Witnesses to the Truth

This is the 10th sermon in a series of messages through the New Testament book of First John. This sermon is based on 1 John 5:6-12 where the Apostle John writes concerning the witness or testimony that confirms the truth about Jesus, the truth about the testimony itself, and the truth about eternal life. The video recording of the worship service in which this sermon was preached can be viewed by clicking here.

Written Excerpts of the sermon:

Introduction:

If you have ever attended a court trial or participated in one, you know how important it is to have reliable witnesses. There have been many important cases lost because the witnesses were not trustworthy. Often, whenever one side is in danger of losing the case, the lawyers for that side will often do their best to show that the witnesses for the opposing side are not reliable and cannot be trusted.

I was looking online for an example of a court case that involved some unusual witnesses. I came across a story from August 2017 where a woman was sentenced to life in prison for the shooting death of her husband. The news story reported that the only witness to the shooting was the victim’s African grey parrot. Family members reported that in the weeks following the shooting, the parrot kept mimicking the argument between the husband and wife in each one’s tone of voice, including what they felt were the husband’s final words, “Don’t (expletive) shoot!” The news story also reported that the prosecutor considered using the parrot’s squawking as evidence in the murder trial, but the judge ruled that the parrot could not “testify as a witness.” (https://www.foxnews.com/us/michigan-woman-gets-life-in-prison-for-murder-parrot-allegedly-witnessed)

I’m sure the judge was right. How worrisome would it be to know your life depended on the testimony of a parrot?

Well, today I am not going to be talking about the merits of using parrots on the witness stand! Yet, we are going to look at a few verses in John’s epistle which speak about another kind of witness that testifies regarding our faith in Jesus Christ.

Let us turn our attention to the 5^th chapter of First John and verses 6-12 to consider what John has to say about witnesses to the truth.

Last week we looked at verses 1-5 and one of the points of the message was this: “being saved means we believe certain truths.” This point was based on the words “believeth/believes” and “faith” which are found in verses 1, 4 & 5. Now in this next section of Scripture (vv. 6-12) we are expanding the discussion about truth and the witnesses which point to the truth.

John points out that there are witnesses to the truth about Jesus, the truth about the testimony, and the truth about eternal life.

I.             The Truth about Jesus (vv. 6-8)

Explanation of vv. 7b-8a

Before we go any further, I want to address an issue that some may be wondering about. If you have a KJV or NKJV Bible, you will have the entire wording of v. 7 & v. 8. But it might have a footnote indicating there are words included that do not appear in the earliest/oldest manuscripts. If you have a newer translation (NIV, NLT, …) you will notice that part of verse 7 and part of verse 8 are missing. They will probably have a footnote indicating that there are words left out which are found in later manuscript copies. Language scholars tell us that there are no manuscript copies older than about 1,000 A.D. that include the words, so it is believed by all the commentaries I consulted that they were probably marginal notes made by a scribe.

Some have worried that the newer translations are attempting to destroy the doctrine of the Trinity by leaving out these words. However, the doctrine of the Trinity is adequately taught by many other passages in the Bible. As a matter of fact, whenever I have tried to explain the Trinity to anyone, I don't think I have ever used 1 Jn. 5:7 as a "proof text." I have always used multiple other texts to support my explanation. I also read that 1 Jn. 5:7 was not used by any of the church fathers who met in the early church councils to debate and settle the doctrine of the Trinity.

So, John is first of all describing the witness to the truth about Jesus.

A. His identity is confirmed historically (or physically). (vv. 6a, 8b)

1 John 5:6 ^(NKJV) This is He who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood...

1 John 5:8b ^(NKJV) … the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

In these verses, John confirms there are three different sources that witness to the truth – the water, the blood, and the Spirit. Two of the sources are material substances – water and blood.

“This is He” – a reference back to v. 5, Jesus the Son of God. This is the same person who is further identified by the witnesses described.

“water and blood” – Nearly all commentaries I consulted agree that these two words refer to two historical events in the life of Jesus – baptism and crucifixion.

We’ve talked often in this series about the false teaching that was so prevalent – Jesus could not be the divine Son of God because all matter is evil and deity cannot identify with evil. One particular strain of false teaching was promoted by one named Cerinthus.

They held that Jesus was a mere man, born of Joseph and Mary in natural wedlock, upon whom the Christ [i.e. divine nature] descended at the baptism and from whom the Christ departed before the cross. (Stott, TNTC)

(Wm. Barclay) The false teachers believed Jesus was human, and Christ was divine. Jesus became divine at His baptism, but his divinity left him before the cross. Supposedly to “protect God from human pain” and death.

John is saying no, Jesus is the Christ through water (baptism) and blood (cross/crucifixion/death). This is essential for His death to truly provide redemption and propitiation that we talked about in earlier chapters. If He is not divine, then He cannot be without sin and cannot be an appropriate sacrifice for our sins.

(Reasoner) In a sense the water of his historic baptism and the blood of his historic passion are personified and made to be witnesses who continue to speak.

The water and the blood confirm His identity in a physical, historical, and material way.

B. His identity is [also] confirmed spiritually. (vv. 6b, 8b)

1 John 5:6b ^(NKJV) …And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.

1 John 5:8b ^(NKJV) … the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

John goes on to say, “the Spirit bears witness because the Spirit is truth”

(Thatcher, Expositor's) John has already established that every person speaking by God’s Spirit will confess that “Jesus Christ has come in the flesh” (1Jn 4:2), and now he simply reaffirms that assertion in the context of the debate over “water and blood.”

The reason a person is able to confess “Jesus [the] Christ has come in the flesh” is because the Spirit enables them to do so.

(Barclay) When John speaks of the witness of the Spirit he has in mind three things: Spirit descending on Jesus at His baptism; the words of John the Baptist, “He shall baptize with the Spirit…;” and the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost.

The record of the Gospels affirm that the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove at the baptism of Jesus, and at the same time a voice from heaven – “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” In his Gospel, John states more than once that the Spirit is a Spirit of truth who will guide us into all truth. Now John contends that the water, the blood and the Spirit all agree that Jesus is in fact the Christ.

II.           The Truth about the Testimony (vv. 9-10)

Secondly, John not only witnesses to the truth about the identity of Jesus, but he witnesses to the truth about the testimony itself. And he affirms that:

A. The testimony is provided by God. (v. 9)

1 John 5:9 ^(NKJV) If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.

“this is the witness of God” – probably a reference back to the Spirit, the water and the blood in v. 6.

“the witness of men” – In everyday life people trust in the word of other people. Back then and even now, people rely on the trustworthiness of other people in making important decisions. God’s witness is greater. What God has to say about His own Son is far more reliable and far more important than what any man has to say. This could have been a reference to the teachers who were considered to be reliable experts about Jesus. John is essentially asking, “Why trust what they are saying?” “Listen to the testimony of God Himself.”

This same principle can be applied to a number of different topics. We are bombarded daily to accept and trust the words of this expert of that expert regarding many issues of life. So often the “experts” completely contradict the Word of God. We would do well to heed the words of the Apostle John and ground our faith and our practice on the Word of God, the One whose testimony is greater than any man’s.

I am so thankful that God has provided all the testimony and evidence necessary for our faith to be grounded. We don’t have to stumble through life in spiritual darkness.

B. The testimony is confirmed in our hearts. (v. 10)

1 John 5:10 ^(NKJV) He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.

John goes on to say that whoever believes in the Son of God has done so because there is a witness within him that confirms that truth. It is a witness that has been placed there by God and could very well be included in what John said a few verses ago, “The Spirit bears witness because the Spirit is truth.” There is nothing that can substitute for that clear witness of the Spirit in our hearts that something is truth.

A person can choose to go against that testimony that has been confirmed in his heart, but when he does, he actually makes God out to be a liar.

III.          The Truth about Eternal Life (vv. 11-12)

Finally, John witnesses to the truth about eternal life.

A. Eternal life is provided by God. (v. 11)

1 John 5:11 ^(NKJV) And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

“this is the testimony” – same kind of phrase as the middle of v. 9. Then it was referring to what had been said earlier, but here it is referring to what is coming next. (Stott, TNTC)

God is the provider of our redemption. Nothing we did or could do.

“Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan; Oh, the grace that brought it down to man; Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary!”

Eternal life – not only in duration, but in quality.

B. Eternal life is only available in the Son. (v. 12)

1 John 5:12 ^(NKJV) He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

(Thatcher, Expositor's Bible Commentary, Revised) To “have life” is John’s typical way to describe salvation.

The Son is eternal, and the life He gives is eternal.

Conclusion:

John has presented further arguments regarding the identity of Jesus Christ and showing how his identity is confirmed by the testimony of historical events, and by the Spirit of God. He has also linked the Son of God with the gift of life that God has provided through the Son.

These are important truths that are foundational to our salvation and our hope. These are important truths that we must propagate and promote so they are not lost.

Just as John contended for the truth against the false teachers of his day, so we must contend for the truth of Jesus Christ and God’s Word in our world/our era.

Let’s close our service by singing the old hymn:

Onward Christian Soldiers

What It Means to Be Saved

 This is the 9th sermon in a series of messages through the New Testament book of First John. This sermon is based on 1 John 5:1-5 where the Apostle John speaks about three different evidences of conversion or saving faith. The video recording of the worship service in which this sermon was preached can be viewed by clicking here.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

Most of you know that I have been doing a series of messages on the NT book of First John. We’ve completed 8 sermons so far, and I think we have 2 or maybe 3 more to go, counting today’s sermon. 

I want to begin by sharing a couple of interesting circumstances leading up to the last two Sundays. Prior to last Sunday, I was thinking I might depart from this series in order to speak specifically about communion, but I discovered that the next section we were ready to discuss in chapter 4 fit very nicely with the theme of communion as we talked about the love of God. This week I again pondered the possibility of departing from First John to preach on a subject that would relate to our baptismal service this afternoon. Again, I was pleased to discover that this first paragraph of chapter 5 goes along very well with baptism because the Apostle John is discussing what Dr. Vic Reasoner calls, “The marks of genuine conversion.” So, that confirms in my mind that our messages and our special observances of our faith (communion and baptism) have all been guided by the Holy Spirit.

The title of the sermon today implies a rather broad topic because there are many themes that could be included in a discussion about what it means to be saved. However, we will be limiting our thoughts to the specific themes John touches on here in the first five verses of chapter 5.

In the Tyndale NT Commentary, John Stott reminds us that John has repeatedly presented three tests for those professing to be Christians. In chapter 2 he describes all three tests in order, obedience (3-6), love (7-11) and belief (18-27). In chapter 3 he treats only obedience (2:28-3:10) and love (11-18), while in chapter 4 only belief (1-6) and love (7-12)… Now, however, in the brief opening paragraph of chapter 5, we meet the three together again. The words ‘believe’ and ‘faith’ occur in verses 1, 4 and 5, [the word] ‘love’ [occurs] in verses 1, 2 and 3, and the need to obey or carry out ‘his commands’ [shows up] in verses 2 and 3.

With the help of the Holy Spirit, I want to speak to you today from verses 1-5 of First John chapter 5 concerning “what it means to be saved.”

I.       Being saved means we genuinely believe certain truths. (vv. 1, 4, & 5)

The reason I said we must “genuinely” believe certain truths is because there is a difference between simple intellectual agreement with some idea vs. being so convinced about the validity of it that I’m willing to act upon it, stake my life on it, make it the ruling principle of my life.

As I stated earlier, the words “believe” and “faith” occur three times – verses 1, 4, and 5.

The Bible clearly tells us that we are “saved by grace through faith.” (Eph. 2:8)

 Faith is an unwavering confidence in the reality of truths we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.)

A. We believe the truth about Jesus. (v. 1a, 5)

1 John 5:1a, 5 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God… Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

We believe that the man Jesus is Christ the Messiah.

·         As a man He was perfect; compassionate; and compelling.

·         As Christ/Messiah He was divine, redeemer; and miracle worker.

When we believe, we experience new birth. We believe Jesus is Who He said He was; and Who the Bible says He is – God in the flesh. We believe that He did what He said He would do – shed His blood for the sins of the whole world.

B. We believe the truth about the world. (vv. 4-5)

1 John 5:4-5 (KJV) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. ⁵ Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

This truth points back to chapters 2 & 3 where John clearly links “the world” with the problem of sin. The false teachers that John was opposing believed it wasn’t possible to be free from sin because we are “in the world” and of the world. However, John makes it clear that whoever sins is of the devil. Now, he addresses the same issue but using the term “world” rather than sin. But the point is the same – the world represents all that is opposed to the will of God and righteousness.

He already affirmed:

1 John 2:15-16 ^(NKJV) Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.

So, believing / faith involves knowing what to believe about the world. The desires, values, and morals of this world will always be contrary to God’s desires, values, and morals.

We cannot serve two masters!

C. We believe the truth about victory. (vv. 4-5)

But that is not all John has to say about the world. In these same verses, he is specifically teaching that we can and should be victorious over the world. The false teachers didn’t believe it was possible to live without sin. In fact, they apparently celebrated the fact of sin being in their lives, since they believed all matter was evil – only spirit could be holy or righteous.

John is boldly proclaiming that being born of God and believing in Jesus as the divine Son of God makes it possible to live victoriously over the world. We should never allow ourselves to buy into the idea that it just isn’t possible to be victorious over sin and the world. 

II.     Being saved means we sincerely love God and others. (vv. 1b, 2)

1 John 5:1-2 (KJV) Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. ² By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

The words, “born of God;" "begat" (begot); and "begotten” – all derive from the same Greek word.

When we are born of God, there is a love for God that is born in us that we’ve never known before. When we are born of God, we not only love God, but we also love the one who is “begotten of Him.” Because of John’s repeated argument about Jesus being the Son of God and being the Christ, it is somewhat natural to think of the phrase “begotten of Him” as referring to Jesus. For example Jn. 3:16 speaks of God giving his "only begotten Son."

However, most commentary authors believe that the phrase ties with the previous use of the word “born.” (Born of God) Therefore, it is probably speaking of others who are similarly born of God – our spiritual brothers and sisters. Being saved means we have been placed in a great big family of God’s children.

Just like faith and believing, love is another theme that John has repeatedly emphasized in this letter. Apparently, the lack of love was a real problem among those recipients of the letter. This has always been a typical problem when false teaching is present in Christian circles. Those teaching the errors can be prone to unkindness, and those defending the truth can also become unkind and disparaging.

We have already stated in previous messages, love is an action word. The kind of love the Bible is talking about is not some emotion and it is not just kind words. It certainly includes emotion and kind words, but it is far more than that. Does anyone get the impression I truly love God by watching my life? Your life? Is there evidence in my daily life that I love God? When people watch my life, do they learn that I love people?

John is clearly advocating for a life that portrays love for God and for others. This is the same message he gave in chapter four.

1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

III.    Being saved means we carefully obey God’s commands. (v. 3)

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

For the Apostle John, love and obedience cannot be separated. Jesus Himself emphasized the need to show love by obedience.

John 14:15 (NKJV)  "If you love Me, keep My commandments.

But, He also emphasized the fact that loving Him wasn’t about carrying around “heavy burdens,” but it was learning that his “yoke is easy” and his “burden is light.”

Matthew 23:4 (NKJV)  For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

Matthew 11:30 (NKJV)  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

So many times I’ve heard and seen those who refuse to follow Christ because “He requires too much,” but the cost of rejecting Him turns out to be far greater than what it would have been.

Jesus’ yoke and burden is light – mainly because of His power and grace that is provided to help us each and every day.

Conclusion:

We’ve been talking about what it means to be saved.

When we turn away from our sins and place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, then we are born of God; born again.

Paul says in 2 Cor. 5:17 – Therefore, if any man be in Christ he is a new creature; old things are passed away and behold all things are become new.

Luke 10:20 ^(NKJV) Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

It is a blessed privilege to know that our names are written in the book of Life!

Our closing song today is a testimony song about God saving us from our life of unbelief and rebellion and making us His children and putting our names in the book of life.

A New Name in Glory

God Is Love

This is the 8th sermon in a series of messages through the New Testament book of First John. This sermon is based on 1 John 4:7-21 and presents John's message regarding the topic of love. John declares the eternal truth, "God is love." Then he describes other aspects of love that logically follow from that eternal truth. The theme of this message was very appropriate for the celebration of communion which was conducted at the end of the sermon. The video recording of the worship service in which this sermon was preached can be viewed by clicking here.

Written Excerpts:

1 John 4:8 (NKJV)  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Introduction:

A modern fable about love: (I shared this about 7 years ago for an Advent Candle reading.)

A prince wanted to find a maiden suitable to be his queen. One day while running an errand in the local village for his father, he passed through a poor section. As he glanced out the windows of the carriage, his eyes fell upon a beautiful peasant maiden. During the ensuing days he often passed by the young lady and soon fell in love.

But he had a problem. How would he seek her hand? He could order her to marry him. But even a prince wants his bride to marry him freely and voluntarily and not through coercion. He could put on his most splendid uniform and drive up to her front door in a carriage drawn by six horses. But if he did this, he would never be certain that the maiden loved him or was simply overwhelmed with all of the splendor.

The prince came up with another solution. He gave up his kingly robe and he moved into the village in the garb of a peasant. He lived among the people, shared their interests and concerns, and talked their language. Of course, he spent as much time with the maiden as possible. In time the maiden grew to love him, because of who he was and because he loved her first.

Just like the prince in the fable, Jesus came into our world, spoke our language, experienced our pain, joy and sorrows, then willingly gave up His life so our souls could be saved.

1 John 4:9 ^(NKJV) In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

The second sermon I preached in this series, looking at the verses in chapter one, we talked about a verse that said, “God is light.” I mentioned how light is provided as a description of who God is – His essential nature. Now, in chapter four, the verses we want to cover today include a statement, “God is Love.” Love is also a description of who God is.

(Pulpit Commentary) As [the phrase] "God is Light" sums up the Being of God intellectually considered, so [the phrase] "God is Love" sums up the [Being of God morally]. 

Let us look at John’s message in this chapter to acquire a fresh reminder of God’s love and what it implies for Christian believers. As we do this, my outline for the message will not follow the order of the verses as I have often done before, but will be presented in a more logical order using verses where they logically fit into the discussion about love.

I.              Statement of fact: God is Love. (vv. 8b, 16b)

Several years ago, I preached a series of messages on the proper concepts of God. God’s love is one of his attributes that we discussed.

I said…

A. Love is what God IS, not something He HAS.

In Scripture God declares, “Be holy for I am holy.”

1 John (4:8, 16) says God is love. “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love…. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”

Some theologians have stated that the core of God’s nature is holy-love and everything else springs from that absolutely perfect balance of holiness and love.

(S. Guthrie, Christian Doctrine) “He is not sometimes loving and sometimes unloving. He does not love some people and hate others. He is love, and everything He does, always, with everyone, is loving, because His very nature is love.”

B. God’s love is universal. (Jn. 3:16)

C. God’s love is unconditional. (Rom. 5:8)

D. God’s love is costly. (1 Jn. 4:9-10)

E. God’s love is jealous. Exodus 34:14 for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Nazarene theologian, H. Orton Wiley, says one of the qualities of love is the desire to possess the object of love.

II.             God is the source of love. (vv. 7b, 10, 19)

The fact that we love God and love others and the reason why we ought to love God and others is linked to the fact that God loved us first. The implication is: we couldn’t love Him or anyone else if it wasn’t for His love.

Romans 5:5 ^(KJV) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

If God is love, then He is the source of all other love.

III.           Love is manifested in multiple ways.

Genuine love is active. Love is not simply philosophical. When love is present, something is going to happen, whether we’re talking about God or about us.

A. God manifested His love by giving His Son. (vv. 9-10, 14)

God’s love was revealed, manifested, and demonstrated by the sending of His own Son into our world. And, the reason? So He could be the propitiation for our sins. Back in chapter 2 we discussed the meaning of propitiation.

“propitiation” – a Gk. word that means to satisfy the judgment and wrath of deity. It is sometimes translated “atoning sacrifice.”

Some scholars believed the word needed to be translated as “atoning sacrifice” because they believed the emphasis needed to be directed away from the normal pagan aspect of satisfying the wrath of a deity to emphasize the aspect of covering of our sins. But both concepts (satisfying of judgment/wrath and the covering of sins) are important. The Bible is clear that God's wrath is directed toward all sin.

B. We manifest His love by loving others. (vv. 11-12, 20-21)

I could have said “we manifest OUR love by loving others” but I truly believe it is more accurate to say “We manifest HIS love…” The outflow of God’s love in us produces a natural outflow of His love through us to others. His love motivates us and moves us to act in loving ways when we normally wouldn’t have.

IV.           Love produces other results.

(Stott, TNTC) The belief and love, which John has been urging upon his readers, are now assumed, and deductions are drawn from them… The divine-human person of Jesus Christ, God’s love for us, and our love for God and neighbor cannot be separated. The theology which robs Christ of his Godhead, thereby robs God of the glory of his love, and robs us of the one belief that can generate a mature love within us.

A. Love produces spiritual fellowship. (vv. 13, 15, 16)

Three times (vv. 13, 15, 16) John emphasizes the concept of God abiding in us and we abide in God.

(Stott, TNTC) This, then, is the sequence of thought: we know that we live in God and God in us ‘because he has given us of his Spirit’ (v. 13), and we know he has given us of his Spirit because we have come to ‘acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God’ (v. 15), and to live ‘in love’ (v. 16).

B. Love produces confidence in the day of judgment. (vv. 17-18)

“confidence” (KJV – boldness) openly, freely, without reserve/fear.

cf. 1 John 2:28 ^(NKJV) And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

These two words, confidence and ashamed, are opposites.

(Stott, TNTC) Our confidence (like our obedience in 1 Jn. 2:5) is a sign that our love has been made complete. It is grounded upon the fact that in this world we are like him (sc. Christ).

(Pulpit Commentary) "Herein has love reached its perfection among us Christians, i.e., in the Church, that we have confidence in the day of judgment." This is the perfection of love to have no fear. The ὅτι, introduces the reason for this confidence: its basis is our likeness to Christ. especially in being united to the Father.

(Tom Thatcher, Expositor's Bible Commentary, Revised) “Fear” is not used here in the healthy sense of a respect and awe toward God, but rather in the negative sense of concern over God’s impending wrath.

We were just talking about this on Wednesday night. In Matthew Jesus says…

Matthew 10:28 ^(KJV) And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

The word fear can mean torment type or reverence type, according to the context. Seems like John is saying that when God’s love is perfected in our hearts, then the consequence will be confidence and openness when we stand before Christ, rather than shame and fear.

Conclusion:

This passage in John’s epistle is an excellent passage to be studying on a day we celebrate Communion. As we prepare to share the sacrament of Communion, let us dwell on the truth of God’s love that was so deep, so real and so passionate that He sent his only Son to earth to die.

That love, when we have received it and understood it, will produce genuine love in our hearts towards others, especially towards our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.

Before we share communion, let us sing this great hymn:

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross