Christians: Do Not Sin, But When You Do...

Do Not Love the World

Beloved, the world is passing away. Its pleasures are passing away. Its pride is passing away. Its applause is passing away. Its lusts are passing away. But the one who does the will of God abides forever. So, do not give your heart to what is dying. Give yourself to the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit, and live for what will never pass away.

From Children to Fathers

Closing Thought: Beloved, the path of spiritual growth is beautiful: all God's children stand on the same foundation, that their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake. From there, grace matures in different ways — the child rejoices in sonship, the young man grows strong in truth, and the father ripens in the wisdom of deeply knowing God Himself. So do not settle into complacency but press on in grace. And yet remember this as well: growth will not look the same in every believer. Some will always retain something of a more childlike warmth and simplicity of faith, and that is no defect. The goal is not to lose that childlike trust, but to see it deepened, steadied, and matured in Christ.

Loved by Christ; Loving the Brethren

Closing Thought: Beloved, John writes so that we may have assurance, but also to remind us that such assurance can never be divorced from love for God's people. The true light is already shining, and where Christ truly rules, His love will increasingly be given through His people to His people.

To Know Christ is to Walk Like Him

Closing Thought: John writes to give believers assurance, but never an assurance divorced from Christ or from obedience. Real assurance begins by looking to Christ. Real knowledge of Christ produces a real keeping of His Word and a real likeness to His life.

Christians: Do Not Sin, But When You Do...

Closing Thought: Beloved Brethren, John writes first to make us take sin seriously and turn from it on purpose, never making peace with it, believing that the power of Christ is enough to help us fight it and forsake it. Then he writes to keep us from despair when we do sin by fixing our eyes on Jesus Christ the righteous, our Advocate with the Father and the propitiation for our sins.