Welcome to episode 129 of Grasp the Bible. In this episode, we continue our study in the Book of 1 John, covering chapter 2:1-14. The series is called “Unshakeable.” Today, we will cover:
- Jesus is the forgiver of sins (vv. 1-2)
- We must obey God (vv. 3-6)
- We must love God and God’s people (vv. 7-11)
- John addresses the groups (vv. 12-14)
Key takeaways:
- If one could truly be sinless on one’s own, God would be lying in revealing Jesus as the only way to receive eternal life and to have fellowship with God.
- Jesus Christ is our advocate. He speaks to God on our behalf. Jesus is able to be our advocate and to forgive sin because he himself became the sacrifice for sin.
- God in Christ has loved us by redeeming us from sin, and that love has a transformative goal in the life of the believer, that they should love God, both the Father and the Son, which is expressed by love for others.
- You can’t have hate and love in your heart at the same time. It’s impossible.
- We are never more like Jesus than when we love like Jesus loved.
- The secret of spiritual growth and strength is knowledge and practice of the Word of God.
Quotable:
- Character brings about conduct. People do what they do because they are what they are.
Application:
- Christians are caught between a rock and a hard place. We cannot reach sinless perfection in this life, yet we are commanded not to sin. The point is our goal should be to live day by day without committing sin in thought, word, or deed.
- One of the ways you know you are a Christian is if you desire to obey God. If you have no interest in doing what God says, if God’s principles and commandments are of little importance to you, that should be a red flag that you may not be a Christian. Assurance of your salvation is unattainable without obedience to God’s commands.
- When you live the Christian life, your outward conduct should flow from an attitude that characterizes your inner motivation. It is possible to obey and yet do it from an improper motivation in your heart.
- What is the connection between love and obedience to God’s commands? If you love God, you should be able to love your neighbor. If you love your neighbor, you won’t steal from your neighbor or covet his house or commit adultery with his wife or bear false witness against him. If you love your neighbor, all of the other commandments fall into place. If you really love your neighbor, then you’re not going to violate any of the other commandments that have to do with your relationship with fellow human beings. That’s why Jesus said these are the two greatest commandments and why all of the commandments hang on these two: love God and love your neighbor as yourself.
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