1 John 5:3 [3] “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” John’s message throughout this epistle has been dominated by love. Love is the evidence of life. A dead man knows nothing, sees nothing, hears nothing and feels nothing. When we were lost, we were dead in our trespasses and sins. Because there was no life of God in us, there was no love of God in us.  This verse reveals the divinity of love, the deeds of love and the delight of love. God’s love is seen in …

1 John 5:2 [2] “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.” I remember hearing a preacher tell the story about when he was younger, riding down the road with a much older, and wiser, man of God. After some time traveling, he sensed an awkward silence in the vehicle, for the older preacher was a man of few words. Being young, and wanting to make a good impression on the older man, he thought he would strike up a spiritual conversation to break the silence.  He spoke out, …

1 John 5:1 [1] “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.” This verse teaches that our attitude toward God has everything to do with our attitude toward man. When believers have a right relationship with God, they have a right relationship with each other. They love each other, because they are loving him. Love toward God, and his children, is a mark of identification  for every born-again believer.  I once knew an individual who was faithful to church, but always …

1 John 4:21 [21] “And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” The diversity of membership in a church always amazes me. Think for a moment about all the different types of personalities that attend your church. Isn’t it hard to comprehend how a group of people that are  so different can become family? Most people in the congregation are not blood kin, nor have they spent most of their lives together. Within the congregation you have people who have different pay scales, different talents, and are of different mindsets altogether. I …