24:11, 14, Mark 13:21-23, Acts 20:28-30, 2 Peter 2:1-22, and Jude 4-19.
   
2. Are You Confessing the True Jesus (4:2-3)?: If we are to discern truth, we must believe that Jesus "is the very incarnation of God, then the gospel and only the gospel is true....[A true confession] is heartfelt, mind-engaged, and soul-committed. It is on this truth that authentic Christianity stands or falls—that there was a true, genuine, and permanent wedding of deity and humanity in the person of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son." We must be prepared to confess Jesus as Lord and Savior just as Peter did in Matthew 16:16.
   
3. Are You Trusting in the Greater Spirit (4:4)?: With the Holy Spirit and the full armor of God (Ephesians 6) we are stronger than the world. "[We]  can live confidently, blessed with supernaturally given assurance that [we are] His and that [we] fight a battle in which victory is mine for the taking."
   
4. Are You Listening to the Right Teachers (4:5-6)?

Excerpt from the conclusion: "A battle is indeed raging for the hearts, the minds, and the souls of men and women. Be a good soldier of Christ and the cross, of that which is true and that which is right. Test the spirits, confess Christ as Lord, trust the Holy Spirit who is within, and stay latched to the Word. Here is your strength. Here is your safety. Here is your salvation."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - You provide Truth, the full armor of God, discernment, etc. to help me defeat the forces of darkness, including false teachers that seek the pry me from Your hands.  Thank You for Your protection.  I am undeserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

1 John 4

We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 1 John 4:1-6

I resume my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is an unassisted review of 1 John 4:1-6.  Here John warns us against false prophets (vv1,3) - we are also given a litmus test to determine how someone is a false prophet - if you do not confess that Jesus Christ (the Messiah) has come in the flesh is not from God (v3).  John also provides a "test" or criterion to determine if someone is of God - see v2. For believers, those from God, John provides encouragement: v4 shares how "he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." John then shares how the false prophets are "from the world" and and they speak of worldly things and the "world listens to them (v5)."  V6 closes the text for today with John sharing that the apostles are "from God" - see also above criteria - and how those who know God listen to them - yet another criterion.  Nothing has change since John wrote this letter - false prophets abound - beware!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the One True God and You are Truth and Light - thank You for Your Word and for the many teachers and resources You provide for me to better understand Your message for me.  I am grateful for these many teachers and resources.  I am undeserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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.

1 John 3

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. 1 John 3:24

I resume my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 3:18-24.  

Per the commentary for this text: 

Main idea: "God uses biblical truths and the gift of His Spirit to provide assurance and comfort to His beloved children."

Excerpts from the introduction:

• "The human heart is a tender, vulnerable, and complex component of every single person."
• "Our inclination is to embrace platitudes like “trust your heart” and “let your conscience be your guide,” but God tells us in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it?” Interestingly, the answer to this often quoted verse is found in the very next verse in Jeremiah: “I, Yahweh, examine the mind, I test the heart to give each according to his way.”
• "The apostle John recognized that those who have believed in Jesus (3:23) could still suffer from a hurting heart, a condemning conscience. He also knew there were some basic truths, all grounded in the good news of the gospel, that could provide healing, the exact cure that is needed. Some basic knowledge of what God has done and is doing in the lives of those who have trusted in Jesus provides the precise remedy for this all-too-common heart condition."  
  

Divisions:

1. Love for Others Reassures Our Hearts That We Belong to God (3:18-19): Love for others that is not motivated out of pride or selfishness, etc. demonstrates to God that "we are of the truth" as children of God. However, it is often difficult to love others in various circumstances.  We must love as a an act of service and "[s]ometimes this service is public, noble, and newsworthy. Sometimes it is private, humiliating, and unnoticed. It can be a challenge....love requires service. Service involves humility. And loving others in humble service gives us assurance that we belong to Jesus."
   
2. God Is the Perfect Judge Who Sees Everything (3:20): In those circumstances when we may feel condemned, we can rest in how God truly knows us and offers freedom from condemnation (Romans 8:1). See also 1 Corinthians 4:3-5.
   
3. Be Confident That God Answers Our Prayers (3:21-22): Not being condemned by God gives us confidence that we can approach God and be heard and given what we ask - if we are truly in God (and He in us) than our asks are in alignment with God's will. "Believers with clear consciences, confident access, and obedient lives that please Christ can be assured that God will hear and answer their prayers for their good and for His glory." 
   
4. Believe That Jesus Christ Is the Son of God, and Love One Another (3:23).
   
5. Abide in God and Know that God Abides in Us by the Gift of His Spirit (3:24): "John clearly wants us to understand that the Spirit—the true Spirit who stands in radical contrast to the false spirits of antichrist (cf. 4:1-6)—comes as a gift, not as something God was obliged to give us. He is given to us as a grace gift; He is not something we can earn or merit. In saying the Spirit has already been given to us, John looks to the past, to our conversion, the moment in time when we first believed the gospel. That is when we received the Spirit....if we would set our hearts at rest, when they accuse and condemn us, we must look for evidence of the Spirit’s working, and particularly whether he is enabling us to believe in Christ, to obey God’s commands and to love our brothers; for the condition of Christ dwelling in us and of our dwelling in him is this comprehensive obedience (24a), and the evidence of the indwelling is the gift of the Spirit (24b)."
   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves us and who is full of grace and compassion for us - giving me Your Word, and the Holy Spirit to help me in my journey with You - towards greater maturity in Christ, obedience, etc.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the compassion and grace You pour out for me. My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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.

1 John 3

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. 1 John 3:23

I resume my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is an unassisted review of 1 John 3:18-24.  Here, John builds his discussion of how we are to love one another - our brothers and sisters in Christ...and to do this not just in words but in actions. We are comforted in knowing that despite how we will not be perfect in our pursuit of obedience, but that when we fall short (and we will), we will not be condemned (see also Romans 8:1) for this despite the wages of sin being death (Romans 6:23) - this is the emphasis of vv19-21.  Our confidence extends beyond freedom from condemnation to God interceding on our behalf and responding to our prayers - v22.  We should be careful how we interpret this text because this does not mean we get anything we ask of God - no.  We must first abide in Him and Him in us - see v24. If we are in Him and Him in us (see also John 15 and discussion of how God is the Vine and believers are the branches), our asks of God will be in alignment of His will for us - see also Romans 12:2 how God transforms and renews our mind to understand His will for us. Abide in Jesus!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are good and perfect and I know that You hear and respond to all of my prayers and that I can approach You in confidence knowing this.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of this blessing nor any blessings You pour out for me or my salvation.  My sin is great and it is daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 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? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

1 John 3

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 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? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18

I resume my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 3:11-18.  

Per the commentary for this text:

Main idea: Those who truly belong to God in Christ will live and love after the pattern of Jesus rather than the pattern of the world.

Excerpts from the introduction:

• "In 1:5–3:10 the message was “God is Light.” Now in 3:11–5:12 the message is “God is Love.” And because God is love, Christians are to love one another."
• Christians loving one another is to serve as an example for unbelievers in the world that we are God's children. 

Divisions:

1. Love One Another and Do Not Follow the Example of Cain (3:11-15): Love is not just repeated in this letter from John but of course throughout scripture, as the commentary points to John 13:34, 15:12, 15:17, Romans 12:10, 13:8, Galatians 5:13, Ephesians 4:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 4:9, Hebrews 10:24, and 1 Peter 4:8. "John, following Jesus, says we are to love consistently and comprehensively, continually and individually. Play no favorites. Show no biases. Practice no discriminations among your brothers and sisters. After all, we are family!" Cain is provided as a negative example of who Christians are to be as "Cain's actions revealed his true spiritual father, the Devil." See also John 8:44. At the heart of Cain's story is how he, in contrast to his brother Abel, brought a sacrifice to God that was "evil and unacceptable."  We are also urged to avoid responding to how the world hates us by demonstrating hate ourselves.  We are to love and respond accordingly. We should at the same time avoid loving out of any motive that it will earn us anything - we are to love our brothers as a natural response from the overwhelming love (including how God saves!) God has for us that is planted as a seed and Spirit within us.  The core focus of this letter is for us to love our brothers in sisters in Christ and we must be united in our love for another as an example to the world. Avoid hate. 
   
2. Serve One Another and Follow the Example of Jesus (3:16-18): "Real love, God’s love, is shown as well as spoken. It is tangible and not theoretical."  Our love and service to others may mean for some dying - following Christ's example.  While most will not suffer this fate, we are still called to sacrifice and deny ourselves in service of others in the church. "If we really understand the magnitude of what has been done for us and the implications for eternity, we won’t feel obligated to show gratitude; we won’t be merely willing to be thankful; we will joyfully present our lives to God as a living sacrifice in grateful worship." We must not turn a blind eye to our brothers and sisters in the church who need help. See also James 2:15-17 as James seeks for us to have both faith and action - but done out of our heart and motivated out of love for Christ and what He has done for us.  
   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, YOU are love and You died for me, loving me while I was still hostile to You - thank You Jesus for Your love and sacrifice to me - I am of course not deserving of how You save but You nonetheless saved me and continue to pour out Your love for me.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I am undeserving because my sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

1 John 3

For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 1 John 3:11

I resume my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is an unassisted review of 1 John 3:11-18. Here, John dives right into the second greatest commandment as given to us by Jesus - to love one another (see Matthew 22:34-40).  We are given the biblical negative example of Cain from Genesis 4, where Cain, driven by envy, killed his brother.  Then, in v13 we are told not to be surprised if the world hates us as believers - the world (those not children of God - children of God bear the image of God and follow/obey God) loves itself and created things first and not God first.  As such the world does not love as God loves and there is no Holy Spirit for the world - so of course the world will want to hate and persecute Christians.  But we as believers, per v14 we have life and this is marked by our love of God first then for others.  Hate - even in our heart - per v15 is murder itself and contrary to love and this is a marker of being of the world and a lover of the world vs God. A positive example of love is provided in v16 where we know love because of what Jesus did - he died for us! A negative example of love is provided in v17 where we see that we are not obeying God or abiding in Him if we see a brother or sister in Christ in need but we don't help them.  This commandment is carried over into v18 where John shares that we should not be seen as hypocrites by talking about love but not doing it - similar to a message in James 1. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I KNOW You laid down Your life for me and that You love me - and that You ask that we love You and love others.  Help me grow in my love for You and others - please help me with obedience to You.  I am grateful for the blessing of being a child of God but I need Your help - every day as my sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.     

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God[.]

1 Peter 3

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God[.] 1 Peter 3:18

Today, I pause my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today - courtesy of John Piper - provides "a summary of the gospel to help [us] understand it and enjoy it and share it!"  Piper outlines the gospel as follows, with included scripture references:

1. God created us for his glory - see also Isaiah 43:6-7.
2. Therefore, every human should live for God's glory; we must love God, trust Him, be thankful to Him, obey Him, and treasure Him above all things - see also 1 Corinthians 10:31, Matthew 22:37, Romans 4:20, Psalm 50:23, Matthew 5:16, Philippians 3:8, and Matthew 10:37.
3. Nevertheless we have all sinned; [n]one of us has loved or trusted or thanked or obeyed or treasured God as we ought. - see also Romans 3:23, Romans 1:21-23.
4. Therefore we all deserve eternal punishment - see also Romans 6:23, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, Matthew 25:46.
5. Yet, in his great mercy, God sent his only Son Jesus Christ into the world to provide for sinners the way of eternal life - see also John 3:16, Galatians 3:13, 1 Peter 3:18.
6. Therefore eternal life is a free gift to all who will trust in Christ as Lord and Savior and supreme Treasure of their lives - see also Acts 16:31, Romans 10:9, Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 3:8.

As Holy Week and Easter approaches next, believers should all be mindful of the Good News Jesus brings, write these words on our heart (Hebrews 8:10) so that we can be constantly present to this Truth.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the gospel, the Good News, and how it saves and gives me life to the full now in SO many ways that it is indescribable!  I am not deserving of my salvation and the blessings of being a child of God.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus for my sin today and every day - I know I fall short.  Help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

1 John 3

By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. 1 John 3:10

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  This morning, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 3:4-10. 

Per the commentary for this text:

Main idea: "Jesus Christ came to redeem and renew sinners by paying the penalty of sin and defeating the Devil."

Excerpts from the commentary introduction:

• The text includes two core elements of doctrine, that (1) Jesus came to take away our sins (v3:5), and (2) destroy the works of the devil (v3:8). Both are captured by scripture elsewhere (1 Corinthians 15:54, Isaiah 25:8, Hebrews 2:14-15) that shares how these victories are already won through Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection.
  
•  The practice of sin is inconsistent with being a child of God. 
• John seeks to address "falsely assured non-Christians" by "shock[ing] and wak[ing] them up to their true spiritual status."
  

Divisions per the commentary: 

1. He Came to Deliver Us from Sin (3:4-6): "Sin is the great enemy and problem of humanity, and only God can rescue us and solve our problem." Sin is rebellion against God and it is inescapable that it is habitual for all of us. Thus we all need to be saved from this "predicament." Jesus is the perfect sinless sacrifice that dies once and for all of humanity over the course of redemptive history.  It logically follows that if we truly abide in Him, we do not practice sin. "Sin no longer dominates us or enslaves us. Sin is no longer the character and conduct of my life. Because I now abide in Christ and in the power of His person and work in the gospel, I may fall into sin, but I will not walk in sin. Sin will not be my habit; it will not be my normal practice. I no longer love sin; I hate sin. I no longer delight in sin; I despise sin."
   
2. He Came to Destroy the Works of the Devil (3:7-8): Beware of false teachers who goad us into sin.  If we abide in Him we are armed (see Ephesians 6) with the ability to defend ourselves against sin and false teachers.  Christ lives in us - animating our obedience (Galatians 2:19-20).
   
3. He Came to Demarcate the Children of God (3:9-10): "By means of the new birth, sin’s power has been neutralized and dealt a death-blow. And, by virtue of His two appearings, sin’s presence will soon pass away forever....Regeneration does not produce invisible or rotten fruit. If anyone is in Christ, he or she is a new creation and all things become new (see also 2 Corinthians 5:17)." As children of God we have new birth; as children of God we do not practice sin; we love one another. "This is what our God does. This is what His children will do. You see, the child has the distinguishing marks of his parents. What he sees his Father do, that is what he will do. What he sees His Savior do, that is what he will do too."

Comment and discuss this post. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for willingly going to the cross so that I could have life - to the full now, and for eternity.  I am not deserving of Your sacrifice.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

1 John 3

No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 1 John 3:6

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  This morning, my focus is a unassisted review of 1 John 3:4-10. Here, John continues his discussion on being prepared for Christ's second coming (see yesterday's post), by focusing on how if we abide in Him, we become more like Him (sanctification), thus living lives in obedience to Him and free from the bondage of sin.  There is no implication here that believers will be perfected while living in their earthly bodies (vs our manifestation in Heaven after glorification) - as no earthly being will live a sinless live as Jesus did during His time as the Incarnate Son.  Yet, we will avoid conscious, deliberate, willful patterns of sin if we truly abide in Him.  V6 is core to this discussion - as John writes how a life of sin is a marker that we don't know Him.  If we DO know Him, we will become more like Him.  V5 is also core as John shares WHY Jesus came - to "take away sins" - this means not just forgiveness but also sanctification.  What encouragement - that God frees us from our sinful life!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good - I have seen with my own eyes how You have freed me from the bondage of sin.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessing.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[E]veryone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

1 John 2:28-3:3

[E]veryone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 1 John 3:3

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  This morning, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 2:28-3:3. 

Per the commentary for this text:

Main idea: True believers will remain in fellowship with Christ and experience the blessings that come through communion with Him.

Excerpts from commentary introduction:

• "Because I am going to be like Him in the future and for all eternity, such a promise has a wonderful transforming power in the present. My future impacts my life today!"
• "Now in the present text he adds the exhortation to abide in Christ and pursue a righteous life as they live in the hope of His coming (2:28–3:3)."
• "In fact, such a spiritual posture will result in four wonderful blessings—blessings that are promised to everyone who keeps on abiding in Christ."
  

Divisions for this text:

1. You Will Be Confident at His Coming (2:28): With the command to abide in Christ, we are encouraged by John to pursue "consistent action."  Thus we will be prepared for Christ's second coming. The commentary also shares how shame at the second coming may await those who are not really saved - pointing to Mark 8:38, Revelation 6:15-16. We know we are truly saved based on our confidence that Jesus is coming again and that we are abide in Him in preparation.
   
2. You Will Be Certain You Are His Child (2:29–3:1): "[C]hildren of God will grow to look like God their Father. Our practice is proof of our parentage. The righteous Savior produces righteous saints." Children of God receive the blessing of a forever love that never leaves or forsakes us (see also Hebrews 13:5). The privilege of being a child of God means that "[t]here is no place for either an inferiority or a superiority complex. I am who I am by gracious adoption and regeneration. That fosters humility. I am who I am as God’s child." We should also not be surprised when the world does not recognize believers and how we act - see also John 15:18-19.
   
3. You Will Be Conformed to Christ (3:2):We do not fully comprehend or appreciate how our sanctification will result in glorification/perfection and that we will see Jesus face to face but we can be confident in both. We can also be confident that Christ knows us fully. "We don’t know all that being made like Jesus means. What we do know is it will be better than we could ever hope or imagine, and it will be the occasion for an eternal lifetime of praise, worship, and adoration."
   
4. You Will Be Consistent in Your Consecration (3:3): Our hope of glorification and of seeing Jesus face to face one day should motivate us to continue abiding in Christ and pursuing a life of obedience and righteousness.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good - as Your love of me as a Heavenly Father surpasses that of any love any earthly father can provide for me.  And You will never leave or forsake me.  I KNOW that I will be perfected and glorified one day and I will also see You face-to-face - what a glorious day this will be indeed!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

1 John 2:28-3:3

Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

After a relatively short pause, I return to my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  This morning, my focus is an unassisted review of 1 John 2:28-3:3. A striking highlight from the text this morning is the focus on how God cares for us - He addresses us as children (1 John 2:28, 3:1,2) and as children of God - under His care.  

• 2:28 - we are encouraged to remain close to God, to practice the spiritual disciplines of worship, prayer, Bible reading/study, etc.; the reason provided by John is that we will be prepared for Jesus' second coming (see also Matthew 24).
• 2:29 - those who mirror or demonstrate attributes of Jesus or are a light (bear fruits of the Spirit) provide a marker or litmus test for those who are children of God (and are prepared)
• 3:1 - God adopts believers as His children; non-believers may not fully know, understand or appreciate believers (and we may be persecuted as a result) because they don't fully know, understand or appreciate God
• 3:2 - Referred to again as God's children, believers have hope that either when we die or when Jesus comes again, we will enter Heaven - our home - be fully glorified, and see Jesus face to face - this will be glorious indeed!  Believers who hope in Him - and who practice the spiritual disciplines, and abide in Him - are sanctified by God.
  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good - I am part of Your family and I gain supernatural peace and comfort from having complete confidence in this.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and care.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.   

Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you.

Isaiah 25

Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you. Isaiah 25:3

Today, I pause once again my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books to use DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, where today John Piper seeks to encourage those who may be feeling as though their work in service to God may be in vain - for whatever the reason.  Piper uses Isaiah 25:3 where Isaiah prophecies final days (Revelation 21) where we see the New Heaven and the New Earth and the New Jerusalem - where all of God's people are with God forever in perfect harmony.  Believers should all know that this victory over sin and death is already won - through Christ's death on the cross and His resurrection - but these final days represent the fullness of this victory.  We should have confidence that this victory is already won and that we will be with God as Isaiah prophecies because God keeps His promises (see post yesterday). John Piper concludes the devotion by encouragement for those feeling as though they are working in vain: "[n]ot one life spent in the cause of world evangelization is spent in vain. Not one prayer or one dollar or one sermon or one letter of encouragement or one little light shining in some dark place — nothing in the cause of this advancing kingdom is in vain."  Press on - continue running the race with endurance!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Yes - You have already defeated sin and death and we can be confident of our salvation and being with You in Heaven for eternity.  What a glorious thing this will be!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

2 Corinthians 1

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 2 Corinthians 1:20

Today, I pause once again my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books to use DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, where today, John Piper shares how "Paul links prayer with God's Yes" in 1 Corinthians 1:20.  Piper explains by looking at the Hebrew translation of amen as "a strong affirmation,", or "I agree," or "I affirm what was just said," or "this is true," or simply "an earnest Yes." Piper points us to Numbers 5:22, Nehemiah 5:13, and 8:6 for scriptural references that illustrate the use of amen.  Piper then urges us to reread the highlighted scripture in 2 Corinthians 1:20 to realize that "[i]n Jesus Christ God says his Yes to us through his promises; and in Christ we say our Yes to God through prayer." God is faithful to us as He says yes to all of His promises and we respond in prayer with agreement that God is worth all of the glory!  Piper paraphrases Paul's words as: "'Therefore, because of Christ, we say Amen to God in our prayers to show that God gets the glory for the future grace we are asking for and counting on when we pray.'"

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - demonstrating faithfulness as all of Your promises come true.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of such blessing.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’?

 Isaiah 45

“Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’? Isaiah 45:9

Today, I pause once again my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books to use DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today first ensures we know that God is sovereign over everything in the universe and all of its inhabitants (see also post yesterday) - John Piper wants us to see how once we acknowledge this - our natural response is to submit to Him and recognize that we are totally dependent on Him.  Piper uses Isaiah 45:9 and Psalm 100:3 as scriptural reference points for us on these matters.  He goes further by sharing that we are not just totally dependent on Him, but that He is for us! See Isaiah 33:21, 64:4 and Romans 8:31.  Piper concludes the devotion with an awe inspiring and encouraging word by sharing a rhetorical questions that "[c]an you think of anything (I mean anything) that is more comforting and assuring and delighting than that the Lord in his majesty is for you?"  I can't - of course not.  Who can have anything greater than God - nobody!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - always working for me while I am totally dependent on You - the Creator and Sustainer of All.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and compassion and blessing.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

...declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose[.]'

 Revelation 5

...declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose[.]' Isaiah 46:10

Today, I pause once again my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books to use DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today describes what John Piper aptly refers to in the title of the devotional Two Infinitely Strong and Tender Truths.  The first truth is that God is in control of all the details of universe and all of its inhabitants.  Piper uses Isaiah 46:10, as well as Daniel 4:35, Job 23:13-14, and Psalm 115:3.  The other truth according to Piper is that "God’s great desire is to show mercy and kindness to those who trust him...[and that] God’s sovereignty means that this design for us cannot be frustrated. It cannot fail."  Piper refers us to Ephesians 2:7, Psalm 37:3-7, Proverbs 29:25, Romans 8:28, and Psalm 84:11.  As Piper concludes the devotion, he shares that these two truths are the "pillar of his life."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I can rest and have confidence in how You are sovereign and provident over all things.  And You are faithful - all of Your promises have a yes in Jesus!  Thank You!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

 Revelation 5

 I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Revelation 5:4-5

This morning, I pause once again my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books to use DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today offers believers a glimpse of the final days and Heaven from Revelation.  John writes how he is distraught about how the scroll with seven seals cannot be opened because there is no one worthy.  But one of the elders tells John that Jesus is able.  John Piper shares how, "[b]y dying on the cross, Jesus had earned the right to open the remainder of redemptive history and lead his people victoriously through it...So, now the Lamb is worthy to take the scroll of redemptive history from God’s hand and open it. This is such a kingly act that the twenty-four elders of heaven (God’s worship council, as it were) fall down before the Lamb in adoration."  Piper not only wants us to see this picture of Jesus victorious over sin and death in Heaven, worshiped by all creation, he also wants us to see how God is pleased by the pleasant aroma of the saints' prayers in v8 as he shares that "[he is] strengthened and encouraged to pray all the more often and all the more vigorously when [he] thinks that [his] prayers are being assembled and stored up in heaven and offered to Christ repeatedly in heavenly acts of worship." We are encouraged to rejoice and God's victory, know that the victory is already won on our behalf, and to keep praying!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am strengthened by knowing You have already won the victory over sin and death - for me and all believers.  I am also strengthened and encouraged by how You hear and enjoy our prayers as pleasantly smelling incense.  Thank You for the strength and encouragement You provide with my salvation, Your Word, etc.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

 1 Peter 5

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7

This morning, I pause my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books to use DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today explores anxiety and its relationship to our faith.  John Piper rhetorically asks how anxiety about the future "is a form of pride."  He then answers his question by paraphrasing how he thinks God would answer that question - he points us to Isaiah 51:12 where God asks rhetorically why are we afraid of man and what man may do to us.  Man is God's creation and all of God's creation is mortal and will not last whereas God lasts forever and He promises eternal life to those who believe in Him.  Thus our faith in Him should strengthen us and if it does not it means our faith is weak and we believe more in ourselves than in God.  By highlighting 1 Peter 5:6-7, Piper wants us to follow Peter's words and humble ourselves and cast our anxieties on Him. In concluding the devotion, Piper shares "pride is a form of unbelief and does not like to trust in God for his future grace. Faith, on the other hand, admits the need for help. Pride won’t. Faith banks on God to give help. Pride won’t. Faith casts anxieties on God. Pride won’t.  Therefore, the way to battle the unbelief of pride is to admit freely that you have anxieties, and to cherish the promise of future grace in the words, “He cares for you.” And then unload your fears onto his strong shoulders."

 Great words of encouragement - God DOES care for us!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and cares for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessing me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.   Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

[A] bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench[.]

 Isaiah 42

[A] bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench[.] Isaiah 42:3a,b

This morning, I pause my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books to use DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today offers words of encouragement to those experiencing challenges and feeling as though their faith in God is weak, and in John Piper's terms a mere spark versus that of a flame.  We all desire for our hearts to burn with desire for God and for our faith to be strong but there are times when we feel weakened.  Piper encourages us to seek God and avoid falling prey to the temptations offered by this world.  Scripture of course offers a mountain of encouragement.  I think of John 16:33, and Piper refers us to Luke 4:18, Malachi 4:2, Matthew 11:29, Psalm 27:14. If you are feeling low and weak, go to the Lord!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God whose everlasting arms give rest when we are weakened.  You heal and You guide...and so much more - thank You for never leaving or forsaking me.  I am not deserving of such blessings. My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

 1 John 2

But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.  I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 1 John 2:20-21

This morning, I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books. My study today focuses on a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 2:18-27. 

Per the commentary for this text:

Main idea: There have always been those, and more will come, who actively oppose Christ and the gospel; Christians must resist such error and cling to the truth of God as revealed by the Spirit in the Scriptures.

Excerpt from introduction:

• John seeks for believers to be on watch for signs that end times are near - and one of those signs is the antichrist, false teachers who deny God and seek to lead/deceive believers away from God. "[I]t is absolutely essential that we have a biblically balanced understanding of who the antichrists are and what the antichrists do."
  

Divisions:

1. Antichrists Attack Christ (2:18): John is the only Bible author who uses the term antichrist, yet other authors in the Bible refer to the same figure, including Daniel ("the coming prince" - Daniel 9:27), and Paul ("the man of lawlessness" - 2 Thessalonians 2:3), and as the beast from the sea in Revelation 13:1-10. We are urged to live with a sense of urgency, not knowing when the second coming of Christ will appear and we are to be ready. We are also to be aware that during the end times (defined as the period between first and second coming of Christ) there will be those who serve as antichrists denying God and deceiving others, and then there will be the Antichrist who "comes at the end of the last hour. Jesus Himself warned us of all of this in Matthew 24:4-5,24-25." The antichrists that oppose Jesus who come before the final Antichrist "do not directly oppose Jesus." Instead they practice deception and seduction and they "redefine Him."  By "chipping" away at who He is, believers quickly lose sight of the One True God and begin following false Gods and their ways.  "This is the spirit of the antichrists, and it will attempt to lead you down the road of spiritual error that is a theological dead end....[B]e on the lookout for those who attack the biblical teachings about Christ. They will do you no good." 
   
2. Antichrists Abandon the Church (2:19,22-23): We are warned about "enemies within" the church.  We should recognize that antichrists who leave the church were never truly part of the church.  "Perseverance is the proof of possession. Defection from the fellowship gives evidence of a defective faith. That was certainly John’s perspective." Those who are truly saved persevere as part of the church.  We are referred to John 10:27-29 where Jesus refers to His followers as sheep who follow the shepherd when they hear His voice and how no one will be able to "snatch them out of His hand."  We must avoid the false belief that Jesus is significant but not preeminent and that not the Savior. This belief leads us away from the church.
   
3. Antichrists Assault the Christian (2:20-21,24-27): Believers are equipped with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to truly know God and to discern truth from falsehoods. If we abide in Him we can defend ourselves from the attacks of the antichrists. We must also be clear that we are not to add or subtract anything from God. "The false teachers will attempt to deceive you into thinking you need something more than Christ or something other than Christ."
   

Comment and discuss this post.

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the One True God who gives me the Holy Spirit and Your Word and You protect me and save me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

 Deuteronomy 33

 The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Deuteronomy 33:27

I pause my study of 1,2,3 John this morning to use DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today explore how God is working in what we may feel are desperate circumstances which John Piper describes as "a sense of nothingness or helplessness." Piper encourages those who may be feeling this way, or might be in the future, by sharing that God sees everything we experience and He care and loves for us.  Piper writes to those who may be feeling as if they have hit rock bottom: "[H]e is at the bottom waiting to catch you....Yes, he sees you trembling and slipping. He could (and often did) grab you before you hit bottom. But this time he has some new lessons to teach."  We must try and understand how God is at work during these times and this is where we will gain our encouragement...by KNOWING that God is ALWAYS at work, that His design is PERFECT, and whether we see it in this life or when we are in Heaven for eternity, we WILL someday know with full knowledge why God has us in these circumstances - and it is good.  Piper points us to Psalm 119:71 and I lean on Isaiah 64:4, Lamentations 3:25, Romans 8:28 as additional scripture examples that support this message.  As Piper winds down the devotion for today, he shares: "[d]o not think that your wound has come to you apart from God’s gracious design." Piper refers us to Deuteronomy 32:29 as he closes, sharing that God heals and restores.   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is always at work...and Your designs and plans are perfect.  I have seen this first hand - thank You Jesus for how You have worked in my life and how You continue to work in my life.  I am not deserving of Your hand of grace where my life rests. My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.

 1 John 2

 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. 1 John 2:24-25

This morning, I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  My study today focuses on an unassisted review of 1 John 2:18-27.  In the text for today, John focuses on end times, how it is approaching, and how we are to avoid false teachers/Christs and those who deny Jesus is the Christ.

Believers must hold fast to faith and to the knowledge imparted to us through the gospel (v20).  John's warning is urgent that we be reminded of the truth (v21) that it stands in contrast to the lies spread by false teachers and the prince of this world (Satan), and that this truth protects us in our efforts to hold fast.  The word "abide" appears 10 times in this chapter, and 5 times in the text for today - hence John considers that the truth abide in us as critical in our walk.  

I am reminded of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 how God's Word is to abide in us.  John 15:1-11 also shares how Jesus is the True Vine and how we are branches and to remain in Him.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who promises to give me life to the full now and forever in Heaven - and You are faithful as Your promises all find a yes in You.  Thank You Jesus for life and salvation and Your faithfulness....rich blessings that indescribable and I am undeserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

 1 John 2

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17

This morning, I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  My study today focuses on a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 2:12-17.

Per the commentary:

Main idea for the text: "Those who truly love and follow Christ must not fall in love with the things of this world, but rather with the Father who gives them everything they need."

Excerpts from the introduction:

• Although we may like to think God does not hate anyone or anything, He does hate sin and we are to hate sin.  We are referred to scripture where this is explicitly stated: Psalm 5:5-6, 97:10, 119:104, 119:113, 119:163, Proverbs 6:16-19, Hebrews 1:9, Revelation 2:6.  Similarly, God hates it when people love the world instead of Him.  See also James 4:4.
• "If we know God as Father, we will not set our hearts on the fleeting and transitory things of a system and worldview perspective that stands in defiant opposition to Him."
  

Divisions:  

1. Know What You Are in Christ and Cannot Lose (2:12-14): The text outlines a sequence of steps that occur as we move from surrendering to God and He forgives our sin, we then get to know Him more intimately, He gives us strength, power and victory over sin and death, and we are armed to do all of this because God is in us and we are in Him - we thereby love Him and seek to please Him. We also become adopted into His family.
   
2. Know What the World Offers but Cannot Give (2:15-17): "[W]e are not to love and idolize thoughts, values, and behaviors that are contrary to God’s Word (v. 14) and His will (v. 17). Things that appeal to our sinful flesh (e.g., drug abuse, drunkenness, gluttony, abundance of possessions, sexual perversions, etc.) and are fleeting and passing are not to be the things that we live for."  Arrogance is also called out as this implies love of self or a desire for self-glory vs that of God. We are reminded that love of God and God Himself are both eternal vs the world and things of the world which are temporary. "The longing of the human heart is to be loved and to love. The objects of our affections need to be rightly ordered if we are truly to find ultimate and lasting satisfaction....We must recognize that turning even good things into “god” things becomes a bad thing. It is to give your love to a lesser lover—one who can never satisfy, who can never give you what you truly need." The three temptations conquered by Christ in the wilderness (Matthew 4, Luke 4), lust of flesh, lust of eyes, desire for wisdom (pride of life), were what befell Adam and Eve in the Garden during the Fall (Genesis 3).  We are to follow the second Adam, not the first.  

The commentary provides an instructive table that compares things of the world vs that of the Father:

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who forgives sins, adopts me into You family, protects me and arms me with the Holy Spirit and Your Word to love You and protect me from sin, and You are saving a place for me in Heaven - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.