Posts that reference the book of 1 John

Key Ingredients for Growth: Light

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18

We’re looking at the things a plant must have in order to grow — like good dirt, water, light and protection — and thinking about how that applies to us. We started off with the good, rich dirt and how our church can be that nurturing environment. But if the dirt isn’t regularly infused with water, that is the word of God, we will dry out very quickly. That’s not all we need. If the rich dirt is well-watered but shaded, the plant will lose strength and die. We need light for growth.

As we think through these, it’s important to remember that this is an analogy and won’t have a one-to-one correspondence between picture and reality, and we are likely to see a lot of overlap. The point still stands that there are some critical things that we need to grow as believers.

The theme of light is woven throughout Scripture. It is associated with God, His presence, and His glory. Certainly we have no life without God. He first formed Adam. Job 33:4 affirms this. So as we saw with water, we cannot grow until we are first made alive, and God is ultimately and solely responsible for giving us life.

Light is also used symbolically and metaphorically in Scripture and those ideas are the ones we will draw from for our study.

Light is understanding
In the opening chapter of the book of Ephesians, Paul mentions that he prays regularly for the church there, and this is what he prays: “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power Ephesians 1:17-19

In other words, Paul prays that God would help the believers in Ephesus understand:

The HOPE that comes with being called to salvation in Christ Jesus
The RICHES and GLORY of the inheritance the believers will receive.
The EXCEEDING GREATNESS of God’s power working on our behalf, transforming us to be more like Christ

As those realities sink in, as they take hold of our hearts and our minds, the only response is a deeper commitment to live for Christ, that is to live in obedience and honor Him in everything. That light then shines into the darkness around us.

Light is righteousness
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7

We must live a different, distinct lifestyle from the rest of the world. Our conversation, our conduct, our compassion, our discipline, our work ethic, our generosity, our patience must set us apart from the standards of the culture. We must be distinguished by the active good that we do more than the evil we oppose. (And I’m not saying don’t oppose evil. Of course we oppose evil. But if the only thing the body of Christ is known for is what we are against, we have a problem. We are not communicating the love of Jesus.)

As we continue to live a life that honors Jesus, that imitates Him, we will grow.

Next week we’ll look at one more necessary thing – protection.

Underappreciated Virtues: Equity

By Paula

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. Acts 10:34-35

We’re continuing our look at some underrated traits that are no less necessary in the body of Christ than some of these other fruits. We’ve covered encouragement and maturity. This week, the virtue is a little more obscure. It’s equity.

What is equity?

Simply put, equity is fairness or impartiality. At first glance, our natural reaction is that of course equity in the body of Christ is a no-brainer. That was one of the things that made following Christ so appealing. Paul affirmed this in his letter to the Galatians. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

But we live in a society where the wealthy and well-connected often get special privileges. Their kids get coveted spots in top colleges. They get promoted faster. They escape punishment when they do wrong. And as frustrated as we get when we hear these stories, it’s easy to fall into favoring some over others.

Churches can favor one age group over others. One ministry may get a larger share of the budget and support than others. Now please don’t misunderstand. I have been in small churches my whole life. Churches have to be good stewards of their resources and they have to make (sometimes difficult) decisions about how best to use those resources. Showing equity means we don’t value some people or members over others.

I have heard comments about how much money was spent on the youth when they don’t contribute financially to the church. The commenters obviously valued the tithers. I’ve also heard dismissive remarks about seniors and singles, about church camp, about short-term mission trips and about families who needed help a second or third time. Those comments give insight into what the members value. Unfortunately, it’s often the bottom line and not the those for whom Christ died.

It’s not just a modern problem. This is something the church has struggled with since its beginning. In the early church, it seemed like the Jewish widows were favored over the Hellenistic ones. By the time James wrote his letter, rich church members got the best seats in the house. “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” James 2:1

Why do we need equity?

Unity in the body depends on equity. If we feel some are preferred above others, grumbling begins. Remember the widows in Acts 6. In John 17, Christ prayed that we would be one. When we treat others with equity, we move toward achieving that.

We model Christ when we show equity. Christ treated everyone with dignity, respect, and compassion. Think about the incredible spectrum of people He met. The very rich (like the young ruler), the scholarly (like Nicodemus), the outcast (lepers and Samaritans), the hated (Romans and tax collectors), the foreigners (the Syro-Phoenician woman). Jesus loved them all.

God chooses to work through people we wouldn’t necessarily choose. Consider James 2:5. Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

Paul reiterates this. For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

If we do all the picking and choosing, we may totally miss the ones God is working through.

How do we treat others with equity?

The short answer – love.

James tells us “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” James 2:8-9

Loving others like the Old Testament commands, like Jesus exemplified, like the New Testament calls for. Like John says:

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. 1 John 4:20-21

Valuing people, treating them without partiality is evidence that we love like Christ.

Next week, we’ll finish up the Underappreciated Virtues series with contentment.

Two Ways to Deal with Sin

By Paula

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

Whether you’re a believer or not,
There are really only two ways to deal with sin.

The first way:
Deny it, minimize it, soften it, rename it, justify it …
“It’s just a weakness.”
“That’s the way I am.”
“I’m not as bad as THOSE people.”

That’s lying to ourselves.

The second way:
Confess it.
Agree with God that it is exactly what HE says it is.
It is rebelling against His rule, crossing His boundaries, violating His law, failing to meet His standards.
And it means we are hopeless without His intervention.

That’s vulnerable. That’s honest. That’s open.
But let’s admit it, it’s scary and uncomfortable.

God doesn’t require confession in order to humiliate us.
It is to forgive us, to cleanse us, and to restore us.

He is faithful to His word.
He is just in His actions.
He loves us far more than we comprehend.

Fear or Victory

By Paula

Therefore, tell the people, ‘Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain and go home.’” So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight. Judges 7:3 NLT

In Judges 7, we read the story of Gideon. You probably remember the amazing story of the three hundred soldiers who defeated a Midianite army who outnumbered them 400 to 1. Before the battle, Gideon stands with his army of 30,000 men and God says to send home everyone who is afraid. Twenty thousand men–inexperienced soldiers who have done the math and knew they are facing over a hundred thousand professional soldiers–go home.

God doesn’t berate them, or shame them. Gideon doesn’t beg them to stay or offer incentives. Just a simple announcement, “If you are afraid and want out, you are free to go.” And they did.

It seemed like a rational decision. I’ll be honest, if my husband had been in that number I would have more than glad to see him home early and in one piece.

But here’s the thing. Yes, the fearful survived unscathed, but they didn’t get to participate in the victory.

I know I have had plenty of opportunities present themselves, doors that God has unmistakably opened, and I’ve gone home rather than go forward. I’m afraid I won’t measure up. I’m afraid of what it will cost. I’m afraid it will be hard.

And I miss a victory.

Here’s what I know about fear, though. It makes us take our eyes off Him. It distracts us from what He calls us to do. Fear never comes from God. Paul stresses that in 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

John reiterates it 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”

Perfect love, that’s the kind that God has for each of us. Fear is a sure sign we don’t grasp or trust that love or the God who demonstrates it.

Given

By Paula

John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. John 3:27

My son is in the middle of geometry and you may recall working through proofs. At the beginning, before you begin to line out a strategy for attacking the problem, you have a set of pre-conditions, a set of givens. These are your starting points. The things you know for certain. Then you work step-by-step from those givens, incorporating other things you know for certain, the theorems and so forth, until you arrive at the solution, the proof. (Hopefully I didn’t stir up any bad memories.)

While I’m very thankful that life is NOT a geometry proof, it is essential to understand that we operate with a set of givens. Ours are so much better than a list of theorems and postulates, they are things God has given us. No matter what we come up against, these need to be our starting points, these are things we know for certain.

1. We have eternal life.
And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 1 John 5:11

We have so much more than what we see around us.

2. We have the Holy Spirit.
And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him. Acts 5:32

We are never alone. God Himself in the person of the Holy Spirit lives not just with us, but in us. He sees and He knows exactly what we’re going through.

3. We have an understanding of Christ.
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 1 John 5:20

Maybe not full understanding, but we know enough to grasp that Jesus loved us and wanted us with Him forever, and He was willing to go to the most extreme lengths for us.

4. We have everlasting consolation and good hope.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace. 2 Thessalonians 2:16

Consolation is comfort. And it’s everlasting. I like to think of it not just lasting forever with respect to time, but never running out. Not only that, but good hope, a confidence that there is more to come and it is better.

5. We have a spirit of power, of love and of a sound mind.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

We are not helpless, but we are able to accurately assess our situations in light of who we are in Christ and then respond, not out of fear but out of love for others, like the love Christ has shown us.

6. We have all things that pertain to life and godliness.
As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 2 Peter 1:3

We have all the resources we need to live the life God has called us to.

7. We have great and precious promises.
By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:4

Not just the promise of eternal life, but promises that He’ll never leave us, and that He hears us.

Whatever it is, wherever you are, start with these givens. They’ll lead you from your questions and doubts to what you know and finally to the One who knows all.

Differently

By Paula

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 1 John 1:6

If you love Jesus … what should you do differently?

Differently than your first impulse dictates.

Differently than the culture around us.

Differently than what others expect.

Got a list? Good.

Since you love Jesus … what do you do differently?

That’s a tougher question, isn’t it?

Practice is always tougher than theory.

Jesus didn’t call theoretical followers, did He?

Read your list again.

Now put the theory into practice.

Key Ingredients for Growth: Light

Underappreciated Virtues: Equity

What is equity?

Why do we need equity?

How do we treat others with equity?

Two Ways to Deal with Sin

Fear or Victory

Given

Differently

Encounters Series

Covenant of Trust Series

Foundations Series