A Series on the letter of 1 John
(Click on the link below to read the
verses.)
1 John 2:28-3:24
[The author of this letter is John. Prior
to being a disciple of Jesus, he was a fisherman with a reputation for his bad temper.
In fact, he and his brother were called the “Sons of Thunder”. But he was also
known as “the one whom Jesus loved”. In this letter, John shares that same love
with us.]
It’s often said
that a sports team takes on the personality of their coach.
Tom Izzo is the head men’s basketball coach at Michigan State University. He’s an intense, hard-nosed coach that pushes his players to be the same. In the past, to make his point, Izzo had his basketball team wear football shoulder pads during practice. By doing this, his players could visualize what he wanted. Point made!
In John’s letter,
he tried to help the believers to visualize who they shouldn’t be. Specifically,
the Gnostics, who believed that the spirit was good, and the flesh was
inherently evil. Because of this, they also believed that there were no
consequences to how they lived. So, they could sin without any repercussions.
John flatly
refuted this. He maintained that God was their Father, and they were his
children. He emphasized that continual disobedient behavior was unacceptable.
9 Those
who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because
God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are
children of God. NLT
John also helped
the believers to visualize who they should be by giving them a goal. It focused on how they live their lives now in light of the expected return of
Christ.
28 And
now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns,
you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.
2 Dear
friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we
will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for
we will see him as he really is. 3 And all who have
this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure. NLT
Finally, John
challenged believers to follow the commandment to “love one another”.
11 For
this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one
another.
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 and sisters. 17 If
anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no
pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear
children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in
truth. NIV
John’s words still
ring true today for us. He’s telling us to “put on the shoulder pads” and
practice so that we’re ready for the game. He’s giving us a picture of who we are
to be and how we are to live so that we will “remain in him”.
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