I believe this subject to be one of the most controversial of all our Christian beliefs. Once saved, always saved? Or repent and get right with God every time we sin? Preachers are at odds with each other and denominations are all of different beliefs. So just how is a person to believe? Christianity is very different from churchainty or religion! This subject is one that has plagued the Church for thousands of years.
What are we to believe? Well that’s a simple question but a complex one also. The simple answer is to go with the Bible, the complex is who interprets it and comments or writes what they believe it says. The only clear answer is to read the complete thought the original writer had as he wrote the word of God, as directed by the Holy Spirit.
You must look at the whole context of what the writers were saying. Taking a verse out of context has been the Church’s biggest problem, and has caused much confusion and trouble for thousands of years now. The Bible means just what it says, and if it doesn’t, then it’s not the Word of God. I believe it to be from God, through the hands of men, as directed by His Holy Spirit. Period!
The first book or letter from John the beloved is only five chapters, but really it was just a letter written to the Church, (we put it in chapters to be more easily understood) by one of the most loved disciples of our Lord Jesus. Who was John? His father was Zebedee and his mother was Salome, the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus. (Matthew 4:21, Matthew 27:56, Mark 15:40, John 19:25)
So this makes John probably the youngest son of Salome, and also a first cousin of Jesus. Both James and John were called the sons of thunder by Jesus. His inner circle was mostly family and friends he had made during the first 30 years of his life. Back to our study.
John was writing to the church about how to know they were saved. In his letter he uses the know (ginosko) 12 times, the word knoweth (ginosko) 6 times, and the word know ( eido) 12 times. Ginosko means to allow, be aware of, have knowledge, perceive, be sure, understand. And the word Eido is to be aware of, behold, consider, have knowledge, perceive, be sure, understand. So you can use any or all of these in place of know or knoweth.
Now let’s go through John’s letters as we read in chapter two, “and hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.” What were the commandments Jesus gave his followers? In Matthew 22 Jesus was asked which commandments was the greatest or number one command from God? He answered him in verse 37-40. Basically it was to love God with all your heart, mind, and soul.
When you love God with your whole being you will be blessed by it. But, Jesus went just a little farther as he added that we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. When you do both of these you will not sin or transgress the laws of God. Jesus was one who lived the “KISS” principle. This was the way Jesus walked and we call it the “Love Walk.”
Walking in love will cover a multitude of sin. (1 Peter 4:8) Simple way of life but a very difficult one for us humans, but only because we keep forgetting to walk in love by being selfish.
As Jesus was getting close to finishing his race and destiny on the cross, we see him as he talks with his disciples after Judas leaves the last supper to betray him. He gives them a new, yet old command in John chapter 13:34, as he gives them the task of loving each other as he loved them. So now we have the same command in the Old Testament and the New Testament which would come into effect in just a few short hours of time.
He doesn’t tell them to love the whole world, as God had that covered already. (John 3:16) Their task and ours was to love our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is why John put this “know” as the first way to know that you are saved from Gods wrath, walk in love with your family of Christ. We all have rough edges as humans and being in close contact with each other causes friction as the rough edges are being smoothed out by the Lord.
As you read through this chapter John uses the Greek words ginosko and eido for the word know, both words have basically the same yet slightly different meanings. This chapter could be called the second love chapter alongside 1 Corinthians 13. He reminds us that love is an action word, not just merely a word, as love demands action.
He then gives us the results of keeping Gods commandment of love. What is that? John tells us that whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, as we do those things that are pleasing to Him. God is not a magic genie that responds to our every want or things we think we need. It has to be according to His will for us. We are not to act like spoiled children who are selfish. Walk in love and then we will ask for things that will benefit us and others. Walking in love demands us to walk a life of forgiveness.
Remember how Jesus taught us to pray that we asked God to forgive us for our trespasses as we forgive others their trespass against us. (Matthew 6:5-15, Luke 11:2-4) Matthew used the word trespass and Luke used the word sin or debts. Walking in love demands us to do this as it is to be our way of life. Not ever holding a grudge against anyone for anything. That’s what makes us different from the world around us.
John goes even further as he says in chapter 4:7-8, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In verse 15 John gives us a key to know, “that whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.”
Please take the time to read and reread these five short chapters and walk in love, real love that God has given you as you dwell in Him daily as you run your own race of life that He has put you here to run. Touch as many lives as you can, and allow God to touch them through you.
I could say so much more about this book of first John as I really love to read it as often as possible; but I try to keep my letters to you around 1200 words so I will close for now. I think I have made it somewhat clearer to you how much God loves you and cares about you and your life here on this planet. Remember you will make it, just don’t give up. See you next month if we are still on the earth. Time is getting shorter for mankind. I love you all.
In His Service As Kilted Priest
The Kilted Priest 