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. 

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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.     

Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

James 1-5

Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. James 2:21-24

Day 353 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - this morning I read James. My commentary* bundles both the letters of James and Jude into a single day but given I feel there is already enough in James I broke this into two days and I will read Jude tomorrow. Both my commentary* and the MacArthur Bible Study Commentary (for purchase) write that James - the half brother of Christ - is the author of the letter from James in the NT.  My commentary also offers up the following: "[i]n the Gospel accounts there is an indication that Jesus’ brothers initially rejected his deity and lordship, but the historical record later includes his brothers as being among the disciples in Jerusalem following Christ’s ascension....If the traditional date of James’ death is accurate, then his letter must have been written prior to A.D. 62. It may have been as early as A.D. 50–60, but the exact date is not certain. Addressed to “the twelve tribes scattered among the nations” (a designation for the post-exilic Jews and, by extension, all Christians everywhere), the letter probably is intended for general distribution among the scattered churches of Christ. Unlike Paul, James does not struggle with deep issues of doctrine or comment upon any specific problems which a particular local church might be facing. Rather, he addresses himself to the crisis of persecution facing all the churches during this time."

"After discussing the nature of temptation, James writes at length concerning the need for consistency between faith and conduct. In context, James appears to be saying that only those who demonstrate true faith can endure the sufferings of the times, and that faith can be measured by conduct. It is also possible that James is urging consistency between belief and action as a source of strength against temptation. James closes his letter with various exhortations for saints having to endure suffering. Despite its immediate relevance to times of widespread persecution, James’ writing contains words of practical advice for every Christian’s daily walk."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

While James covers several topics in his letter, my focus this morning is how our lives - if we are to have true faith as James indicates - must bear fruit. Faith and acts work together.  See also my post from a couple of days ago upon reading Titus.

Although I highlight James 2:21-24, other verses on this topic from James' letter include: 

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-25

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? James 2:14

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:17

James letter provides us with a litmus test for our faith...as does Paul's letter Galatians where in 5:22-23 of the letter we have another litmus test.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I KNOW You have grown in my heart and worked in my life to make me more like You and produced fruit - thank You Jesus!  I also know that I am not done!  There is more work by You in me to be done.  Thank You Jesus for what You have done to sanctify and refine me but please forgive me for my sins that continue...worry, harshness, etc.  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.

Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.

Ezekiel 33

Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice. v32

God continues to reinforce Ezekiel's role as watchman - to deliver God's message to the people to repent...so that we may have life.

In the New Testament, the role of prophets and the high priest changes as we have a direct line to Jesus and all of us can have a personal relationship with Jesus vs intercession through the prophet or high priest (Old Testament).  James warns us of reading or hearing the Word of God and not putting it into practice.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. James 1:22-24

 

See also posts on action and being in action.

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love. I worry...and far too much!  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 you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come!

Amos 6

Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come! v1

God does not want lukewarm believers - He wants our full attention and He wants us to be in action.


Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-25

Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice. Ezekiel 33:32

 

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James 2:26

 

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Matthew 25:45

 

Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing. Proverbs 20:4

 

We must live with the end in mind, be eternally-focused and ready so that when the day comes when Jesus returns He does not say ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’(Luke 13:27).

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God that is slow to anger and abounding in love, full of compassion, mercy and patience for me.  You loved me and chose me despite my sin.  You rescued me and You continue to rescue me...thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and compassion.  I am full of harsh thoughts and words, and I am lazy.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give myself and Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her 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 Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, our church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.