| Author | Message | ||
| Goldenbear Registered user Username: Goldenbear Post Number: 63 Registered: 12-2004 |
Our mens Bible study is going through the Bible a book a week. This past week we were looking at 1 John. The thought struck me that maybe it would be fun to just give our thoughts and favorite verses and why in a specific book and chapter of the Bible. 1 John gave me some pause because of the talk of keeping commandments. So, if you would like to opine on 1 John 1 have at it. For me, my favorite verse in 1 John 1 was always verse 9. I guess my training in SDA schools had me so focused on making sure each of my sins were forgiven, that I didn't have the time to enjoy the entire book. John, one of the sons of thunder, was a very concrete thinkers. Things were either black or white, truth or darkness. There are times that I sense a frustration on his part that believers weren't "getting" it. I Jn 1:1-2 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched-- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. (NIV) John had seen Him, touched Him, interacted with Him and wanted these believers to understand that salvation is through Jesus and that this is the unifying part of the gospel. | ||
| Esther Registered user Username: Esther Post Number: 141 Registered: 5-2004  |
I've been reading John's writings too. I just love them because he always explains things so well. He never leaves you in the dark, and he is so expressive of the love of God through Jesus Christ. When I first came out I held him at arms length because of verses like this: 1 John 2:3-4 3By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; But if you read father: 1 John 3:22-23 22and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. 23This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. Those SDA's I know love to give me texts from 1 & 2 John, pulling out the "commandment" verses. To that I never even have to say anything, but open the book, and read the whole thing. "This is the commandment". God is SOOO good! | ||
| Esther Registered user Username: Esther Post Number: 142 Registered: 5-2004 |
uh, the "But if you read father" should state: if you read farther... sorry | ||
| Tdf Registered user Username: Tdf Post Number: 47 Registered: 11-2004 |
Esther, like you, I really appreciate the picture of love that is presented in 1 John. For example, 1 John 3:1 indicates "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:16-18 reads: "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." I have lot more to learn about love! | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 125 Registered: 8-2004 |
Here is one of my favorite passages from 1 John: "This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him." 1 John 3:11-15 (ever notice that Cain dissobeyed the "love one another" command that the passage starts with? His problem wasn't just the action of killing Abel, but also the fact that he didn't love him, or rather let his hatred overwhelm any love he had had.) And continuing on: "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything." 1 John 3:16-20 (I especially love the advice on how to 'set our hearts at rest in his presence' - God is greater than our hearts, and our trust is in him!) And continuing on just a little more: "Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us." 1 John 3:21-24 (As we obey God's commands - to "believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as he commanded us" - we live in Him, and He in us! That is such an awesome reality!) | ||
| Freeatlast Registered user Username: Freeatlast Post Number: 294 Registered: 5-2002 |
For me, it's gotta be Psalm 103! I love the entire chapter, but here are my favorite selected parts: "Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons ALL your iniquities, Who heals ALL your diseases; WHO REDEEMS YOUR LIFE FROM THE PIT, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion... ...He has NOT dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us." Praise God! |
