(1 John 1:5-10) This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
Because Jesus has overcome the darkness and the evil one - believers are able to walk in God's light and in His word! Because we know Jesus, and our sins are forgiven, and we live by God's words - WE have overcome the evil one...
(1 John 2:9-14) The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
The one who practices sin is of the devil. And the children of the devil will hate those who are righteous. Hating is the same as killing!
We see the first incident of religious persecution when Cain hated and murdered his brother because of his righteousness...
(1 John 3:7-13) Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.
13 Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.
The whole world lies in the power of the evil one. But those who are born of God - the evil one cannot touch - because God protects His children...
(1 John 5:18-21) We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so 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.
21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
From this we see:
- the devil has sinned from the beginning (3:8)
- Cain was of the evil one, and he killed his brother who was righteous, making this the first incident of religious persecution (3:12)
- children of the devil do not practice righteousness and do not love their brother (3:10)
- the one who practices sin is of the devil (3:8)
- the whole world lies in the power of the evil one (5:19)
- God is light and in Him there is no darkness (1:5)
- Jesus came to earth to destroy the works of the devil (3:8)
- because we know Jesus, and our sins are forgiven, and we live by God's words, we have over come the evil one (2:12-14)
- God protects His children from the evil one (5:18)
Personal experience: people in general are nervous about making any changes! Or stepping into a new or different situation or environment. Or meeting new people...
As believers, we need to move past that in God's love and strength! Who cares if you are shy! Hey! I was the poster child for shyness!!! But God never says, "Sit back. Let others show their love to you." God DOES say - that we are to show love to everyone!
Because I have moved around as well as traveled around so much, I have been the new person in many, many churches. I have come to realize that I need to be the "greeter" - just as much as any designated greeter of any church.
If you hide from people, or expect others to do all the reaching out, then don't be surprised if you never make any friends or connections at church. I have also come to realize that as soon as you break the ice with someone - they are very friendly and usually more than willing to talk with you! And the next time - will be even easier!
Now, once a Christian feels at home in their church - we can feel the love and the acceptance and the comfort of being in a place where many people share something in common that is way bigger than ourselves.
So we shouldn't be surprised when unbelievers come to church and feel discomfort. ESPECIALLY if they are or have been involved in anything occult like. Sometimes, there will even be extreme agitation. I've seen this in my younger brother, as well as that young lady who confessed to being a witch and believed in the power of crystals. She had told me that - she didn't know why - but - she always got extremely nervous every time she walked into the sanctuary.
They should be feeling uncomfortable, because the Holy Spirit is right there - convicting them. So we should not be praying for their comfort level at that point (NOT to say that we should try to make them feel uncomfortable), but we should be praying that they will desire a change of heart! That they see a difference in the lives of those around them because of Jesus - and crave to have that - crave to want to get to know the Lord and Savior personally.
Today's takeaway: as we demonstrate Christ's love to everyone and live in obedience - because we WANT to - because we love Jesus that much - the world will see Jesus and hopefully desire to also get to know and love Him...
(1 John 2:1-6) My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
(1 John 2:15-17) Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
(1 John 2:25) This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.
(1 John 3:1-3) See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
(1 John 3:7-14) We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 19 We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him 20 in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 24 The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
(1 John 5:1-4) Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
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