Because your sins are forgiven

 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.

1 John 2:12 ESV

This is a great verse. John is writing to the church letting them know that he wants them to remember something very important, their sins have been forgiven. This verse is just as significant to us today. Because we too have had our “sins forgiven for his name's sake”.

When we think about it, so much of what is written in the New Testament is because our sins are forgiven for His name's sake. Paul, Peter, James, Jude and John all wrote letters to encourage the faithful to remain faithful. They wanted their readers to remember where they came from and where they stand in Christ. These letters serve the same purpose for us today. They are written to us so that we can know how to remain faithful. They are written to remind us that we have been forgiven and we need to live like we have been forgiven.

Everything we need to know about how to become a Christian and remain a Christian is found in those letters written to the church. We are truly blessed to have the Gospels, Acts , Romans and all the letters that have come down to us over the centuries. The Christian faith is an ancient and rich faith. The Christian faith was once for all delivered as Jude says in his letter. There is nothing new on the horizon, we have everything that God's wants us to have for a faithful walk in Christ.

Today, let's commit to rereading the Gospels, Acts and all the epistles (letters) to find that rich heritage that has been given to us in Christ by those He chose to pass on the faith.

© 2013 Leo J. Woodman

Let there be no cause for stumbling

 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 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.

1 John 2:9-11 ESV

Once again John shows the contrast between darkness and light. In this passage he shows us there is no room for hate in the church. If one does have hatred toward his brother he is lost. He is wandering in darkness.

But, the one that has love for his brother is walking in the light and the light is where God is. He is in the darkness. Only stumbling and hurt are found in the darkness. To be in darkness is to be blind, because hatred blinds.

I have seen hatred within the body of Christ and it is ugly, it brings darkness to the one that hates. It is a darkness that overcomes and overwhelms the one that carries the burden of hatred. Hatred hardens the heart and weakens the spirit. The one that shows hatred toward a member of the Lord's body is showing hatred toward the Lord. In so doing they put themselves out of fellowship with the Lord and His body.

There is no room for hatred within the body of Christ. There is only light and to live in Christ is to live in that light. Light makes everything visible. So, if we cannot see the need to love our brethren we need to step back into the light.

We must never forget; to claim to be a Christian and yet hate a member of Christ' body is to practice hypocrisy. This hypocrisy is visible within the body and without the body. This kind of hypocrisy does great damage to the reputation of the church and the world sees it. When the world sees it they see no need to change the way they live.

Today let's be a light to the world and show love for one another so the world will know we are His.

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman