Seeing and believing that Jesus is both real and divine give us a way to have joy and fellowship. Until you and I see and believe this truth, our lives will not move. We will have a dormant life that settles for isolation, shallow friendships and second hand pleasures. The book of 1 John is a confrontation to the Church to accept responsibility for the way in which it loves and reacts to the people around it and within it. John charges the individual members of our congregations with many sharp and challenging commands that come from the very lifestyle of Jesus Christ. We have heard him state:
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1:8)
“whoever says he abides in him (Jesus) ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” (2:6)
“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.” (2:15)
“Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” (3:15)
“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 love God whom he has not seen.” (4:20)
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This weight stacked upon our mind is what makes us look at how we are living our lives. Our minds should be taunted by these verses from God’s Word. Self-evaluation is key in becoming more effective. While bold statements confront us throughout this epistle the goal of these statements are not to plague us with uncertainty about the power of Jesus. John is not playing with our minds, toying us on whether we really are Christians or not. John, as well as every other writer in the NT, is very explicit that the Spirit is the confirmation of our salvation. (Rom. 8:11, Titus 3:4-7,1Jon 3:24b, & Gal. 5:22-24) We can-not earn grace and it is by this grace that we are saved. (Eph.