March 7, 2022
Today we will be learning from the first epistle (or letter) of John. Since we will be in the second chapter, let’s take a moment to recall how this letter began in the first chapter. John opens with an introduction, and he reminds us that he has actually seen and heard from the One who is Eternal Life, Jesus Christ. John wants us to have fellowship with Jesus, so that we may fully share in His light, love, and joy. John goes on to share the message of living in light. He declares that God is light, and that there is no darkness in Him. “So, we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.” (1:6) By living in the truth we are living in fellowship with one another and allowing Jesus to cleanse us of our sins so that we can live in His light and in true fellowship with Him.
When I think of fellowship I think of friendship or communing with someone. So, do you seek to sin against your friends? Do you want to hurt them with your words, actions, or inactions? If your answer is “no”…then, is your fellowship, or friendship, with Jesus less important than what you have with your friends? If again, your answer is “no”…then why do you sin against Jesus? Jesus tells us that when we sin against one another, or that whatever we do to His brothers and sisters, we are doing to Him. (Matt 7)
John urges us in today’s portion of his letter to not sin. He goes on to remind us that if we do sin that we have an advocate, One who will plead our case before the Father, and that is thankfully Jesus. He gives Jesus the title of “truly righteous”, and that means that He is in the right relationship with the Father, and with us, so He is the only One who can act as an advocate on our behalf between us and the Father. John also reminds us that we are to obey God’s commandments. Let’s face it, God is our Creator and only He knows what is best for us. His commandments come from a place of wanting the best for us. So, if we are seeking to grow closer to God, and if we truly love Him, then we must obey Him and His Word. In this place we are living for Him, and our lives should reflect the light and life of Christ.
1 John 2:1-6 NLT
1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.
3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for being my advocate to the Father. Help me, Lord, to be more and more obedient to Your Word, and to be growing in fellowship with You. I ask for Your forgiveness of my sins. If there is anything that is sinful against You that I am not aware of, please bring awareness to me so that You can help me to change it. I want my life to reflect You, Jesus. I pray all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.
Written by: Jennifer Auer, Pastor Mary Haley’s Assistant
ommandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for being my advocate to the Father. Help me, Lord, to be more and more obedient to Your Word, and to be growing in fellowship with You. I ask for Your forgiveness of my sins. If there is anything that is sinful against You that I am not aware of, please bring awareness to me so that You can help me to change it. I want my life to reflect You, Jesus. I pray all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.
Written by: Jennifer Auer, Pastor Mary Haley’s Assistant