“And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.
Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.”– 1 John 5:20-21 NLT
John reiterates certain facts in an effort to galvanize them in the hearts and minds of the brethren to which he is writing. One fact was that the Son of God came enabling them to know the one true God. They now live in fellowship with God and as they live in fellowship with his Son. John repeats that Almighty God is the only true God. In knowing him they have eternal life.
John says God is eternal life … by faith in Christ we are given eternal life and the supernatural power to do God’s will for our lives. His final statements begins with the fatherly greeting, “Dear children … “. The letter ends with a caveat … stay away from anything that could potentially take God’s place in your heart, mind and life. Anything that denies Christ’s full deity and humanity could replace God in our hearts. Any idea that claims to have more authority than the Bible is deceitful and will remove God from his rightful place in our hearts. Another temptation would be any loyalty that replaces God at the center of our lives.
Always remember the guts of the letter, just as John tried to get his church to do. Follow Christ closely and avoid worldly or ungodly thoughts, words or teachings that will bring confusion to your beliefs and cause you to stand still as you look to sort out what is true and what is a lie. Feed your spirit man with the word of God so that those things that are not from God will stand out so they can be plucked out like a weed.
This is the end of our study of John’s 1st Epistle or letter. Next we will roll into 2 John that only happens to have 1 chapter that is 13 verses long. It will be interesting to see any similarities and or differences that can be seen between the 2 letters. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!
Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.
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