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God's Light and Our Blight -- Part 3
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Friday, November 20, 2009
Other biblical writings tell us a lot about what God does, but 1 John focuses on who God is. While others writers wrote of God's power, His work, His will, and His way. John went back again and again to who God is in His nature. In the opening sentence of this letter, John stated that God is life. God is the source of life, the One who originates life, who gives eternal life, and who made Himself known as "the Word of Life" (1 John 1:1). While exulting in the memory of having seen Jesus, heard Him, and touched Him, the aged apostle stated that it's this One whom "we proclaim to you" (1:3). All of that prompted John to announce the message he wanted his readers to know - that God is light. That descriptive term represents, vertically, the truth and the purity of God in heaven. And John also addressed a practical or horizontal dimension regarding God's light. It plays a crucial role in distinguishing genuine faith from counterfeit claims made by people on earth.
Series: Living Right In A Wrong World
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BROADCAST ARCHIVES
Other biblical writings tell us a lot about what God does, but 1 John focuses on who God is. While other writers wrote of God's power, His work, His will, and His way, John went back again and again to who God is in His nature. In the opening sentence of this letter, John stated that God is life. God is the source of life, the One who originates life, who gives eternal life, and who made Himself known as "the Word of Life" (1 John 1:1). While exulting in the memory of having seen Jesus, heard Him, and touched Him, the aged apostle stated that it's this One whom "we proclaim to you" (1:3). All of that prompted John to announce the message he wanted his readers to know - that God is light. That descriptive term represents, vertically, the truth and the purity of God in heaven. And John also addressed a practical or horizontal dimension regarding God's light. It plays a crucial role in distinguishing genuine faith from counterfeit claims made by people on earth.
Series: Living Right In A Wrong World
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Other biblical writings tell us a lot about what God does, but 1 John focuses on who God is. While other writers wrote of God's power, His work, His will, and His way, John went back again and again to who God is in His nature. In the opening sentence of this letter, John stated that God is life. God is the source of life, the One who originates life, who gives eternal life, and who made Himself known as "the Word of Life" (1 John 1:1). While exulting in the memory of having seen Jesus, heard Him, and touched Him, the aged apostle stated that it's this One whom "we proclaim to you" (1:3). All of that prompted John to announce the message he wanted his readers to know - that God is light. That descriptive term represents, vertically, the truth and the purity of God in heaven. And John also addressed a practical or horizontal dimension regarding God's light. It plays a crucial role in distinguishing genuine faith from counterfeit claims made by people on earth.
Series: Living Right In A Wrong World
A quick glance at the letter of 1 John can be misleading. It is not uncommon for the casual reader to think, This is brief and the words seem simple and easy to read - after all, they were written by a man who was once a fisherman - this letter can't be all that complex. Wrong! Ask any serious student of the Scriptures for an opinion of this letter and you will hear that it is one of the most challenging of all the New Testament letters. Furthermore, it doesn't get complicated later on - it is complicated from the very beginning. The first four verses, which serve as a preface to the letter, represent a grammatical knot. John may have been 90 years old and may have on the surface seemed like a simple-hearted follower of Jesus, but as we go deeper into the letter, we see that what he wrote was profound.
Series: Living Right In A Wrong World
A quick glance at the letter of 1 John can be misleading. It is not uncommon for the casual reader to think, This is brief and the words seem simple and easy to read - after all, they were written by a man who was once a fisherman - this letter can't be all that complex. Wrong! Ask any serious student of the Scriptures for an opinion of this letter and you will hear that it is one of the most challenging of all the New Testament letters. Furthermore, it doesn't get complicated later on - it is complicated from the very beginning. The first four verses, which serve as a preface to the letter, represent a grammatical knot. John may have been 90 years old and may have on the surface seemed like a simple-hearted follower of Jesus, but as we go deeper into the letter, we see that what he wrote was profound.
Series: Living Right In A Wrong World
A quick glance at the letter of 1 John can be misleading. It is not uncommon for the casual reader to think, This is brief and the words seem simple and easy to read - after all, they were written by a man who was once a fisherman - this letter can't be all that complex. Wrong! Ask any serious student of the Scriptures for an opinion of this letter and you will hear that it is one of the most challenging of all the New Testament letters. Furthermore, it doesn't get complicated later on - it is complicated from the very beginning. The first four verses, which serve as a preface to the letter, represent a grammatical knot. John may have been 90 years old and may have on the surface seemed like a simple-hearted follower of Jesus, but as we go deeper into the letter, we see that what he wrote was profound.
Series: Living Right In A Wrong World
When the apostle John finally set down to gather his thoughts and express his convictions on parchment, he was an old man. So much had changed since he had walked with Jesus as one of the original Twelve. Those simple yet powerful three-plus years John spent with Jesus were followed by six long and painful decades. Erosion had set into the life of the church. The newness of fresh faith had begun to wane, now that the church was in the hands of the second- and third-generation Christians. A subtle, lethargic boredom had replaced the excitement modeled by those early followers of Jesus. The first thrill was over . . . the hot flame of devotion reduced to a flicker. In a setting like that, the subtle seeds of heresy are easily sown and quickly grown. Cults feed off complacent churches, where dynamic enthusiasm is replaced by ho-hum indifference. Tragically, that is exactly what was happening to the church in John's day - and that is precisely what led him to write this letter.
Series: Living Right In A Wrong World
When the apostle John finally sat down to gather his thoughts and express his convictions on parchment, he was an old man. So much had changed since he had walked with Jesus as one of the original Twelve. Those simple yet powerful three-plus years John spent with Jesus were followed by six long and painful decades. Erosion had set into the life of the church. The newness of fresh faith had begun to wane, now that the church was in the hands of second- and third-generation Christians. A subtle, lethargic boredom had replaced the excitement modeled by those early followers of Jesus. The first thrill was over . . . the hot flame of devotion reduced to a flicker. In a setting like that, the subtle seeds of heresy are easily sown and quickly grown. Cults feed off complacent churches, where dynamic enthusiasm is replaced by ho-hum indifference. Tragically, this is exactly what was happening to the church in John's day - and that is precisely what led him to write his letter.
Series: Living Right In A Wrong World
When the apostle John finally sat down to gather his thoughts and express his convictions on parchment, he was an old man. So much changed since he had walked with Jesus as one of the original Twelve. Those simple yet powerful three-plus years John spent with Jesus were followed by six long and painful decades. Erosion had set into the life of the church. The newness of fresh faith had begun to wane, now that the church was in the hands of second- and third-generation Christians. A subtle, lethargic boredom had replaced the excitement modeled by those early followers of Jesus. The first thrill was over . . . the hot flame of devotion reduced to a flicker. In a setting like that, the subtle seeds of heresy are easily sown and quickly grown. Cults feed off complacent churches, where dynamic enthusiasm is replaced by ho-hum indifference. Tragically, that is exactly what was happening to the church in John's day - and that is precisely what led him to write this letter.
Series: Living Right In A Wrong World
For forty significant years David reigned as king over God's people. Although checkered with failure and periodic lapses in carnality, David's rule was marked mainly by godliness and strength. Now at the end of his life, we find David old and perhaps physically stooped. He was facing that inevitable hour through which all must pass. Surrounded by his son, the king-elect Solomon, and an assembly of loyal followers, King David dreamed, rejoiced, gave advice, prayed, and finally died - ending an era that would never again be duplicated in the annals of history.
Series: David: A Man of Passion and Destiny
For forty significant years David reigned as king over God's people. Although checkered with failure and periodic lapses into carnality, David's rule was marked mainly by godliness and strength. Now at the end of his life, we find David old and perhaps physically stooped. He was facing that inevitable hour through which all must pass. Surrounded by his son, the king-elect Solomon, and an assembly of loyal followers, King David dreamed, rejoiced, gave advice, prayed, and finally died - ending an era that would never again be duplicated in the annals of history.
Series: David: A Man of Passion and Destiny
Sadly, we do not reach perfection by growing older. Age alone does not guarantee maturity or freedom from error. As Elihu said to Job, "The abundant in years may not be wise" (Job 32:9). So true. Sometimes the aged saints among us act downright foolish! When these saints are also leaders, the consequences are usually greater. Consider the aged and otherwise godly David - a father of many, a courageous warrior in battle, a king for nearly four decades, and a sensitive man of God. In spite of these achievements and experiences, he made a foolish decision based on pride and fell into Satan's trap. From his error, we can all learn valuable lessons.
Series: David: A Man of Passion and Destiny
Sadly, we do not reach perfection by growing older. Age alone does not guarantee maturity or freedom from error. As Elihu said to Job, "The abundant in years may not be wise" (Job 32:9). So true. Sometimes the aged saints among us act downright foolish! When these saints are also leaders, the consequences are usually greater. Consider the aged and otherwise godly David - a father of many, a courageous warrior in battle, a king for nearly four decades, and a sensitive man of God. In spite of these achievements and experiences, he made a foolish decision based on pride and fell into Satan's trap. From his error, we can all learn valuable lessons.
Series: David: A Man of Passion and Destiny
Pressure. We all respond differently to it. Some people do their best work under pressure. Others go into shut-down mode and wait for the intensity to pass. When David found the pressures of life weighing heavily on his shoulders, he often expressed his prayers to the Lord through song. Nearing the end of his life, with the pressures almost more than he could handle, David penned one of his greatest works, a song of triumph in the Lord's strength and provision.
Series: David: A Man of Passion and Destiny
Pressure. We all respond differently to it. Some people do their best work under pressure. Others go into shut-down mode and wait for the intensity to pass. When David found the pressures of life weighing heavily on his shoulders, he often expressed his prayers to the Lord through song. Nearing the end of his life, with the pressures almost more than he could handle, David penned one of his greatest works, a song of triumph in the Lord's strength and provision.
Series: David: A Man of Passion and Destiny
We all know that forgiveness is costly. So much of the hurt we experience in our lives would be on the way to healing if we would choose the simple but difficult road toward forgiveness. As always in matters of forgiveness, the offended - the forgiver - must pay the full cost. That takes an awfully big person to pull it off. As we shall see, David filled those shoes. Can you? Ask yourself that question as we take a look at another remarkable moment in David's life.
Series: David: A Man of Passion and Destiny
We all know that forgiveness is costly. So much of the hurt we experience in our lives would be on the way to healing if we would choose the simple but difficult road toward forgiveness. As always in matters of forgiveness, the offended - the forgiver - must pay the cost in full. That takes an awfully big person to pull it off. As we shall see, David filled those shoes. Can you? Ask yourself that question as we take a look at another remarkable moment in David's life.
Series: David: A Man of Passion and Destiny
Our recent times with David have been rather dismal and bleak. We've watched him fall into compromise ans sin . . . then witnessed his family begin to crumble under the load of sin's consequences. Going from bad to worse, the king must have felt crushed beneath the weight of overwhelming loneliness and guilt. In times like that, a person needs a friend. Not a preacher or a professional counselor. Not a physician or an attorney. Just a friend - someone to be near and listen, to reassure and understand. Coming out of the woodwork were several individuals who surrounded the discouraged monarch with support.
Series: David: A Man of Passion and Destiny
Our recent times with David have been rather dismal and bleak. We've watched him fall into compromise ans sin . . . then witnessed his family begin to crumble under the load of sin's consequences. Going from bad to worse, the king must have felt crushed beneath the weight of overwhelming loneliness and guilt. In times like that, a person needs a friend. Not a preacher or a professional counselor. Not a physician or an attorney. Just a friend - someone to be near and listen, to reassure and understand. Coming out of the woodwork were several individuals who surrounded the discouraged monarch with support.
Series: David: A Man of Passion and Destiny
Our recent times with David have been rather dismal and bleak. We've watched him fall into compromise and sin . . . then witnessed his family begin to crumble under the load of sin's consequences. Going from bad to worse, the king must have felt crushed beneath the weight of overwhelming loneliness and guilt. In times like that, a person needs a friend. Not a preacher or a professional counselor. Not a physician or an attorney. Just a friend - someone to be near and listen, to reassure and understand. Coming out of the woodwork were several individuals who surrounded the discouraged monarch with support.
Series: David: A Man of Passion and Destiny
An ancient prophet of God wrote: "The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, / And the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. / In whirlwind and storm is His way." (Nahum 1:3). Strong words of warning! Our holy God of glory in no way winks at sin among His children. With power He has His way "in whirlwind and storm" as He disciplines us when we stray. We have traced David's tragic steps downward as the consequences of His disobedience were visited upon him. Now, let's learn to ride out the whirlwind and storm when we go through similar times of judgment under the smarting rod of God.
Series: David: A Man of Passion and Destiny
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Insight for Living is the Bible-teaching radio ministry of author and pastor Charles R. Swindoll. Insight for Living is committed to excellence in communicating biblical truth and its application.
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Insight for Living's Bible teacher, Chuck Swindoll, has devoted his life to the clear, practical, application of God's Word and the communication of God's grace. A pastor at heart, Chuck...
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