And hereby we do know that we know Him,
ifwe 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.
1John 2:3-6
Before I begin I want to thank all who take the time to comment as I enjoy and read all that is commented even those things written that are in someway opposed to what I write. Also it is important to listen to all that is proposed and said and then to examine that with Scripture. Learning to critically think is important in every part of life as there are those who are attempting to turn you from the truth, even in false advertising. Again I do thank you as it enlarges my understanding and hopefully to write to you what I have found in my study of the Scriptures.
The apostle John under the leading of the Holy Spirit is writing to us as how to live as an Authentic Christian and to not be misled by those who are doing all they can to teach false doctrine. False doctrine leads to false exercise of one even making their worship to not be of God. So it is important that we read what God has revealed to us and in this case John is telling us that we are to keep God's commandments. That sounds pretty simple, maybe even juvenile, yet how often do we not keep His commandments? Or, how often does some denomination, or Church add to God's commandments? I know of a so-callled Christian Church, (I so "so-called" because this Church teaches that they are doing the truth of Scripture, but their exercise of this "so-called" truth belies Scriptural truth) and many are paying to go to their School of the Supernatural and although they go they are all about attitude and do not have the aptitude of knowing Scripture, the truth of Scripture. They do know how to be euphoric, and even at times in a frenzy in their "so-called" worship of God, but in reality they are not keeping the simple words of Scripture and the keeping of God's commandments. John is clear that to not teach the truth and not keeping God's commandments then that person(s) is a liar. But if a person keeps God's commandments then they are walking in love, not philathranpic love, (which is not all bad), but walking in God's principled love (agape). God's principle love is found in His commandments.
How often do you hear of someone speaking that they have a "secret", a "key," something "new" that only they have and now imparting to you? "If only you do this or that" then you will be blessed, and God will shine down on you and give to you, prosperity, a home, a car, a job, etc....etc... when the greatest blessing any person can have is salvation and by that salvation have eternal life. What other blessing do you need? Yes, we all have issues, problems, things that we would like, and we pray for God to give them to us, to lead us, to do, to do, to do, when God gave you a brain, the ability to think and to measure things, and to criticallyt think through a problem. Yes, by using what God as so graciously given us, a brain, and reading His word as ensuring that our decisions are in line with His commandments then we will be blessed. To know God's commandments is not enough, you must be "walking" as Jesus walked, and to be abiding in Him.
God does not change and His commandments do not change with the change in culture: "Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in Him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth" (1John 2:7-8). What does John mean when he said: "I write no new comandment" and then: "I write a new commandment?" Sounds like "doulbe-talk" does it not? John is not writing a new commandment but telling you, the reader, that that old commandment is new to them because Jesus has come in the flesh and the darkness that surrounded people is now passing away. This darkness is passing away until the return of Jesus for His bride. The darkness of doubt, fear, and the lack of brotherly love can now be abated and that darkness is beginning to shine, brighter and brighter. How do you know that that light shines in you? By how you walk, how you keep His commandments, and this seen very clearly on how you treat and care for your brothers and sisters in Christ. John adds: "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in Him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knowieth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes" (1John 2:9-11). Let me clear up that Greek word "μισω̃ν" as the word "hate" in English does not carry the full meaning of the Greek, the Greek word means "to hate" and this by malicious and unjustifable feelings towards others. In this writing of the word it is used as a relative preference for one thing over another, by way of expressing either aversion or thing realtively to those of another. Futhermore, it means to disregard for one's life relatively to the claims of Jesus Christ. Are you, or do you know of such instances whereby in your Church, the relationships between those attending your congregation have had your, or others, malicious and aversion due to some dislike about that person? I am not speaking of knowing one who is openenly speaking heresy but may in their walk still have much darkness that needs the light of the truth and you have that responsibility to lovenly bring that truth to them. This is the brotherly love, the commandment from old that may now be new. If a person continues to walk in this darkness they are blind, blind to the truth because of some false teaching, or other feelings that have led them into a deep dark place away from God, away from the One who will bless them, save them, and give to them eternal life. Brotherly love will kindly, with all grace and patience lead that person back to the light of the truth. What a joy it is to see one who has been walking in darkness come to the light, and what a blessing to know that God has used you to bring that light to them.
And He said unto me, Son of man,
I send thee to the children of Israel,
to a rebellious nation that hath rebelelled
against Me: they and their fathers have
transgressed against Me, even unto this very day.
Ezekiel 2:3
Bring light to someone today
Richard L. Crumb
No comments:
Post a Comment