The beloved disciple of Jesus, John, seems to be repeating himself, but perhaps he is reinforcing this very big point…you can’t keep on walking in sin as if it is no big deal. If you can, you may not be a child of God— Remember, John’s audience is the young church—believers. But, as in anyContinue reading “Uncomfortable Truth”
Tag Archives: 1 John
Hang on! Because One Day!
God’s children look different than the rest of the world. The world doesn’t really know, understand, or celebrate us, do they? John told us, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God. Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not knowContinue reading “Hang on! Because One Day!”
What could make a Christian ashamed?
John urges believers to “abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (1 John 2:28) What might make me ashamed as a Christian standing before the One who died for me? Perhaps if I’ve lived my life for me instead of Him? WeContinue reading “What could make a Christian ashamed?”
Do you ever have a “check” in your Spirit?
“These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.” (1 John 2:26) There are great efforts, by spiritual forces in high places, to deceive us and those we love (Eph 6:12). They use people, especially those with large platforms, but they also use people you and your kids might comeContinue reading “Do you ever have a “check” in your Spirit?”
Is reading your Bible always a hallelujah moment?
So how do I not love the world, and not fall for false teachers, and not fear things like the antichrists? I read my Bible. ”Therefore, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you will also abide in the Son andContinue reading “Is reading your Bible always a hallelujah moment?”
Avoid False Teachers. Keep Testing Everything.
The Antichrist is coming. John warns that the Antichrist is coming and, what’s more, many antichrists have already come but we can discern the truth and not be led away by false teaching (see 1 John 2:18-23). Let’s recognize we are being “taught” all day long in many, many ways in our post it, tweetContinue reading “Avoid False Teachers. Keep Testing Everything.”
The way to lose your way…
“Do not love the world or things in the world.” 1 John 2:15 Love God, but don’t love the world and the things in the world. Oh, we would not do that, would we? Let’s be honest. We all have flesh-filled hearts that are drawn to every shiny thing it seems. Prone to wander…Lord, IContinue reading “The way to lose your way…”
Yes, you need to pursue Jesus every day!
As we continue in 1st John, let’s slow down and not breeze past things we’ve read just because they may be familiar. In 1st John 2:12-14, John calls his audience—“little children”, “fathers”, and “young men”. As Christians, we can be as— “little children” -thankful for God’s forgiveness for our sins because of Jesus. “fathers” -whoContinue reading “Yes, you need to pursue Jesus every day!”
We’ve got no excuse but to love others.
It’s obedience and it’s LOVE. The early Christians, who would first read John’s letter, would have known a lot about the law (which John is not discounting); but he is trying to help them see fellowship with God requires not only obedience but love. John is explaining to believers that he is not writing aContinue reading “We’ve got no excuse but to love others.”
Sin should be as attractive to you as dog POOP!
Do you have a heart that cares to keep the Word of God? Are you intentional to repent (turn from your sins) and walk in God’s better ways as defined in His Word? If so, this is evidence of fellowship with God and salvation in your life —“But whoever keeps His word, truly the loveContinue reading “Sin should be as attractive to you as dog POOP!”
If sin doesn’t bother you, are you really a Christian?
“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous”. (1 John 2:1) John addresses the Christians who would read his letter with the compassion of a loving Father. John rightly characterizes sin as dangerousContinue reading “If sin doesn’t bother you, are you really a Christian?”
Are we ALL God’s children?
Though, we promote inclusivity, and we should when it comes to living peacefully with others, and though it is surely not politically correct to say what I’m about to say, we need to be clear on this. The worldly line that we are all God’s children is a lie. It sounds good, but it’s simplyContinue reading “Are we ALL God’s children?”
THIS might just cause you to worship!
“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:7) This “walking in the light” yields not only sweet fellowship with God but also with others. And notice this “walking”Continue reading “THIS might just cause you to worship!”
It’s HUGE that we understand this if we want to walk away from sin and experience more of God.
John tells us, “If we say we have fellowship with him (God) while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” (1 John 1:6) The truth is, we all step in sin, but we can’t walk in it as a habit or lifestyle and have fellowship with God. And to effectivelyContinue reading “It’s HUGE that we understand this if we want to walk away from sin and experience more of God.”
Lasting JOY will never come from half-hearted devotion & walking in sin.
John begins I John by definitively declaring himself a witness to God in flesh—Jesus Christ. God became man in human form.He came to us! This wasand ISmind boggling! And for John, to say this was to literally risk his life! Remember, at the point John writes these words, Peter and Paul had been executed, JerusalemContinue reading “Lasting JOY will never come from half-hearted devotion & walking in sin.”
The world is hard. Let’s plant our feet in truth. Let’s read 1st John!
This world is full of temptation, trial, and false teachers. It’s easy to get discouraged, distracted and tired. This is exactly why we need God’s Word every day. For sometime now, I’ve been drawn to the book of First John. John. The beloved disciple. The son of Zebedee who, with his brother James, were calledContinue reading “The world is hard. Let’s plant our feet in truth. Let’s read 1st John!”
It’s kind of a weird way to end…
John is about to lay his pen down. The letter is almost over. Once more he will plea to those, who would read his letter, then and now, to know a relationship with the Son of God is possible, and true, and eternal . “And we know that the Son of God has come andContinue reading “It’s kind of a weird way to end…”
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it.
As John closes his letter, he says, “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”Continue reading “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it.”
If you are going to study the Bible, don’t skip past the hard stuff.
Have you ever thought, some passages in the Bible are easier to read, and put into practice, in the day to day, than others? Sometimes, I’ll bump into something that causes me to scratch my head, pray, pull out extra commentaries, and dig deeper for understanding. I want to carefully listen to hear the HolyContinue reading “If you are going to study the Bible, don’t skip past the hard stuff.”
Do you need to remember God hears your prayers?
John is about to end his letter with a powerful punch of truths. John would have his readers remember the confidence they have in Christ, and the confidence they can have in prayer. When John wrote his letter, Christianity was spreading like wildfire, though it was far from easy to be a Christ-follower. False teachersContinue reading “Do you need to remember God hears your prayers?”
Kim Jaggers Ministry 