Throughout this letter, John repeats three tests designed to help his readers evaluate teachings and teachers, especially helping them evaluate some people who had left the church and were trying to draw the readers to follow them. He’s already mentioned the Moral (2:3-6) and Love (2:7-17) tests, and now he turns his attention to the…
Read MoreCategory: Bible Study
Lessons and studies from the Bible
Love God, Not the World
When my son played rec league baseball, his league named its teams after professional clubs. He played for the Rays, Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, and a few more. Each year, I bought the baseball cap of his team and wore it to his games. Of course, I’d wear those caps even when I wasn’t at…
Read MoreHow’s Your Love Life?
If you could pick one trait that should characterize a Christian, what would it be? If I asked you to write down one word that would define what a Christian is like, what would you write? As we study John’s first letter, remember that he’s dealing with a crisis of faith in his church. A…
Read MoreWe Have an Advocate
In the previous post, we saw that John summarized his message with the words, “God is light.” He also encouraged his readers to “walk in the light” or live with a desire for God instead of for darkness and sin. Walking in the light doesn’t mean moral perfection, and there will be times when Christians…
Read MoreGod is Light
When our children were younger, we occasionally played hide-and-seek in our house — in the dark. When you play the game in total darkness, you don’t have to find a hiding place because you can hide anywhere. It can be a little scary groping around the house, not knowing when you might bump into someone…
Read MoreIntroducing 1 John
One of my favorite books in the New Testament is 1 John, one of those little letters tucked near the back of the Bible along with James, 1 & 2 Peter, the two other letters by John, and Jude. They’re all placed between the heavy books of Hebrews and Revelation, like little snacks between two…
Read MoreThe Grace of God and Learning to Walk
There are a couple of myths that are common when it comes to our relationship with God. Here’s one: “I have to straighten out my life before I can ask God to forgive me.” I’ve heard this response several times when talking to people about salvation. They recognize both their sin and God’s holiness, but…
Read MoreThe Grace of God and Used Cars
Years ago, our family found ourselves in need of a second vehicle. The car I drove, a real clunker, had given up the ghost. So we began to pray, asking God for the means to purchase a replacement vehicle. A few days later, one of the sweetest couples I’ve known came to me with a…
Read MoreThe Grace of God and Gifts Under Pews
How does a salad say grace? “Lettuce pray.” I know, I know, that’s an old dad joke, but I’m an old dad, so I get to say that. Come on, some of you have already decided to tell that one. You’re welcome! Plus, I couldn’t think of another way to introduce a post about grace….
Read MoreBringing Humility Back in Style
One day a leader of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner at his home. The Pharisees were the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’s day, and it wasn’t just a friendly invitation. The Bible says, “they were watching carefully.” They were checking him out to see if they could catch him breaking their rules. Jesus…
Read More