1 John 5:1-5

"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well. This how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands. This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John 5:1-5

So what are the evidences of a person who has genuinely surrender his life to Christ to be adopted as His child and conformed to His Son? Well, I believe John lays those things out. These are not requirements, but rather fruit of real faith. In some way you have to have benchmarks because there are many people who say "I believe", but belief is rooted in action. You will show your belief by what you do. Here are the evidences:

1. You believe that Jesus is the Son of God!
2. You love the Father and the Son!
3. You love the Children of God (other believers)!
4. You seek to keep God's commands!
5. You overcome the world! (A result of true faith)

In a nut shell, you love the true God and love people! That is my calling as a Christ follower. If you have been following my blog, this seems to be a reoccurring theme. I can't help it, it seems to jump out of the pages of 1 John so evidently. I would have to conclude that to grow in my faith is to love God deeper, truer, and more passionately and to love people as Christ would love them, especially the people of God. Its interesting...I am to love my wife as Christ loved the Church, I am to love the Church as Christ does, and I am to love people outside the church as Jesus modeled, and I am to love my enemy by praying for them. Loving God and loving others is no easy task to be sure, but this is my calling! This is my pursuit in life! Nothing takes more precedence than to do this! My Pastor said yesterday that he woke up the other day thinking of all he had to do, when he stopped and realized that he had only two things to do...love God and love people! I agree!

God, help me to make that my pursuit today...to love You with all my heart soul and mind and to love people the way Christ would! Teach me what this means, for much of what I do seems to be tainted by my flesh. I want to take up my cross and follow Your Son today by the way that I love! Thank You for loving me!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Navigating a Culture of "Pride" as a Christian

 June has been known as Pride Month ever since President Bill Clinton announced it back in 1999, and it has gained more and more steam since, particularly in the last 5 years.  It has made its way into small towns, into schools, and into the faith community as well.  In many ways it has become the loudest voice of the culture we live in, especially in the month of June.  It is a topic all over social media, the film industry, and media itself.  The agenda to normalize issues such as homosexuality and gender identity is pervasive.  You can hardly watch a series on main stream television, much less cable tv, without being confronted with these issues.  Some of the most prominent influences and influencers are now targeting children as their primary audience.  All of this has quickly shaped our culture, and anyone who thinks that the bombardment of these influences do not really have an effect on people, I would challenge them to learn about marketing.  The developments in the past 10 yea
Read more

Humanism in Christian Clothing

 I find myself more and more baffled by some of the things that I see posted on social media and how it seems to connect with so many.  I saw a post that quoted a pastor that said, "When your spirituality denies someone's humanity, it isn't spirituality, it's hatred wrapped up in religiosity."  The post attributes this to Mark Sandlin.  I don't know this pastor, if he really said it, or what the context was surrounding the quote.  However, it would seem reasonable to assume that the individual posting the quote was implying that if your spirituality leads you to conclude that homosexuality, transgenderism, or any other LGTBQ+ issue is sin, and you don't think it is the public schools job to normalize this, then you are denying someone's humanity, thus your spirituality is really not spirituality... it is hatred wrapped in religiosity.  This is a really odd statement for several reasons. 1.  What makes something spiritual?  Who defines what this is?  Is
Read more

Why Israel Still Matters in God's Plan

When someone professes faith in Christ and becomes a Christian, they enter in what the Scriptures calls the New Covenant.  This New Covenant is considered a greater covenant than the Old Covenant or Mosaic Covenant.  The Jewish people related to God through the Old Covenant for thousands of years.  Ultimately, this covenant pointed out one very important truth about life... Mankind naturally turns away from the living God and proves incapable of keeping the righteous demands of a Holy God.  As Biblical history unfolds, we find that Israel quickly abandon God and worshiped the gods of the surrounding nations.  They would have momentary bright spots, but even in those bright spots, the rebellious heart of man was on full display (King David anyone?).  The Law itself pointed out man's inability to keep the law and draws people to see that they need God's mercy.  Summary - Mankind needs a Savior because he sure can't save himself.   This is where Jesus comes in as a mediator of
Read more