YEAR 1, WEEK 39, Day 4, Thursday, 26 September 2024

https://esv.literalword.com/?q=1+John+1

Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Thursday, 26 September 2024:

Note: Here is a short video summary of 1-3 John: https://thebibleproject.com/explore/1-3-john/

1 John 1:1-4 — That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Jesus is Life, Eternal Life. Despite our complete sinfulness, He paid the penalty of our sins on the Cross, showed us how to be truly human, God’s image bearers who live by His Spirit, empowered us with the Spirit to live the lives God always intended for humanity, intercedes for us continually before the Father, and promises to conform us to His character and fully redeem us upon His return into complete oneness with Him. This is why we should be joyful every moment, in every circumstance, until He makes our joy complete. The more we appreciate who He is and who we are because of whose we are, the more we will bear the fruit of love, joy, and peace into our environment and lead people to Christ. As He manifest the word into the world, we should do the same. Bible

• John 17:3 — And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
• John 11:25 — Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live….”
• 1 John 5:11-12 — And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
• John 5:39 — You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,
• 1 Timothy 6:12 — Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
• John 10:24-30 — If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

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 (see John 17:3), 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) The fruit comes naturally from being connected to the source of Life and all good things (John 14:6 and James 1:17), Jesus – “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) So, what is this fruit? “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22, 23) These attributes are impossible apart from Christ, but also require our effort – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27) Yet, even the fruitful branch requires continual pruning by God – “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

“If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” The truth is in Christ our hearts have been cleansed from an evil conscience, and the blood of Christ “will” continue to purify our consciences from dead works, but we must also “practice the truth” by striving to maintain a clear conscience before God and man. This is a resting in God’s grace while simultaneously working out God’s grace in our lives to His glory – active rest in continual joy. Only God can produce fruit, but he created us to cultivate it.

• 1 Timothy 1:5 — The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
• Hebrews 10:22 — Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
• Hebrews 9:14 — How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
• Acts 24:16 — So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
• Hebrews 13:18 — Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.
• Proverbs 4:18 — But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

“If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” Walking in the light is not only walking in the word, but it is also exposing, or bringing to light, things which were previously hidden within ourselves or within situations. This requires deep humility, honesty, and confession, not just confession before the Lord, which is preeminent, but public confession, which acknowledging the truth of who you are that the glory of God’s grace would be lifted up even more, while your pridefulness would be increasingly invalidated and diminished.

• John 3:30 — He must increase, but I must decrease.

“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 26 September 2024: Pray that God will give you to courage to remain holy and bold as a faithful ambassador for Christ where God has placed you. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16) 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.