1 John 2- Would we not sin?

John 2
Berean Study Bible
Jesus Our Advocate
1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours alone, but also for the sins of the whole world.

"We have an Advocate: God’s desire is that you may not sin. Yet if we do, there is provision made – an Advocate, a defense lawyer on our side. Our Advocate is Jesus Christ Himself." (Guzik)

Propitiation or atoning;
“The word implies that Christ has, as our sin-offering, reconciled God and us by nothing else but by His voluntary death as a sacrifice: has by this averted God’s wrath from us.” (Alford)

Sin is sin and sin affects our relationship with God, but I think there is a difference from outwardly and inwardly sinning. "Outwardly" (spills over-outward appearance) affects yourself and others, "inwardly" affects yourself but can eventually consume you so badly it spills-flows outward for all to see.
If we could only SEE how our "outwardly" sin turns others from Chirst!
The world would call us a hypocrite!
Would we not sin?

Blessings, David

It Takes A Relationship. Genesis 15:1-6 NLT

One Sunday at Youth Group the Pastor asked the  boys "Do you believe God exists?" The boys all enthusiastically answered "Yes, yes we believe God exists." The Pastor asked "Does that mean you're going to Heaven? " The boys thought a moment, looked at each other for reassurance and said "Yes, we're going to Heaven" with a nod in agreement. 

The Pastor asked "Does Satan believe God exists?" " Yes, Satan knows God exists." the boys replied. "Is Satan going to Heaven? " the Pastor asked "No, no he's not." Stated the boys. 

The Pastor told the boys "Then it takes more then just believing God exists to go to Heaven, doesn't it." 

It takes a relationship that can only be achieved through the blood of Jesus Christ. 

James 2:19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.

The faith that made Abram righteous wasn’t so much believing  in God (as we usually speak of believing in God), as it was  believing God. Those who only believe  in God (in the sense of believing He exists) are merely on the same level as demons. David Guzik

Genesis 15:1-6  NLT 

The LORD’s Covenant Promise to Abram 

1 Some time later, the LORD spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.” 

2 But Abram replied, “O Sovereign LORD, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth.  3 You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.” 

4 Then the LORD said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.”  5 Then the LORD took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” 

6 And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith. 

Blessings, Cecilia

1 John 1- Are you a sinner or a liar?

8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us. 

“Our deceitful heart reveals an almost Satanic shrewdness in self-deception . . . If you say you have no sin you have achieved a fearful success, you have put out your own eyes, and perverted your own reason!” (Spurgeon)

“The text means just this – Treat God truthfully, and he will treat you truthfully. Make no pretensions before God, but lay bare your soul, let him see it as it is, and then he will be faithful and just to forgive you your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness.” (Spurgeon)

Are you a sinner or a liar?

Blessings, David 

Malchizedek. Genesis 14:18-20 NLT

Earlier in chapter 14, Abrams nephew Lot had been captured by an invading force. The invading force was comprised of four kings and their armies, probably a large number of men. Abram assembled 318 of his servants, to go to battle against them and free Lot. 318 men against 4 armies. 

Now, I'm sure these 318 men were trained in warfare, they weren't just farm hands. Abram had some knowledge of warfare too, he divided his army and attacked for two sides during the night. Good move. He also had God on his side. Lot and the people were freed and the "spoils" from Sodom retrieved. After returning home, Abram meets Malchizedek. 

Malchizedek, the king of Salem, aka Jerusalem, priest of God Most High. Now, kings could not be priests and priests could not be kings. Except Malchizedek. Malchizedek means "King of Righteousness". 

Hebrews 7:3 states "There is no record of his father or mother or any of his ancestors—no beginning or end to his life. He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God." Some believe, as I do, this is another "Christophany", Jesus appearing on earth in the Old Testament. I say another, because I believe the first was in the Garden of Eden when God walked with Adam and Eve. Since no one has ever seen God, God in human form, Jesus, walked in the Garden with Adam and Eve. 

Now here's the best part of Chapter 14. Look what Malchizedek brings when he blesses Abram, bread and wine. Malchizedek brings communion. This is long before the first Passover and even longer before the Last Supper where the act of communion was first instituted. If I could go back to any event in history for an experience of my choice it would be to this moment, to receive communion from Jesus Himself. How awesome would THAT be! And the very FIRST communion at that! 

Genesis 14:18-20 NLT

Melchizedek Blesses Abram

18 And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High,  brought Abram some bread and wine.  19 Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing: 

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you.” 

Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered. 

Blessings, Cecilia

Are you walking in His footsteps?

Walking in the Light
(John 8:12-30)

5And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7Butb 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.

A good definition of God is, “God is the only infinite, eternal, and unchangeable spirit, the perfect being in whom all things begin, and continue, and end.” Another way of saying that God is perfect is to say that God is light. (Guzik)

Many Christians are not aware of their true condition. They know they are saved, and have experienced conversion and have repented at some time in their life. Yet they do not live in true fellowship with God. (Guzik)

“Observe, yet again, that in the verse there is no hint given of any emotions, feelings, or attainments, as co-operating with the blood to take away sin. Christ took the sins of his people and was punished for those sins as if he had been himself a sinner, and so sin is taken away from us; but in no sense, degree, shape or form, is sin removed by attainments, emotions, feelings or experiences.” (Spurgeon)

John is explaining that we need to have fellowship with Him, we need to walk in His light. In other words we need people around us to see Him in us by our actions and words.

Since Jesus took your sins upon Himself and paid the penalty, you need to make an effort to walk in His footsteps, to let others see Jesus in you.

Are you walking in His footsteps?

Blessings, David 

1 John 1- Where is your fellowship?

1 John 1

Berean Study Bible

The Word of Life
(Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-23)

1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life. 2And this is the life that was revealed; we have seen it and testified to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write these things so that oura joy may be complete.

Eye witness account from John! 

He heard, he saw, he gazed upon, he touched with his own hands!

The movie, "The Case For Christ" examined evidence trying to prove Christ didn't exist. When evidence proved otherwise, he tried to prove he didn't die on the cross. When evidence proved otherwise, he tried to prove there was no  resurrection. But there were 500 witnesses of Jesus walking the earth after His death on the cross. At the end of his case study the atheist became a born again believer.

"we have seen it and testified to it, and we proclaim to you".

Do you believe this eyewitness account of John?

John is "proclaiming" so that you also may have;

"fellowship with us"! 

"And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ."

Where is your fellowship?

Blessings, David 

Promises, Promises. Genesis 13:14-18 NLT

When we were kids, we probably made promises we thought we could keep. "I promise we will always be friends." As young adults we promised to love "for better or worse" in our marriage vows. Yet, when things get tough, many cut and run which is evident in the high divorce rate. As an "older adult", I've learned not to put stock in promises. Is that being cynical? No, I think it's just being realistic. We can't control the future so we shouldn't make promises. 

God always keeps His promises. Only He can control the future. He promised Abram the land of Canaan "to you and your descendants as a permanent possession." And He told Abram "And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted!" Abram's  many descendants still possess that land today. 

What was Abrams response? "There he built another altar to the LORD." 

Thank you Lord for Your promises. Thank you Lord for keeping Your promises. Thank you Lord for being in control. Control my steps today Lord so I can honor you. In Jesus name, amen. 

Genesis 13:14-18 NLT

14 After Lot had gone, the LORD said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west.  15 I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants  as a permanent possession.  16 And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted!  17 Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.” 

18 So Abram moved his camp to Hebron and settled near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. There he built another altar to the LORD. 

Blessings, Cecilia