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. 1 John 2:7 How do you want to be known? Reflect on this question for a moment. Maybe...
Continue ReadingIf someone claims, "I know God," but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 1 John 2:4 With the giving of requirements, rules, and instructions comes the expectation that they will be followed. Once these requirements and instructions have been...
Continue ReadingAnd we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 1 John 2:3 Throughout all of my schooling, I knew that each new year would bring unexpected changes and challenges. However, there was one day that I could count on to look somewhat similar each year, and that was the first day of...
Continue ReadingMy 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. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the...
Continue ReadingBut if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 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 1:9-10 In studying the Bible, it becomes clear that...
Continue ReadingIf we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 1 John 1:8 Have you ever gone about your day, seen many people, or even had an important meeting, only to find when you returned home that you had a blueberry seed, or something similar, stuck in your teeth?...
Continue ReadingBut if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 It is a well-known fact that we talk and behave like the people we spend the most time with. This is why teachers can have an...
Continue ReadingSo we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 1 John 1:6 When we consider the character of those around us, consistency is vital. We want to know that people act in the same way, regardless of who they are around...
Continue ReadingWe proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3 I want to be a trustworthy person. I want people to be able to trust that what I say is true. It is...
Continue ReadingConfess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16 Many of us who are followers of Christ find ourselves saying, "I'm praying for you" to others when they are...
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