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Grand Ceiling, Paris

Photographed by Frederick Ardley

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1 John 5:13-21 Missions Reflection

That You May Know

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God[a] will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Lightbulb

That we can have confidence - in God’s will coming to pass for the good of those who love Him both through our prayers, our actions and our understanding, because it’s God who has given and directed them. 

Question

What are the sins that don’t lead to death and the one that does? Do we not pray for that?

Those who are not in Christ and in the direct context of this epistle, referring to those with the “spirit of the antichrist”. We do pray for it. John hasn’t specifically said not to. 

Arrow (Application)

I’m reminded to pray inwardly first and foremost and outwardly after. That is, praying inwardly for change within myself, to want what God wants and to desire His will be done. Whereas, outwardly is praying for things to happen. 

E.g. praying for the desire to desire what He desires vs praying for God to take away a sinful habit or behaviour. 

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1 John 5:6-12 Missions Reflection

Testimony Concerning the Son of God 6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. 9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Lightbulb

I initially found it odd that amongst the “three that testify” or “three witnesses” (1 John 5:7) is Jesus’ baptism. I get that Jesus’ death on the cross and the coming of the Holy Spirit are integral, but I didn’t really understand why the baptism is considered significant. 

I’m reminded however that these witnesses testify to Jesus divine nature. When Jesus was baptised, we see in the Gospels that God speaks saying “This is my son in whom I am well pleased”. 

Question

What is the water referring to? 

Baptism.

Arrow (Application)

I think God graces us from to time with a renewal in the impact that old biblical truths have. Often we’re so used to hearing them. 

I read verse 11 and thought about all the people I’ve spoken to over the past two weeks who told me that “Jesus is [their] saviour” yet had no confidence in their own salvation apart from works. I’m reminded of the sweet truth and good news of our salvation. 

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1 John 5:1-5 Missions Reflection

Overcoming the World

5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God

Lightbulb

With a lot of what John has written, I think modern readers (I was reading ESV) read affirmative commands. E.g. “everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of Him” (1 John 5:1). That is, we interpret it as only those who love others born of God, love the father. We read it as a precondition.

Whereas, it’s more correct to read it as “If you love the Father, therefore also love others who are born of Him”. 

John is very straight forward and formulaic in his writing:

If you believe Jesus is Christ, you are born of God. If you are born of God, love others who are also born of God. You do this by loving God and obeying His commandments. In fact, you love God by obeying His commandments. Love is equated with obeying.

Question

Verse 5:3 - “for this is the love of God”. What is the love of God?

The verse can be translated as “by this we demonstrate our love of God”. Also, the love of God is shown through the commandments being given to us as the verses that follow confirm to us that His commandments aren’t burdensome. 

Arrow (Application)

Trust that “His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3)

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1 John 4:7-21 Missions Reflection

God Is Love

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot[a] love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Question

What does it mean for God to abide in us if we love one another? Doesn’t God (The Holy Spirit) already abide in us at the moment of conversion?

We can’t see God therefore we use these ‘tests’ as a way to see that God is with someone. These verses could be read as implying that loving is a precondition for having God - we tend to read it like that. This reading is wrong.

What does it mean for love to be perfected? Is God’s love imperfect without human participation? What difference is there between the love being perfected “in us” (v5:12) and “with us” (v5:17)?

The love being perfected in us is God’s love bringing out the desired end state (perfection) in us. Verse 17 adds more clarity and could be translated as “herein is our love made perfect”. One way that it is being perfected with/in us (inconsequential difference) is by giving us confidence that we will not be punished on the day of judgement. 

Arrow (Application)

Verse 19 - “We love because He loved us first” reminds me that my standard for love is Jesus and that there are groups of brothers and sisters who although I don’t hate them, I definitely am not displaying or actively trying to love them in the same way Jesus and God have shown us love. 

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1 John 3:11-24 Missions Reflection

Nadi - Day 8

Love One Another

11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers,[c] that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God,[d] and God[e] in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

Lightbulb

Verses 16-18 were cool to read and to see John articulate and define love by action rather than by feeling.

Arrow (Application)

I’m reminded in this passage that the period of tolerance and even wide-spread commonplace of Christianity is rare and un-promised. We seem to be slowly returning to way things always were/meant to be. Verse 13 becomes more of a relevant reminder that we should not be surprised if the world does not understand us or even hates us. This cartoon from Adam4d sums it up pretty well:

http://adam4d.com/welcome-to-normal/

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Joyriding on Jakku.

Art by 100% Soft.

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1 John 2:28-3:10 Missions Reflection

Nadi - Day 7

Children of God

28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears[a]we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's[b] seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Lightbulb

I originally question what it meant to make a “practice of sinning” or “practicing lawlessness”. The language of “practice” in verses such as 2:27 and 3:2 is integral as it communicates a sense of intentionality, purpose and consciousness behind the actions. In other translates, we get phrases like “living in sin”. Which provide much needed clarity for these passages. 

Odd to note that NIV’s more simplistic and common-talk translation does not do this.

Question

I question older translations like KJV and why they seem to communicate less of “practice” and generally lean towards more of “doing sin”. Again the wording of “committing sin” is used different to how we use it in our day to day contexts. Where we use “committing” to imply just the action of sinning, older translations would imply a greater deal of intentionality and purposefulness in a life of sin. 

Arrow (Application)

In verse 9, John communicates that the only reason we’re not making a practice of sin right now is that it’s because we’ve been given “God’s seed” or “born of God”. 

I’m reminded to be thankful for the knowledge of God’s sovereignty over my salvation. Without this knowledge, it’d be likely that I’d read this verse the other way. I’d stress over not practicing sin to be considered belonging to God. I’d stress over my lack of strength in dealing with my sin.  

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1 John 2:18-27 Missions Reflection

Nadi - Day 6

Warning Concerning Antichrists

18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.[d]21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us[e]—eternal life.

26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

Lightbulb

At first, reading verse 25 seemed odd and out of place. Essentially, those who deny Jesus or diminish his nature or completed work will ultimately deny or diminish His promise of eternal life.

Question

What was the anointing that they received?

Could be referring to:

The Holy Spirit

The Word

The knowledge of Christ

Arrow (Application)

I’m reminded to always be preaching and sharing Christ. I feels as though my testimonies and my witnessing conversations don’t include or point to Jesus as much as they should. 

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1 John 2:15-17 Missions Reflection

Nadi - Day 5

Do Not Love the World

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life[c]—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Lightbulb

I originally thought about how these verses are commonly misused. E.g. evidence of Christians not caring about the world and it’s people, hate preaching or a works-based theology (verse 17). However, the second half of verse 16 adds clarity and what John was trying to get at. 

That is, a love of the world is marked by things such a lust for possessions or chasing after desires of the flesh. Add in knowledge of the greater biblical narrative and the rest of the New Testament literature and we see that we’re called to be set apart from the rest of the world in terms of what we view as important and how we live. In not loving the world, we are not making an idol of things that aren’t God. 

It’s interesting to note that as opposed to “don’t love the world, love God”, John spurs his reader: “don’t love the world, obey God”. 

Question

My question to John if he were still around would be why he’s so short and straight forward. I feel like his writing could so easily be misinterpreted. 

Is there a better translation for “do not love the world”?

Arrow (Application)

Thinking about the second half of verse 17 “but whoever does the will of God abides forever”, I immediately think of the fact that we’d be unable to do His will if he did not save us, make us aware of our sins and to sovereignly convict us and direct us to do His will. 

From that, I’m reminded to be thankful of how God has convicted me and surrounded me with grounded and faithful community, teachers and brothers to help me combat my sins. Verse 16 (which kind of describe every sin) specifically reminded me of the these sins which were often hidden in my life and I’ve only recently been winning over by God’s grace. 

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1 John 2:7-14 Missions Reflection

Nadi - Day 4

The New Commandment

7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because[a] the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him[b] there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

12 I am writing to you, little children,   ��because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. 13 I am writing to you, fathers,    because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men,    because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children,    because you know the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers,    because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men,    because you are strong,    and the word of God abides in you,    and you have overcome the evil one.

Lightbulb

Verse 9 and 10 implied to me initially that John left no space between love and hate or light an darkness, but we can find ourselves in that grey area. We find it hard sometimes to love someone, we don’t necessarily have to be “hating them”. We can be taking small steps, asking God to help us change the postures of our hearts whether it’s starting off by praying for them or planning to love them actively through word or deed. 

Question

What is the reference between the old and new commandments? 

It’s an old commandment in the sense that we are told to love our brothers and new in the sense that Jesus commanding his disciples to this. It’s new in the context of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. On the cross we see God’s forgiveness towards people who have disobeyed, mocked and deserve His hatred. 

Arrow (Application)

My friends have often said “corn doesn’t hate anyone”. I question whether that is from how I choose to phrase my words or whether’s true and to what degree. Regardless, it’s untrue to say that I don’t have any sour/negative moments with people or such feelings towards people. 

I’m reminded that there may be subtle ways that I am “hating” someone either consciously or unconsciously and there are plenty of ways that I don’t actively show love to people. This has reminded me to pray that God would reveal these things to me and to convict me of them. 

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1 John 2:1-6 Missions Reflection

Nadi - Day 3

Christ Our Advocate

2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Lightbulb

Verse 1 - ‘My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin...’. This verse stuck out to me because you’d expect John to provide some sort of list, tips and tricks or life hacks for how not to sin. That’s how our moral thought usually works with problems. Most major religions follow this approach: You’ve got something wrong with you, here’s a bunch of things to do to fix it and be right with God/the universe. 

John offers his audience reflection and knowledge. He points his readers to the knowledge of Christ’s sufficient work on the cross for the forgiveness of sin. He points readers to reflect on the standard set by Christ and how they might fall short of it. The latter only makes sense with the former. Attempting to obey commandments and rules without knowing the end result leads to anxiety and uncertainty. “Am I good enough?”. “Have I done enough good stuff to outweigh the bad stuff?”. 

But with Christ, we know the end result; promised by a God who has delivered in the past and walked among men as a man to prove it. So obeying commandments now is a result of knowing the end result. Obeying out of joy, gratitude and reverence.

Question

Verses like verse 4 are translated in such a definite way with words that have a sense of finality to them. First reading of it makes me question how it comes along side the fact that we are being sanctified and won’t be perfect till Jesus returns. 

Arrow (Application)

Verse 4 - ‘Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him’. This is a solid reminder to not be complacent and to be constantly asking God in prayer to reveal and convict me of where I’m lacking and where I’m not following His commandments, whether consciously or unconsciously.

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1 John 1:5-10 Missions Reflection

Nadi - Day 2

Walking in the Light

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Lightbulb

Verse 9 stuck out me. God’s faithfulness and just nature are used by John to ensure his readers that God would forgive them instead of saying something like “He is loving and merciful to forgive us” or “He is compassionate and loving to forgive us”, John has written “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins”. 

God’s forgiveness and the fact that Jesus covers our sins is due to more than the fact that God is loving (although they are grand expressions of love). He is just because Jesus paid for our sins on the cross, stands in our place and intercedes on our behalf - thereby satisfying our debt. The just price was paid and God is therefore just in His forgiveness. He is faithful because in Jesus we’ve seen His promises fulfilled.

We in turn are confident that He’ll forgive us regardless of our performance or lack thereof - because our good deeds and words do nothing to save us. 

Question

Referring to God as light was abstract for me when first reading. 

Arrow (Application)

Partially convicted from Verse 8; although most Christians are upfront with their sins - we often aren’t fully open. This is the case for me. The challenge for me from this passage is to be more honest and open about the depth and breadth of my sins, especially when speaking with friends who aren’t Christians.

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The warriors of light!! 

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1 John 1:1-4 Missions Reflection

Nadi - Day 1

The Word of Life

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our[a] joy may be complete.

Lightbulb

Recently at church, we read through John 1 and explored the significance of the Word (Jesus) and what it meant for Him to physically live and speak among humans. It meant that Christianity differed markedly from other religions. It meant that although many people have different subjective experiences and ideas about God, God Himself came down and settled the debate. John writes his first letter with the same romance and passion as his biography of the life of Jesus. It’s awesome to be able to recognise how John saw the significance of  ‘the word becoming flesh’ and the fact that God came and ‘tabernacled’ among us. 

Arrow (Application)

(v4): Often when talking about philosophy and faith, I find myself driven more so by a desire to win an argument or prove a point rather than wanting others to find lasting joy or purpose in Christ. 

Reflection

The idea of public knowledge and shared joy in Christianity propels Christian to find joy in sharing the Gospel and not feeling superior just because you believe you have the truth. 

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 http://ift.tt/2ijMqXK