1 John 4:15-21
King James Version (KJV)
We have all watched television shows in which people go absolutely out of control when they are offered an opportunity to win something like a new car, whereas many of these same people are totally unaffected by a promise from God of something that can not even be measured. Isaiah, speaking for God says, “For behold I create a new heaven and a new earth, and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind, but be glad and rejoice for ever in what I create,” Then in Revelation, he, through John, turns back like a corner of a page, Revelation 21:1-22:6. That peek into what lies ahead is so amazing.
You and I are offered salvation because God loves us, as he does all mankind, and offers a simple plan to for eternity. Like most of God’s promises, it is on the condition that you fulfill his plan, and not your own. God and sin are totally incompatible, so before anyone can enter into Heaven eternally, he must be freed of sin. That is not something anyone can accomplish by works alone. James tells us in his short book that “Works without faith” are nothing. The same thing is true of faith. “Faith without works” is also to no avail.
Remember how Jesus told the blind to go wash. They had to act upon his instructions. Remember Naaman the high ranking officer who had leprosy. His instructions were that he must go and dip in the Jordan seven times. Naaman went away in anger because God’s prophet did not even come out and speak with him, and he nearly did not obey this simple command, but at his servant’s urging, he went to the Jordan. Even then, it was not until he dipped the seventh time, that he came up clean!
When our Lord told Peter to preach on Pentecost, make note of the exact words of the promise. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38. The exact meaning of the word translated “Baptize” into English, is to dip. Don’t go half way, Naaman was only healed when he dipped himself the seventh time. The blind were healed when they obeyed. Sins are forgiven when we obey, and the Holy Spirit is given to us to keep us clean. If anything turns us away at Heaven’s door, it will be that we are trying to come into His presence with a load of sin. Do we love him enough to obey him?
CONFESS YOUR FAITH
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
(1 John 2:23, Romans 10:9, 1 John 3:23, 1 John 4:2, 1 John 5:1, 1 John 5:5, 1 John 2:24, 1 John 3:24)
GODLIKE LOVE
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
Our problem is that we don’t know what love really is. God loved all men, even those who crucified his only Son! We really have no idea what kind of love that requires, but, that is the kind of love he wants us to show toward others.
(John 6:69, John 9:3, 1 John 4:9, 1 John 4:7, 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:12)
PERFECT LOVE
Our love needs to be purified. It needs to be able to love our persecutor and wish him the best.
Only if we have this sort of love for others can we face the return of Christ Jesus with confidence and eagerness.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
(1 John 2:5, 1 John 4:12, 1 John 2:28, Matthew 10:15, John 17:22, 1 John 2:6, 1 John 3:1, 1 John 3:7, 1 John 3:16)
GODLIKE LOVE DRIVES OUT FEAR
When we can look forward to our death, and the judgement that will follow, then we are ready, and we have no fear.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
(Romans 8:15, 1 John 4:12)
GODLY LOVE BEGETS LOVE
There is no such thing as instant love, no matter what many say. They confuse lust for love and that explains why marriages often do not last very long.
Godlike love starts first with God. He loves us, and as we realize how difficult that must be, the more we return that love for him. It is not a physical thing at all. It is inspired by the Spirit within us.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
(1 John 4:10)
All that the world seeks is realized to be temporary, and not really important. When we seek to share in God’s love for others and hate has no hold on us at all, then we are beginning to understand.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? When we reach this stage and realize that there is still hate within us, then it is we that are at fault.
(1 John 1:6, 1 John 1:8, 1 John 1:10, 1 John 2:4, 1 John 2:9, 1 John 2:11, 1 John 1:6, 1 John 3:17, 1 Peter 1:8, 1 John 4:12)
GOD COMMANDS THAT WE LOVE
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
(Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 5:43, Matthew 22:37, John 13:34, 1 John 3:11)
1 JOHN 5:1-4
Here in the beginning of the next chapter, we find the test question. We can, and we should, test our faith and our love. Do we really believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God? If we do, then act like it. Keep His commandments.
1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
(1 John 2:22, 1 John 4:2, 1 John 4:15, John 1:3, John 3:3, 1 John 2:29, 1 John 5:4, 1 John 5:18, John 8:42)
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
(1 John 2:5, 1 John 3:14)
He made them simple enough that even a young child, one able to believe and repent, can obey them.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
(John 14:15, Matthew 11:30, Matthew 23:4)
This world with all its problems need not overwhelm us. We can overcome it.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
(John 1:13, John 3, 1 John 2:29,1 John 5:1, 1 John 5:18, 1 John 2:13, 1 John 4:4)
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READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH THIS YEAR
OCTOBER
27th Sunday Ecclesiastes 10, 11, 12, 1 John 4, Proverbs 26:1-10
28th Monday Song of Solomon 1, 2, 1 John 5, Psalm 119:113-120
29th Tuesday Song of Solomon 3, 4, 2 John, Psalm 119:121-128
30th Wednesday Song of Solomon 5, 6, 3 John, Psalm 119:129-136
31st Thursday Song of Solomon 7, 8, Jude, Proverbs 26:11-20
NOVEMBER
1st Friday Lamentations 1, 2, Hebrews 1, Psalm 119:137-144
2nd Saturday Lamentations 3, Hebrews 2, Psalm 119:145-152
__________
MEMORY VERSE
“If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” - 1 John 1:10
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IT’S FINISHED!
(Or as nearly finished as an ebook you can read on your monitor and I can edit or add chapters to whenever I desire, is likely to be. I already have two more photos I want to insert, but, they aren’t inserted yet.)
Search for: The Journal of Bob and Phyllis Mills
__________
SAD BUT TRUE
A distraught senior citizen phoned his doctor’s office, “Is it true,” she wanted to know, “that the medication you prescribed has to be taken for the rest of my life?”
“Yes, I am afraid so,” the doctor told her.
There was a moment of silence before she replied,
“I’m wondering , then, just how serious is my condition because this prescription is marked, ‘NO REFILLS.’”
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