Verse 8: The Inward Deception 8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. This verse unfolds the second antithetical statement that runs contrary to verse five; the claim to “have no sin” is in direct and unequivocal opposition to the claim that “God is …
Christ the King, Priest, and Judge: Matthew 21:1-22
Introduction Matthew’s account of the incarnate birth of our Lord opens with a series of fulfilled prophecies intended to convey one message: this is the child Son of God. In the same way Christ enters Jerusalem and approaches his crucifixion and resurrection replete with prophetic fulfillments of Scripture testifying that Jesus is the King of …
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The Blood of Jesus: 1st John 1:7
Verse 7: The Blood of Jesus 7 If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. This verse continues unfolding John’s topic of “life” and “fellowship” and completes his paradigm of “light and …
The Lie of Darkness: 1st John 1:6
Verse 6: The Lie 6 If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. This verse is the first of three antithetical statements (v.6;v.8; v.10) to verse five’s claim that “God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him”; …
God is Light: 1st John 1:5
1st John 1:5 (CSB) This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him. Recall that John’s first epistle is all about “life”: “the life” (v.2), “the eternal life” (v.2), “the word of Life” (v.1). Therefore it is fitting that the …
Reflections on 1st John 1:1-4
1st John 1:1-4 (CSB) What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—2 that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that …
Joy Complete: 1st John 1:4
Verse 4: Complete We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. John’s prologue to his first epistle picks up where the epilogue to his gospel leaves off: John 21:24 (CSB) This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. …
Fellowship: 1st John 1:3
VERSE 3: FELLOWSHIP what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. John lays out the chief aims of his endeavor to unfold the eternal life that has been manifest …
God’s Economy: Matthew 20:1-16
Introduction Jesus’ encounter with the rich young man reported the exceedingly high cost of following Christ. Jesus called on him to give up everything in the pursuit of the Kingdom, and the rich young man was very distressed because his struggle to give up this world was exceedingly great. Then the disciples offered the reality …
We Testify: 1st John 1:2
VERSE 2: WE TESTIFY that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— This may feel redundant, but John uses the literary device of repetition emphasize his cornerstone points: here, John is rendering apostolic declaration …
