The Firewall

1 John 5

1 John 5

John, yet again, offers us more proof to start this chapter.  This time he offers up that the proof that we love each other (the children of God), is that we love God and obey His commands (v 2).  Central to the Christian faith is love: God's love for us, our love for Him, which is shown by our love for each other; but unifying all of this love is our belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.  So many of the "proofs" in this book have centered on this belief; it truly is the definition of Christianity.

On a side-note: the water and blood John talks about in vv 6-8 is generally interpreted as baptism (water) and death (blood).  Many teachers have come along and been baptized, but the proof of Jesus as the Son of God was in His death and resurrection, in addition to His baptism.  I suppose that really wasn't a side note, as it is a pretty important piece of theology!

This concludes our look at 1 John, but don't fret, next week we'll continue with 2 and 3 John.  If you're looking for something to do this weekend, try rereading 1 John straight through (preferably in one sitting); you'll be amazed at the continuity throughout.  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

1 John 4

1 John 4

John is still offering proof; this time of the Holy Spirit, of God's love for us and of our love for Him.  Vv 2-3 tell us that any spirit that is from God (the Holy Spirit) will acknowledge "that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh", while any spirit that will not acknowledge this is the spirit of the antichrist.  Vv 5-6 shows us that the Spirit of truth is from God, while the spirit of falsehood is from the world.  The ultimate demonstration of God's love for us is His sending of His Son to be our sacrifice for our sins (v 10).  In fact, most of this chapter can be summed up in this sentence: "God is love."  It could be argued that the entire Bible can be summed up in that sentence!  Our love for God is shown by our love for each other.  Not only is this shown in this chapter (vv 11, 20-21), but also in chapters 2 and 3.

If you remember anything from this book, let it be: "God is love".  As you read any part of the Bible, filter what you read through that sentence, and see if it doesn't make more sense!  Tomorrow we'll finish this week and this book before moving on to 2 and 3 John next week.  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

1 John 3

1 John 3

In the last chapter, John lays out for us the proof of our relationship with God: our lifestyle should be modeled after Jesus'.  In this chapter, he shows us the proof of various aspects of Christianity (through a series of "this is how we know" statements).  V 10 shows us how to determine "who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are": a child of God does right and loves his brother, a child of the devil does not.  The ultimate example of love in found in v 16: "Jesus Christ laid down his life for us."  Assurance that we "belong to the truth" and a peaceful heart can be found in vv 19-22: "God knows everything", and if we obey His commands, we can have peace about asking Him for anything.  The command "to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us" (found in v 23) comes with this promise: "Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them"(v 24).  And the proof that He is in us is found "by the Spirit he gave us."

Once again, John is passing on knowledge, and the confidence that comes with that knowledge, to his readers.  These are important proofs to remember, especially when the devil tries to wear us down with our past sins.  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

1 John 2

1 John 2

If the last chapter focused on relationships, and particularly on our relationship with God, then in this chapter John wastes no time in laying out for us the proof of our relationship with God.  Jesus is our gateway into this relationship, and the proof is found in our lifestyle.  V 6 lays this idea out for us: "Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." 

Many scholars believe that in vv 12-14 John is actually referring to different levels of spiritual maturity, not actually father, children, and young men.  This would make sense, and fits in with the idea that this letter was written near the end of John's life and he was passing on what he had learned to his "children".

As with so many of these chapters in the New Testament, there is so much wisdom here that we can't cover all of it!  If I was to write another blog on this chapter in a year or so, I bet it would cover different ideas.  This is what makes the Bible so amazing to read and reread, it's like a different book each time.  I suppose that's why they call it a "living word"!  Thanks for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

1 John 1

1 John 1:1-10

Faith in Jesus Christ is the basis for our relationship with God, and that relationship is the basis for our relationships with other Christians.  When you become a Christian, you enter the fellowship of Christianity, which despite all of the bad press, is a good group to be associated with!  Life was not designed to be lived in solitude, but in community.  And despite all of our differences, we have our relationship with God in common. At first this might seem small (and fairly personal), but as God begins to permeate your life you realize that we have so much in common, and that life is much easier to handle with other people to lean on!

Let's not overlook the gem that is v 9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."  Forgiveness is a major tenet of Christianity, and one that the devil tries to get us to overlook.  Thank you God for forgiveness!  And thank you for reading today!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

 

An Introduction to the Book of 1 John

An Introduction to the Book of 1 John

The book of 1 John is the first in a series of three letters written by the Apostle John.  This is the same John that wrote the Gospel of John and the book of Revelation.  As this letter is not addressed to anyone in particular, it was probably intended to be circulated among the churches of the day.  John refers to those reading this letter as "children", leading scholars to think that this letter was written late in his life, and date it between 85 and 95 AD.

The overarching theme of this letter is love; both God's love for us and our love for each other.  John also discusses our relationship with God, and provides assurances that Jesus is who we've been taught He is (namely, the Son of God) and that our salvation through Him is secure.

As you read this book, read it as it was intended: an older man near the end of His life passing on what he has learned.  John was one of Jesus' best friends, and so was an eyewitness to everything that he writes about; let's just say he knows what he's talking about!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net