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Studying the Scriptures (1st John and Jude)

I read several chapters in the Bible that preceed Revelations. I wanted to highlight some important verses that are worth remembering.

In 1st John, chapter 1 and verses 5-7:

"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."




If we all take the time to look at ourselves and our lives, would we see the light of God in it? If we walk in darkness and do things that are not of God, then how can he be in us? We are to walk in the light and keep his commandments to be of God.
This is also spoken of in 1 John 2:3-6

"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.


He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.


But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.


He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."

How many of us say we 'know' God and his son, Jesus Christ? A lot of people will say this, I can tell you this. But only a few truly know God by keeping his commandments and walking with Jesus. Those who have succeeded in this enjoy a fellowship with God in us that is hard to describe to others. It is knowing God by getting to know him personally. Do you know 'of' God or do you KNOW HIM?


And I found an interesting verse in 1 John 2:2 and thought it would address directly to the ongoing Calvinism debate.

"And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

Jesus Christ died for the entire world and his blood is sufficient to cover all, but it can only reach those who choose to receive it. Every single one of us have the choice to either receive or reject his blood.

John writes us a warning about deceivers, anti-christs and false prophets/spirits in 1 John 4:1-3:

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.


Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:


And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."


There are many false religions and false prophets who appear to be godly but they are great deceivers. Many religions are created and worship their own deities, but if they deny that Jesus Christ is the son of God, the messiah who came to save the world, then they are deceivers and an antichrist.
1 John 5:10-12 writes:

"He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.


And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.


He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."

There is no life and no salvation without Jesus Christ. Whosoever receives Jesus Christ as their savior has the life. This is made clear for us all.

Jude wrote a passage for us who are living in these last days in Jude 1:17-21:

"But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;


How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.


These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.


But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."

We see this everywhere in the world now. We have become comfortable with the comfort, luscious, and sensual things. We have it all, don't we? The world is full of lust and enticements that draw us away from the Lord. The world walks after it's own lusts, seeking to fufill these things thereof. In the end, is only more emptiness and an endless search to satisfy. Many people have become hard, bitter and they scorn God.

We are God's children and we walk in him, not of the things of the world. The Bible encourages us to keep building ourselves up to be better, stronger and more closer to God. The time is near and we all need to be ready. There is a great falling away right now. The people in the world and the people in God are becoming more and more seperate. Where do you belong?

1 Comment:

  1. LisaShaw said...
    Excellent! God be praised for what you shared by HIS grace, mercy, wisdom and revelation!

    God bless you and your family.

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