Thoughts From 3John - Part 4

  I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.13 I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.15 Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name. 3John 9-15

         Ring, ring

         Dude:" Hello"

          Diotrephes (D): "Dude, Come over now I gotta' show you something."

       Knock on door. D opens door

         Dude: "What's so important?"

         D: "Look, my name is in the Bible! I'm in there with David, Abraham, Moses, Daniel, etc"

        Dude: But look, it says you want to be first, It says you wouldn't welcome the disciple who Jesus loved and you are spreading malicious nonsense about him. It says that you are kicking people out of the church who are siding with John. D, I don't think this is as exciting as you think it is. I'm thinking Demetrius is looking better than you in this chapter."

        D: "Yah, I kicked that guy out. He was starting to get a big head and name-dropping people like John and others."

       Dude: "I think he is implying that you are evil and haven't seen God like you think you have. And it sounds like John is coming soon to set you right."

       D: "How can he say I'm evil when I'm in the Bible. Dude, 2000 years from now people will be seeing my name. I'm immortal."

      Dude: "I guess so, but i still think I'd rather be immortal like Demetrius."

   Have you been in a church with people like Diotrephes? I have and it's sad to say I've got some of him inside me. Francis Chan struggled with this love of being first so much that he quit his church and took his family to be missionaries to an obscure part of the world. He recently gave a message on the blessing of being unknown and just faithfully serving God in that capacity. That's what I want - at least that's what I want to want.

     I was once visiting my home church where I grew up in Brookfield Wisconsin, having moved away and coming back for a visit, and one of the elders confessed in the service that he was wrong when he opposed a pastor who was candidating for the job and God has set him straight and now he is in favor of the candidate coming. It all seemed very humble but as an outsider looking in I was thinking, how can one man have enough power to stop a candidate and now approve him? I remembered this guy from our premarital classes, and he had a "taking over" air about him. These are the dangers that churches have to deal with, and I've seen it in every church I've ever been in.

      Fight for anonymity. God knows who you are!

Thoughts From 3John - part 3

Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. 3John 5-8

          John has a strong sense of black and white in his writings that often seems harsh in our Western thinking. He's big on darkness vs. light, children of God vs. children of the Devil, Spirit of God vs. Spirit of the antichrist, saved vs. condemned, among us vs. not one of us, and in this passage brothers and sisters vs. pagans. The Webster's definition of pagan is "one not holding to the religious beliefs of the recognized religion", which is interesting considering that in actuality the burgeoning Christian faith would probably fit better under the definition of pagan. It's like in a group of 100 people, only one would be a follower of Christ and that follower would consider the 99, pagans. What gall! - unless there is only one "recognized religion" and that is what John would call "the truth."

           This is why James would say in Chapter 4 of his epistle,

 "You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. "

If we think that we can somehow be popular, loved, endorsed, financially supported by a system that is opposed to God, we are sorely mistaken or else our beliefs have become so watered down that we have lost the difference between us and the world and Satan is glad to keep us stuck in his web.

        When you received Christ, did you realize that it would pit you in an us versus them reality. How do we battle? With love only, no other weapon than that. When they persecute, we love back. When they hate, exclude, mock we love back. But recognize we are on the side of truth no matter how in the minority you might feel and don't back down.

Thoughts From 3John - Part 2

 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3John 3,4

        There are 4 progressive responses to the Truth, and I believe all must be necessary for salvation. The first is knowing the Truth. Romans 1 says that the truth has gone out to the whole world through revelation of God in nature and Romans 2 says it has gone out to all mankind in a moral awareness. In other words, all mankind knows that we aren't a cosmic accident and there must be a cause behind our existence and you can either acknowledge that it's God or make up some other non-sensical cause. Then Romans 2 says we know there is a right and wrong and we violate it and we can either acknowledge we don't measure up or deny responsibility and evilness. This is the first part of knowing the truth but knowing the remedy must come through specific revelation from messengers of the gospel, that Christ came to take on our moral guilt and introduce us to the creator. We follow the Great Commission so people might know the Truth.

       The 2nd part is acknowledging that this is the truth. However, even the Devil acknowledges this to be true so that doesn't save you.

       Third is humbly receiving the Truth. I know the truth, I acknowledge this is the truth and I humbly admit I'm a sinner in need of forgiveness through Christ's sacrificial death for my sins. I said there are 4 responses necessary when in actuality, it's 3 that save you but the 4th flows from a genuine 3rd response. 4th is walking in the truth - the walk or footsteps of faith as described in Romans 4. As John would say in his first epistle, if we say that we have received Christ in salvation but don't walk in love or obedience, we really didn't get saved because we aren't transformed by the Holy Spirit living inside us.

      I have no greater joy to see my children and their children building marriages, homes, families with Christ at the center.

This is the highlight of my life, and with 11 grandchildren, it's vital that my wife and I

continue to help them walk in the Truth which is lifelong process.

Thoughts From 3John - Part 1

 The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3John 1,2

         This is my favorite verse having to do with philosophy of Christian medical care. It recognizes the three important parts of the person that me, as a doctor, needs to address. First, good health. My eldest son, a doctor, is more in tune with this than I ever was. Our teaching had nothing to do with diet and nutrition and minimal training in preventative medicine. We were more focused on identifying diseases early so they could be treated. All of this is important to keep the body, the carrier of the eternal soul, alive and well and on this planet as long as possible. This unfortunately is where care stops with most physicians.

        The next part is the "all goes well" part. To me, this is the emotional well-being aspect or what we would call the psyche. Most doctors would rather not deal with this because frankly, who has time to listen to family, relational, work, marital, money problems, when patients are sandwiched tightly into time slots 15 minutes apart. Besides, you can't bill for that and there are doctors called Psychiatrists that chose to do this for a living. But as a Christian doctor who is supposed to care and love and show kindness, this is an essential part. Not only that, but so much of emotional distress triggers the problems with the body, that to adequately treat physical illness, psychological issues need also to be addressed.

      A good Doctor addresses parts 1 and 2 but a great doctor deals with the last one also and that is the spirit of mankind. To paraphrase Jesus (which is never wise), "What shall it profit a person if they live to be a healthy, happy 100 year-old yet lose their own soul. In other words, if I care for a person and they eventually die without knowing Jesus, they are going to Hell according to God's word. Therefore, I'm not really caring for someone if I don't care for their eternal soul that lies dormant inside of them. I must, at some point lead the conversation toward Christ. Frankly, it's much easier to do if you allow time to explore part 2, their emotional well-being because that often leads to areas that are in disarray because of a life of sin. Also, studies show that Christians live longer due to lack of sinful, detrimental habits to the health of the body, and also a renewed psyche filled with hope, peace, and joy.

       Can non-Christians be good doctors? Absolutely. Can non-Christians be great doctors? No.

Thoughts From 2John - Part 3

  I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.13 The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings. 2John 12,13

        2John has a real family feel to it. You have elder, Father, Son, lady, children, one another all speaking to relationship, family, respect, subordination, roles, care and love. To think that one can become a Christian and not get involved in a body is a mistake. God saved us to be part of a body. John says that his joy isn't complete without face-to-face interaction with fellow believers.

       This is especially needed in this day where communication is often done with texting. Texting is far below talking on the phone which is far below face timing which is far below in person talking. I recently had an episode where I was in a text communication, and it was totally misunderstood. When it was read back, the person read it in a angry, "snarky" (their words) tone where it was anything but that in intent. If I had read it, it would have sounded completely different and I was once again reminded of John's words that he had much to write but he would rather communicate it in person, which is always wise.

     I've got to say, the worst thing about being in a church is the people, but this is also the best thing about being in a church. God uses the worst to refine us - how could we really learn love, long suffering, mercy, grace, compassion, gentleness, selflessness except for difficult people? God uses the best to bless us - our joy is completed. So many people leave the church saying, "I was hurt." Of course you were. There's people in the church. Did you love back? Did you show mercy back? You're like a marine who deserts saying, "They were shooting at me." You're like a boxer that leaves the ring saying, "That guy looked like he wanted to punch me." What do you expect. Get back in there and fight for the prize set before you.

Thoughts From 2John - Part 2

 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.  2John 5-11

         This is the passage that is traditionally used to discourage Christians from inviting travelling cult evangelists into your house to discuss their faulty views while trying to win them over from the lies of Satan that deny the deity of Christ. But is this what this really means in light of the preceding verses that deal with loving people? I suppose it could mean that because you could certainly talk to them on the porch as I have done, but if we are truly concerned about their souls, we shouldn't do like this possum family.

   I think the main thrust of this passage is don't do anything to help them succeed. When you donate money to a charity, is any of that going to further an anti-Christian agenda? If you own a building, are you renting out space to someone who is working against the gospel of Christ? When you spend money at a business, are the owners supporting ministers of a false religion? You don't want to do anything that would further their agenda. We must be informed givers and with AI search engines, that information is at our fingertips. For example, did you know that Marriot Hotels and Crumbl cookies were started by Mormons? You have to believe that a small portion of what you spend there will go to the LDS church. It makes you think. (But I do love me a Crumbl cookie)

Thoughts From 2John - Part 1

 The elder,

To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 

        Any idea what the theme was in this quarter of the book? John uses the word "truth" in his writings 43 times. This is relevant to today because people aren't really interested in "the" truth, they are interested in "their" truth which is ironic because their truth may be totally incorrect but it doesn't really matter to them. Plus, their truth may change over time which means one of them wasn't true. "Truth" is defined as that which is in accord with reality.

     One of John's most notable accounts of "truth" is found in Jesus' discourse with Pilate which is only found in his gospel, not the other three. It relates to today because Jesus was explaining who He was and the kingdom of God and explaining the truth and Pilate wasn't interested because his truth was that he had to keep peace even if it meant killing an innocent man. I suppose his truth was true, but Jesus is THE truth, so the question is which truth are you going to follow? What God asks us to do is submit our truth to His. What would that look like in Pilate's case? The truth was that he would lose his job, status, favor with the king, maybe even his life if he didn't keep peace which in this case was sentencing an innocent man to die. To put his truth in submission to Jesus' would have been to admit that what Jesus said was true and to follow Him no matter what the cost because his job and life is nothing compared to the wonder of following Christ.

           That's what happened with Saul/Paul who was advancing in power with the Pharisees by persecuting Christians until he met the truth on the way to Damascus, left his truth and followed the truth and proclaimed that whatever he was then was rubbish compared to the glory of knowing Christ.

       This is what John is talking about as he starts his letter to this body of believers. He is beyond excited that this group of believers have put their truth in subjection to THE Truth who has now given them a new truth which is in line with what is really true. Make sense? In my life, I was introduced to the truth at a very early age but in my college years, when I was on my own, I had to decide is this really the truth or have I been brainwashed. I knew like Trump, Joe Rogan, Jordan Peterson that this way of living led to a good life and wholesome world. But is that enough? Do you really want to be a Christian because it works even if it is not true and Jesus wasn't God and didn't rise from the dead? That's what Karl Marx called the opiate of the masses - let them believe a lie because it makes them endure suffering without complaining. No, I, like Tom Cruise in A Few Good Men wanted to know the truth and after investigating I was convinced that Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life and no one comes to God except through Him.

       That's the truth and I'm following it (Him).

Thoughts From 1John 5 - Part 6

  We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also 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 by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

         Yesterday was Easter Saturday. Thursday was the Passover, Friday the Crucifixion, Sunday the resurrection, Saturday...what? I think a lot happened in the unseen world that I won't get into, but in the seen world, the Pharisees and Sadducees were high fiving in a temporary alliance against a common foe who had been defeated, so they thought. The disciples were scared that they would be next and were hiding out. The believing Jews went back to their religious ritual of celebrating the Sabbath practicing religion as usual having lost hope.

         Today we are living in a "Saturday". Christ was taken from us in Acts 1 as he ascended and we wait for Him to show up again. In the meantime, John says that the world is under the control of the evil one. The devil is in control of the world and wants everyone to forget Jesus. He wants the Christians cowering in fear of being publicly crucified. Recently an NBA player stood against gay pride night and was cut from the team for conduct detrimental to the team and his wife left him. A whole host of people who call themselves Christians will go to Church Easter Sunday, today, practicing religion as usual and go to work Monday like nothing has happened.

      I heard that the Catholic Church has grown by 20% this year. Is this a revival? We could hope it's due to the new pope focusing on Jesus rather than Mary or changing up the confessionals, but what I think is that it is "Saturday" - religion flourishes as a relationship with Jesus goes in the grave. I read that more and more people don't believe in a rapture. Why? They've given up hope.

       As the famous message goes, "But Sunday's coming!" Jesus is coming back and it may be soon. Satan will finally be defeated. Fear will we gone and our faith will become sight. We can't be intimidated into hiding our faith under a bushel. We must let our light shine. A stand is not a stand unless it costs something, but what is a temporal loss compared to an eternal reward. And most of all we must not give up hope and go back to practicing a dead religion but rather, foster a strong relationship with Jesus who could not be defeated by death but even then, was defeating Satan. We are more than conquerors, we are victors. Let's live victoriously!

Thoughts From 1John 5 - Part 5

 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. 1John 5:16,17

         Now this is a confusing passage. First of all, it talks about intercessory prayer that seems to be effectual on forgiving or taking away the consequences of a sin from another person. Second it talks about two types of sin. One that leads to death (don't pray for that one), and one that doesn't lead to death (pray for that one).

      I recently looked into Catholicism because we have a friend of the family who is a believer but decided Catholicism is the right approach to God. I could see them taking an obscure passage like this and developing a whole doctrine of categories of sin - mortal and venial. Then I could see them endorsing the payment of indulgences or acts of Catholic worship such as penance, mass, baptism, rosaries, praying to saints as acts on behalf of people to lessen their purgatory time - interceding on behalf of others. The Mormons probably justify their baptism of the dead from an obscure passage in 1Corinthians 15 while Mennonites justify head covering and their dress from one passage in 1Corinthians 11. The Church of Christ takes a passage like 1Corinthians 6:19 and says no musical instruments are to be used in Church. The point is, don't take one passage that no one is sure what it means and make it a central doctrine of your church.

      Let's look at the first point I addressed, the intercessory prayer that seems to have power over another's sins and consequences. My thoughts go to 2 passages, one in James 5 on healing where the elders are called and their prayer has an effect on the sick person who may be sick because of some sin, and in 1Corinthians 5 where an unrepentant sinner in the body is excommunicated to let sin run its course and when it has and the person is repentant they are prayed for and restored. With this in mind, I see this intercessory prayer mentioned by John as a person or persons commissioned by the Church to pray over a repentant person suffering the physical and spiritual consequences of sin to be effectual in a supernatural way.

      In a like manor, if the person (probably an ex church member i.e. "they went out from us") is unrepentant and suffering the consequences of that sin a commissioned group from the Church should not go out and intercede for them because from the instance of 1Cor.5, they have not reached the point of repentance and may never. This could in context also have to do with those who were among them but are now preaching a false gospel that blasphemes the Holy Spirit. Don't pray a blessing on them.

      Anyway, the takeaway is that there is power in prayer!

Thoughts From 1John 5 - Part 4

  This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 1John 5:14,15

            John was within hearing distance of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane the night He was arrested and heard Him say, "Take this cup from me. If there is any other way. Nevertheless, not my will but Yours be done." We know the disciples were instructed to pray but fell asleep but they must have heard this part in order for it to be recorded before they dozed off. 

        The prayer of Jesus wasn't selfish at first because that would have been a sin. So what was it? It was an honest cry for help in His human frailty. I remember going through my malpractice case in '89 and going through depositions, meetings with attorneys, and getting the court date, arranging coverage, rescheduling patients, all the while praying, "God take this from me. Have them settle out of court, please." I was scared. I was praying for a way out. God had a reason for me going through it and eventually I had to say, "OK, Your will be done. Help me to get through it." That prayer was in accordance with His will, and He heard it and it was answered. Years later I found out that the prosecuting attorney found Christ through my wife's and my example of faith through it all. Also, I never had to practice scared, defensive, costly medical care to protect myself from going to court because I'd been there and no longer was afraid. When people tried to extort me for money or they would take me to court, I'd say, "Fine, take me to court", and it would go away. And what I've realized is if you settle a case, it goes on your record as claiming guilt and it stays with you as you apply for other jobs. God knew all that and was protecting me from that despite my pleas for the easy way out.

       The way of salvation is a surrender of our will to His will and prayer is a reflection of that. We have in our finite minds a way that seems prudent and we pray for that. God who is outside time and knows the future may have a different, better plan and our growth involves continuing to surrender to His plan. So many people's rocky soil faith is revealed when their prayers aren't answered the way they wanted. They hadn't surrendered to God's control of their lives. His way was better and their faith was shipwrecked on the lie of Satan that He wasn't a good good Father.

      When you pray, can you honestly say, "Nevertheless, not my will but Yours be done."? As the years go on are you developing a trust that God is working all things out for your good and His glory? Do you still find yourself getting disillusioned when you don't get what you asked for, or are you anxiously awaiting to see what God is going to do through it all? This is spiritual growth. This is learning to lean on God and trust Him. This is sanctification. Hang on because it could get exciting.

Thoughts From 1John 5 - Part 3

 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.  1John 5:9-13

         Remember the transfiguration? Peter, James and John go up a mountain with Jesus, and like in a scene from Cocoon, Jesus temporarily "unzips" his skin and bright light glory like the kind that fried Saul's eyes on the road to Damascus, like the kind that left Moses glowing for weeks after Mt. Sinai emanated from Jesus. Elijah and Moses appear and a voice from God echoes, "This is my Son. Listen to Him." Jesus, now not glowing and Moses and Elijah going back to I figure Abraham's bosom now for a very short time, descends down the mountain with them and tells them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the resurrection.

        Here it is, much after the resurrection, now knowing and believing what Jesus meant by "rising from the dead" and he gets to tell about it. Peter had previously told about it in his second epistle; 

" For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts"

      John says basically that he is testifying that Jesus is God's son and savior of the world but if people don't believe his word, trust God's word who testified at His baptism and also at the Mount of Transfiguration. John was also the only disciple at the cross where the light went away in the middle of the day and the ground shook and the soldier who stood there believed from all that transpired.

       Believing this testimony that God sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins and raised Him to give eternal life is what is necessary to be forgiven of our sins, receive the Spirit who gives us life and a deposit guaranteeing eternal life in Heaven. Rejecting that doesn't send us to hell, we were already on our way to Hell. Jesus is sent as a lifeline to deliver us. 

      When you ask someone if they are going to Heaven when they die and they say, "I hope so.", it pretty much means they aren't. If you think someone is arrogant when they say that they are going to Heaven someday, it also shows that you don't understand salvation. By faith, believing and receiving God's free gift of salvation, and not our good deeds, is what saves us and John says that he writes these things so that you can know for certain you are going to Heaven someday. That's why I don't need to fear death. That's why I can humbly say that I'm for certain going to Heaven when I die. What about you? Do you know for certain you are going to Heaven when you die? You can! And don't just take John's word for it - take the creator of the universe's word for it, the one who is eternal life and created Heaven. I'll believe Him!

Thoughts From 1John 5 - Part 2

 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 1John 5:6-8

         I was sharing at the Easter homeless meal yesterday and at the end I got some spontaneous questions - "Where did Jesus' soul go those 3 days?" "What happens to people that have never heard about Jesus?". Fortunately, I had studied about those things so I wasn't a deer in the headlights, and I could answer my opinion which was qualified by "this may or may not be right but as far as I understand", but those were some unexpected tough questions coming from a crowd that I presumed ahead of time weren't deep thinkers. I judged them wrongly!

       I'm glad they didn't ask me what this passage meant because it too on face value looks like commentators would not know for sure. Once again, I share that saying with you, "Don't concern yourself about what you don't understand about the Bible, concern yourself over what you do understand." In other words, John has been beating us down with obedience and loving one another and I shouldn't be focused on an obscure passage I don't understand but rather my lack of love. However, let me take a stab at what this passage means.

      Jesus was introduced to the people and His public ministry and His first disciples in John 1 at His baptism by John the Baptist. (Not this John) You could say, "He came by water", and the Spirit came down from Heaven in the form of a dove and testified to His "coming out". We learn that John the Baptist's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He was calling people to repent of their sins by washing symbolically their sins away and getting a clean start with God. In other words, "the law and the prophets have told you how to live and you have wandered away. Come back." We also learn in Acts 19 that baptism of John's was only a start. It could get your heart ready for what was coming next but it didn't save;

 "While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all." Acts 19:1-6

     So, Jesus didn't come just to teach about repenting from sins but to actually wash away their sins. He didn't just preach about the way, He was the Way. He came by blood. John had previously said, "the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin." And note in the previous passage and many others the testimony of the Holy Spirit that His blood was efficacious to save completely. Therefore, I think John is saying, Jesus was more than a teacher, He was and is the savior of the World.

          Therefore, I believe what this passage is saying, unlike other teachers who came proclaiming how to restore a relationship with God, Jesus not only proclaimed it but made it possible. As God said on the Mount of Transfiguration to John who wrote this, we need to "Listen to Him!"

Thoughts From 1John 5 - Part 1

  Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1John 5:1-5

             After graduating High School, teens have four choices ahead of them. First, they can continue to live at home and play video games in their parent's basement and hang out with their friends hoping their parents don't kick them out and hoping they continue to give them money. These are sometimes referred to as basement dwellers, hermits, trad sons, or NEET (not in education, employment, or training) These are derogatory terms because this is not valued highly in our society and doesn't lead to much of a future. Second, they could get a job and move out whether they share a house with someone else to help make payments or not. Generally, unless you have connections to a good upper-level job through family or friends, one has to start at a low salary and hope for advancement by working there long enough. Once again, this is a path with limited future options but is admirable because of the tenacity required to thrive. Third is to go to college and not apply yourself - just party, have a good time and graduate. Chances are, with that resume, job options may not be much more than the person that skipped college but with a degree it's possible you may start at a higher entry level. Lastly, you can go to college, apply yourself, work hard, get a degree and go into the job market with a great resume and snag a job with a great future.

        What does that have to do with 1John 5? John says that if we love God, we will love His son and if we love His Son we will obey His commandments which aren't a burden when you realize that the reward is overcoming the world. Most people view going to college and studying hard even on the weekends while everyone else is partying, to be tedious and work and burdensome. What if they could see the future vacationing in the Caribbean on a yacht, basking in the sun at the end of that 4 year path?

 Would they rethink the burdensomeness of that path? In a similar way, living a life of self-denial and sacrifice in servitude of God and His Son Jesus, is anything but burdensome when you realize the benefits of it in this life and the glory set before us for all eternity which is far better than the above picture. Paul says in 2Corinthians 4:17-18;

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

 Obeying Jesus is not a burden but a joy! If you love Him you will. But John does say, don't delude yourself and think you can love God and not obey Him. John and Jesus say that isn't an option.

Thoughts From 1John 4 - Part 3

  This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. 1John 4:13-16,19-21

           At 70 years old, my clock is ticking. I figure I have maybe 15-20 years. It's funny as a kid and sometimes even now I would think about living forever and it would freak me out. No end to life, everlasting life, is hard to fathom because in this world we are born into, there is an expiration date on everything, even life. Now that I get to this point, I think about wishing life would never end and I understand everlasting life - it's an infinite series of one more days. Although no one wants to die, we don't have to fear it if we know Christ. He showed His love to us by dying on the cross and He wouldn't have done it unless He wanted to spend eternity with us. And we know that He can deliver us from death otherwise His death was futile and He was just an unfortunate victim.

       Therefore, as Christians, we don't have to live with the fear of death looming over us. Paul was concerned that the Thessalonians were grieving over the death of their loved ones in the same manner that the unsaved do who have no hope. He had to instruct them that our thinking of death is different. The writer of Hebrews says that Christ came to free all those who all their lives were enslaved to the fear of death. Thank You Lord for loving us so much that you would die to deliver us from that bondage and fear.

        Now if we know that the whole world is scared of dying and we have the remedy for that fear, shouldn't we share that good news? Wouldn't it be unloving not to share it? This is where people misunderstand evangelism. We don't share to get to Heaven like JW's. We don't share to grow our church like the Mormons or to prove we're devout like most guilted works driven Christians. We share because He loved us first and has put this love in our hearts and sharing comes from that love for others. Knowing that they live in a constant fear of death, the loving thing is to tell them how they can be freed from that burden they carry. Paul expressed his motivation for evangelism this way;

" If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. " 2Cor.5:13-15

Thoughts From 1John 4 - Part 2

 

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 1John 4:7-12,16,17

       The definition of love that I usually go with is "a commitment of my will to your needs and best interests regardless of the cost." This is the selfless love that the Bible is usually talking about when it's talking about God's love or Agape love. This is the love that He has shown to us by sending His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins, and this is the love that He has put inside of us in the Holy Spirit to demonstrate and give to the world through our lives. It should shine a light in this dark world because the only love this world can give is self-centered love or acts that look loving but are done for the benefit of self.

        I had to laugh as I network surfed last night and the network 30 second intro to a show on Netflix was a clip where Lexi, in a bikini on a boat in a reality dating show, says "I'm looking for a man who is confident enough to let me be me and yet is obsessed with me." That was the type of man she could love. How many times did she say "me" in that clip? This is the world's love not God's love, and yet God gets hated on by the world for being unloving mainly for two reasons. First is Hell - why would a God of love send people to Hell? Second is pain and suffering - if God is all powerful and loving, why doesn't He just stop all the pain and suffering?

        First is hell. Hell is at the very least absence from the presence of God. The fact that it is such a terrible place shows that the presence of God in this world is the very reason we have anything good and we don't give thanks to God for it but presume on His common grace and goodness. The fact that He gives people free will to choose to honor and worship Him and thank Him for it verses choosing not to want Him in their lives yet enjoying all the good things He gives is an act of love by God. Allowing them then also to head into the afterlife apart from Him is honoring their choice not to want Him in their lives.

      Second is somewhat like the first. The very fact that we have such a word as "tragedy" or "natural disaster" in our dictionaries is a testament to the fact that we have so much good in our lives that we are surprised by suffering. Where does that good come from? It comes from a God who loves us so much that even in a fallen, broken world which was created to be a garden of Eden without pain, suffering, or death, He recreated the world with a flood and gave us what we see today - broken but beautiful. The fact that there is cancer, disease, starvation, abductions, war is that He has given man free will and man is evil and there are consequences to that evil. The fact that there is cancer, birth defects, crippling diseases and pain is unfortunately the result of living in a broken world with broken bodies. Why doesn't He fix the brokenness? He will someday but now He loves mankind so much that He endures our grief and pain with tears allowing mankind free will to reject or choose Him. Someday soon, that choice will be over and He will make all things new.

       On that day, those who chose to love Him and received the Holy Spirit evidenced by their selfless love to mankind, will confidently, without fear, step into judgement and hear, "Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter into the place I've prepared for you." Maranatha, the Lord come quickly!