February 15th 2015
This Is Love For God: To Obey His Commands.
1 John 5:3-5 (NIV)
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Based on the selected verses, “being overcomers” requires us “to obey his commands.” Again based on these verses unless we obey God’s commands we do not, or cannot, actually love God! Do you really love God? Is it possible to love a God you cannot see? Is your faith strong enough for you to really love God? These are important questions for all of us who claim we follow Jesus, and we are working on becoming more Christ-like every day! Have you resolved these important questions in your life? Notice these verses also tell us who it is that can overcome this world. It asks first, “Who is it that overcomes the world?” Next these verses tell us who it is that can overcome this world, “Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
Many people who profess to be Christians do not really believe that only human beings, who follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will be saved, and thus, go to heaven. Many people hold to a Godly plan that allow all people who lead a good life and try to do what they believe is good will go to heaven. Some even ascribe to a plan where, if a person does more good things than the bad things then God has a scale to weigh these on, and thus, decide who gets to go to heaven. If you believe either one of these plans, then it puts all of us in the position of failing to get to heaven.
If you accept what the Bible teaches, then as a follower of Jesus, you know for sure that you are going to heaven, because your salvation is based not on what good things you do, but on the perfect sacrifice Jesus made on your behalf, when He died for you sins, thus guaranteeing your salvation. To take advantage of this grace filled offer, you must accept Jesus’ offer of salvation. When you do this your salvation is guaranteed! Yes, there is no doubt about it; you will go to heaven when you die. Now isn’t this plan a lot clearer, and fool proof?
But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. "‘If you can’?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:22b-24) Have you ever addressed Jesus the way this man did? Maybe sometime while in prayer you may have wondered if Jesus would or could do anything to help you with some problem you were asking Him for help with? In this instance Jesus is planning to cast out an evil spirit from this man’s son, which has caused the boy to be harmed. This father voices concern about Jesus’ ability to cast out this spirit, and Jesus’ response puzzled me when he states, "Everything is possible for him who believes." Apparently Jesus is referring to this man’s belief, because he responds that he does believe, and if you read on, Jesus does cast out the evil spirit, and the man’s son is okay.
The man’s response to Jesus lets us, at least me, know we can believe in Jesus, and yet still have doubts. He says, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" This response is helpful to me, in that it is okay to have doubts, even when we profess to believe, and Jesus will still answer our prayers in the areas where we do really believe. Some of the great Biblical characters showed character flaws, and yet Jesus forgave them, and allowed them to resume their positions of authority. This shows great hope for me, and I hope this may be helpful to someone reading this commentary! If you believe, but still have some doubts you are struggling with, it is okay with Jesus, He will still answer your prayers!
Old Testament news is still good news, as we can see how times have not changed that much from then till now. Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritisms to a poor man in his lawsuit. (Exodus 23:2-3) It is still very good advice for you children, “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.” Unfortunately today we advise young and older people too that it’s okay to do wrong, as long as you do not get caught. Of course, this idea does not include Jesus, as He always knows when we sin against God and/or people!
When Jesus recruited Paul from being a Pharisee of the Jewish religion to becoming the leader of the Gentiles to direct them toward becoming some of the first Christians, and Paul asked who it was that knocked him down, Jesus answered "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Read the rest of this discussion between Paul and Jesus. "Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ "‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ (Acts 26:15-18)
To me, this is a wonderful story of this encounter of Paul’s with Jesus, and the immediate acceptance by Jesus of Paul, and thus, Paul was immediately the man who would direct Gentiles toward Jesus Christ for acceptance of the salvation only Jesus can offer through perfect grace. Most of us reading this today have been saved through this perfect grace offered by Jesus through Paul to us Gentiles, now called Christians and children of God! Now that is a great example of God’s love for all of His created children, even the Gentiles.
When Jesus was asked about what is the most important commands of the law? Jesus replied: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39) In this season of love we are told to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Any true love must start with first loving God; else you will fail to be able to love your neighbors. This command also tells you to love yourself!
Tomorrow think of this kind of love, as you express love to those around you, and those who may be away somewhere. Maybe they would like to hear from you?
Wishing you all, a
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
1 John 5:3-5 (NIV)
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Based on the selected verses, “being overcomers” requires us “to obey his commands.” Again based on these verses unless we obey God’s commands we do not, or cannot, actually love God! Do you really love God? Is it possible to love a God you cannot see? Is your faith strong enough for you to really love God? These are important questions for all of us who claim we follow Jesus, and we are working on becoming more Christ-like every day! Have you resolved these important questions in your life? Notice these verses also tell us who it is that can overcome this world. It asks first, “Who is it that overcomes the world?” Next these verses tell us who it is that can overcome this world, “Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
Many people who profess to be Christians do not really believe that only human beings, who follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will be saved, and thus, go to heaven. Many people hold to a Godly plan that allow all people who lead a good life and try to do what they believe is good will go to heaven. Some even ascribe to a plan where, if a person does more good things than the bad things then God has a scale to weigh these on, and thus, decide who gets to go to heaven. If you believe either one of these plans, then it puts all of us in the position of failing to get to heaven.
If you accept what the Bible teaches, then as a follower of Jesus, you know for sure that you are going to heaven, because your salvation is based not on what good things you do, but on the perfect sacrifice Jesus made on your behalf, when He died for you sins, thus guaranteeing your salvation. To take advantage of this grace filled offer, you must accept Jesus’ offer of salvation. When you do this your salvation is guaranteed! Yes, there is no doubt about it; you will go to heaven when you die. Now isn’t this plan a lot clearer, and fool proof?
But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. "‘If you can’?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:22b-24) Have you ever addressed Jesus the way this man did? Maybe sometime while in prayer you may have wondered if Jesus would or could do anything to help you with some problem you were asking Him for help with? In this instance Jesus is planning to cast out an evil spirit from this man’s son, which has caused the boy to be harmed. This father voices concern about Jesus’ ability to cast out this spirit, and Jesus’ response puzzled me when he states, "Everything is possible for him who believes." Apparently Jesus is referring to this man’s belief, because he responds that he does believe, and if you read on, Jesus does cast out the evil spirit, and the man’s son is okay.
The man’s response to Jesus lets us, at least me, know we can believe in Jesus, and yet still have doubts. He says, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" This response is helpful to me, in that it is okay to have doubts, even when we profess to believe, and Jesus will still answer our prayers in the areas where we do really believe. Some of the great Biblical characters showed character flaws, and yet Jesus forgave them, and allowed them to resume their positions of authority. This shows great hope for me, and I hope this may be helpful to someone reading this commentary! If you believe, but still have some doubts you are struggling with, it is okay with Jesus, He will still answer your prayers!
Old Testament news is still good news, as we can see how times have not changed that much from then till now. Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritisms to a poor man in his lawsuit. (Exodus 23:2-3) It is still very good advice for you children, “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.” Unfortunately today we advise young and older people too that it’s okay to do wrong, as long as you do not get caught. Of course, this idea does not include Jesus, as He always knows when we sin against God and/or people!
When Jesus recruited Paul from being a Pharisee of the Jewish religion to becoming the leader of the Gentiles to direct them toward becoming some of the first Christians, and Paul asked who it was that knocked him down, Jesus answered "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Read the rest of this discussion between Paul and Jesus. "Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ "‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ (Acts 26:15-18)
To me, this is a wonderful story of this encounter of Paul’s with Jesus, and the immediate acceptance by Jesus of Paul, and thus, Paul was immediately the man who would direct Gentiles toward Jesus Christ for acceptance of the salvation only Jesus can offer through perfect grace. Most of us reading this today have been saved through this perfect grace offered by Jesus through Paul to us Gentiles, now called Christians and children of God! Now that is a great example of God’s love for all of His created children, even the Gentiles.
When Jesus was asked about what is the most important commands of the law? Jesus replied: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39) In this season of love we are told to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Any true love must start with first loving God; else you will fail to be able to love your neighbors. This command also tells you to love yourself!
Tomorrow think of this kind of love, as you express love to those around you, and those who may be away somewhere. Maybe they would like to hear from you?
Wishing you all, a
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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