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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Friday, 18 October 19:
Note: Here is a short video summary of 1-3 John: https://thebibleproject.com/explore/1-3-john/
1 John 1: 5-10 — “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
The mark of the Christian life is striving for holiness while trusting in grace. Christians never take sin lightly, but neither do they minimalize the purifying work of Jesus. (Hebrews 9:14) The Christian’s motivation for holiness and purity isn’t self-righteousness or the worldly benefits of good living but rather fellowship with Him, and fellowship with Him naturally produces fellowship with others who are earnestly seeking Him in loving obedience.
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves….” A self-righteous Christian is an oxymoron. So is an unrepentant Christian or one consumed in unresolved guilt – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The Christian life naturally produces fruit in keeping with repentance – ” Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Matthew 3:8)
– Proverbs 4:18 — But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 18 October 19: Pursue righteousness while walking confidently in grace. Walk in mutually supportive relationships with others who are headed where you are headed, closer to Jesus, and notice how much closer you get with each other along the way.
