E-Mail Bible Class
The Letters of John
BC Weekly Digest Monday, June 29 1998 In this issue: 1 John 3:13-15 1 John 3:7-10 1 John 3:9 1 John 3:16-18 1 John 3:19-22 1 John 3:13 1 John 3:17 1 John 3:23,24 1 John 3:22-24 1 John 3:23,24 1 John 3:13-15 1 John 3:13-15 (OPV) 13 Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death into life because we love the brethren. He who does not love, remains in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. === 3:13 "Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you" Worldly people hate followers of Christ for the same reason Cain hated Abel. Unrighteousness is exposed and made to feel uncomfortable by someone who is serving God. To His own brothers, who did not believe in Him, Jesus said: "The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that its works are evil" (John 7:7 ASV). To His disciples Jesus said: "If the world hateth you, ye know that it hath hated me before [it hated] you. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you" (John 15:18,19 ASV). 3:14 "We know" John mentions many things Christians can know: "that we know Him" (1 John 2:3), "that we are in Him" (1 John 2:5), "Him who is from the beginning" (1 John 2:13,14), "the Father" (1 John 2:13), "that it is the final hour" (1 John 2:18), "the truth" (1 John 2:21), "that He is righteous" (1 John 2:29), "that everyone also who is practicing righteousness has been born of Him" (1 John 2:29), "that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him" (1 John 3:2), "that He was revealed so He might take away sins" (1 John 3:5), "that we have passed from death into life" (1 John 3:14), "that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him" (1 John 3:15), "love" (1 John 3:16), "that we are of the truth" (1 John 3:19), "that He remains in us" (1 John 3:24), "the Spirit of God" (1 John 4:2), "the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error" (1 John 4:6), "God" (1 John 4:7), "that we abide in Him, and He in us" (1 John 4:13), "the love which God has in us" (1 John 4:16), "that we love the children of God" (1 John 5:2), "that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13), "that He hears us when we ask" (1 John 5:15), "that we have the requests which we have asked of Him" (1 John 5:15), "that anyone having been born of God does not continue sinning" (1 John 5:18), "that we are of God" (1 John 5:19), "that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding" (1 John 5:20), "the True One" (1 John 5:20). In the face of false teachers who were claiming to have secret knowledge, John emphasizes that followers of Christ are not lacking in knowledge. It is important to notice that in many of these passages John also says HOW we know these things. 3:14 "We know that we have passed from death into life because we love the brethren" Hatred results in death. In our times millions of people are being butchered because of hatred between tribes and peoples. What has happened in various countries during the last few years is comparable to what Hitler did during the second world war, but people seem to have become insensitive to it, and it is often under-reported in the news. Hatred is the driving force in the kingdom of Satan, and it is only by the love of God that we can escape from the devil's domination. Love is the motivating force in the kingdom of God. Love brings life. Jesus said: "The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have [it] abundantly" (John 10:10 ASV). 3:15 "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer" Have you murdered anyone lately? 3:15 "You know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him" Religious fanaticism and hatred cause much pain and death. Hate mongers in the name of Allah or in the name of Christ, are not followers of the One True God and they have no hope of eternal life. Followers of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Most High, have learned love from Him. Roy Davison ------------------------------ 1 John 3:7-10 1 John 3:7-10 The question has been submitted: Reference was made to John 3:5,6 - "Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God!" I understand how one may be born of water through baptism, but how is one born of the Spirit? === Being born of the Spirit refers to becoming a "new creature" when one becomes a Christian: "Wherefore if any man is in Christ, [he is] a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new" (2 Cor 5:17 ASV). This renewal takes place at baptism, since we are baptized "into Christ" (see 1 Cor 12:13 and Gal 3:27). "We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life" (Rom 6:4 ASV). We must be baptized (immersed) in water (Acts 8:36-39). But physical water cannot cleanse the soul. The renewal takes place by the power of the Holy Spirit: "But when the kindness of God our Savior, and his love toward man, appeared, not by works [done] in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior; that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:4-7 ASV). We are born of the Spirit -- we become new creatures -- when God saves us. He does this through baptism, "through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit." Peter also explains how baptism saves us. After saying that Noah and his family were saved "through water" (1 Peter 3:20), he explains that this was a representation of the salvation that comes to us through the waters of baptism: "which also after a true likeness doth now save you, [even] baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:21 ASV). Many people who think they are Christians, have never been born of the Spirit because they have never been baptized the way God tells us to be baptized. Maybe they were "christened" by their parents when they were babies (this was not valid because it was not immersion and because it was not based on their own faith and repentance), or maybe they thought their sins were already forgiven before they were immersed, rather than being baptized for the forgiveness of sins as commanded by the Holy Spirit: "And Peter [said] unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). Roy Davison ------------------------------ 1 John 3:9 1 John 3:9 (OPV) 9 Anyone who has been born of God does not keep on practicing sin, because His seed abides in him, and he is not able to keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. === The question has been asked: If this renewal takes place at baptism, then why do so many CHRISTIANS, after being immersed based on their faith and repentance, after understanding that they were baptized for the forgiveness of sins--still live lives as if the old things did not pass away? Does this mean that these individuals were born only of water and not of the Spirit? WHAT is the gift of the Holy Spirit that one receives at baptism? === As with a physical birth, one begins his new spiritual life as a baby. "Putting away therefore all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation; if ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious: unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious, ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:1-5 ASV). Look at this passage carefully. A new-born Christian usually has some things he will have to "put away," to remove from his life. Some things will be removed immediately, but some things might require a great deal of effort over a period of time. A baby has little more than potential. It cannot talk, walk or even feed itself. But it has a tremendous desire to live and grow, and it demands to be fed, even in the middle of the night! The rebirth does not magically change a sinner into a seasoned and full-grown Christian. But it gives him a new life that can come only from God, it gives him a completely new beginning. Most children go through a normal process of growth to adulthood. But sometimes there are problems. Sometimes they do not grow as they should and sometimes they are neglected and not properly fed. The same applies to growth to spiritual maturity. "For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food. For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe" (Heb 5:12,13 ASV). These Christians had not grown as they should. They had not even learned the most rudimentary things of the Christian faith, although they had been Christians for some time. It is always sad when we see an adult who still behaves like a baby, but it sometimes happens. It is sad enough when it is because of a physical malfunction, but it is even sadder when someone still "acts like a baby" when he is otherwise a normally grown man! In some cases it may be that someone never actually became a Christian because his understanding, faith or attitude was wrong when he was immersed. But in many cases it is simply a lack of growth to maturity for one reason or another. The Hebrews to whom the letter was written, were Christians, but even after many years they were still infantile spiritually. A teacher must take the spiritual maturity of the ones he is teaching into consideration. If a spiritual ten- year-old still can only digest milk, it will not help to cram meat down his throat. He will just spit it out, and probably on you. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able [to bear it]: nay, not even now are ye able; for ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men?" (1 Cor 3:2,3 ASV). Sometimes the fault lies with the person himself. It is possible to resist the influence of God's Spirit in our lives: "Quench not the Spirit; despise not prophesyings; prove all things; hold fast that which is good; abstain from every form of evil" (1 Thes 5:19-22 ASV). Sometimes lack of growth results from a lack of proper nourishment from other Christians. Christ has given elders, teachers and evangelists to the church to build up the body of Christ (see Eph 4:11-16). Yet, in many cases I have seen new Christians grow to maturity in spite of a lack of encouragement from others! Because of their hunger and thirst for righteousness, they found the nourishment they needed without much help from others! I recently heard of a five-year-old girl who was put out on the street with her two-year-old brother by relatives who were supposed to care for them because their parents were having financial problems. She cared for her little brother by finding food in garbage cans for more than a year before their parents finally found them. That was commendable on the part of the little girl, but it is not the way God intended it to be. Because of false teachings among sectarians about the gift of the Holy Spirit, there is much confusion on this topic even among Christians. For those who have web browsers, there is a study entitled "The Holy Spirit" under my name in The Old Paths Archive [http://www.oldpaths.com] which can help you understand the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the difference between the gift of the Holy Spirit and the baptism in the Holy Spirit which took place on the day of Pentecost. Roy Davison ------------------------------ 1 John 3:16-18 1 John 3:16-18 (OPV) 16 We know love because He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 Now whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart against him, how can God's love be abiding in him? 18 Little children, let us love, not in word or with the tongue, but in action and truth. === 3:16 "We know love because He laid down His life for us" In verse 14 John said: "We know that we have passed from death into life because we love the brethren." But how do we know what it means to love our brethren? Because we have experienced the love of Jesus. Our hope of eternal life is based on the love of God that has come into our hearts: "and hope putteth not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given unto us. For while we were yet weak, in due season Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: for peradventure for the good man some one would even dare to die. But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom 5:5-8 ASV). When Christ dwells in our heart through faith and our heart is illuminated by God's love, we are established in love: "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fullness of God" (Eph 3:14-19 ASV). 3:16 "We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" Jesus tells us: "This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:12,13 ASV). A fellow-student from Canada when I was in university went into a burning house to try to save her younger brother. They both died in the flames. Do you think she loved her brother? Peter affirmed several times that he was willing to lay down his life for Jesus (see John 13:37). He was willing to draw his sword against a whole group of soldiers when he knew there were only two swords among Jesus' followers (Luke 22:38). But after Jesus told him to put away his sword, he fled and later denied Jesus three times. He did not yet have the love it takes to go to the cross. But Peter learned love from Jesus, and later he did lay down his life for Him (John 21:18,19). 3:17 "Now whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart against him, how can God's love be abiding in him?" Genuine love has practical consequences. A declaration of love is revealed to be true or false in actions from day to day. We must be careful that we are not hypocritical. We like to think of ourselves as loving, caring people and we want others to think of us as such. But the only thing that really counts is whether it is true. As James asks: "If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; and yet ye give them not the things needful to the body; what doth it profit?" (James 2:15,16 ASV). 3:18 "Little children, let us love, not in word or with the tongue, but in action and truth" "For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power" (1 Cor 4:20 (ASV). Good words are fine when backed by the power of truth, but empty words are worthless. Paul empasized to the Corinthians that his words and actions were in agreement: "Let such a one reckon this, that, what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such [are we] also in deed when we are present" (2 Cor 10:11 ASV). Roy Davison ------------------------------ 1 John 3:19-22 1 John 3:19-22 (OPV) 19 By this we will know that we are of the truth, and will make our heart secure before Him, 20 because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God, 22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we are keeping His commandments and doing the things that are pleasing in His sight. === 3:19 "By this we will know that we are of the truth" When our love for God and for our brethren is genuine, we can know on the basis of God's word and promises that we are indeed of the truth. 3:19 "And will make our heart secure before Him" When our love is substantiated by our actions we can approach God with a sure heart. "There is no fear in love, but perfect love expels fear, because fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears has not been perfected in love" (1 John 4:18). 3:20 "Because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things" When we know that our actions are not acceptable to God, when we do not have an active love for God in our lives from day to day, we might deceive others for a time, but we cannot approach God feeling secure. 3:21 "Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God" I once read about a young Christian lady who was ridiculed because she refused an invitation to a dance. A school mate sneered: "You don't drink, you don't smoke, you don't dance, what DO you do for fun?" She replied: "For fun, I wake up each morning with a clear conscience about what I did the night before." 3:22 "And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we are keeping His commandments and doing the things that are pleasing in His sight" Think about this verse carefully and remember what it says, because it clears up many understandings about prayer. The privilege of prayer and the promises God has given to hear us, are conditional. Jesus told His disciples: "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7 ASV). Unspiritual people have trouble understanding this promise because they think Jesus is saying they can ask whatever they DESIRE and it will be given to them. As James explains to such people: "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend [it] in your pleasures" (James 4:3 ASV). This promise is within the framework of knowing and doing the will of God. In connection with His approaching crucifixion, Jesus prayed: "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt" (Matt 26:39 ASV). Jesus did not desire to suffer and die on a cross, but He wanted to do the will of the Father. His prayer was heard! He received what He really wanted. Even as He prayed this prayer, Jesus knew that He would indeed have to die on the cross to redeem mankind from sin because there was no other way for man to be saved. The answer to this prayer came three days after Jesus suffered and died on the cross, when an angel rolled back the stone and Jesus came forth from the grave never to die again, when He came forth to testify that those who follow Him to the cross will also follow Him in the resurrection (see Romans 6:3-9). "Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear, though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation" Heb 5:7-9 ASV). Roy Davison ------------------------------ 1 John 3:13 "Do not be surprised..." Jesus prepared his followers ahead of time and told them they could encounter suffering and hatred. He pronounced them "blessed" when they would be persecuted (Luke 6:22,23; John 16:1-4)."If the world hateth you, ye know that it hath hated me before it hated you ... Remember the word that I said unto you, a servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you"(John 15:18-21 ASV). Righteous living just seems to provoke the unrighteous to hatred and evil. Remember the hatred of the evil Haman who tried to kill the righteous Mordecai and the Jewish people? (Esther 3:5,6;7:1-10). And consider the hatred against Daniel when he was thrown into the Lion's den ( Daniel chapter 6 ). But truth and goodness are not diminished by evil. In spite of tribulation Jesus says our ultimate victory is assured:"Be of good cheer I have overcome the world"( John 16:33 ).And Paul said: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good"( Romans 12:21 ). Peter writes ... "insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ's suffering, rejoice..."( 1 Peter 1:6-9; 4:1,12-16 ). "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace." Christians rejoice! In Jesus we are more than conquerors! J.Lee Roberts ------------------------------ 1 John 3:17 "Now whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart against him, how can God's love be abiding in him?" How we use our material blessings can determine our eternal destiny! In a surprising lesson Jesus commends a servant for using someone else's property to insure his own future! ( Luke 16:1-13 ). And we are stewards of what God has put under our care. We are to use our Master's goods to prepare for our own heavenly future - to serve others and to bring glory to Him! We are to use all of God's goods to prepare for eternity. To use what we have as God's faithful stewards to help others in need is what Jesus is teaching us in Matthew 25:31-46. What we do for others, we do for Him! In making his point over material things to those Pharisees who were lovers of money, Jesus said in summary:'He that is unrighteous in a very little is also unrighteous in much, - if you have not been faithful in that which belongs to another - who do you think will trust you with true riches?' ( Read Luke 6:10-12). The Lord continues His teaching in Luke 16 with the example of two rich men and the poor beggar, Lazarus. This certain rich man had apparently lived a selfish life, completely unconcerned for the misery of those around him. In death he is tormented, while Lazarus is comforted in the presence of Abraham - who in life had also been rich, but who cared for those around him. Abraham had used what he had to serve others, the rich man had served mammon. How am I using what the Master has put in my care? J.Lee Roberts ------------------------------ 1 John 3:23,24 1 John 3:23,24 (OPV) 23 And this is His commandment, that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another according to the commandment He gave us. 24 And he who keeps His commandments remains in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He remains in us, by the Spirit whom He gave us. === 3:23 "And this is His commandment, that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ" When Jesus ask His followers: "Who do you say that I am," Peter replied: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Mat 16:15,16). This confession is the foundation of the Christian faith. This conviction is not a 'leap in the dark' as existentialists would have us think. (They like leaping in the dark because it allows them to jump wherever they want.) As John testified when he began his letter, the apostles were eye-witnesses of the nature and activities of the Son of God. Their testimony is sufficient and reliable. As John said at the close of his Gospel: "Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name" (John 20:30,31 ASV). "This is the disciple that beareth witness of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his witness is true" (John 21:24 ASV). God commands us to believe this testimony. "Now after John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:14,15 ASV). It is often said that we must believe and repent. But sometimes people must repent before they can believe! Notice that faith is commanded. To His chosen people under the old covenant God said: "Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no savior. I have declared, and I have saved, and I have showed; and there was no strange [god] among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and I am God" (Isaiah 43:10-12 ASV). God has elected that His people might know Him and believe in Him. Notice that He says: "I have declared, and I have saved, and I have showed"! We are commanded to believe what God has declared to us and what He has shown us. 3:23 "And love one another according to the commandment He gave us" Love is also commanded. "But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love" (1 Cor 13:13 ASV). "But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation" (1 Thes 5:8 ASV). 3:24 "And he who keeps His commandments remains in Him, and He in him" Large segments of Christendom are lost because they believe they can be saved by faith alone, whereas the word of God clearly states: "Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith" (James 2:24 ASV). "For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead" (James 2:26 ASV). We must faithfully keep His commandments to remain in Him. A profession of faith and love is hollow if it is not backed by adherence to the commands of Christ. Jesus said: "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments" (John 14:15 ASV) and "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love" (John 15:10 ASV). Evangelical theology emphasizes John 3:16 and ignores John 3:36 - "He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." 3:24 "And by this we know that He remains in us, by the Spirit whom He gave us" This passage is greatly misused and greatly misunderstood. How can we know that God remains in us? Many people 'feel' they are saved because of some emotional, religious experience, when it is obvious to an observer that their doctrine or life style are not in agreement with the word of God! John does not say we 'feel like' He is in us. He says we know! Feelings are often deceptive. In the same verse John has just said: "he who keeps His commandments remains in Him" but people like to forget that part. How can we know which commandments we must keep to remain in Him? Only "by the Spirit whom He gave us." Jesus promised his Apostles that He would send the Spirit to guide them into all the truth (John 16:13). The Apostles were to wait in Jerusalem until they received power from above (Acts 1:3-8). On the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured forth on all flesh (Acts 2:16,17). In connection with Christ's ascension, Peter declared: "Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear" (Acts 2:33 ASV). The gift of the Holy Spirit is now available to all who will heed the message of the Spirit: "And Peter [said] unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him" (Acts 2:38,39 ASV). Notice that the gift of the Spirit is only received by those who obey the commands of the Spirit. The only way we can know that God remains in us is by knowing and obeying the word of God. "But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual [words]" (1 Cor 2:12,13 ASV). As Jesus explained: "It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life" (John 6:63 ASV). Sincerely obeying the commandments of Christ in faith and love on the basis of the revealed word of the Spirit enables us to know that God remains within. This obedience is not a matter of "earning" salvation, but of humbly accepting the salvation extended to us by the grace of God through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. "But when the kindness of God our Savior, and his love toward man, appeared, not by works [done] in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior; that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:4-7 ASV). Roy Davison ------------------------------ 1 John 3:22-24 Here we find a summary of what God wants from us, and the fruits of submitting to His will. Acceptible obedience is not a meritorious work of rule keeping, but the expression of a living, loving faith. Obeying God does not merit salvation, but an obedient faith that is motivated by love gives the penitent sinner access to the father's marvelous grace! ( Galatians 5:6; Ephesians 2:18; 3:11,12 ). The renowned faith of Abraham - the father of all the faithful - was acceptable because in deep faith he obeyed God's instructions! His submission to the Father's will was made evident when he did not withhold his son Isaac -"because you have obeyed my voice"( Genesis 22:16-18 ). The writer of Hebrews does not consider Abraham's obedience 'a meritorious work', but rather the evidence of real faith ( Hebrews 11:8 and 17 ). To take obedience out of the Gospel is to change and pervert God's will and desire for loving and obedient children! "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments"(1 John 5:3). And the promise in 1 John 3:22 is also very clear: "And whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments"ASV.He then explains the commandment - this is what we must do to know the fruits of His promise: 1) Believe in God's Son and 2) love one another. Not only do we have here the promise that He will answer our prayers when we keep His word, but that He will come and abide in us - and this we know because He gives us His Spirit! "And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepth not his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoso keepeth his word, in him hath the love of God been perfected" (1 John 2:3-5 ASV)."If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" ( John 14:23). We must 1) love and obey the Father, 2) believe in the Son, and 3) love one another to know that He will answer our reguests according to His will and will come live within us! J.Lee Roberts ------------------------------ 1 John 3:23,24 1 John 3:23,24 23 And this is His Commandment, that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ and love one another according to the commandment He gave us (OPV). "His commandment" has reference to the fact that God is love and that we must love Him (Deuteronomy 7:9). In addition, He has given us the command to not only love Him, but that we are to love one another (Mark 12:30). Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that we would love Christ because He is an essential part of the Godhead and He is also our brother in hope (Romans 8:17). How could we expect to enjoy the glory of heaven if we had no love for God? 24 "And he who keeps His commandment remains in Him and He in him" (OPV) If we do what He says, He will be in us. It is difficult to know exactly what this means. This relationship with God is based on the promise of Jesus in Matthew 10:32: "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven" (KJV). What is implied here is that we are held to be His children when we confess through our lives that God is our Father. There is, however, a limit to this as expressed in Matthew 10:33. We must continue to confess Him or He will no longer claim us as His own. This is in agreement with Matthew 7:22 where He casts the ungodly aside in the day of judgment. We should all take note that those whom He casts aside think that they have done His will, yet He says that He never (at no time) knew them (confessed them). 3:24 "And by this we know that He remains in us, by the Spirit whom He gave us" (OPV). Our assurance is indeed through the Spirit of God or the Holy Spirit. It is He, the Comforter, whom Christ promised to send to console and to strengthen the hearts of men, not just the apostles. Though He does not appear to us on a miraculous basis today as He appeared in the first century, we can be assured, through the voice of the Holy Spirit -- the Bible, that God loves us and cares for us. Such is the "Blessed Assurance" of which Fanny Crosby sang and wrote. It gives strength to the soul in time of despair. We have no need for miraculous manifestations today because our hope is based on something far greater, the written the word of God (Hebrews 6:19). Howard Justice