“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18, ESV) Our previous discussion related to those who are a child of God or a child of the devil. The two criteria were to practice righteousness and love your brother (1 John 3:10). John now expands on the…
The Latin term, ordo amoris, was a familiar term in the theology of the early church. In English, it means “order of love.” This term is attributed to North African theologian Augustine of Hippo (354-430 A.D.). Saint Augustine explained it this way: “All people should be loved equally, but you cannot do good to all…
“Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.” (John 2:22, ESV) We move from considering Light/Darkness and Love/Hate of one another and between God and the world to the idea of the antichrist/Antichrist. John has previously given us the moral test…
Years ago, a “Dear Abby” the Arizona Daily Sun column ran a story by a retired schoolteacher. DEAR ABBY: I have been retired from teaching for many years, and would like to share a lesson I learned that stands out in my memory like no other.I was young and teaching math at the junior high…
“Whoever says, “I am in the light,” while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves a brother or sister abides in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling.” (John 2:9-10, NRSVUE) Here, as elsewhere, John places the contrast before his readers in its ultimate essential form, as of…
“The life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us.” (John 1:2, ESV) This study is based on the belief that John, the brother of James (the sons of Zebedee, Matthew 10:2-4), is the author. He was…
Using the book: 1, 2, 3, John & Jude: Established by Truth … Marked by Love, by John MacArthur These letters are full of insights and direction along with warnings and encouragement . . . all based on two words: truth and love. These words remind us that God supplies all we need. That there…
If the church is to be the non-judgmental, unconditionally loving, corporate body of Christ it is called to be, how will people be motivated and empowered to increasingly grow out of their sin and become more Christ-like? How do we practically grow in Christ-likeness when we are welcoming all into the celebration of the cessation…
God has called us to make disciples, not mere believers (Matthew 28:19). If the Church is to be the non-judgmental, unconditionally loving, corporate body of Christ it is called to be, how are people motivated and empowered increasingly to grow out of their sin and become more Christ-like? The arduous commitment it takes to grow…
The cessation of the ban is only a celebration if it is centered on the life and love God offers to the people for free, without conditions. If we are proclaiming the cessation of the ban faithfully, the Pharisees of our day will be offended. How do we respond to the rage of the Pharisees?…
