John, when he writes this letter, is concerned that we are fully committed to the Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of God, whom he knew - to the Jesus Who called him and trained him and taught him and transformed him. This is his deep concern. He wanted to ensure that all was well with the disciples of Jesus Christ in the Church of Jesus Christ. This is his burden in these opening verses. Do check them out in the New Testament. What he says is so important.
John was so aware of the counterfeits and various deceptions that were going around - and he is writing to make sure that people then and now have the real thing - the real Jesus - authentic Christianity.
This must always be part of the task of a genuine and concerned Christian leader.
1. Make sure your faith is based upon the facts - and based upon the fact of Jesus Christ - that you are converted - born again - and let your faith be based upon the facts and not upon feelings. Make sure you have a sound conversion - without any doubts. You cannot change the facts - but feelings can and do change. Let the facts control your feelings. You don't just act because you feel like it - you act because Jesus Christ has saved you and called you and chosen you.
2. Have a right view of Jesus Christ - He was God and man. God invaded this world of ours in Jesus Christ. The big word is "incarnation". The Word became flesh.
3. There is the moral test - you no longer live as you used to live. You now keep the commandments.
4. What might be called the social test. You love your neighbour as yourself - you love your brother as yourself. "Love one another as I have loved you", John wrote earlier in his gospel. John saw and heard and knew. Here is man with such a long experience and reliable testimony.
That quality of love we see in Jesus Christ - Jesus gave Himself - He was utterly loyal and did not look for other men when His chosen men let Him down. He never criticised His chosen men, although He knew they were not perfect.
This is the picture the Word of God gives us of genuine Christianity, and John warns the Church about false prophets and bad teaching and wrong beliefs. In fact, there are some types of person we do not even let into our homes. II John 10. Pay no attention to a liar.
The consequence of all this should be FELLOWSHIP and JOY.
Verse 5. John almost bursts out with this sentence! One thing John is concerned about too is that we have and walk in the light of God. This is why it matters so much regarding what kind of God we believe in.
Some people believe in Mammon - the god of money - and we see where that leads in these days - to tragedy after tragedy.
It may be so obvious and commonplace to us to say that God is light, but think of what that must have meant to those living in the darkness and slavery and poverty of John's day. Sin throws such cruel shadows over life.
We hear so often people saying that God is love - and that is true - but first John says that God is LIGHT - and there need be no division between His Light and His Love.
Sandy Shaw
Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children's Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.
He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org entitled "Word from Scotland" on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.
His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.
Sandy Shaw
sandyshaw63@yahoo.com
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