John must have been a very special man. His Gospel and this letter show us clearly the love of God and how we are to walk in that love. We are to love fellow Christians and care for each other. We are to be an example of God’s love to unbelievers, and we are to share the Gospel.

Christians are God’s children, and we are a big family. Most of us can understand the difference between the love we have for the members of our earthly family, and while we care about people around us, there’s a special love within a family unit. That’s how our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ should be. Those on the outside haven’t been born into God’s family. Christians make a choice to be a part of God’s family.

“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments” (1 John 5:1-2).

Belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is the key to being a child of God. To me, that’s a simple fact, but we live in perilous times, and many preachers don’t preach through the whole Bible but pick and choose which verses won’t offend the congregation. One-verse theology is causing false doctrine to be taught. It’s important for every Christian to study Scripture and understand God’s word.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3).

Once the Pharisees asked Jesus about the great commandment of the Law. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37).

Also, when Jesus spoke with His disciples before the crucifixion, He spoke very plainly, and His words touched John deeply. “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:12-14).

Do you love God? Do you love your fellow Christians? Are you a friend of Jesus? I hope so. As this world grows darker, Christians need to stay close to each other in the Light of Jesus.

John tells us of the love of Jesus and how we are to show our love for Him. When we love Him and act on that love, we have power. Think of someone who doesn’t like you. If you make an effort to show kindness to that person, the dislike will melt away. You may even lead that person to faith in Christ. If you love Jesus, then show that love to others.

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4-5).

What does it mean to overcome? It’s from the Greek word “nikaō,” which is translated in other places as “conquer,” “prevail,” and “get the victory.” Jesus dictated seven letters to John, addressed to seven congregations. These letters are recorded in the Book of Revelation and are a “picture” of the church age, and each letter contains a promise to those who overcome.

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7).

Each letter is given a promise to those who overcome. We are living in the times described in the letter to Laodicea. The promise to the overcomer is “To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and set down with my Father in his throne” (Revelation 3:21).

Overcoming has many rewards, and each promise from Jesus is an amazing blessing. Get right with God and live as a part of the family. Overcome your carnal desires and love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

One of the hardest truths to grasp in Scripture is the truth of the Trinity. Those who argue against it claim that the word is never used in Scripture. That’s true, but the Trinity is seen throughout Scripture beginning in Genesis.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).

God is translated from the Hebrew ‘ĕlōhîm, which is a plural noun. In Hebrew, a “plural” is at least three. After verse one, we see the Spirit of God moved on the waters, then God spoke all things into being. Moving to the New Testament, when Jesus was baptized, “…and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven saying, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16b-17).

Again, at the Transfiguration all Members of the Trinity were present. A cloud (the Spirit) covered them, and God the Father spoke. “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matthew 17:5).

There are many more verses which describe the Trinity. The next verse in 1 John carries a controversy. “And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one” (1 John 5:8).

It’s omitted from many translations because the translators claim that the “oldest” manuscripts don’t contain it. That’s probably true, but the truth of the verse remains.

God’s truth has never changed. People may say one thing, but God is greater than any mere human or any spiritual entity. God told Adam not to eat the forbidden fruit; Satan twisted God’s truth, and Eve chose to believe the lie. God’s words were true then, and they’re true now. Unfortunately, people still twist God’s truth, and many people are led astray. There are many outright lies being taught today. For instance, all paths lead to Heaven. Wrong.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

You may be a very nice person, but if you haven’t accepted Christ for salvation, then you have a very bleak eternity to face. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:10-12).

Don’t follow the path to destruction, but place your eternity in the hands of Jesus. Then start living as God’s word directs. You will overcome all the temptations found in the world if you lean on the power of the Holy Spirit living in you.

John didn’t leave anything to the imagination as to whom he was writing, and why he wrote this. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13).

He wrote to brothers and sisters in Christ, those of us who believe in Jesus. There are some who like to plant doubts in your mind as to whether you’re truly saved. Maybe they say you attend the wrong church, or perhaps they pull out one verse of Scripture and build a whole doctrine around that, and if you don’t follow their thinking, then you must not be saved. That’s why you should study Scripture for yourself.

Baptism won’t save you. If your parents had you baptized when you were a baby, there was no belief on your part. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).

It must be your own faith. Do you believe? Then read through this letter from John again. Love God, and love your brothers and sisters in Christ. Share the Gospel with the lost.

We have an amazing promise. The God of all creation hears you when you speak to Him. We can go before Him and humbly ask Him for anything that’s within His will. Does that mean if we want fame and fortune, He will give it to us? What if we ask for something sinful? That’s what the name-it-and-claim-it crowd teaches – just tell God what would make you happy, and He will be sure you get it. Do you see that in Scripture? I don’t.

Jesus taught that God provides for the birds, so He will care for His people. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

The things He spoke of here are the necessities in life, such as food, clothing, and shelter. We don’t need fancy food, expensive clothes, or overpriced houses. We need to learn to be happy with what He provides. God knows all things and knows what’s best. Can you think of any times when you prayed hard for something and got discouraged when God didn’t give it to you? When you look back over your life, you’ll understand that the unanswered prayers are really a blessing. What God blesses us with is so much better.

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (1 John 5:14-15).

Read this carefully: If we ask according to His will. That’s important. He won’t give us anything that’s a sin, or anything that will draw us down a path that will move us away from Him. So, how can we know if something is according to his will? Study Scripture.

God tells us quite plainly what constitutes sin. So, if you’re a man, don’t ask Him for a boyfriend. Learn to love what God loves, and you will become closer to Him. If it seems that God doesn’t answer your prayers, take a look at yourself. Do you have any unconfessed sin that’s standing in the way of God’s blessings? Or maybe you have a worldly attitude. Ingratitude will stand in the way of God blessing you.

We all sin, but we have brothers and sisters in Christ to help us to repent of the sin and ask God to forgive. If we see a fellow Christian embracing a sinful practice, we need to pray that God will help us to help our brother.

“If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death” (1 John 5:16-17).

Sin will always be a problem while we live on this side of Heaven. We need to pray for the brethren. Too often, the first thing we do is gossip about a fellow Christian who is choosing to sin, but our first action should be to pray. When we truly repent of our sins and accept Jesus’ shed blood on the cross as the sacrifice to take our sin away, all of our sins were nailed to the cross. We’re forgiven.

The only unforgivable sin is blasphemy… rejecting God. Can a Christian do that? Is John talking about blasphemy? He’s writing to Christians, and that means they haven’t rejected God.

Let’s look at Ananias and Sapphira. At a time when Christians were in great need, many sold their possessions in order to provide for fellow Christians. Ananias, whose name means “whom Jehovah has graciously given,” and his wife Sapphira sold some property but only gave a portion to help the brethren.

“But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why has thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God” (Acts 5:3-4).

Ananias dropped dead after Peter rebuked him. Later, when Peter rebuked Sapphira for joining with her husband to tempt the Spirit of the Lord, she also dropped dead. It was their lies to God that caused their death. This leads me to be concerned for the leaders of mega-churches who live in luxury and preach false doctrine. God will deal with deadly sin.

We have a responsibility to walk close to God. “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not” (1 John 5:18).

All our sins are forgiven when we truly give our life to Jesus. That’s a blessing that the people of the world cannot imagine. Satan is real and is trying to get as many people as possible to spend eternity with him in the lake of fire. Christians can be harassed by him, but he can’t take us to Hell with him.

How can we be certain? “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” 1 John 5:19-20.

It’s becoming more and more obvious that the world is in wickedness. I want no part of it. Sin is glorified, while God is mocked. Sin is promoted, while a Christian life is ridiculed. Homosexuality, murder of babies, and worship of demon gods (Allah) is acceptable, but Christianity is deemed illegal. The Satanic hatred of Israel is a plague on the world. We are living in the last days, and soon Jesus will call Christians Home in the Rapture. Study Scripture and learn to be an overcomer. John gives us very good instructions.

John ends this letter with “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen” (1 John 5:21).

Idols are not real gods. The Psalmist describes the heathen idols as “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat” (Psalm 115:4-7).

Idols just are empty and useless. The Psalmist goes on to say “They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them” (Psalm 115:8).

Anything you put ahead of God in your life is an idol. Do you idolize celebrities? Most live a lifestyle that is far from God. Do you idolize money? “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10).

Idol worship will draw you away from God and His love. You will not be an overcomer.

Study this letter. It’s written to Christians to encourage us to serve Jesus better and how to overcome. John tells us to love our fellow Christians because love is of God. God is love.

God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
twotug@embarqmail.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original Scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Psalm 122:6

 

Too often, pastors are hesitant to speak of Satan and evil spirits. These evil entities should never be raised to a high position, but neither should their existence be ignored. Scripture is very clear that demons exist; Satan is not a made-up bogeyman.

Scripture also tells us that we must put our faith in God. False teachers who don’t teach all of Scripture only preach “God is love”; that is a true and beautiful message, but the loving God we serve told the men who wrote Scripture to include things like prophecy (another neglected topic), the fact that God will never turn away from Israel entirely (no, the church didn’t replace Israel), and the existence of evil spirits (we are in the end times, and evil is growing stronger).

That’s why it’s better to teach through Scripture rather than just pick verses (usually out of context) to make a “feel-good” sermon. Many pastors do just that. They tickle ears but don’t teach all of God’s truth. Congregations are left ignorant of the times in which we live, a time when prophecy is being fulfilled, Israel is under attack, and evil is permeating the world around us.

By the way, this opens the way for the evil spirits to infiltrate congregations. What does the Apostle John have to say?

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

What does John mean? John knew, from walking with Jesus, that there is perfect love found in Christ. John also witnessed demonic evil that possessed people, but he also sawJesus cast out demons and learned how to discern good from evil, light from dark. Those same evil spirits are roaming the earth today. False teachers abound today, and many people are being deceived.

Peter also knew of the wiles of the devil and warned us. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

Satan isn’t like God and cannot be everywhere at once, but he is able to influence thoughts. As we study through John’s letter, we see that he talks so much of God’s love, and sometimes we miss that he also warns us to be aware of evil. John says we shouldn’t believe every spirit, but we should try the spirits; test them. John isn’t talking about Casper the Friendly Ghost and the Ghostly Trio. John is talking about a real fight between God’s goodness and Satanic evil.

Christians need to study Scripture and listen to the Holy Spirit to avoid being deceived by someone who claims to be of God but is really Satan’s mouthpiece. As we draw near to the Rapture, evil grows stronger. Be sure that you are firmly planted in God’s truth.

How do we know the good from the bad? Sometimes it’s very obvious if something is of God or if Satan is behind it. Run everything through Scripture, and if a teaching doesn’t conform to God’s word, then you shouldn’t be a part of it. “Christian Yoga,” for instance.This is an oxymoron, and no Christian should be a part of it. It isn’t just a way to stretch your muscles; it is a way to open your mind to Satanic spirits.

John gives us a test to use. “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world” (1 John 4:2-3).

The next time a group of Jehovah’s Witnesses knocks on your door, ask them about the deity of Christ and whether He came in the flesh. I’m sure you can think of many things, ancient and modern, done by people claiming to follow Christ but are totally against God’s word.

The Crusades, for instance. It was the pope who sent the crusaders to do evil in order to free Jerusalem. If this had been an acceptable thing to God, wouldn’t Jesus have taken an army and killed anybody who stood in His way? Jesus came the first time humbly as the sacrificial Lamb of God, but He will return in power as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. A “holy war” ordained by the Catholic church doesn’t represent Jesus but is the spirit of antichrist. Don’t be deceived. If the congregation you’ve joined promotes anything that isn’t found in Scripture, flee from that group even if it’s presented as a very good thing.

I’ve attended many churches in my lifetime, and most supported things not found in Scripture. I learned from these experiences, and I’m thankful for God’s guidance in my life. Remember, John wrote this letter to Christians and not to the world. Christians need to be aware of what is of God and what comes from Satan. Scripture is your guide.

When we truly come to faith in Jesus, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Don’t be fooled by the false teaching that you are saved by baptism. Too many people claim they were baptized as a baby, so they’re saved. Wrong. That’s a teaching straight from Satan. Each of us must make our own choice as to whether or not we believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s been said that God has children but has no grandchildren. You have to make your own decision.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).

A baby cannot make that confession of faith, nor choose to believe. So, let me encourage you right now: if you are one who thinks you’re saved because you were baptized as a baby, or even as an adult but didn’t confess the Lord Jesus, do that now. Confess you are a sinner, repent, and place your faith in Jesus. Jesus was God incarnate; He entered His creation and shed His blood as the only way for a sinner to find grace and salvation.

It was Paul who also wrote, “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of your inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:12–14).

You have to hear the Gospel and believe in order to gain eternal life through Christ. What an amazing fact that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Holy Trinity, is sealed within Christians. If all of us truly believed that fact and understood the power given to us, we could stop the evil that’s permeating the world today…not us as people, but the Holy Spirit in us.

John understood that power. He was in the locked room when the risen Christ entered and breathed upon the disciples and gave them the Holy Spirit. He was also there on the day of Pentecost when the fire of the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples. John faced persecution, but was given the Revelation so we can see what the unsaved will face during the Tribulation.

John knew the power of the Holy Spirit and wrote, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

What powerful words, yet they mostly go unheeded. If every one of us would be aware of the power we have, and allow that power to flow through us for the glory of God, what a change we would see all around us.

Once again, John turns his attention to encouraging Christians to love fellow Christians. “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” (1 John 4:7–8).

Can a non-Christian love? Yes, but not with a Godly love. The world has taken the word “love” and defines it in worldly terms. I “love” my car, I “love” my dog. I went on a date, and afterward we made “love.” These are worldly examples of “love.”

The love of God is a sacrificial love that every Christian should show to fellow Christians, but go back to the first verse in this chapter and see that we need to test every spirit. Just because someone comes to you for help and claims to be a Christian, test them to be sure. The Holy Spirit may urge you to help non-believers, but do it in the name of Jesus, and let that fact be known.

Before we came to know Jesus, we were headed down a very treacherous path to destruction. But God loved His creation enough to sacrifice Himself for our salvation.

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:9–11).

That’s such an important point to remember, but so easy to forget. Christians aren’t perfect, but we need to ask for forgiveness when we do fall back into sin. When we see a fellow Christian falling into sin, we need to love them enough to help them to get back on the right track. Be sure to speak in love. God is always willing to forgive. When you see someone who is living a sin-filled life, share the Gospel. If they respond, then lead them to repentance and guide them in a path that honors Christ. If you see a fellow Christian wallowing in sin, confront them in a loving way.

God loved us long before we loved Him, so share that love. Let all who come in contact with you see God living in you and through you.

It’s easy to find many reasons to fear these days. The Apostle Paul didn’t mince words when he spoke of the enemy we face. He urged us to put on the full armor of God and fight.

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but, against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:11–12).

God’s love has given us tools to fight; He doesn’t want us to fail in our Christian walk. Life has many challenges, and sometimes it’s easy to shrink in fear. “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:17–18).

Fear can cause us to shrink from a fight that God’s love could win. Remember, God is stronger than any demonic enemy we face. We are puny humans, but with God we are strong. We are living in the end days, and the principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness of the world are trying to stop us from sharing God’s love. Be bold.

Once a father brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus for help. “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23).

Read through the book of Acts and see how many times Peter, John, Paul, and the others faced prison just because they loved God. Be bold in God’s love. In these last days, we need to encourage fellow Christians. Love the brethren.

“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also” (1 John 4:20–21).

Brotherly love is something missing from Christian life. I can tell you that brotherly love isn’t completely missing. Lately, I’ve had some great needs, and some dear Christian friends have stepped up to help me, and I’m so thankful.

God works through people, and we all need to allow His love to work through us. Be bold; face fear with the armor of God firmly in place. Let others see God living in you.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com

www.prophecyupdate.com

www.raptureforums.com

All original Scripture is “theopneustos,” or God-breathed.

If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).