BROKEN FOREVER
“My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.”
1 John 2:1 NLT
How did John discover the meaning and intricacies of Jesus’ death and resurrection? He lived in close contact with Jesus, the man, for more than three years. He knew that Jesus was a real man, doing all the things that real people do. Now he writes, of that man, things that humans do not do. What made the difference?
Not only did John hear Jesus’ promise of the Spirit in power on the day of Pentecost, the promise of power and revelation…
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you… But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”
John 14:16, 26 NLT
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’ “
John 16:13-15 NLT
… But he also fully experienced living with Jesus, and the Spirit’s power and revelation in his own heart and life when the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples at Pentecost.
Thus, he could say, “We have seen, touched, felt, and experienced the impact of this man’s life and words in our lives.”
John knew what sin did to him. He knew that no animal sacrifice could deal with his sin. However many lambs were killed on his behalf, his guilt and shame were always on his conscience, accusing him before God.
John also knew the blessed release of forgiveness. The moment the truth dawned on him that the bloodied form hanging on a Roman torture stake, the glorious Lord who emerged alive from His burial place, meant a forgiveness so powerful that his guilt and shame lifted from him forever. The peace that settled in his heart convinced him that this salvation was real and forever.
So, he could write, “We are free from sins past and free not to sin again, but…if we do, the Advocate who spoke for us will continue to speak because His death has dealt with all sin for all time.”
John was a realist. He knew that, although all his sin was forgiven and his guilt taken away, and that the Holy Spirit in him gave him power over sin, he still could still sin because he still had an old nature in him, prone to go astray. What a comfort to know that Jesus was always at the right hand of the Father, his Advocate and Intercessor, presenting His blood as the answer to his sin problem.
At those times when he was either caught unawares, failing to be vigilant or giving in to the pull of sinful desires, Jesus, his Advocate in the court of heaven, was there to defend him.
On what grounds is John so sure that Jesus will adequately plead his case before the Father?
“He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.”
1 John 2:1-2 NLT
Firstly, He is the righteous one. He qualified to atone for our sin as the perfect lamb because there was no sin in Him.
Secondly His death paid the debt for all sin, for all people, for all time. He is….
“…. the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made.”
Revelation 13:8 NLT
Thirdly, the names of the redeemed are indelibly written in the Lamb’s book of life. Nothing can erase those names except deliberate renunciation of Jesus as Lord.
So, we rejoice as we persevere in our faith and walk with Jesus since there is nothing in heaven, on earth, or under the earth that can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus.
“… The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
John 14:17 NIV
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39 NIV
Monthly Archives: September 2023
LOVE EQUALS OBEDIENCE
LOVE EQUALS OBEDIENCE
“And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If
someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person
is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly
show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.
Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”
1 John 2:3-6 NLT
How many church goers today live in self-deception! Claiming to be
“born-again” believers is no criterion unless obedience to Jesus as
Lord accompanies the claim.
Jesus gave His disciples a simple test… “Do you love me? Then do what I
tell you.” He asked a question of those who persistently followed Him
without ever having any intention to be true disciples.
“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I
will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching,
and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and
lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against
that house, it stands firm because it is well built.”
Luke 6:46-48 NLT
Obedience to Jesus’s teaching is the only proof that we are His disciples, in
union with Him through the indwelling Holy Spirit and representing Him to an
unbelieving world. Such followers experience the power of His life working in
and through them.
Unfortunately, there are streams in the modern church that go after “signs
and wonders” to prove their allegiance to Jesus. Some claim supernatural
offices and accompanying “ministries” as their superior authority in
the church.
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of
Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.
On judgment day, many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name
and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But
I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
“
Matthew 7:21-23 NLT
Jesus set a different, simple test to authenticate a true disciple.
“Knowing Him” is the real issue.
“And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true
God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.”
John 17:3 NLT
What does knowing Him mean?
King Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, failed to live up to his father’s example. He
lavished his wealth on himself instead of caring for his needy subjects. God
came down hard on him, revealing, at the same time, His criterion for knowing
God.
“But a beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king! Your father,
Josiah, also had plenty to eat and drink. But he was just and right in all his
dealings. That is why God blessed him. He gave justice and help to the poor and
needy, and everything went well for him. Isn’t that what it means to know me?”
says the Lord.”
Jeremiah 22:15-16 NLT
So, we can only prove any claim that we know God to be true if we genuinely
share Jesus’ heart for people. This means doing something about their needs if
we can. Of course, we can’t save the world but, as Mother Teresa said, when
challenged, “I can save this one!”
Jesus judges the nations by the same standard as He judges individuals.
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him,
then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in
his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep
from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my
Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.
For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was
a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me
clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited
me.’ “
Matthew 25:31-36 NL
Just imagine, if the church, including those who fight about doctrines,
claim illegitimate authority, or sniff out those who don’t believe or do what
they do, cared more about loving Jesus by loving His people, what a witness to
the world that would be!
SHOW ME THE EVIDENCE
SHOW ME THE EVIDENCE
“And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If
someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person
is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show
how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those
who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”
1 John 2:3-6 NLT
It’s a tragedy that so many people who claim to be God’s children have been
lulled to sleep or lured away from the simple truths of the gospel by additions
to His Word that pander to the flesh. Their unchanged lives expose their
self-deception and reveal the lie that they know God.
The Bible is very clear. Faith in Jesus produces miraculous changes in us that
only God’s grace can make. Outside of the power of His grace revealed to us in
His salvation, we can make claims and pretend for a while but, inevitably, our self-effort
will fail and we will revert to our old, ungodly ways.
What changes has grace made in our lives that confirm our new position and
status as members of His family and citizens in His kingdom?
We have a new Master. Our faith in Jesus is based on the truth that Jesus, not
Satan, is Lord.
“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9 NLT
We have been supernaturally delivered from Satan’s domain to live under the
supreme authority of Jesus in God’s kingdom.
“For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us
into the Kingdom of his dear Son,”
Colossians 1:13 NLT
He has raised us from spiritual death and given us new life in Christ.
“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins….
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were
dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.
(It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)”
Ephesians 2:1, 4-5 NLT
He gave us His nature which we share by accessing His promises of power and
grace.
“And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and
precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine
nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”
2 Peter 1:4 NLT
He has permanently erased our past and made us a new species in Christ.
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.
The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
We are no longer God’s enemies. He has reconciled us to Himself by forgiving
our sin and giving us the righteousness of Jesus.
“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we
have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us….
For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we
were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his
Son.”
Romans 5:1, 10 NLT
We have God’s peace ruling in our hearts.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God
what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience
God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard
your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
He has given us everything we need to live godly lives.
“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a
godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who
called us to himself by means of his marvellous glory and excellence. And
because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious
promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and
escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”
2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT
And so we can go enumerating every detail of this miraculous transaction
called “salvation” that Jesus accomplished through His death in the
cross.
Our allegiance to Jesus and the transformation He has made in us by His grace
gives us a powerful motivation to obey His commandments. Our response to His
great love binds our hearts to Him.
“This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent
his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”
1 John 4:10 NLT
Jesus bound up all His commandments in one simple instruction.
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I
have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will
prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
John 13:34-35 NLT
“Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each
other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us,
and his love is brought to full expression in us.”
1 John 4:11-12 NLT
“Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved
us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.”
Ephesians 5:2 NLT
Loving His people is Jesus’ simple test and prescription for obeying Him.
How did He restore Peter after His denial?
“After breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you
love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son
of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then
take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. A third time he asked him, “Simon son of
John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third
time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus
said, “Then feed my sheep.”
John 21:15-17 NLT
Not, “Why did you do it?” or “You are suspended for a
while,” or “You are disqualified from ministry,” but “Do
you love me?”
Jesus asks us to…
Take care of our family’s practical needs…
“If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister
in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?”
1 John 3:17 NLT
Guard our unity by submitting to one another…
“Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding
yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as
you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord,
one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and
living through all.”
Ephesians 4:3-6 NLT
“And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
Ephesians 5:21 NLT
Preserve and protect our fellowship with each other…
“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance
for each other’s faults because of your love.”
Ephesians 4:2 NLT
Build each other up in our faith…
“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the
prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility
is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of
Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and
knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the
full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like
children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We
will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever, they
sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in
every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own
special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy
and growing and full of love.”
Ephesians 4:11-16 NLT
So, unless there is evidence of God’s powerful intervention to transform our
lives, any claim to know God without the evidence is a lie.
A NEW OLD COMMANDMENT
A NEW OLD COMMANDMENT
“Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is
an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love
one another—is the same message you heard before. Yet it is also new. Jesus lived
the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is
disappearing, and the true light is already shining.”
1 John 2:7-8 NLT
John sounds as though he is speaking in riddles. An old commandment but it’s
new! A new commandment but it’s old! What does he mean?
An old adage says, “The new is in the old concealed. The old is in the new
revealed.” Referring to the truths of Scripture, this implies that there
is a cohesion between the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament contains
many truths that we can only fully understand as they are explained in the New.
This applies to John’s puzzling statement here. The Old Testament law connected
all-embracing love for God and love for people together, almost as two parts of
one commandment. It is impossible to love God’s people if we do not love God
and… loving God inevitably embraces His people as well.
However, this commandment was impossible to obey in the context of the Law
because the Law demanded compliance without the power of the Holy Spirit to
obey.
The New Covenant provides the power to obey. The New Covenant is new, not in
its standards of obedience to God, but as His provision of grace through the
death of Jesus and the restoration of His Spirit to His people at Pentecost.
“And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly
God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with
his love.”
Romans 5:5 NLT
“No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and
his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit
as proof that we live in him and he in us…. We love each other because he
loved us first.”
1 John 4:12-13, 19 NLT
Those who were bound to God in the Old Covenant, although they had God’s
word, still lived in the darkness of sin. Only a few of His people understood
His way of faith in His Word that gave them access to His Spirit. David, for
example, trusted in God’s mercy for forgiveness rather than in animal
sacrifices.
“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of
your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my
guilt. Purify me from my sin… Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a
loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take
your Holy Spirit from me…. You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer
one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken
spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.”
Psalms 51:1-2, 10-11, 16-17 NLT
David enjoyed the blessing of forgiveness through his repentance and trust
in God.
“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put
out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of
guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!”
Psalms 32:1-2 NLT
How God longed that His people would acknowledge and repent of their sin and
return to faith in Him, but they refused. Time and again He called them back
through His prophets, but they stubbornly continued in their wickedness.
” Now,” says John, “you have a new way to obey an old
commandment because you are no longer in darkness. The full light of God’s work
in Christ and the presence and power of His Spirit are here. Now live in that
light and power as God’s transformed and obedient children.”
So, as God’s children in His dispensation of grace, we have been transformed
inside, motivated and empowered to love God’s people and to show that love by
being generous gracious towards them in every way.
Without the evidence of this transformation working in our lives, we remain in
the darkness of selfishness and unbelief.
WE CALL GOD A LIAR
WE CALL GOD A LIAR
What do we do to God when we don’t believe His word? We call Him a liar.
“If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.”
1 John 1:10 NLT
This truth hit me hard a few weeks ago. If I ignore or doubt anything that God has said in His Word, I call into question God’s faithfulness, truthfulness, and integrity, and I cancel every promise He has made regarding His salvation, His presence in me, and His provision for me, material, physical, and spiritual. I can no longer worship Him or count on Him as God.
Satan insinuated to Adam in the beginning, that God was lying. Adam believed his lie and it cost him and every person born into the world through him, their destiny. Had God not intervened with His salvation plan, every human would die eternally with no hope of reprieve.
I cannot choose to believe the promises that are to my benefit and ignore God’s instructions and warnings. I do so to my peril. If I choose to doubt anything God has said in His written word, I cancel everything else He has said, including every detail that affects my past, present, and future. My salvation and the hope of glory disappear like the morning must. I stand before Him naked, judged and condemned.
If, on the other hand, I believe what He has said, including what may be difficult or distasteful, my faith joins me to the most powerful Being in the universe. Alone, I am nothing. In union with Jesus, I am invincible and indestructible.
“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13 NLT
The world is on its way to hell because people in the world system do not take God seriously. People who fear the Lord, believe what He has said and act on His Word, have a life now and a destiny after death beyond human imagination. Why… because God has said so!
So, why do we pray? Why must we pray? We pray because God said that He will answer us according to our need and for His glory, and He doesn’t lie!
PRAYER
Thank you, Father, for your patience with me. I realise that I often delay your working in me and through me because of my unbelief. I question your reliability by my doubts and fears. I hesitate to obey your instructions because I think that you will fail me. I don’t ask you for help in my weakness because I think you won’t respond, so I just try harder.
Forgive me, Father, for insulting you and calling you a liar. Lord, help my unbelief. Teach me how to believe in you when everything around me is dark and threatening. Thank you for the blood of Jesus that cleanses me from all my unrighteousness.