1 John 4:7-8

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

(v7-8, NIV)

Did any of you ever hear the song about these verses? When I was little we had this tape that had a collection of children's Christian songs. They had things like the butterfly song and the one about the man who built his house upon the rock/sand. One of the songs was about these two verses. The song was almost word for word. Actually, maybe it was word for word, just not word for word for NIV. Anyway, I thought that was cool.

So yeah. Back in chapter three, John was talking about love and about how we are to love one another. Then he went on to talk about testing the spirits in the beginning of chapter 4. However, we are brought back to this topic of love. Back in chapter three there were a few examples. We are not to be like Cain who belonged to the evil one. He murdered his brother, and we shouldn't be like him in his actions or attitude. Instead, we are to look to the example of Jesus Christ who gave us an example of love.

God is love. Love comes from God. It is from God that we receive love and are able to love. RIM makes blackberries. If you have a blackberry, it came from RIM in some way shape or form. RIM is the maker and distributer of blackberries. Even if you purchased yours from a retail store, somewhere down the line of business to business transactions, it came from RIM. In the same way, love come from God. You could even think of God as the distributer of love if you really want. If someone came around talking about this blackberry he has that didn't come from RIM, it might be a bit weird. You'd wonder where he got it and if it really is a real blackberry. Then again, he could be talking about the actual fruit, but I'm assuming he's talking about a smartphone. However, you might question if it really is a blackberry and you may wonder if it really is the same thing. Maybe he made it himself. If he did or got it somewhere else, then maybe it's a cheap knockoff that isn't quite the same as the real blackberry. In the same way, love that does not originate from God is questionable. It is not quite the same and may in fact be some cheap knockoff. It may look and feel a bit like real love, but it will be shown to be false.

If God is the distributer of love, there are certain people whom he gives his love. Or rather, there are only certain people that through God are able to love. God gives love and allows others to love. These who do love are ones who have been born of God and know God. These who are of God are the ones who love. It is through this truth that we can see another test. The opposite would be those who do not love. These who do not love do not know God. If they did know God, they would participate in the act of loving one another. Love one another.

Contribute back to others

"It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others." Ephesians 2:10

We lives not to take, but to contribute back to others, only because God loves us, and we love Him back by loving others.

1 John 4:5-6

They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.

(v5, NIV)

John is talking about those who are in the world. They are from the world. This means that they are not from God. We are called to test the spirits to see whether they are from God. Do not believe those spirits that are not from God. These who are in the world are from the world and not from God, so do not believe them. That which they speak of is from the viewpoint of the world. However, would you rather listen to the viewpoint of the world, or the viewpoint of God?

The world listens to these people. These people who are from the world and speak from the viewpoint of the world are listened to by the world. Can you be both from the world and from God? I don't think so. Since those listening to them are from the world, if you listen to them then you are from the world and not from God. Speaking to those who are from God, John encourages his readers to not listen to those who are from the world.

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

(v6, NIV)

Different from those who are from the world are those who are from God. Those who know God listens to those who are from God. It's interesting that people listen to those who are similar to them. I guess it makes sense. Then, in a sense, if you listen to those who are from the world, you prove to be one who is from the world. I recall Paul Washer speaking about how people like Joel Osteen are judgment upon those who listen to him. If he preaches prosperity gospel, a different gospel from the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, then those who listen to him prove to be those who want their ears to be tickled by this kind of teaching. There are also those who will not listen to the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, their act of not listening to the truth proves them to be ones who do not know God.

From this we can gather another test. Those who listen to those who are from God are in fact those who know God. However, those who are not from God do not listen to those who are from God. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of truth.

The way John words the last test gives us an indication of this spirit. This spirit is from God and it is also the truth. This means that the spirit of the antichrist is false and is a lie. Discern and believe the Spirit of truth.

1 John 4:4

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

(v4, NIV)

John is reassuring his readers who he addresses as dear children. These people are from God and are not from the world. Those who are from the world are those who John spoke about previously as having a different spirit. The spirit in them is the spirit of the antichrist. In addition, these who are from God have overcome those who are from the world. How is it that they are overcome? It is because of the one who is in those who are from God. The one who is in them is greater than the one who is in the world.

This reminds me of back in chapter three when John was talking about our hearts. He was talking about our hearts condemning us. However, the comfort is that God is greater than our hearts. Similarly, he who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world. We take comfort in the superiority and power of God.

2 Corinthians 1:8-9

"At that time we were completely overwhelmed, the burden was more than we could bear, in fact we told ourselves that this was the end. Yet we believe now that we had this experience of coming to the end of our tether that we might learn to trust, not in ourselves, but in God who can raise the dead." 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (PH)

1 John 4:3

but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

(v3, NIV)

These spirits who are not from God do not even acknowledge Jesus. In fact, this is the spirit of the antichrist. John is referring again to the antichrist who he spoke about back in chapter two. The antichrist is clearly not someone you want to be listening to.

What does it mean to acknowledge or to not acknowledge Jesus? In ESV and NASB, the word used is "confess" instead of "acknowledge". To acknowledge Jesus or confess Jesus is to testify to what he truly is. We acknowledge what he is and what he said. Jesus is the son of God and he is Lord. He is our savior and our redeemer. To accept some of what Jesus is and said, yet deny other parts would be the same as someone who does not acknowledge or confess Jesus entirely. You cannot pick and choose what you believe about Jesus and claim to follow him. Instead, you are only partly following Jesus, thus following someone who is not Jesus. Those who do such things do not confess or acknowledge Jesus.

Let's say for example that I had a friend named Harry who was a nice guy (whatever that means). Let's also pretend that I thought Harry was a big jerk and I acted that way. Assuming he's a jerk will change the way I act around him or talk about him. This may affect our friendship and he may not want to continue being my friend. I don't think a situation like that could work and we could not become really good friends unless it was some sort of fake or illusion of something that it's not. Alternatively, I could have a friend named Nale who is in fact a big jerk. But for some reason, I may treat him like he's a real nice guy. His actions may betray my portrayal of him and I may end up hurt. Since he's a jerk, he may learn this fact and take advantage of me. He may pretend to be a nice guy, but that's only an illusion masking who he really is. A close friendship cannot be struck under the facade of something he is not. Those were somewhat poor examples, but you cannot accept Jesus as something he's not. You cannot claim to truly be in fellowship with him if you do not accept him for what he is. You cannot pick and choose the kind of Jesus you follow. To do such a thing would be not following Jesus at all. Acknowledge and confess Jesus.

Don't get all flustered and worried that you have something wrong. By that I mean, if you are sincerely seeking and following Jesus, I don't think you need to worry if you're mistaken about a minor principle that even true followers of Christ debate over. I've heard something along the lines like this: "On the major's, conviction. On the minors, tolerance." . There are certain things that we can disagree about yet still be followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, there are other things that there is no question about. In addition, if you are wrong, seek to find out what is the truth. If you think you're right, continue to seek to find out what is the truth. You may be deceived. If you are in the truth, God will continue to bless you when you run and follow hard after him.

This antichrist is not some things to beware of in the near or distant future. It's not like some slow moving iceberg in the distance. Though, a slow moving iceberg is what took down the Titanic, it can be seen from far away and is fairly slow moving. The antichrist is already in the world. They heard about it, but they should know that the antichrist is here now.

1 John 4:2

This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

(v2, NIV)

There is a need to test the spirits. We must not be easily caught into the wind of false doctrine. Instead, we must be firmly grounded and test the spirits. So, how do we test the spirits? The test is this: spirits that acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh are from God. This is an agreement and abiding in the teaching of Jesus Christ. Some may speak otherwise, but do not listen to them. These speak from a different spirit. The spirit in them is not from God. These people do not hold fast to the teaching of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came down in the flesh. For Jesus to have come down in the flesh means that he came down from somewhere. Jesus Christ came down from heaven, and took the form of a man. Jesus Christ, God's son, came down from heaven to earth and took on flesh. That isn't all there is to it, but it is part of it. Test the spirits and ensure they agree with the teaching of Jesus Christ.

1 John 4:1

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

(v1, NIV)

In the last verse, John gave a proof or assurance. We know that he lives in us by the Spirit he gave us. Immediately following this verse, John warns his readers to not believe every spirit. Just because someone says they have a spirit or talks eloquently or seems to sound right, they may in fact not be from God. We must test the spirits to see whether they are from God. There are many false prophets. There are many who are not from God. Because they exist and many out there can deceive you, you cannot simply believe every spirit. Test the spirits to see whether they are from God.

John 7: The Water never get thirst

"On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." (v38)

If you have to believe in things that you cannot see or touch, your path will be hard and risky, but do you have the guts? Have you heard an old saying "No guts no glory"?

"By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified." (v39)

May the Spirit of God open your hearts so that you can see with your heart, not with your eyes. Only the Holy Spirit can gives good hearts.

1 John 3:24

Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

(v24, NIV)

So what happens when you obey his commands? The people who obey his commands live in him and he in them. There is this abiding that occurs. You who live in such a way that is obedient to his commands is such a way that you live in him. In addition, he lives in you. It's not that the obedience produces this relationship. Rather, the obedience is an outpouring or result of the relationship we have with him.

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

(2 Corinthians 1:21-22, NIV)

With regards to the Spirit, it is proof that he lives in us. In 2 Corinthians, it is described as a deposit or guarantee. Receive the Spirit and live in obedience to him as dear children.

Ecclesiastes 12: Remember the Creator while you are young

"Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it." (v6-7)

All thing will fade away, don't concern too much about the earthly thing. Everything is meaningless under the sun, but the ONLY purpose of life is to fear the Lord and obey His comments, which is love your God fully and love others before yourself. This is life, and life can be wonderful, because of love. Without love, there is really no meaning in life, because God is love.

The LORD is my shepherd....I will dwell in Him forever

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

³ he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

⁴ Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

⁶ Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

1 John 3:23

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

(v23, NIV)

So it was stated that we receive from him anything we ask. This fact hinges on the requirement that we obey his commands and do what pleases him. John continues on to tell what the command is. The command is to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ. Also, we are to love one another. There are in fact two commands here, but they go together. We are to believe in the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is Lord. Believe that he is Lord and that he is worthy of the name that is above every other name. If you believe in him, you will obey his commands. He tells us to love one another.

1 John 3:21-22

Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.

(v21-22, NIV)

We shouldn't be worried if our hearts condemn us. It may happen, but we must understand that God is greater than our hearts. Hopefully our hearts will not condemn us. As a result, we can have confidence before God. This doesn't mean that we are better than God. This doesn't mean that we do not fear God or anything like that. Instead, because of Jesus' payment for our sins, we have his imputed righteousness. As a result, our debt of sin has been paid for by him. God is fair and he will uphold this payment. As a result, we can come before him without condemnation for our sins. We should still remain in awe and in humble obedience to him. He is our God. Have confidence before God, but not in a bad way if you get what I mean.

What's interesting is that we receive from him anything we ask. The reason for this is because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. Some may take this verse and complain that God didn't do what they ask. However, this verse is in the bounds of obeying his commands and doing what pleases him. If you do in fact live within the boundaries of his commands and do what is pleasing to him, God will give you anything you ask. You are asking within God's will and according to what he wants. The difference is when we ask for things outside of his commands and pleasure.

Let's say for example that there is a son who is disobedient to his father. This son never listens to his father and steals from him and maybe runs away taking his father's money. If for some reason, the son comes back selfishly wanting something more from his father; would his father grant his request? Maybe he's coming back wanting to borrow the car after a life of disobedience and never really doing what the father wants. Would the father be so inclined to give it to him? Some may argue yes, but not likely. Okay, maybe we'll try a different example. Let's say you work with a coworker who is obnoxious and never really a team player. He doesn't cooperate well with others and is always trying to selfishly get what's best for him disregarding who he has to step on to get it. If suddenly he is at your mercy desperately needing a favor from you, how likely are you to graciously grant him what he needs? I wouldn't want to help him out. Why would I? He only selfishly wants for himself and is always disrespecting others. He never listens and is a complete jerk. In the same way, how do you expect God to give you what you ask when you don't even obey what he commands?

You may think then that all you need to do is follow a list of commands in order to selfishly get what you want. However, if you live within the bounds of his commands, you will not selfishly demand things only for yourself. To do such a thing would be to step outside of God's commands. Therefore, it doesn't work that way.

1 John 3:19-20

This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

(v19-20, NIV)

We are to love one another in deed and in truth instead of simply by word or tongue. By living it out, we can know that we belong to the truth. Showing love in our actions is not entrance into belonging to the truth. Rather, it is assurance or evidence that we in fact do belong to the truth.

An important truth is stated here. God is greater than our hearts and he knows everything. This is mentioned with regards to when our hearts condemn us. Our hearts may condemn us. We may fall short and we may feel unworthy. We are in fact unworthy and undeserving to be in the presence of God. However, by the grace of God and through faith in Jesus Christ may we be graciously saved. When our hearts do condemn us, we do not need to worry. It is not our hearts who will judge, but God. God is greater than our hearts. Do not rest upon our own hearts and our own feelings, but on God who is greater than our hearts. He knows everything. He knows that is in your heart and he knows how he will judge you. Rest in him and upon him.

1 John 3:17-18

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

(v17, NIV)

The church described in acts paints a picture of believers sharing with one another. There are many other things they do, but one thing in particular was how they lived together and shared with one another. However, I look at myself and question whether I do or am willing to share with my brothers? Do I hold on to these material possessions as my own? Am I unwilling to give it up and share? If I am selfish and unwilling to give in this nature, is it even possible for God's love to be in me? This is what John is saying. Having material possessions, if you do not have pity on your brother who you see is in need, is it even possible for the love of God to be in you? We are to love one another. Look to Jesus to see and know what love is.

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

(v18, NIV)

John has been talking about this in this letter. We are to love one another. He is talking about it and we may talk about it. However, may it not stop there. Sometimes it's all too easy to simply talk about something but never actually do anything about it. We're all talk but we don't carry through. We should not just talk about love, but actually live it and show it. We aren't to love with our words or tongue, but with actions and in truth, as John says. This isn't to say that we can't love by speaking to others. We can show our love to others through words of affirmation and encouragement. However, speaking words of encouragement and adoration to another is an action. The problem is when we simply talk about how we are to love, but we do not show love to others.

What's interesting is that we are to love in truth. The first obvious point is that we are not to love in falsehood. Who ever heard of loving someone with a lie? If I am a doctor and I know that you have been diagnosed with a deadly disease, is it loving to withhold the remedy from you? Or if you were going to die with no hope of survival, would I be loving to tell you otherwise? Some may argue some extreme cases where a lie is more loving than the truth. I do not think so. Rather, a lie may be temporarily soothing and pleasant, but overall it is hurtful and devastating. However, the truth may be temporarily painful, but it is overall beneficial.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

(John 14:6, NIV)

In gospel according to John, Jesus says it himself that he is the truth in addition to being the way and the life. If we remain in 1 John, he talks about truth as well. Those who walk in darkness or claim to be without sin are those who do not live by the truth or that do not have the truth in them. Live in the light; God is light. Love in truth.

1 John 3:16

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

(v16, NIV)

John has been talking about love. We are not to love the world. Instead, the command is to love one another. The father loves us with a love so great. He loved us so much that we can be called children of God. We are not to hate one another. Do not be like Cain who murdered his brother. Love one another.

What is this love and how are we to love? Jesus Christ is our example of love. We are to look to Jesus to find out what love is and how to show love to others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

(Ephesians 2:5-11, NIV)

Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. In the same way, we are to lay down our lives for our brothers. Love one another and look to Jesus as he shows us how to love.

Ecclesiastes: Reason of Life is to worship God

"“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes. The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles. Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea. Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content." (Ecclesiastes 1)

1 John 3:15

Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

(v15, NIV)

John mentioned a few verses ago that we are not to be like Cain. Cain belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. In addition, John continues his point about loving one another. The opposite of loving one another is hating one another. In fact, we shouldn't be surprised if the world hates us. However, we are not of the world. How are we different from the world if we do the same things they do? Do not hate your brother. In fact, if you hate him, you are a murderer.

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

(Matthew 5:21-22, NIV)

Here in Matthew 5, Jesus goes beyond murder. Of course those he is speaking to know and understand that murderers are subject to judgment. However, he goes beyond that to say that those who are angry with their brother are subject to judgment. There is this connection with hating and murder. Some may say that they are without fault since they have not murdered anyone, yet they hate others.

Do not hate your brother. By doing so, you are a murderer. If you are a murderer, how do you expect to have eternal life? Murderers do not have eternal life. This doesn't mean that if you have murdered someone, you cannot be saved. God's forgiveness is displayed throughout the bible. The power of the cross is strong enough to overcome any and every of the dirtiest and filthiest sins you can and will commit. Do not think that you are exempt because of how dirty you are. We all do not deserve his saving grace because of how dirty we are. But that's what it is; it is an undeserved gift of God freely offered to those who will accept it. So repent and turn from your sins and look unto the Lord.

1 John 3:14

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

(v14, NIV)

What is this passing from death to life? Well, there are those who are of the devil. However, there are also those who are born of God. In addition, in the gospel of John, chapter three is about Jesus talking to Nicodemus.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."

In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

(John 3:1-8, NIV)

There is this idea of being born again. We are of the devil. We were dead in our trespasses and sins as Ephesians 2 explains. However, God stepped in. Thus, we can be born again; we can be born of God.

A sign of this passing from death to life is love. Those who have been born of God love their brothers. Not just their biological brothers, but also brothers in Christ. This love is a testimony and an outpouring of those who are born of God. It does not make sense for those who are born of God to not love. Instead, if you do not love, you are still dead.

1 John 3:13

Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.

(v13, NIV)

If in fact the world hates you, do not be surprised. It's not a big surprise or outrageous assertion to find out that the world hates you. We are born of God; however, the world is of the devil. Recall Cain who John refers to in the last verse. Cain belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. The reason for this is because Cain's actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Following the course of history and examples before our eyes, it's plain to see what the world does to those who are righteous. Do not surprised if the world hates you.

We are the sick

"On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."" (Matthew 9)

Sometimes we assume that the one beside us is the sick and they need to repent. We compare ourself with people that is worse than us, or weird than us, and then we feel good that we are the healthy and they are the sick. But in fact, by comparing with Jesus, the son of God, we are all the sick who need Jesus to transform our life, so that we slowly become more Christ like.

Transformation has to be done through Christ, not through good work, or a powerful Sunday sermon. I should realize our own situation, that we are sinner and the sick, so that we will desire mercy from God. When we still desire the sacrifice from God, we still don't get that we in the first place don't deserve mercy from God.

1 John 3:12

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

(v12, NIV)

Love one another. The opposite of this is what Cain did. We are to love one another, so we are not to be like Cain. Cain murdered his brother Abel. His actions were sinful and thus he belonged to the evil one. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, who has been sinning from the beginning. John continues on to say the reason why Cain murdered his brother Abel. Apparently, it was because Cain's actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Do not be like him, being one who is of the devil.

My son, if sinners entice you,

do not consent.

If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;

let us ambush the innocent without reason;

(Proverbs 1:10-11, ESV)

I was reading proverbs and this passage in 1 John reminded me of it. In this one section, the writer is speaking to a son as a father's imparts wisdom and instruction. He is speaking with regards to sinners who are trying to entice you. What caught my attention was how they wish to ambush one who is innocent, similar to Cain murdering his righteous brother. The passage in Proverbs itself is not about that, but instead about wisdom regarding the reaction to sinners who entice you. However, I thought it was interesting to note the kinds of things the sinners say.

"The eye is the lamp of the body"

"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light...But if your eyes are bad, you will certainly be engulfed in darkness." (Matthew 6:22)

In statistic, our generation has been feed up information through visual more than 83%, and most of the credit sadly goes into media. Media including the internet, TV, comic books. movies, etc. They are the media that influence us .

Jesus said, if our eyes are good, our whole body will be full of light. Whatever you see determine your purity of the whole body. Guide our heart so that we will turn away from seeing evil things.

MANY who claims to know God

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matthew 7:21-23)

When I was reading the passage, the word "MANY" has been highlighted. In the Bible, Matthew quotes Jesus saying MANY who claims to know God, and boosting what they have done, in the judgment day, Jesus will not accept their offering instead saying they are evildoers.

It tells me that going to church or serving in a ministry at church doesn't mean we are saved. It is the heart counts. God wants either all our heart or none. There is no in between. It's not possible to server both God and money. You either all in to God, or nothing. If we are lukewarm, He will split it out from His mouth.

"If we claims to be have fellowship with Him but keep walking in darkness, we lie and do not live by 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, purifies us from all sin. 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, purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1)

1 John 3:10-11

This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

(v10, NIV)

Those who do what is sinful are of the devil. Those who are born of God will not continue in sin. Therefore, this is how we know who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil. So we know that those who do not do what is right are not children of God.

Another test can be applied by whether a person loves his brother or not. John adds that in addition to not doing what is right, those who do not love their brother is not a child of God. This idea carries from chapter two. In part of chapter two, John is talking about the commandment to love one another. You cannot be in the light and hate your brother. However, if you love your brother, you live in the light.

This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

(v11, NIV)

The idea of loving one another is not only in chapter two. In the next verse, John brings up this message to love one another. Similar to what John says in chapter two, this is something they had from the beginning. The command to love one another is not something they are hearing for the first time from John, but they had heard it before. We should love one another.

1 John 3:8-9

He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.

(v8, NIV)

Do not continue in sin. Instead, do what is right. Are you not of him? Do you abide in him? Do you know him? Well, the real question is, do you do what is sinful? If you do what is sinful, you are of the devil. The devil has been sinning from the beginning; just think of the serpent in the Garden of Eden. So if you keep on sinning and doing what is sinful, you are of the devil. If you are of the devil, can you also claim to be of God? God is light and in him is no darkness at all.

No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

(v9, NIV)

Instead of being of the devil, there are those who are born of God. We are all of the devil because we all sin. Earlier, there are those John refers to who keep on sinning. These who keep on sinning do not live in Jesus.

In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

(John 3:3, NIV)

In John 3, Jesus is talking to Nicodemus and he talks about being born again. We all sin and we all begin as ones who are of the devil. However, there are those who cease to be of the devil and are born of God. These who are born of God do not keep on sinning. In fact, since he has been born of God, he cannot keep on sinning. Those who are born of God and of God cannot continue in sin. It just doesn't work; this is the power of God over us and against the works of sin and the devil.

1 John 3:7

Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.

(v7, NIV)

There are those who will or wish to lead you astray. Do not let that happen. This leading astray is leading away from the truth; this is leading away from him. Do not let that happen. Some may lead you to believe that you can continue in sin and yet know him. That is not true, as John mentions in the last verse. Some may lead you astray, causing you to think that doing right does not mean that you are righteous. Now of course, we all sin. This doesn't mean you don't sin, but you do what is right. It is the opposite of the last verse where it talks about one who keeps on sinning. Instead of a pattern of sin, there is a pattern of increasing right. The pattern is decreasing in sin. In addition, the righteousness that is of those who do what is right is similar to the righteousness of him. We will be righteous like him. There is a righteousness of Jesus. The more you get to know Jesus, the more in awe of him you are. The more amazed you are of him and of his love and of his righteousness. He lived the perfect sinless life. Yet, those who do what is right are righteous as he is righteous. The bible talks about Jesus' righteousness being imputed to us. For those who Jesus knows and has died for, God looks at them and sees Jesus' righteousness instead of all the filthiness we are covered in. We are righteous as he is righteous.

1 John 3:6

No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

(v6, NIV)

If you live in him, you will not keep on sinning. These are people who abide in him. God is light and in him is no darkness. Jesus came to take away our sins, and in him is no sin. If you live in him, how can you keep on sinning? This contradicts his very nature. Why would he take away your sins so that you could just keep on sinning? You can't live in him and keep on sinning. It just doesn't make sense. If you were in him and you kept on sinning, he would no longer be without sin. Your continual growth in sin only proves that you are not living in him. You haven't even seen him or known him. Instead, live in him, and do not keep on sinning.

This doesn't mean we will not sin. Back in chapter one if you'll recall, John talks about those who say they are without sin or say that they do not sin. If you do that, you deceive yourselves and you are making God to be a liar. The fact of the matter is that we will sin. However, the question is, are you growing and continuing on your path to destruction? Does sin have a stronger hold on you and are you growing in that? Do not keep on sinning.

Rethink of our relatioship

oschambers

Your god may be your little...habit— the habit of prayer or Bible reading at certain times of your dayhttp://bit.ly/mu0512

So what am I suppose to do?

'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

How?

Sincere Prayer.

what else?

Fellowship with one another, with followers of Christ.

Discipline

oschambers

Love is spontaneous, but it has to be maintained through discipline. http://bit.ly/mu0511

Need to get back to the discipline. Oh Lord, teach me!!

"What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"

1 John 3:5

But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.

(v5, NIV)

Why did Jesus come? Jesus came to take away our sins. He paid for them, receiving for us God's righteous wrath that would've been upon us because of our sins. Because of him, we can receive his righteousness imputed to us. Because of him, we can have freedom and are no longer slaves to sin. He appeared so that he might take away our sins. We sin and we break the law. Well, lawlessness is sin. We all sin. However, Jesus takes away our sin. In addition, Jesus is without sin. There is no sin in him. If he was sinful, how could he take away our sins? If Jesus had sin, he would be a hypocrite. Also, he would not be paying for our sins, but would be paying for his own. In him is no sin and he came to take away our sins.

1 John 3:4

Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.

(v4, NIV)

Sin is equivalent to lawlessness. What does lawlessness mean? It's disobedience to God and rejection of his ways. This will lead to false teaching and living in immorality. This may be linked to these antichrists John has been talking about. These people who left were teaching false doctrine. They disobey God and have rejected his ways. They are sinners.

Now, some may try to convince themselves that they aren't sinning. They may say that this isn't sin. Maybe they break a few rules here and there, but they tell themselves that it's not sinning. However, this is lawlessness. They are disregarding rules that are put in place for our benefit. We are in subjection to authorities and people who are over us. Disregarding their rules is lawlessness. More importantly, disobeying and disregarding God is lawlessness. Of course, if a rule is set that is in direct opposition to God, then it's probably better to obey God than to obey men. Regardless, sin is lawlessness. Call it what it is and turn from it.

The Awe of His Creation

 

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Now the earth was unformed and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters........" (Genesis 1:1, 2)

Matters, in a science term, began out of darkness, emptiness. The sky, the universe was formed/created.

"And God said: 'Let there be light.' And there was light.
And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness" (Genesis 1:3, 4)

Light is the source of energy. Everything has to begin with energy. Massive of energy. It was light. The first thing God created.

"And God said: 'Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters..." (Genesis 1:6)

Water was the second thing He introduced in creation.
Water is source of life. Everything has to began with water. Water is like the spirit of God that gives LIFE. It's like verse 2 says "the spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters".

Then there are a myriad of creations of light, night, day, the earth, oceans, plants, animals, and finallyhuman beings, created in God’s own image. It all mentioned in the first chapter of the Bible.

 

"Schroeder points out that we revise our understanding what the Bible says, and has said for a longtime, only when we advance enough in our knowledge of the universe to see in the Bible meaning that was notapparent before."[1]

 

The bible is God's breath, messages that God wants human to know, a channel of communicate between God and human. Here are only the first few verses from the bible, the Genesis.
Genesis was written long long time ago way before technology exists, but God's word is powerful enough to explains how and why the universe was created in a few words, which takes thousands of years of human technology to discover, yet we human still can't totally find out all the answer through technology. That is the awe of His creation.

The bible was written throughout different authors with different cultural backgrounds. Throughout all various time of generations and century even now, there are more we yet to discover. However, the entire Bible holds one single truth regardless time and space and culture, is that:
It's not because we love the creator God, but because He loves us. Not entirely because God loves us, but because God IS love.

 

Learning the universe and connect with God's word takes my WHOLE hearts beats 100 times faster. It is the awe of His creation, and there are MORE to learn.

p.s. watch the whole thing here:

Journey to the Edge of the Universe : Journey to the Edge of the Universe

 

read this too!

[1] http://se.uwaterloo.ca/~dberry/FTP_SITE/tech.reports/breshit.pdf 

(waterloo scholar baby!)

1 John 3:3

Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

(v3, NIV)

Those who hope in him purify themselves. He is pure, and the ones who put their hope in also purify themselves. What is this hope? John was just talking about how we are children of God. He doesn't mean everyone is a child of God, but to those who abide in him. In addition, when he appears, we shall be like him and see him as he is. The hope is not in one specific aspect in particular. Rather, it is simply hope in him. Do you place your hope in him? I had to look up the definition of hope.

A wish or desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment.

(Hope, thefreedictionary.com)

However, hope is referred to as a verb in the ESV.

And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

(v3, NIV)

So, the definition of hope as a verb is:

To wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment.

(Hope, thefreedictionary.com)

It's pretty much the same. I didn't really need to add that. Regardless, do you wish for him with expectation of his fulfillment? Jesus said a lot of different things. Many have come to pass and some still are to come. Do you place your trust in him? Or, are you more hopeful in other things (XBox?). Place your trust in him. Those who do that purify themselves as he is pure.

1 John 3:1-2

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

(v1-2, NIV)

Apparently, the world does not know us. It would make sense with the analogy of light and darkness. God is light and in him is no darkness. The children of God abide in the light. However, there are those who are of the darkness, and they do not know of the light. They do not have fellowship with God who is light, since they are in darkness. Since we abide in the light, and they do not know God who is light, they do not know us.

When don't know what we will be. It has not yet been made known. However, there is hope in the promise that we will be like him when he appears. Of course, our transformation, progress and result is only because of the Lord. It is only because of him that we could be saved from our wretched state. However, have confidence and hope in the promise and transforming work through him.

1 John 3:1

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

(v1, NIV)

We are children of God. By "we", John isn't simply referring to everyone. Not everyone can be called the children of God. It is true that we are all given life and created by God, but we are not all his children. However, these who abide in love and abide in him can be called children of God. In addition, this is as a result of God's love for us. God loves us, and because he loves us, he has allowed us to be called his children. It is truly amazing and a testament to how great the father's love is for us. If you think about it, it doesn't make much sense. How can we, dirty filthy finite beings of darkness come into fellowship with him who is light and in him is no darkness? Of course, we know that it is through Jesus Christ that this is even made possible. Apart from the saving work of Jesus Christ, we are dead in our trespasses and sins. He is great and love the love he has poured out upon us is great.

1 John 2:29

If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.

(v29, NIV)

There is a connection made between righteousness and God. Well, this may seem like a no brainer, but it is important. Those who do what is right have been born of him. Previously, John talked about a connection between the father and the son. If you deny the son, you do not have the father. You can't just deny the son and have the father. In addition, there is a connection between fathers and their children. If we truly are God's children, we will do what he says and have similarities to him as a child resembles their father. The one John is talking about here is righteousness. Righteousness is something that is apparent in those who are born of him. This is also somewhat of a test. Similar to chapter one with the contrast between light and darkness, there is a test here with regards to righteousness. If those who do what is right have been born of him, I'm guessing the opposite would be true. Those who do not do what is right, they do what is wrong and have not been born of him.

The Last hour and Antichrist

"Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour." 1 John 2

Last night, the the waterloo folks (I met new friends James Jon and Phil) had discussion on how should we Christian approval the Mormon believes. One question we have discussed was wheather the Mormon is antichrist or not. In the surface, Mormon does not seems like they are the antichrist because they do not deny Jesus. But in some extant, Mormon deny Jesus' teaching.

It is true, this is how we know it is the last hour, by seeing how many antichrist "went out from us. but they did not really belong to us." 1 John 2

It is all mess up, sometimes when we are not careful enough, we can easily be deceived by the evil one. Do not think that we are strong, but always be aware and pray. The word of God is like a sword. The one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world, so hold on to what we have.

As the last day is near, people need to repent. Able to repent is through the power of God. That's why repentance are grace.

1 John 2:28

And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.

(v28, NIV)

John continues to encourage his readers to continue in him. There are some who were with them, but they left. Those who had left proved to never really of them. Therefore, he encourages them to remain and continue. Those who continue in him prove to be those who were truly in him. What happens when you do not remain and abide in the Lord? Well, when he comes back, you're going to be ashamed. He's going to come back and ask you why you didn't remain in him. Your act of leaving proves that you were never really of the children of God, but you're still going to be ashamed regardless. Remain in him, that we may confident before him when he returns. Jesus tells the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. The first two servants were diligent with what they were given. Do you want to be like them and be confident on the day the master returns? Remain in him.

1 John 2:26-27

I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

(v26-27, NIV)

John makes it clear who he is talking about. John is writing about these antichrists who are trying to lead others astray. With their false teachings and distortions of the truth, they deceive others. However, for those who abide in him and have received his anointing, they do not need anyone to teach them. We have the anointing from him that will teach us. If we have received this anointing, why do we need to go around looking in these antichrists for teaching? This doesn't mean we do not learn from others. Rather, if we are to receive teaching, it must be from God. Therefore, if we are to learn from someone else, the teaching they bring should be from God. One important thing, as John just mentioned, is that the liar is the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ. One obvious sign that the teaching is not from God is that the person denies the son. Further on in 1 John we read that John tells us to test the spirits. We need to test teachings and sayings to see whether they are really from God or not. Test it according to the scriptures; test it according to what they say and their character. Do not be deceived.

1 John 2:24-25

See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—even eternal life.

(v24-25, NIV)

Here, the beginning refers to the beginning of their conversion and walk with Jesus. John is referring to what they had heard in the beginning of their new life in Christ. What they heard in the beginning was the gospel. They heard and received the word of life. With regards to what they heard in the beginning, John further encourages them to endure. These false teachers and antichrists John was just talking about are ones who did not remain with us. Those who do not remain prove to be those who were never really one of us. We should remain in the father and in the son.

Of further encouragement is the promise of eternal life. Eternal life is promised to true believers and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins and we receive his righteousness by imputation. As a result, we can now be ushered in as adopted sons and daughters. By grace through faith in him we can receive eternal life.

We are saved by grace

Q:
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. (Romans 7)

A:
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8)

There are not much to explain. The scripture speaks for himself.

1 John 2:20-23

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

(v20-23, NIV)

Those who are believers in Christ Jesus have received the Holy One. The Holy One is the Holy Spirit who is the counselor and helper. In addition, we all know the truth. This truth that John is referring to is the truth that Jesus is the Christ. John was just talking about antichrists. These antichrists may come to deceive you. They may distort or twist the truth. The truth that we receive as believers who have received the anointing from the Holy One is that Jesus is the Christ.

The antichrist is a liar, distorting the truth. The antichrist denies that Jesus is the Christ. By doing so, he is denying both the father and the son. They may try to deceive you saying that they have the father or they have the son or that they know the father or that they know the son. If someone denies the son by denying that he is the Christ, then this person does not have the father.

1 John 2:18

Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.

(v18, NIV)

Who is the antichrist? Or, who are these antichrists? These people are false prophets and false teachers. These people do not hold fast to the truth and teach false doctrine. These people do not have fellowship with God, they walk in the darkness and the truth is not in them. These people may even claim to be without sin or to have not sinned. These people do not obey the commands of the Lord. Beware of the antichrist. They may try to deceive you. Do not be deceived.

The presence of the antichrists is also signs of the last hour. Their appearance and existence proves it is the last hour. They simply coincide with the last hour. It seems as if the forces working against God are in an uproar and pooling all their resources in order to deceive and fight against God. Regardless of the reason or how or why, they exist and they exist in the period of the last hour.

1 John 2:18-19

Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

(v18-19, NIV)

John says that this is the last hour. This is not necessarily meaning that these are the end times. Relatively speaking, it's been about 2000 years since this letter was written. So, if John meant that the end was coming soon, he was dead wrong. It is possible that this is what John thought. However, the word "hour" does not necessarily refer to a unit of time, but can refer to an occurrence or decisive event. So, this "last hour" that John speaks of could refer to the period of time that John lived in and we still live in today. This "last hour" could refer to we who live in the time after Christ's death and resurrection. To the true believers and followers of Christ, we receive salvation by grace through faith in him. This "last hour" could be the time in which John was referring to.

The implications of the "last hour" are probably more important than its exact timing. The "last hour" is closely linked to the need to abide and remain in him. Since it is the last hour or maybe since we should be living as if Jesus is coming soon, then we should endure and remain steadfast in him.