18 June 2014
Judges 20
Isaiah 42
1 John 5
“EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES …”
Everyone believes in something. Many believe that they are part of the highest form of animal life and that this life is all there is for them and so they live to make the most of it. Our chapter [5] in John’s letter today begins, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.” [1 John 5:1] Here is a word picture of a precious fellowship of believers bound together in love.
Our thoughts go to Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus that John recorded in his gospel; remember what Nicodemus was told? “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” [John 3:5] “Born of water” refers to baptism to put on the name of Christ. That physical act must be accompanied by a rebirth of the mind, anew way of thinking; Paul spelt it out plainly in writing to the Ephesians, “… be renewed in the spirit of your minds… put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” [Ephesians 4:23-24]
In his Epistle John goes on to say, “this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome” [1 John 5:3] as had been the laws and rituals in keeping the laws through Moses.
1 John 5:4 challenges us! “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith.” True faith flows out from a heart that is full of the “conviction of things not seen” [Hebrews 11:1] John writes, sure that his readers have this conviction of faith and says he “writes these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” [1 John 5:13]
That is a challenging concept of thought! “Death” becomes in a sense non-existent, as this life is completed we move into God’s time, which is time-less, it is like “the twinkling of an eye” death “has “no sting” [1 Corinthians 15:52,55] May we all be treading with ever surer steps on the narrow way because we have been truly “born of God” and “God protects him and the evil does not touch him” [1 John 5:18]. Furthermore, “we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ” [1 John 5:20] for we truly have “been born of God.” [1 John 5:1]
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- DC
Isaiah ch43 reminds us of our wonderful position, by Gods grace and mercy. We who are adopted Israel, who have been called and redeemed by the blood of The Lord Jesus Christ:
"O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine"
For what purpose? v7
"Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory"
How? v10
"Ye are my witnesses..."
"This people have informed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise"
Philippians 1:9-11
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Thought for the Day
18 June 2014
"A Saviour whose work is to deliver us from death not only had to die, but had to be raised from death also. A dead Saviour would be no saviour at all: death would still be conqueror. To say then that he died for our sins is not the whole of the truth. It would declare why he had to die, but it would leave unsaid that he was the conqueror of death in himself."
- John Carter
Delight in God’s Law
Judges 20
Isaiah 42
1 John 5
“EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES …”
Everyone believes in something. Many believe that they are part of the highest form of animal life and that this life is all there is for them and so they live to make the most of it. Our chapter [5] in John’s letter today begins, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.” [1 John 5:1] Here is a word picture of a precious fellowship of believers bound together in love.
Our thoughts go to Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus that John recorded in his gospel; remember what Nicodemus was told? “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” [John 3:5] “Born of water” refers to baptism to put on the name of Christ. That physical act must be accompanied by a rebirth of the mind, anew way of thinking; Paul spelt it out plainly in writing to the Ephesians, “… be renewed in the spirit of your minds… put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” [Ephesians 4:23-24]
In his Epistle John goes on to say, “this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome” [1 John 5:3] as had been the laws and rituals in keeping the laws through Moses.
1 John 5:4 challenges us! “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith.” True faith flows out from a heart that is full of the “conviction of things not seen” [Hebrews 11:1] John writes, sure that his readers have this conviction of faith and says he “writes these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” [1 John 5:13]
That is a challenging concept of thought! “Death” becomes in a sense non-existent, as this life is completed we move into God’s time, which is time-less, it is like “the twinkling of an eye” death “has “no sting” [1 Corinthians 15:52,55] May we all be treading with ever surer steps on the narrow way because we have been truly “born of God” and “God protects him and the evil does not touch him” [1 John 5:18]. Furthermore, “we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ” [1 John 5:20] for we truly have “been born of God.” [1 John 5:1]
-------
- DC
Isaiah ch43 reminds us of our wonderful position, by Gods grace and mercy. We who are adopted Israel, who have been called and redeemed by the blood of The Lord Jesus Christ:
"O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine"
For what purpose? v7
"Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory"
How? v10
"Ye are my witnesses..."
"This people have informed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise"
Philippians 1:9-11
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Thought for the Day
18 June 2014
"A Saviour whose work is to deliver us from death not only had to die, but had to be raised from death also. A dead Saviour would be no saviour at all: death would still be conqueror. To say then that he died for our sins is not the whole of the truth. It would declare why he had to die, but it would leave unsaid that he was the conqueror of death in himself."
- John Carter
Delight in God’s Law
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