Love one another

 

For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

1 John 3:11 ESV

When John writes this is what you have heard from the beginning, he means just that. What John is saying here is that to love one another is a direct command from Jesus himself; A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.John 13:34 ESV

What John is sharing here is not simply a suggestion, but a commandment from the Lord Himself. As disciples of Christ we have been commanded to love one another. John isn't the only New Testament writer to relay the importance of this commandment, Paul and Peter do so as well. See Romans 12:10, 1^st Thessalonians 4:9 and 1 Peter 1:22. A commandment is not optional. It is not something we do when we choose, it is what we are to do at all times. To disobey a commandment of the Lord is to sin. So, if we are not showing love to a fellow believer for whatever reason, we are sinning.

So today, if we consider ourselves to be disciples of Christ we have no choice but to love our fellow disciples. The love of one Christian for another is of great importance, it shows that we truly are his disciples. As Jesus said; “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35 ESV

© 2013 Leo J. Woodman

No one who abides in him keeps on sinning

 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 1 John 3:6 ESV

This verse is very sobering. It is cause for true soul searching and study. When one reads this verse they have to ask themselves if they are truly living in Christ. It causes one to look more closely at their walk, to see if there is a place in their lives where they are continuing in sinful behavior.

I think most of us, when we first consider this verse probably think; well I don't do the things I used to do before I became a Christian. So, I should be alright. But, should we leave it there? Maybe we would should dig a little deeper. Ultimately we are to model our walk after Jesus walk. So it behooves us to know what that walk was and whether or not we are following in His footsteps. Remember what John says, if we keep on sinning we haven't seen Him or known Him.

So, we need to look at the life of Jesus as it's chronicled in the Gospels and come to know what is acceptable behavior for a Christian. We don't want to continue in sinful behavior that will keep us from being all that the Lord wants us to be. Even though we have received God's grace through Jesus we don't want to continue in behavior that is an affront to that grace. Think of what the apostle Paul said about this subject. What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Romans 6:1,2 ESV As christians we have died to sin and must lead a new life, leaving the old one behind.

So today, let's really look at ourselves and see if we are doing things in our lives that we know to be against the teachings of the Bible. Whatever we find that is not suitable behavior for us let's repent of that behavior, ask for forgiveness and continue in Jesus. Let's show by our walk that we have seen Him and know Him.

© 2013 Leo J. Woodman