1 John 2 1 I write this, dear children, to guide you out of sin. But if anyone does sin, we have a Priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus Christ, righteous Jesus. 2 When he served as a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin problem for good - not only ours, but the whole worlds. 3 Heres how we can be sure that we know God in the right way: Keep his commandments. 4 If someone claims, I know him well! but doesnt keep his commandments, hes obviously a liar. His life doesnt match his words. 5 But the one who keeps Gods word is the person in whom we see Gods mature love. This is the only way to be sure were in God. 6 Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived. 7 My dear friends, Im not writing anything new here. This is the oldest commandment in the book, and youve known it from day one. Its always been implicit in the Message youve heard. 8 On the other hand, perhaps it is new, freshly minted as it is in both Christ and you - the darkness on its way out and the True Light already blazing! 9 Anyone who claims to live in Gods light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark. 10 Its the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in Gods light and doesnt block the light from others. 11 But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesnt know which end is up, blinded by the darkness. 12 I remind you, my dear children: Your sins are forgiven in Jesus name. 13 You veterans were in on the ground floor, and know the One who started all this; you newcomers have won a big victory over the Evil One. 14 You veterans know the One who started it all; and you newcomers - such vitality and strength! Gods word is so steady in you. Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the Evil One. 15 Dont love the worlds ways. Dont love the worlds goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. 16 Practically everything that goes on in the world - wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important - has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. 17 The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out - but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity. 18 Children, time is just about up. You heard that Antichrist is coming. Well, theyre all over the place, antichrists everywhere you look. Thats how we know that were close to the end. 19 They left us, but they were never really with us. If they had been, they would have stuck it out with us, loyal to the end. In leaving, they showed their true colors, showed they never did belong. 20 But you belong. The Holy One anointed you, and you all know it. 21 I havent been writing this to tell you something you dont know, but to confirm the truth you do know, and to remind you that the truth doesnt breed lies. 22 So who is lying here? Its the person who denies that Jesus is the Divine Christ, thats who. This is what makes an antichrist: denying the Father, denying the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has any part with the Father, but affirming the Son is an embrace of the Father as well. 24 Stay with what you heard from the beginning, the original message. Let it sink into your life. If what you heard from the beginning lives deeply in you, you will live deeply in both Son and Father. 25 This is exactly what Christ promised: eternal life, real life! 26 Ive written to warn you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But theyre no match for what is embedded deeply within you - Christs anointing, no less! You dont need any of their so-called teaching. Christs anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and him, uncontaminated by a single lie. Live deeply in what you were taught. 28 And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then well be ready for him when he appears, ready to receive him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when he arrives. 29 Once youre convinced that he is right and righteous, youll recognize that all who practice righteousness are Gods true children. The Message
Posted on: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 11:11:41 +0000
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