Continuing my study through 1 John I am on verses 5-10. This section of 1 John is an important promise to Christian’s and one that a Christian must know.
Verses 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.”
Verse 5 the apostle begins by explaining that “God is light”, this emphasizing God’s moral purity and omniscience “…and In Him is no darkness at all.” There is no darkness if God, He is that morally pure that sin cannot be in His presence, He will not accept sin and that is why we must have the righteousness of Jesus, who knew no sin, imputed to us (2 Cor. 5:21).
The statement in verse 6 is pretty prevalent in Christianity today. People seem to think (especially around where I live) anyone who says they are a Christian is one no matter what their life style is or continues to be. They will not accept rebuke, they will not repent of their sin when anyone confronts them, but, “how dare you even begin to think they are not a Christian. They went up to the altar and then got baptized.” But from verse 6 its pretty apparent that even if “we say we have fellowship with Him,” but “we walk in darkness” (continue in unrepentant sin) “we lie and do not practice the truth.”
Verse 7 states, “if we walk in the light...” then “the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.” Hebrews 9:22 says, “…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Christ’s blood paid in full the penalty for sin before God.
To go along with what I said in verse 6, verse 8 says, “if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves…” if you call yourself Christian and yet have no sense of your own sinfulness, your own wretchedness, and your desperate need for forgiveness, it’s a good bet that the truth is not in you. I have also come across people who believe in a type of “perfectionism” or “perfect sanctification” as soon as you are saved, which this verse doesn’t seem to agree with.
Verse 9 is pretty much the most awesome theme of the Gospel, that if “confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Don’t make Christ a liar He knows we need His forgiveness, that we are sinful by nature and we must confess and trust in His forgiveness.
Chapter 2 next.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
1 John 1:1-4 (The Incarnate Word)
1 John is almost a summary of the entire Gospel (please note "almost"). I was thinking I would do a bit of a study on this book. There are five chapters in this book but some of the chapters are rather long to put into one blog, so I will break each into a section.
The 1st Chapter of this book is one I think definately needs to be put into memory. Its only 10 verses long and has a lot of meaning to it, with alot of hope for a believer.
Verses 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."
The Apostle begins the letter by testifying that what he writes about in this letter is what he has seen, heard and touched. Not that Christ was a myth or a folklore to share with them but that He was that real.
He calls Jesus, "the Word of Life...", because as the book of John points out "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1) So the Word is God, the Bible is the "Word" written down in a book. Later in verse 14 of John: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." So then Christ is the incarnate Word which is God. So back to 1 John he says in verse 2, "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." Christ was not created when He became incarnate but was "with the Father and was made manifest." And, "He was in the beginning with God" (John 1:2).
In verse 3, the apostle John obviously knowing all this, and seeing the things done by Jesus and having the command of Jesus in Matthew 28 to make disciples, he expresses these things to believers so that they to may know of the great things of Jesus and so that "you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ." It is what the disciples of Christ continue to do, they teach and proclaim Christ and His work in life and on the cross.
Verse 3 and 4 together pretty much cap off the reason for the writing of this letter, "And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete." Joy is a huge part of being a Christian, our Joy is manifest in the hope and knowledge of the God who became incarnate and died for our sins and to give us true Life. So like the apostle John we proclaim all these things to others so that they too may have joy in the promises and truth of our Lord Christ Jesus.
I'll do verses 6-10 next...
The 1st Chapter of this book is one I think definately needs to be put into memory. Its only 10 verses long and has a lot of meaning to it, with alot of hope for a believer.
Verses 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."
The Apostle begins the letter by testifying that what he writes about in this letter is what he has seen, heard and touched. Not that Christ was a myth or a folklore to share with them but that He was that real.
He calls Jesus, "the Word of Life...", because as the book of John points out "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1) So the Word is God, the Bible is the "Word" written down in a book. Later in verse 14 of John: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." So then Christ is the incarnate Word which is God. So back to 1 John he says in verse 2, "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." Christ was not created when He became incarnate but was "with the Father and was made manifest." And, "He was in the beginning with God" (John 1:2).
In verse 3, the apostle John obviously knowing all this, and seeing the things done by Jesus and having the command of Jesus in Matthew 28 to make disciples, he expresses these things to believers so that they to may know of the great things of Jesus and so that "you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ." It is what the disciples of Christ continue to do, they teach and proclaim Christ and His work in life and on the cross.
Verse 3 and 4 together pretty much cap off the reason for the writing of this letter, "And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete." Joy is a huge part of being a Christian, our Joy is manifest in the hope and knowledge of the God who became incarnate and died for our sins and to give us true Life. So like the apostle John we proclaim all these things to others so that they too may have joy in the promises and truth of our Lord Christ Jesus.
I'll do verses 6-10 next...
Friday, December 15, 2006
Why I Believe What I Believe...Or Don't Believe
Recently I have been deemed pessimistic in my Christianity... I kinda agree, but not in such a way as I see I should change it. Thought I'd kind of outline what it is I believe about different issues (to see what I believe on specific theological issues, you can just read through the Westminster Confession or the Baptist Confession of 1689 on those)
1. I do not believe that there is any good in a man, there is no hidden goodness buried deep in our hearts that we simply must pull out with human reasoning and self-help (Jer. 17:9). Nothing on television or in any magazine is going to help you change your inner nature (Eph. 2:3). Only Christ will ever have that power, and the only thing good that will ever be within us is Christ's righteousness (Rom. 7:24-25). Put in other terms, I do not believe in self-esteem, mainly because it is never taught in the bible.
2. I do not believe God is ONLY love, at least in the sense that people classify this word called love (Nahum 1:2-3). He is love, He is justice, He is holy. He will have His justice on the wicked and the righteous will rejoice (Psalm 58:10). Let's stick to using the word "love" in the biblical sense not the human understanding of it (Prov. 27:5).
3. I do not believe you can save yourself. Never in the entire Bible does it say it is the work of man (Matt. 19:26) ...in any sense at all. The whole process is God (Isaiah 59:16, 63:5).
4. I believe when the bible says fear the Lord (Psalm 111:10) it literally means, be scared for your life, fear the things He can do to you (Luke 12:5), tremble and be at awe of His awesome power. It will encourage you to tell others of the wrath to come (2 Cor. 5:11) and that fear and trembling will soon lead you to understand that the only refuge from God's wrath is God Himself. (Psalm 2:11)
5. I do not believe all these thursday night and wednesday night worship group's are the true church. They are great things to go to and pray and worship and praise, they are great for outreach on campuses and other areas. But there is no accountability (James 5:16), there is no oversight from the elders (1 Peter 5:1-2), there is no discipline in most such as delivering one who continues in persistent unrepentant sin out of the church (1 Cor. 5 Whole Chapter), there is no sacraments (1 Cor. 11:23-26)
6. I do not believe that the ends justify the means. As Martin Luther puts it, "Unity wherever possible, but truth at all costs." Not making my point exactly but it goes along with it. Just because you have 500 converts in one night and 500 baptisms and church attendance goes up, does not by any means justify the ways by which you attained it. I would rather have 1 person saved than 500 who think that they are saved and will end up in hell all the same. And so Luther puts it well, I would love unity but I would never forsake the truth of Christ for it.
7. I do not believe the church is a business. My roommate once told me of a lady who asked him what he wanted to do someday and asking what he was wanting to major in. he said, "perhaps go into the ministry." She said, "he should major in business." He asked why, and she responded that you must keep track of the money flow and how the church is doing financially. I have had someone actually tell me the same exact thing, no kidding. I don't know how much more I must explain to get across that this is ludacris to me.
8. I do not believe the KJV is the only legitimate version of the Bible in this language. You know the Pharisees made up nifty little laws too and tried to make their way the right way, we call them legalists.
9. I do not believe in this once saved always saved in the way that many see it today. I do not believe that you can at one moment profess to love Christ and to trust in Him for salvation and then go back to your old life as if nothing is new (Romans 6:1-2). Believe me I am a perseverance of the saints advocater to the fullest, but those that are truly saved will be mantained by the hand of God (John 10:29).
10. I dont not believe that the Old Testament does not apply to us in some way, like the New Testament word of God is of more value than the Old Testament word of God is. And that it somehow does not apply to us (2 Tim 3:16), make sure you know that when Paul says this, the New Testament had not yet been put together in its fullness, He was probably referring to the Old Testament. There is other reasons but I'll leave it at that for now so I can get ready to eat.
So yes I suppose I may be pessimistic in my Christian convictions, but then again if someone can truly give me a great objectiion as to why scripture should be leading me otherwise I will be more than happy to listen.
Have a great weekend everyone and a great Lord's Day!
1. I do not believe that there is any good in a man, there is no hidden goodness buried deep in our hearts that we simply must pull out with human reasoning and self-help (Jer. 17:9). Nothing on television or in any magazine is going to help you change your inner nature (Eph. 2:3). Only Christ will ever have that power, and the only thing good that will ever be within us is Christ's righteousness (Rom. 7:24-25). Put in other terms, I do not believe in self-esteem, mainly because it is never taught in the bible.
2. I do not believe God is ONLY love, at least in the sense that people classify this word called love (Nahum 1:2-3). He is love, He is justice, He is holy. He will have His justice on the wicked and the righteous will rejoice (Psalm 58:10). Let's stick to using the word "love" in the biblical sense not the human understanding of it (Prov. 27:5).
3. I do not believe you can save yourself. Never in the entire Bible does it say it is the work of man (Matt. 19:26) ...in any sense at all. The whole process is God (Isaiah 59:16, 63:5).
4. I believe when the bible says fear the Lord (Psalm 111:10) it literally means, be scared for your life, fear the things He can do to you (Luke 12:5), tremble and be at awe of His awesome power. It will encourage you to tell others of the wrath to come (2 Cor. 5:11) and that fear and trembling will soon lead you to understand that the only refuge from God's wrath is God Himself. (Psalm 2:11)
5. I do not believe all these thursday night and wednesday night worship group's are the true church. They are great things to go to and pray and worship and praise, they are great for outreach on campuses and other areas. But there is no accountability (James 5:16), there is no oversight from the elders (1 Peter 5:1-2), there is no discipline in most such as delivering one who continues in persistent unrepentant sin out of the church (1 Cor. 5 Whole Chapter), there is no sacraments (1 Cor. 11:23-26)
6. I do not believe that the ends justify the means. As Martin Luther puts it, "Unity wherever possible, but truth at all costs." Not making my point exactly but it goes along with it. Just because you have 500 converts in one night and 500 baptisms and church attendance goes up, does not by any means justify the ways by which you attained it. I would rather have 1 person saved than 500 who think that they are saved and will end up in hell all the same. And so Luther puts it well, I would love unity but I would never forsake the truth of Christ for it.
7. I do not believe the church is a business. My roommate once told me of a lady who asked him what he wanted to do someday and asking what he was wanting to major in. he said, "perhaps go into the ministry." She said, "he should major in business." He asked why, and she responded that you must keep track of the money flow and how the church is doing financially. I have had someone actually tell me the same exact thing, no kidding. I don't know how much more I must explain to get across that this is ludacris to me.
8. I do not believe the KJV is the only legitimate version of the Bible in this language. You know the Pharisees made up nifty little laws too and tried to make their way the right way, we call them legalists.
9. I do not believe in this once saved always saved in the way that many see it today. I do not believe that you can at one moment profess to love Christ and to trust in Him for salvation and then go back to your old life as if nothing is new (Romans 6:1-2). Believe me I am a perseverance of the saints advocater to the fullest, but those that are truly saved will be mantained by the hand of God (John 10:29).
10. I dont not believe that the Old Testament does not apply to us in some way, like the New Testament word of God is of more value than the Old Testament word of God is. And that it somehow does not apply to us (2 Tim 3:16), make sure you know that when Paul says this, the New Testament had not yet been put together in its fullness, He was probably referring to the Old Testament. There is other reasons but I'll leave it at that for now so I can get ready to eat.
So yes I suppose I may be pessimistic in my Christian convictions, but then again if someone can truly give me a great objectiion as to why scripture should be leading me otherwise I will be more than happy to listen.
Have a great weekend everyone and a great Lord's Day!
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Psalm Of A Contrite Heart
Psalm 38
A Psalm of David, for a memorial.
1 O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.
4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.
6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.
7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.
10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.
13 But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
15 For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.
16 For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.
17 For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.
18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
19 But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.
21 Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.
22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.
Sums up just about how my life is going right now.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
How Much Do You Love Christ?
Thomas Vincent---
"It is observed, and it is greatly to be lamented that there is of late - a great decay in the power of godliness among those who are sincere. And is not this decay most evident in the great decay of love, even in true Christians unto Jesus Christ? Are you not dwarfs in comparison to others from past generations, or even in your own generation? Are you not babes in Christ and weaklings in your love to Christ?"
"Is it not evident that you have but little love to Christ, when he is but little in your thoughts and meditations? Does not your lack of thoughts of Christ prove your lack of love? The 'thoughts' are the handmade of love. Where love is strong and ardent, there - many thoughts will be attending upon it. But will not your hearts tell you that your thoughts of Christ are very few. You can think often of your food, but how little do your thoughts feed upon Christ who is the bread of life. You can often think of your clothing and what to wear, but how little do you think of the robes of Christ's righteousness? You can think often of your earthly friends, but how little do you think of Jesus Christ - your friend in Heaven? Objects of sense are often not only in your eyes, but also in your thoughts. But how little is Christ entertained in your thoughts, who is the object of faith?"
"Moreover, does it not argue of little love to Christ that you speak so little of Him, and for Him, in your conversations? If you had much love to Christ, would not this love breath forth more in your conversations? You can readily speak of yourselves, and you often speak directly or more subtly about yourselves, which reveals your great self-love. But how little to you commend your Lord and Master and extol his excellencies with your lips? Is this not evidence that you have but little love for him in your hearts? You can readily discourse of news and public occurrences (which is lawful and needful as long as due limits are observed), but when you leave Christ quite out of your conversation, it shows that you have not an abundance of love to Him, because "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks". Such as have much love to pleasures; we are often speaking of that subject. Such as love their friends; much will often be speaking of and commending them, when you are not in their company. Which is why, when you speak such little of Christ, it is a sign that you love Him but little."
"And likewise, does not the small amount of zeal which you have for Christ's honor in the world, argue that you have but little love to Him? Where is your activity for Christ to promote his interest among those relations and friends that you have made acquaintance with? Do you labor all you can to bring others into the way of God and into acquaintance with Christ? If you truly loved Christ, you would be like the disciple Phillip who sought out his brother Nathaniel, found him and said: "we have found the one Moses wrote about in the law, and about whom the prophets also wrote, Jesus of Nazareth - the son of Joseph".'
"And in the same way, does not the fact that you spend very little time in private bible reading and devotion - argue your small affection unto Christ? Will not your closets or other retiring places witness how little you are in secret prayer and conversation with Christ? Brief and straightened prayer in secret, argues a heart that is brief and straightened in love to Jesus Christ. Does not your backwardness to the exercise of this love to Christ show the weakness of your love?"
"How slow of heart are you to the love of Christ; how hard to be persuaded. You need not be persuaded to love your wives if they are kind and helpful. You need not be persuaded to love your children if they are pretty and show potential. You need not be persuaded to love your friends if they are friendly and faithful, and yet whatever attractions of love there are, the most strong of any are in Jesus Christ. Yet, you are backward to this love."
"Need I say more to convince you that you have but little love to Christ?"
(Thomas Vincent "The True Christian's Love to The Unseen Christ")
"It is observed, and it is greatly to be lamented that there is of late - a great decay in the power of godliness among those who are sincere. And is not this decay most evident in the great decay of love, even in true Christians unto Jesus Christ? Are you not dwarfs in comparison to others from past generations, or even in your own generation? Are you not babes in Christ and weaklings in your love to Christ?"
"Is it not evident that you have but little love to Christ, when he is but little in your thoughts and meditations? Does not your lack of thoughts of Christ prove your lack of love? The 'thoughts' are the handmade of love. Where love is strong and ardent, there - many thoughts will be attending upon it. But will not your hearts tell you that your thoughts of Christ are very few. You can think often of your food, but how little do your thoughts feed upon Christ who is the bread of life. You can often think of your clothing and what to wear, but how little do you think of the robes of Christ's righteousness? You can think often of your earthly friends, but how little do you think of Jesus Christ - your friend in Heaven? Objects of sense are often not only in your eyes, but also in your thoughts. But how little is Christ entertained in your thoughts, who is the object of faith?"
"Moreover, does it not argue of little love to Christ that you speak so little of Him, and for Him, in your conversations? If you had much love to Christ, would not this love breath forth more in your conversations? You can readily speak of yourselves, and you often speak directly or more subtly about yourselves, which reveals your great self-love. But how little to you commend your Lord and Master and extol his excellencies with your lips? Is this not evidence that you have but little love for him in your hearts? You can readily discourse of news and public occurrences (which is lawful and needful as long as due limits are observed), but when you leave Christ quite out of your conversation, it shows that you have not an abundance of love to Him, because "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks". Such as have much love to pleasures; we are often speaking of that subject. Such as love their friends; much will often be speaking of and commending them, when you are not in their company. Which is why, when you speak such little of Christ, it is a sign that you love Him but little."
"And likewise, does not the small amount of zeal which you have for Christ's honor in the world, argue that you have but little love to Him? Where is your activity for Christ to promote his interest among those relations and friends that you have made acquaintance with? Do you labor all you can to bring others into the way of God and into acquaintance with Christ? If you truly loved Christ, you would be like the disciple Phillip who sought out his brother Nathaniel, found him and said: "we have found the one Moses wrote about in the law, and about whom the prophets also wrote, Jesus of Nazareth - the son of Joseph".'
"And in the same way, does not the fact that you spend very little time in private bible reading and devotion - argue your small affection unto Christ? Will not your closets or other retiring places witness how little you are in secret prayer and conversation with Christ? Brief and straightened prayer in secret, argues a heart that is brief and straightened in love to Jesus Christ. Does not your backwardness to the exercise of this love to Christ show the weakness of your love?"
"How slow of heart are you to the love of Christ; how hard to be persuaded. You need not be persuaded to love your wives if they are kind and helpful. You need not be persuaded to love your children if they are pretty and show potential. You need not be persuaded to love your friends if they are friendly and faithful, and yet whatever attractions of love there are, the most strong of any are in Jesus Christ. Yet, you are backward to this love."
"Need I say more to convince you that you have but little love to Christ?"
(Thomas Vincent "The True Christian's Love to The Unseen Christ")
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