1 John... and the Word was made flesh

The spirit of mankind is restored in those who choose to accept Christ Jesus. 

Jesus is the mediator of the New Testament. He paid the price of redemption by His blood sacrificed for us… for life is in the blood. Jesus encompasses God’s glorious gift of grace. He now speaks from heaven. We are saved in His name.

Acts 1:9 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.

Jesus was taken up and we likewise will be taken up.

Acts 22: 17 “Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance

Paul saw Jesus as the risen Savior! 

Galatians 1:11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul’s epistles came from the revelation of the risen Jesus Christ who is  in heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.

1 Timothy 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,

Paul exhorted Timothy that by supplications, prayers, intercessions  he should give thanks for all of us. For all in authority are placed there by God for our good or for our admonition. There is one God and one mediator between us and Him, the man Christ Jesus. All God and all man He alone is able to justify His creation. 

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

ALL of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We are justified freely only by God’s grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God set forth to pay the full price of sin. He is the justifier of ALL who believe in Him and we accept it by faith.

Man has marred God’s perfect plan of salvation by making it of works and not of His amazing grace.

We know that the power of life is wrapped in small gestures of compassion, and in the gifts that spill from the heart. If I don’t see it (acknowledge it or embrace it)…
…I can’t access it.
…I can’t let it spill.
…I can’t give it away.

This little light of mine. I’m gonna let it shine. Every day. Every day. I’m gonna let my little light shine. Sabbath Moments 

Proverbs 24:16 (ESV) "for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity."

In today's reading we find a contrast between the righteous person and the wicked person: The evil person falls down and stays down. The righteous or wise person falls but gets back up again and again (Proverbs 24:16). As we've learned throughout Proverbs, a wise person is strong (Proverbs 24:5), but their strength is not in themselves: It comes from God, the Giver of all wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). Another lesson we learn from Proverbs 24 is that facing difficulties can prove our true strength (Proverbs 24:10). Problems or struggles may make us feel weak and faint, but a wise person who is dependent on the Lord will be able to withstand difficult seasons. In Him, we are able to get back up after falling under attack, as the Lord gives strength to those who choose to surrender to Him. True strength is not dependent on what we do but who we trust. But the truth is that a good life isn't measured by our circumstances or successes. In God's eyes, it is measured by our faith and how we get back up over and over to keep following Him.

 Let's look at our own lives and make them count for Christ. First5

July 2nd, 2-24

The spirit of mankind is made perfect in Christ Jesus. 

Jesus is the mediator of the New Testament. He paid the price of redemption by His blood sacrificed for us… for life is in the blood. 

Jesus encompasses God’s glorious gift of grace. He now speaks from heaven. We are saved in Jesus name.

Acts 1:9 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.

Jesus was taken up and we likewise will be taken up.

Acts 22: 17 “Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance

Paul saw Jesus as the risen Savior! 

Galatians 1:11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul’s epistles came from the revelation of the risen Jesus Christ who is  in heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.

1 Timothy 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,

Paul exhorted Timothy that by supplications, prayers, intercessions  he should give thanks for all of us. For all in authority are placed there by God for our good or for our admonition. There is one God and one mediator between us and Him, the man Christ Jesus. All God and all man He alone is able to justify His creation. 

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

ALL of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We are justified freely only by God’s grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God set forth to pay the full price of sin. He is the justifier of ALL who believe in Him and we accept it by faith.

Man has marred God’s perfect plan of salvation by making it of works and not of His amazing grace.

We know that the power of life is wrapped in small gestures of compassion, and in the gifts that spill from the heart. If I don’t see it (acknowledge it or embrace it)…
…I can’t access it.
…I can’t let it spill.
…I can’t give it away.

This little light of mine. I’m gonna let it shine. Every day. Every day. I’m gonna let my little light shine. Sabbath Moments 

Proverbs 24:16 (ESV) "for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity."

In today's reading we find a contrast between the righteous person and the wicked person: The evil person falls down and stays down. The righteous or wise person falls but gets back up again and again (Proverbs 24:16). As we've learned throughout Proverbs, a wise person is strong (Proverbs 24:5), but their strength is not in themselves: It comes from God, the Giver of all wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). Another lesson we learn from Proverbs 24 is that facing difficulties can prove our true strength (Proverbs 24:10). Problems or struggles may make us feel weak and faint, but a wise person who is dependent on the Lord will be able to withstand difficult seasons. In Him, we are able to get back up after falling under attack, as the Lord gives strength to those who choose to surrender to Him. True strength is not dependent on what we do but who we trust. But the truth is that a good life isn't measured by our circumstances or successes. In God's eyes, it is measured by our faith and how we get back up over and over to keep following Him.

 Let's look at our own lives and make them count for Christ. First5

And the Word was made  flesh and dwelt among us.

2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

1 John

There are several indications that John was addressing heresies in this epistle. Note the use of expressions like “which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled” (1:1); “every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God” (4:2); and “He who came by water and blood” (5:6). All of these phrases use explicit and vivid language to describe the Incarnation, the truth that Jesus is both completely God and completely human. The NKJV Study Bible

1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life.

1 John 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,

1 John 5:6-7  This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.

The New King James Version

John begins this letter with the Word—the embodiment of God’s revelation in the person of Jesus (compare Genesis 1:1). 

John immediately states his thesis: Not only was Jesus from the beginning (eternal), He also was able to be heard, seen, and touched (He was human). This belief separates the community John addresses from those who withdrew from them.

The word of life refers to Jesus, who is eternal life to those who believe in Him. 

John the apostle, also called the evangelist, was a fisherman. He was mending nets with his brother James when Jesus called them to follow Him (Mark 1:19–21). If John is the disciple “whom Jesus loved” in John’s Gospel, then he was one of the few people who stayed with Jesus at His crucifixion. In addition, this would make John the one who began caring for Jesus’ mother, Mary (John 19:25–27).

Spirit of God refers to the source of true teaching about Christ. A true spirit from God will confess Jesus’ true humanity.

The reference to water possibly is meant to allude to Jesus’ baptism, or perhaps to the anointing of God’s Spirit. The mention of blood might allude to Jesus’ death. 

The purpose of John’s symbolism here is debated, but most likely he wanted to assert that Jesus was genuinely human—not human in appearance only. Taken together, the references to water and blood encapsulate the ministry of Jesus, from its beginning at His baptism to His sacrificial death on the cross. 

For John, confessing that Jesus is the Son of God meant confessing Him as the anointed one of God—the Christ, who truly suffered and died on the cross. Three that testify refers to testifying about the true humanity of Christ and His crucifixion. The three witnesses affirm the significance of Christ’s atoning death, which the secessionists apparently denied.

Faithlife Study Bible

The reference is to Jesus, the Word who brings life. This life is a gift from God, a gift that cannot be earned or taken from us.

By this you know: One test of whether a person is led by the Holy Spirit is whether that person’s beliefs agree with the truth of God’s Word.  Jesus Christ has come in the flesh: This test seems to be aimed at Docetists. They taught that Christ did not have a physical body. The test may also be aimed at the followers of Cerinthus who claimed that Jesus and “the Christ” were two separate beings, one physical and the other spiritual. In this letter, John is careful to use the name and title of Jesus Christ together to clearly express the complete union of the two titles in one person.

Water and blood have been interpreted in at least four ways: (1) as Jesus’ baptism and death, (2) as His incarnation, (3) as the water and blood that flowed from His side on the Cross, and (4) as the baptism of the believer and the Lord’s Supper. Most scholars favor the first interpretation. 

John is correcting the false teacher Cerinthus, who claimed that the Spirit came on Jesus at His baptism but left Him before His death. The Holy Spirit testifies in accord with the water and the blood that Jesus is the Son of God.

The NKJV Study Bible

John 1:1–2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Acts 4:20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

1 John 2:23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

Philippians 2:7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

 and dwelt among us.

2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

1 John

There are several indications that John was addressing heresies in this epistle. Note the use of expressions like “which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled” (1:1); “every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God” (4:2); and “He who came by water and blood” (5:6). All of these phrases use explicit and vivid language to describe the Incarnation, the truth that Jesus is both completely God and completely human. The NKJV Study Bible

1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life.

1 John 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,

1 John 5:6-7  This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.

The New King James Version

John begins this letter with the Word—the embodiment of God’s revelation in the person of Jesus (compare Genesis 1:1). 

John immediately states his thesis: Not only was Jesus from the beginning (eternal), He also was able to be heard, seen, and touched (He was human). This belief separates the community John addresses from those who withdrew from them.

The word of life refers to Jesus, who is eternal life to those who believe in Him. 

John the apostle, also called the evangelist, was a fisherman. He was mending nets with his brother James when Jesus called them to follow Him (Mark 1:19–21). If John is the disciple “whom Jesus loved” in John’s Gospel, then he was one of the few people who stayed with Jesus at His crucifixion. In addition, this would make John the one who began caring for Jesus’ mother, Mary (John 19:25–27).

Spirit of God refers to the source of true teaching about Christ. A true spirit from God will confess Jesus’ true humanity.

The reference to water possibly is meant to allude to Jesus’ baptism, or perhaps to the anointing of God’s Spirit. The mention of blood might allude to Jesus’ death. 

The purpose of John’s symbolism here is debated, but most likely he wanted to assert that Jesus was genuinely human—not human in appearance only. Taken together, the references to water and blood encapsulate the ministry of Jesus, from its beginning at His baptism to His sacrificial death on the cross. 

For John, confessing that Jesus is the Son of God meant confessing Him as the anointed one of God—the Christ, who truly suffered and died on the cross. Three that testify refers to testifying about the true humanity of Christ and His crucifixion. The three witnesses affirm the significance of Christ’s atoning death, which the secessionists apparently denied.

Faithlife Study Bible

The reference is to Jesus, the Word who brings life. This life is a gift from God, a gift that cannot be earned or taken from us.

By this you know: One test of whether a person is led by the Holy Spirit is whether that person’s beliefs agree with the truth of God’s Word.  Jesus Christ has come in the flesh: This test seems to be aimed at Docetists. They taught that Christ did not have a physical body. The test may also be aimed at the followers of Cerinthus who claimed that Jesus and “the Christ” were two separate beings, one physical and the other spiritual. In this letter, John is careful to use the name and title of Jesus Christ together to clearly express the complete union of the two titles in one person.

Water and blood have been interpreted in at least four ways: (1) as Jesus’ baptism and death, (2) as His incarnation, (3) as the water and blood that flowed from His side on the Cross, and (4) as the baptism of the believer and the Lord’s Supper. Most scholars favor the first interpretation. 

John is correcting the false teacher Cerinthus, who claimed that the Spirit came on Jesus at His baptism but left Him before His death. The Holy Spirit testifies in accord with the water and the blood that Jesus is the Son of God.

The NKJV Study Bible

John 1:1–2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Acts 4:20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

1 John 2:23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

Philippians 2:7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

Job 42:12-17 God restores what Satan has stolen

 Jesus did not leave us alone to fend for ourselves. He gave us His Holy Spirit to reside in us, to guide and care for us in God’s mercy and grace. 

In Jesus God restores what Satan stole from us.

The Hebrew Jews were battling in their minds the tradition of Old Testament works vs the grace of God in the New Testament Covenant of Jesus Christ. The past was good but the new covenant was so much better. We are not under the severe conditions of the law. As believers we are children of grace. Jesus finished all the requirements of the Law. 

Prophesy is the gift of God. The worse the world gets the closer we are to the Lord’s return.

Hebrews 12:20 21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

Israel feared and quaked at the presence of God knowing that man could never stand before our holy God. So terrible was the sight that even Moses feared. But now we are the church of the first born, written in heaven through the blood of Jesus, who is the mediator of the new covenant. He speaks through Holy Spirit in us where He sits at the right hand of the Father. The heavenly Jerusalem, in which we are citizens, brings us into the Kingdom of God. 

Colossians 1:12-13 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Everything in the Old Testament was earthly and now in the New Testament they are spiritual. We are giving thanks continually to the Father who made us to be partakers of the inheritance of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. 

2 Corinthians 5:9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

As believers we labor to be accepted of Him. We appear before Him, knowing our sins are forgiven, but we will be judged on the things we have done in His name as His hands and feet on earth.

Every man’s works will be tested by  fire keeping those things done for Him and not for ourselves.

Romans 8:14-17 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Paul was the apostle of grace to those set free from the Law through the blood of Jesus Christ. We have received the Spirit of adoption where we can cry, ABBA Father. As children we are co-heirs with Christ. God has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us in to the Kingdom of His Son.

Know that you are loved! Rest in that knowledge in the peace of God.

Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

"For the grace of God has appeared … training us … to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." God's goodness and grace can actually train us in self-control. Proverbs 23:17 similarly counsels us to "continue in the fear (reverence) of the Lord all the day." 

Living in awe of God and what He has done for us, in every moment of every day, will help us make better choices.

Titus 2:13 goes on to say the grace of God motivates us in self-control by reminding us that we are "waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." 

Proverbs 23:18 similarly says, "Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off." 

One day Jesus will return! He will come back for us and make everything perfect and new. Knowing that day is coming, that we will soon meet Jesus face to face, gives us strength to make hard but good choices today. First5

Another week when so many in our world feel alarmed or exhausted, scrambling in their minds to make sense of it all.

And I know this; when I’m tired, I prefer my head in the sand.
After all, “What can I do that would make a difference?”

I forget I can make a difference in the small world where I live and breathe.

When we see the light we carry, we change the way we measure what really matters. I love David Orr’s reminder, "The plain fact is that the planet does not need more successful people. But it does desperately need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of every kind. It needs people who live well in their places. It needs people of moral courage willing to join the fight to make the world habitable and humane. And these qualities have little to do with success as we have defined it."

Now, we know the power of being kindred light spillers. Let us be these places for one another.

No wonder it is so easy to give up when we see only big world issues and are undone by big world distress. “It’s not my problem, after all.” And the big world takes us away from this moment... and the people who are right in front of us.

Where we are grounded, we pause. We say thank you. We will see beauty in places we didn’t expect, and we are gifted with surprises of grace. We will see craziness and pain, yes, but now we have the permission to engage, instead of resign. To care. To spill light. Even in small ways... to spill compassion, forgiveness, second changes, understanding. Sabbath Moments 

Job 42:12-17

12 Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. 13 He also had seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch. 15 In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. 16 After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. 17 So Job died, old and full of days. The New King James Version

Job’s restored prosperity should not be seen as compensation for his piety. After Job had given up his demand for his former prosperity, the Lord could give it to him as a free gift. This conclusion shows that the Book of Job does not totally reject the principle of divine retribution but only its false application. It concurs with the Book of Proverbs that the fear of the Lord normally leads to an abundant and long life. But we cannot presume that God will always operate in this manner, as Job’s friends had done. The NKJV Study Bible

Before his affliction, Job was a very wealthy man. Now, God increases Job’s wealth to double his original holdings. In addition to being beautiful, Job’s daughters shared in the inheritance with their brothers. Typically, daughters did not receive any inheritance. The only other old testament record of daughters receiving inheritance was when their father died without producing any sons. This epitaph is similar to that of Abraham, Isaac, David, and Jehoiada the priest. Job’s long life is another way of God vindicating Job before other people and blessing him. Faithlife Study Bible

In the beginning of this book we had Job’s patience under his troubles, for an example; here, for our encouragement to follow that example, we have his happy end. His troubles began in Satan’s malice, which God restrained; his restoration began in God’s mercy, which Satan could not oppose. Mercy did not return when Job was disputing with his friends, but when he was praying for them. God is served and pleased with our warm devotions, not with our warm disputes. God doubled Job’s possessions. We may lose much for the Lord, but we shall not lose any thing by him. Whether the Lord gives us health and temporal blessings or not, if we patiently suffer according to his will, in the end we shall be happy. Job’s estate increased. The blessing of the Lord makes rich; it is he that gives us power to get wealth, and gives success in honest endeavours. The last days of a good man sometimes prove his best, his last works his best works, his last comforts his best comforts; for his path, like that of the morning light, shines more and more unto the perfect day. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Genesis 25:8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.

Genesis 15:15 Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age.

Job 5:26 

You shall come to the grave at a full age,

As a sheaf of grain ripens in its season.

Job 8:7 

Though your beginning was small,

Yet your latter end would increase abundantly.