I have been reading first John, and I want to write here some of the verses from it that I think are worth paying attention to. I also believe you would get a lot out of studying first John, too. Maybe you could write comments on what it spoke to you, too.
CONDITIONS OF A TRUE CHRISTIAN:
1st - (First John, chapter 1:verse 8) Break with sin. Repent. Forgive. Repent means to realize you are on the wrong bus, going the wrong direction. Stop the bus! Get off! Jump on the one going in Jesus' direction. Follow HIM.
2nd - (1 John 2:9-11) Keep the commandments, especially the law of love. Anyone who claims to follow Jesus, but hates his brother (that's anyone) is not in the light - but is still in the dark, not knowing where he is going because it is too dark to see.
3rd - (1 John 2:15-17) Detachment from the world. This world and all that is in it will end! Love God. Love one another. Anyone who does the will of God remains forever!
4th condition - (1 John 2:18) Be on guard against the enemies of Christ. These are the last days; you were told that an anti-christ must come, and now several anti-christs have already appeared. (2:20) You have been anointed - a people set apart - by the Holy One - and have all received the Knowledge. (2:22) You know that no lie can come from the truth. The one who denies that Jesus is the Christ (Jesus is Lord) - he is the liar, he is the anti-christ. (2:27) . . you are anointed with truth, not with a lie.
(2:28) Live in Christ, then, so that if He appears, we may have full confidence, and not turn from Him in shame at his coming. Rather, we can look for His coming with great excitement and anticipation, because we KNOW HE IS COMING FOR US!
Revelations 22:20 - "I shall indeed be with you soon."
Amen - come quickly, Lord Jesus!
When I can, I'll write some more about First John. What a book! Go ahead, find it in your bible and write about it here, too!
