A pair of imperatives

Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us —eternal life. I write these things to you about those who are trying to … More A pair of imperatives

Piper: John wants to motivate the fight with the confidence of victory

  This is a long post, but a great illustration to help us understand 1 John. John Piper, in a sermon, “The Strong Need Strength,” Compare 1 John for a moment to a letter that a mother writes to her daughter who has gone away to college. The mother gets word that there has been … More Piper: John wants to motivate the fight with the confidence of victory

Astounding love!

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.  By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so … More Astounding love!

The content of our theology matters greatly

John tells us (1 John 4:1), “do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” Paul said something like that, too. After saying that we should “not despise prophetic utterances,” he added, “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good” (1 Thess. 5:20-21). Steven J.Cole … More The content of our theology matters greatly

Sign of new life

1 John 3:11-15   For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.  We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do … More Sign of new life

How great a love!

See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God. 1 John 3:1 John Piper, in a sermon,”The Depth of Christ’s Love: Its Lavish Benefits” Not only did it cost him his Son to save us from sin and death and hell (John 3:16; 1 John … More How great a love!