Comparison

Galatians 1:10 (NIV) “For now do I persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

It is really easy to pass on this verse because it seems so matter-of-fact. Why does Paul need to defend himself? He only wrote around 14 books of the New Testament. That is a pretty substantial argument in itself, isn't it!

Yet, we see him in this verse painting a picture of juxtaposition between his past and present.

Pharisee --- Apostle
Prosecutor --- Defender
Christian Killer --- Christian Leader
Popular --- Despised
Wealthy --- Homeless
Man-centered --- Jesus-centered

Old man – renewed mind – new man (Ephesians 4:22-24)

If I were to write a letter to a church plant, could I, like Paul, provide the stark contrasts between my present and former self? Yes, I could say I sin less; yes, I could say I love more completely; and, yes, I could say I place Jesus first – most of the time. Somehow though, it seems a bit weak!

More importantly, would my actions, like Paul’s, speak much louder than my words?

Difference

Obedience, Love and Truth

After a two-month study of 1 John, it is clear we Christians are called to test our walk. Ours is a walk illuminated in Christ’s love: follow God’s precepts in all we do, demonstrate the agape love of Christ toward each other and stand firm on the doctrine of truth.

Ephesians 6:14-17 (NIV) “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Now, if we are the warriors on the Frontline for Christ, the study of 1 John should produce change in our lives!

Colossians 1:6 (NIV) “…All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.”

I ask you to look introspectively on what changed.

How are you different?
What has this new knowledge produced in you?
How are people seeing you differently?

And more importantly,

What changes or differences does God see in your heart?

Proverbs 27:19 (NIV) “As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.”

Certainty

My Captain

Out of the light that dazzles me,
Bright as the sun from pole to pole,
I thank the God I know to be
For Christ the conqueror of my soul.

Since His the sway of circumstance,
I would not wince nor cry aloud.
Under that rule which men call chance
My head with joy is humbly bowed.

Beyond this place of sin and tears
That life with Him! And His the aid,
Despite the menace of the years,
Keeps, and shall keep me, unafraid.

I have no fear, though strait the gate,
He cleared from punishment the scroll.
Christ is the Master of my fate,
Christ is the Captain of my soul.

This poem written by Dorothea Day is a beautiful expression of a person’s confidence in God!

Regardless of what happens today, I know my salvation is secure. I have examined my walk with Christ as laid out in 1 John: obedience, love and truth. I know I am a child of God, and I am secure in that knowledge!

1 John 5:13 (NIV) “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.”

Reliance

1 John 4:16 (NIV) “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.”





Do you know your life resembles that of a nation? It’s true! Read all about the nation of Israel from Genesis to Malachi, and the parallels to your own life will leap off the pages.

• Rebellion


• Idolatry


• Immorality


• Selfishness

Sure paints a bleak picture of our own worthiness, doesn’t it?

Good thing the act of forgiveness doesn’t rest on my shoulders! I don’t know about you, but how does a person forgive such egregious behavior? Yes, I’ve read the same passages in the Bible you have, but turning the other cheek is not something easily done. Let’s be totally honest here; you and I fail so often when it comes to turning that cheek because we let feelings dominate our actions.

Romantic love has no place or value when faced with such devastating behavior. Even in our forgiveness, we often hold a little of that “how could you” mentality in reserve, and oh how destructive that becomes.

Not God!

Hosea 11:9 (MSG) “And so I'm not going to act on my anger. I'm not going to destroy Ephraim. And why? Because I am God and not a human. I'm The Holy One and I'm here--in your very midst."

Agape love, on the other hand, enables us to do things beyond our own capacity! Forgiveness is made possible through the completion of God’s love operating in us – That agape love!

We have access to that agape love! Don’t let anyone tell you any different because the scripture is clear on this topic. We live in this love – ready access – enabled by God in us.

1 John 4:13 (NIV) “We know that we live in him and he in us because he has given us of his Spirit.”

Church

What am I here for?
Where do I fit in?
What am I to do?

I’m sure you have asked yourself these questions at some point in your life. Maybe, like many other Christians, you’re still asking! Perhaps, you’ve answered these questions, but the answers do not make much sense.

What to do? What to do?

In his post, “New Beginnings,” Pastor Leo does a superb job explaining how we are “saved to serve,” which clearly identifies the dilemma of idleness faced by many Christians today. In Leo’s words, “God didn't save us so that we could simply fill a place in heaven but also to fulfill a function both now and in heaven.” He goes on to state that man was given a purpose to fulfill – a mandate from God given in the Garden of Eden.

For some Christians, personal desire, worldly influence and burdensome obstacles obfuscate that purpose.

John gives a little advice on how to get beyond that stuff!

1 John 4:11-12 (NIV) “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

“His love made complete in us” is a powerful, powerful reality if we let that agape love work. If we operate in that agape love, I bet God’s love will explode forth with mightiness that surprises even the most mature Christians!

Best yet, just think how that love opens the doors to areas once obscured: Diversities of Gifts, Diversities of Ministry and Diversities of Activities.

1 John 4:19 (NIV) “We love because he first loved us.”

Truth

History is replete with stories about people losing a life’s savings to con men. You’ve heard these stories:

* You’ve won the lottery, but you have to send money to receive the award!

* An investment of $5,000 will net you $25,000 in just one month; you can't miss this opportunity!

* This land will have a highway approved in just two months, so you will make a mint!

Why is it people fall for things like this? I know, I know – it just sounds so good. In fact, it is too good to be true. More importantly, a little research easily identifies these stories as the stark frauds they are, but few take the time to do so.

Do you know that Christians make these same mistakes in a spiritual sense? Yes, it is true!

* The New Testament never tells us to tithe, so we are not required to support our church!

* You are not saved by grace; you must do good works!

* Jesus really wasn’t the Son of God!

Why is it Christians fail to examine the scriptures to test these false statements? I suppose it is like the lottery thing. It sounds so nice and works for me, so why should I investigate it. You know the saying – There is no excuse like ignorance.

In our case, ignorance can never be an excuse. The scripture is our guideline, our foundation and our weapon against such fraudulent claims.

1 John 4:4 (NIV) “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.”

Think about it for a second!

* How is it that Jesus is inside of you?

* What do you give the Holy Spirit to use?

* What exactly are you testing?

Yes, the word of God inside of you is what 1 John 4:4 is talking about. Look at the context. Verse 4 is neatly sandwiched between verses talking about false doctrine and false prophets. Your Biblical viewpoint far exceeds that of the world’s. Are you developing that viewpoint?

John 17:17 (MKJV) “Sanctify them through Your truth. Your Word is truth.”