No Doubt" December 17 Readings: 1 John 5

 

Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2024

This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles.  The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New. 

Bible Readings: 1 John 5 

Background:  

John's first letter wraps up with a series of positive and powerful teachings about the victory and power of Christ, reminding his readers that Jesus is victor over all and that they can walk confidently in him. 

Note: If you are using the KJV, you have a verse 7 that doesn't appear in any other version. I wish that verse was in the originals - it is the most Trinitarian verse in any manuscript. Unfortunately, it is also absolutely clear that it was not part of the original letter of John, but was added about a thousand years later. It is TRUE but it is not scripture.

Daily Devotional: No Doubt

We live in a world of moral uncertainty in which it is considered normal and honorable to be unsure of truth. No one knows what is right and wrong. There is no absolute standard; that is decided by each person for themselves. The only wrong is to assert that one is right, the only evil is to identify someone else's beliefs or actions as evil.

John said much in this letter about love - the love of God and the love we are to have for one another in the Body of Christ. It is easy for us to confuse love with a tolerance for sin and false doctrine that is actually destructive to the Body Christ died to redeem and sanctify. And in his concluding words, he made it very clear that we need not live in doubt. We need not waver between opinions or wonder if we've chosen the right way.

We can live in a spiritual confidence that will offend our world!

Years ago I wrote an article in the Cedar Rapids Gazette defending our denomination's announcement that we would be making a special effort in Chicago to witness to Jewish people about the saving grace of Christ. I pointed out that the church began by telling the Jewish people that their Messiah had come and our commitment had not changed. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the Gentile, the Jew, the Muslim - every person on earth. A man (a Baptist from another, more liberal group) wrote a letter to the editor excoriating me for my hubris and arrogance. How dare I say that Jesus is the only way! How could I be so certain that my way was the only right way?

But according to John, we can know! We are not meant to live in doubt and uncertainty. Look at verse 13, written to those who believe, who have faith in Jesus Christ.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

We are supposed to KNOW that we have eternal life. Know! How many times have you talked to someone about whether they would go to heaven and they answered, "I hope so." NO! We are meant to KNOW SO, not hope so. If you "hope so" you are trusting in yourself. But when we trust in Christ and his finished work we can know that we have eternal life. 

Verses 11 and 12 made it absolutely clear what the basis for our confidence is. 

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Are we arrogant? No! We are confident. But our confidence is not in ourselves but it is in the one in whom we have placed our trust. We have Christ! We placed our faith in Christ and there is life in him. He who has the Son has life - it's as simple as that. If you don't have the Son you don't have life, but you live under the wrath of God. 

We are not called to live in doubt and uncertainty about our eternal destiny, but in confidence - not because of who we are but because of Christ! He is life and we are his! If we have him (by faith) we have life. It's as simple as that. 

This kind of confidence will drive the world crazy but it gives a peace that passes understanding!

Thank you, Lord for the peace that comes from knowing Christ and knowing that in HIM we have life - life eternal and life abundant!

Consider God's Word:

Do you live in doubt and fear, because your confidence rests in yourself?
Or do you rest in Christ and his eternal work on your behalf?