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^“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.” (I John 4:9)

God used specific and particular means to manifest His love to those who He would redeem, justify, reconcile and adopt as His children. The method by which God revealed His love to us was pure, holy and ordained by Him.

The phrase “in this” refers to the means by which God manifested His love. The love of God is His self-sacrificial love of the will which originates and is solely sourced in Him.

The word “manifested” (ἐφανερώθη; ephanerothe) means to make plain, to reveal clearly and in detail. God chose to make plain and to reveal to us His love. He did so in great detail. What is the specific way in which chose to reveal His love?

The text says “that God sent His only Son into the world.” The verb “sent” (ἀπέσταλκεν; apestalken) means to send someone out with a particular message and with a particular purpose. God the Father sent Jesus Christ the Son to come to this world for the expressed purpose of delivering sinners from the penalty, power and presence of sin.

The phrase “only Son (μονογενῆ υἱὸν; monogene huion) means to be unique and the only One in a particular class or classification. Dr. John MacArthur explains that, “John always uses it of Christ to picture his unique relationship to the Father, his pre-existence, and his distinctness from creation. The term emphasizes the uniqueness of Christ, as the only one of his kind. It was he whom the Father sent into the world as the greatest gift ever given (John 17:3; 2 Cor. 8:9) so that we might have life eternal (cf. John 3:14–15; 12:24).”

The word “world” (κόσμον; kosmon) is not just the inhabited earth but also a system of thought and behavior which is in opposition to and rebellious against the One, True God of the Bible. It is into this world, dominated by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life (I John 2:15-17) that God sent His Son.

The purpose of this mission and sending was so that believing sinners would find life in the Son. To live means to be spiritually alive in Christ and joined to God the Father by the person and work of Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 4:1-7 says, “I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, ² but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. ³ In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. ⁴ But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. ⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”

What a blessing to know that God sent Jesus Christ His Son to this world on your behalf. Take time today to thank for this indescribable gift.

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (I John 4:7-8)

God calls believers in Christ to presently, actively and self-sacrificially love one another. This is because self-sacrificial love of the will originates and is sourced from God. Therefore, it stands to reason that such a love from God should be seen in those who belong to God by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.

Conversely, it also stands to reason that those who do not love one another self-sacrificially are those who do not know God. This demonstration, or lack thereof, of love speaks louder and more evidently than words.

I Corinthians 13 is such a familiar passage in Scripture that we tend to overlook the daily and practical qualities of God’s love in our lives. We hear it read at weddings and perhaps even hear it sung. As a way of reminder, what are the particular qualities of love that God says believers in Christ are to demonstrate? I Corinthians 13:4-8a provides us with the answer.

Love is patient. Patience (μακροθυμεῖ; makrothymei) means to demonstrate internal and external control in difficult circumstances. It means to endure, tolerate, to persevere and to have emotional stamina in the midst of trying circumstances. Have you ever had to display patience with a fellow believer in Christ? Have fellow believers in Christ ever had to display patience with you? This is a demonstration of God’s love.

Love is kind. Kindness (χρηστεύεται; chresteuetai) is doing something beneficial for someone. It means to have compassion, sympathy, gentleness and helpfulness towards another individual. Kindness is demonstration of God’s love.

Love does not envy. Envy (ζηλοῖ; zeloi) is being jealous. It is wanting what someone else has and resenting those who have what you want. Envy is greed, and is often accompanied by the emotion of bitterness caused by unfulfilled desire. To not envy is a demonstration of God’s love.

Love does not boast. To boast (περπερεύεται; perpereuetai) means to brag or to praise oneself. To not boast is a demonstration of God’s love.

Love is not arrogant. Arrogance (φυσιοῦται; physioutai) is to have pride or to be puffed up with a perspective of one’s importance. Arrogance is conceit, egotism, overconfidence and lacking humility. To not be arrogant is a demonstration of God’s love.

Love is not rude. To be rude (ἀσχημονεῖ; aschemonei) means to not be disgraceful and embarrassing. It means to be impolite, discourteous, bad-mannered and insolent. To not be rude is a demonstration of God’s love.

Love does not insist on its own way. The Greek word ζητεῖ (zetei) means to be demanding. It means to demand what you want, often at the expense of others. To not insist on your demands is a demonstration of God’s love.

Love is not irritable. To be irritable (παροξύνεται; paroxynetai) means to be easily upset or provoked at someone or something. To not be irritable is a demonstration of God’s love.

Love is not resentful. Resentment (κακόν; kakon) means to harm or injure. It means to cause pain. To not be resentful is a demonstration of God’s love.

Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing. Love is not glad nor pleased with unrighteousness or injustice. Wrongdoing (ἀδικίᾳ; adikia) means to do what is unjust. To not be pleased with wrongdoing is a demonstration of God’s love.

Love rejoices with the truth. Truth (ἀληθείᾳ; aletheia) means that which is real. Too many individuals live in a fantasy world of make believe. They never interact with reality. “The truth” in mind here is the truth of the Gospel. The truth of the Gospel is the inseparable ally of love (Ephesians 4:15; 2 John 1:12). False love compromises “the truth” by glossing over “iniquity” or unrighteousness and is therefore condemned (Proverbs 17:15). To rejoice with the truth is a demonstration of God’s love.

God’s love endures. God’s love is trustworthy. God’s love is a love in which the believer in Christ may have confidence.

Do you have this type of love within the depths of your soul?

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” (I John 4:7)

I really love this next section from I John. I John 4:7-11 is a paragraph of Scripture that I’ve committed to memory and quote frequently when I preach and teach on the love of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact, this section contains my favorite word in the Bible: propitiation.

I John 4; 7 sets the scene and tone for what is to follow. It contains propositional truth along with personal promises from God.

The verse begins with the Apostle John’s frequent term of endearment to those to whom he is writing: “Beloved.” How fitting to write about the love of God to those who have received and who God has graced with His love.

Immediately following this term of endearment, John says, “let us love one another.” This is a present active plea from an apostle to a congregation of believers. It is not a command but rather a fervent request that from their hearts they would display a self-sacrificial love of the will towards fellow believers in Christ.

Why are believers to love in such a fashion? John gives us the reason when he writes, “for love is from God.” The reason John gives us for loving in such a way is because self-sacrificial love of the will originates from and is sourced solely in the Lord.

John then gives us two promises based upon the preceding premise of loving fellow believers with God’s love: “and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” Whoever loves in a self-sacrificial way gives testimony and evidence that God has regenerated their souls through the preaching of the Gospel and by the work of the Holy Spirit. Additionally, they give evidence that they personally know God.

Dr. Don Carson writes that, “John reinforces let us love one another with the reminder that love comes from God. Love, as Christians understand it, is not a human achievement; it is divine in origin, a gift from God. If anyone loves in this sense it shows that that person has been born of God and knows God.”

Do you love others in the way described in I John 4:7? If so, this is an evidence that you are a believer in Jesus Christ. If not, then examine whether you truly know the Lord Jesus as your Savior.

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁵ They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (I John 4:5-6)

In reading the Bible, believers in Christ must read observantly. This means that the student of Scripture must be attentive, alert, watchful and perceptive to each word and how it is used in a particular text.

For example, in today’s text the word “world” (κόσμου; kosmou) occurs three times in vs. 5 alone. This is the same word which John used in 2:15-17. It refers to the fallen world system which is disobedient to and rebellious against God.

John says here that the many antichrists belong to and are from the fallen world system. Their state of being and existence is of the world. This is evidenced by the fact that they presently and actively communicate or speak the world’s values and philosophies because it is their values and philosophies. Therefore, the fallen world’s followers believe, positively responds to and accepts the speech of the antichrists. They are in sync with each other.

By contrast, the follower of Christ belongs to and is from God. Those who belong to God believes, positively responds to and accepts the speech of apostolic teaching and preaching. Those who do not belong to God reject biblical teaching and preaching.

There are those within the church, and the culture, who say they are followers of Christ but their speech and lifestyle says otherwise. Their foundational authority is not the Scriptures but rather their own belief system as to what is right and wrong. In short, they are Atheistic Humanists in their worldview.

John says that this is how one can evaluate those who belong to Christ and those who do not. In other words, those who belong to Christ and those who belong to the world.

Dr. Don Carson says, “Once again John repeats a word for emphasis; world is the last word in v 4 and it occurs three times in this verse. It is with the world that his opponents are associated: they are from it, they speak from its viewpoint, and it forms their audience. Christians should not be surprised if such people do not listen to them. They are of the wrong party. But Christians do have their hearers. We is emphatic and sets those who are from God in strong contrast with others. There is also a contrast in the hearers; those who are from God are set over against whoever is not from God. Since this is the way the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood (Brown translates, ‘Spirit of Deceit’) are known it is a fair inference that these spirits live in the people previously indicated.”

These many spirits of antichrist which lived in John’s day live in our own. It is important to take note of them and to reject their teaching and philosophy.

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!

^“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (I John 4:4)

The Apostle John’s reference to his readers as “little children” should not be taken as he saying his readers are physically immature or little kids. Rather, the phrase refers to a special relationship or endearment or association with people of any age. I can relate in that I just completed a conversation with a young man, a husband and father who is also a successful attorney who was in our children’s department in church some 40 years ago. I still view him as one of my “kids.”

With this special and heartfelt relationship John has with these believers, he says that they belong to God. They also have overcome the many antichrists that have sought to undermine their faith. They are victors and ones who have prevailed over the evil one.

How is this victory possible? It is possible only because within each believer in Christ is the person of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). This is what John means when he writes, “for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Dr. John Walvoord writes, “Up to now, the writer assured his dear children (teknia;), the readers, that they had overcome these antichrists. The readers had successfully resisted the antichrists (false prophets) by means of the One who is in them (no doubt another reference to the Spirit; cf. 3:24; 4:2). Reliance on God is the secret of all victory whether over heresy or any other snare. The indwelling One—the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer (3:24; 4:13; Rom. 8:9) and is thus “the One who is in you”—is mightier than the one who is in the world, namely, Satan (cf. 1 John 5:19). He is called “the prince of this world” (John 12:31); “the god of this Age” (2 Cor. 4:4); and “the ruler of the kingdom of the air” (Eph. 2:2).”

Dr. Don Carson explains that, “There is no need for Christians to be fearful. The word “you” is emphatic; believers are set in strong contrast to the antichrists. Believers are from God, and they have overcome. This short letter has the verb ‘to overcome’ six times, which is more than any other NT book other than Revelation (seventeen times); the note of victory is unusually prominent. Here the verb is in the perfect tense, which shows that the victory is more than a passing phase; it is decisive and continuing. It comes about because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. The first one could be any member of the Godhead; all that we can say is that it is a divine person. The second cannot be any other than the devil. John is saying that God is more powerful by far than the devil and that those in whom God dwells accordingly overcome evil.”

How has the indwelling Holy Spirit been helping you to overcome the evil one recently? How has He helped you regarding your thought life, your words and speech along with your behavior? Take time today to thank the Lord for the Comforter (John 14:26) who dwells within you and who is greater.

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

^2 “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.” (I John 4:2-3)

Biblical Christianity is just that: it is biblical. It is rooted and grounded in the inerrant and inspired Word of God. This is the believer’s only standard for faith and truth. Everything, and I mean everything, which the believer encounters in life and living must be evaluated by the Scriptures.

Biblical Christianity is also historical. The Gospel is rooted and grounded not only in the truth that God Exists, Sin and Salvation Exists, but also that only one Savior Exists and that Savior is Jesus Christ. Jesus entered into this world’s history, lived a sinless life, died a substitutionary death and bodily rose from the grave. Any attempt by anyone, or any church, to downplay or eliminate the historical facts of Jesus Christ’s person and work is clearly not of God.

The Apostle John sets forth a clear litmus test to discern between false teaching which is not from God and truth which is from God. The apostle writes, “^2 “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.” Verse two places the Jesus question in the positive while the first part of vs. 3 places it in the negative. However, both verses say the same thing.

Commentator Daniel Akin writes, “Once again John makes it plain that Christianity is rooted and grounded in the Christological question: ‘What do you believe about Jesus?’ If He is just another enlightened religious teacher, He is permitted and tolerated as one opinion, one option, among many. If, however, He is the very incarnation of God, then the gospel and only the gospel is true and He is the only viable option for salvation amid the multitude of imposters.”

The Apostle John then adds this statement in the latter part of vs. 3: “This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.” This statement regarding the spirit of the antichrist parallels what John has previously stated in I John 2:18-27.

Remember, the spirit of antichrist is the perspective that Jesus Christ was not virgin born, that He did not live a sinless life, that He did not die a substitutionary death on the cross on behalf of sinners, that He was not buried, that He did not rise from the dead, that He did not ascend to heaven and that He is not coming back in power, might and glory.

Consider this question: “Is your Jesus the real and biblical Jesus?”

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!  

 

 

 

 

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (I John 4:1)

Identifying false teachings and teachers is neither fun nor popular. However, identifying false teachings and teachers is biblical and necessary. It is also important for every generation within the church to undertake.

In I John 4:1, the Apostle John begins with his familiar address to his readers: “Beloved.” It is a term of deep affection and endearment by a pastor for his parishioners. John is reminding his readers that he has their best interests in mind.

The apostle balances this term of endearment with a command for obedience: “Do not believe every spirit.” True love is not shy from warning the beloved of the dangers in life and the responsibilities in living for Christ. John warns his readers to not trust in, commit to, depend upon and honor and worship any and every spirit they encounter. In other words, believers are to be discerning when they encounter teachers and philosophies which are clearly unbiblical.

Not only are believers in Christ to stop believing every spirit but also we are to “test the spirits.” This too is a present active command. To test means to thoroughly examine and to evaluate the genuineness of something.

Why does John issue these two commands? The purpose of not believing every spirit but rather to test the spirits is “to see if they are from God.” One of the tasks of the church, and individual believers, is to evaluate whether teachings are from God and are biblical or are they from another source, spirit or worldview.

Remember the basic two worldviews? First, there is Biblical Theism which teaches that God Exists, that He has determined what is right or wrong, and has also indicated what man’s purpose is which is to honor and glorify the One, True God. The alternative worldview is Atheistic Humanism which teaches the exact opposite of Biblical Theism.

Therefore, the child of God is to be constantly examining what people are communicating to them and to the church in order to evaluate whether they, and what they teach, is truly biblical and from the Lord.

John then gives a decisive reasoning for these two commands: “For many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Jesus had warned people against false prophets (Matt. 7:15; 24:11, 24; Mark 13:22; Luke 6:26). The
Apostle Paul warned us (Acts 20:28-30; I Thessalonians 5:20-21). The Apostle Peter warned us 2 Peter 2:1-22). Jude warned us (Jude 4-19).

In the current culture in which tolerance for everything is applauded, the one thing false teachers cannot tolerate is truth and the one thing the church must not tolerate is false teaching and false teachers.

We are commanded to evaluate the message and the messenger by the Word of God.

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!

                                                                                    

“Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.” (I John 3:24)

Reciprocity. What does this word mean?

Reciprocity means a mutuality, and exchange, a tradeoff or an interchange. Therefore, reciprocity can pertain to politics, finances, and even agreements between members of one’s family.

For example, reciprocity may refer to an agreement a father makes with his son: “You mow the lawn and take out the garbage and do your chores without anyone reminding you to do so and you may borrow my car Saturday night.” In this agreement, both sides keep their side of the agreement. The son does his chores and the father allows his son to borrow the car on Saturday night.

In the case of our relationship with God by grace alone, through faith alone through the person and work of Jesus Christ alone, reciprocity takes the form of a familiar and ongoing theme with the Epistle of I John.

God abides in the believer. This abiding began by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit in the soul of the dead sinner through the preaching of the gospel. The Holy Spirit not only generates new life within the sinner but also faith (Ephesians 2:1-9). The sinner is born again in order to believe (John 3:1-3). In other words, regeneration precedes faith. The result of regeneration is conversion.

When conversion occurs, which not only involves faith in Christ but also repentance from one’s sin, the sinner begins the journey of growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). This journey and growth is evidenced by an increasing obedience to the Word of God. This obedience is not born by a desire to become a child of God but rather as an indication that the individual in question is a child of God.

John says “Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God.” This is a simple truth with significant implications. This is John’s keynote theme. The reciprocity is that not only does the believer abide in God but also God abides in the believer. Additionally, we also know and understand that God abides in us by the Holy Spirit who the Father has given to us.

Dr. John Walvoord writes, “Two themes appear in this verse. The first theme is the epistle’s first reference to God, or Christ, abiding in each obedient believer. Those who obey His commands (cf. 2:3; 3:23; 5:2–3) live (menei, “abide”) in Him, and He in them. That the abiding life involves this mutuality (reciprocity) is made plain in the Parable of the Vine and the Branches (John 15:4–5, 7). The second idea is the epistle’s first of six explicit references to the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 John 4:2, 6, 13; 5:6, 8; cf. “the Holy One” in 2:20). The way a believer can verify that God lives (menei, “abides”) in him is by the operation of God’s Spirit in his life. John then showed that God’s Spirit is the Spirit of both faith (4:1–6) and love (4:7–16)—the two aspects of the two-part “command” given in 3:23.”

What evidence is there that the Holy Spirit is working in your life? Are you obeying God’s commandments? Are you displaying the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)? Are you mortifying your sin (Romans 8:13)? If these are true in your life, rejoice that you are a child of God. If not, repent of your sins and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

^“And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.” (I John 3:23)

I  John 3:23 shows us the relationship between justification and sanctification. Justification and sanctification may be distinguished but they must not be separated.

Justification is the act by which God the Father declares elect sinners righteous before Him on the basis of the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. This right standing before the Father is on the basis of grace alone, through God given faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Justification occurs in a moment when the Holy Spirit, through the preaching of the Gospel, monergistically regenerates the sinner thereby giving them the ability to place their faith in Christ. The sinner is born again in order to believe and be justified. This differs from the common perspective by many Christians that one believes in order to be born again and be justified.

Sanctification is the process by which the believer grows in holiness and becomes more like Jesus Christ in thought, word and behavior. Sanctification, unlike justification, does not happen in a singular moment but rather throughout the believer’s lifetime. Sanctification ultimately concludes when the believer physically dies and goes to be with the Lord in heaven.

I John 3:23 shares that God commands us to believe in the name of Jesus Christ. To believe in Christ means to trust, commit, depend and worship Christ alone as Savior and Lord. This is synonymous with justification.

Today’s text also shares that God commands that following our conversion, we are to obey the Lord by loving one another. This love for fellow Christians is one example, of many, of how our conversion in Christ is to influence our commitment to live for Christ.

I John 3:23 provides us with not only a doctrinal test regarding the validity of our faith but also a moral test. Both are important but notice the order. One’s belief in Christ is the reason one is to love one another. In other words, we do not love another person in order to become a Christian. Rather, we believe in Christ which therefore is the impetus to love a fellow believer.

Dr. John MacArthur helpfully adds that, “These verses again repeat the three features of this epistle—believing, loving, and obeying—which are the major evidences of true salvation.”

Pastor John Piper concludes that, “The one embracing commandment of this letter is that we believe and that we love. These are the foundations of our assurance because these are the evidence of God’s work; they are the testimony of His Spirit.”

Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord? Do you evidence this belief by loving other believers?

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

²¹ Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; ²² and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.” (I John 3:21-22)

John begins vs. 21 with the familiar term of endearment “beloved.”  The apostle reminds the reader of his fond affection for his fellow believers in Christ.

As he continues, John wants his fellow Christians to understand that as we strive to live holy lives and pursue obedience to God’s commands, God’s Word and the Holy Spirit will confirm our right standing before God. From the human perspective, this means that our thinking, our feelings and our decisions in this life will not say to us that we have done something wrong. Remember, this understanding of what is right or wrong is based upon our thinking, feelings and decisions in relationship to the Word of God as our source of authority.

Dr, John Walvoord does lend a note of caution when he writes, “John does not mean that all whose hearts do not condemn them, are therefore safe before God; for some have their conscience seared, others are ignorant of the truth. Therefore, it is not only sincerity, but sincerity in the truth which can save men. Christians are those meant here: knowing Christ’s precepts and testing themselves by them.”

With this in mind, the believer in Christ has confidence in God in prayer. We may approach God and receive what we ask of Him knowing that we have asked with right and biblical motives. In other words, we are praying while at the same time we are keeping God’s commandments and therefore doing what pleases Him.

Well over 20 years ago, a man approached me and told me that he was going to divorce his wife. He gave me his reasons for this decision, none of which were biblical, and then proceeded to tell me that he had prayed about it and that it was okay. While his heart did not condemn him for this decision, the Word of God indeed did in light of the fact that he was carrying on an affair with a mutual friend of he and his wife.

We must not believe that our prayers have no relationship with God’s Word. Rather, our prayers must be shaped and honed by the Scriptures.

Charles Spurgeon writes, “He who has a clear conscience comes to God (in prayer) with confidence, and that confidence of faith ensures to him the answer of his prayer. Childlike confidence makes us pray as none else can. It makes a man pray for great things, which he would never have asked for it he had not learned this confidence. The man of obedience is the man whom God will hear, because his obedient heart leads him to pray humbly, and with submission.”

A committed heart of obedience to the Lord will result in a confident heart of prayer before the Lord.

May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!