Liturgically, we generally do not mention the encounters of the risen Christ during Lent; however as His disciples in these last days let us examine the love of Jesus for us through the letters of the Beloved Apostle: John.
Jesus and the Beloved Apostle
John 21:20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them…
24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
1 John
Walking in the Light
1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
John is not writing these letters to unbelievers or even seekers of the Truth. John is writing to the church.
2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin,we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous…
9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
The beloved Apostle speaks of light and calls for love of our brothers and sisters in Christ
John does NOT call for us to love darkness and not hate the sins of darkness.
Do Not Love the World
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
[Are you, dear brother {sister} of Christ’s calling, also convicted in any way?]
11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another…
23 And this is his commandment,that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.
God Is Love
4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
That You May Know
5:16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.
18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
PRAY for the wandering souls of Christ’s church. He loves ALL of His sheep and rejoices over the return of even one.
(Even now, I pray for the return of my beloved to the Lord.)
19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding,
so that we may know him who is true;
and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ.
He is the true God and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
- If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
- If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
- No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
- We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
Beloved believer,
How are you doing in your witness of our Lord, Christ Jesus?
Is your witness true?
Beloved believer,
Please share your witness of Truth and love.
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