Keeping the Faith While Being Kept by God

True Fellowship, True Joy

Closing Thought: John writes to draw us into the shared life of the gospel; into true fellowship with the Father through His Son Jesus Christ, into real fellowship with one another, and into the deep joy we are meant to know as we walk together in that life. Are you walking in this fellowship with great joy?

That You May Know (An Overview of First John)

Closing Thought: God does not want His church guessing; He wants them knowing. Therefore, John asks three questions: Do I believe in the true Christ? Am I growing in obedience? Do I love God's people?

Death, the Last Enemy: Same Appointment, Different Destinies

Closing Thought: In Adam, death reigns. In Christ, death is defeated. And one day, Death itself will be destroyed. The grave will give up its dead. And what follows will not be death, but eternal life or eternal judgement.

Jerusalem: Rebuilding Walls in Christ

Final Thought: Christian, you have been given a new nature united to God by His Holy Spirit and that is Jesus Christ living and dwelling in you. Let the truth of Christs crucifixion and death define how you think about your old sinful nature. Let the truth of Christ's resurrection define your new nature in Christ today. Your new self is now united to the incorruptible and divine nature and is powered by the word of God and prayer. Surrender your self, mind, heart, soul, thoughts, desires, passions, emotions, and will to be at peace within your inner man united and conformed to who Christ is in you. Control your body, fleshly desires, lusts, emotions, decisions, words, and actions by restraining them and bringing them under the dominion of Christ by His power within you. May the world see the walls of self-control as Jesus Christ living in us, to the Praise of His Glory!

Jericho: The Man with No Walls

Final Thought: The man with no self-control lives enslaved to his own sinful passions and desires, no matter how under control he appears to be. Don't be deceived, to serve our sinful self is to serve Satan himself and to be headed towards an eternal "Jericho" of destruction under the wrath of God. Jesus Christ came to rescue a people from slavery to sin, to recreate them inwardly, and to live in, and with, and through the--even now in this life, and perfectly forever in eternity. It is only by faith IN Christ that we can be free to have true self-control.