July 26th 2026
In This Way, Love Is Made Complete Among Us So That We Will Have Confidence On The Day Of Judgment, Because In This World We Are Like Him. (1 John 4:17)
Luke 8:20-21 (NIV)
Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you." He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice."
Are you an active member of the family of Jesus Christ? You can be an active member by participating in a church of your choice. Professing to be a follower of Jesus Christ and being referred to as being a Christian by other people does not by itself guarantee that your immortal soul is going end up in heaven! In today’s selected verse Jesus says you will become a member of His family when you “hear God’s word and put it into practice."
Paul when writing to Timothy to help him in his ministry mentions how he first learned about salvation through Jesus Christ in his childhood home. I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. (2 Timothy 1:5). Many reading this can identify with being taught at home about Jesus and developing their faith at an early age. Of course, not all of us were born into a home that professed Christianity!
Then Paul writes about the great gift that he helped write through inspiration from Jesus Christ and from the Old Testament that Paul thoroughly studied! For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. (Romans 1:16). Most of us reading this today fit the label of Gentile in Paul’s time. Our inclusion has been on my mind this whole week, and I felt a need to write about it.
Jesus came into this cursed world to expand the title of God’s chosen people to include us, Gentiles. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Galatians 3:13-14).
Jesus Christ came into this world to offer salvation to all people not just to the people of Israel. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 3:6). Thus, the Son of man came into this world to expand the salvation plan to all of God’s people, who would come to believe and become followers of Jesus Christ! When we profess to be a follower of Jesus then we are expected to change our life to now “walk the walk” not just talk about trying to be a better person.
Have you been born again? When you truly accept salvation through Jesus Christ you are changed, and your immortal soul is put on that narrow path that will lead it to heaven! But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:7). Do you feel changed, is your attitude being directed away from doing your own thing and being directed toward seeking to do good deeds?
We live in a cursed world, which seems to become more violent every day! However, since you know when you leave this earth there is a better place awaiting your soul you can be more at peace. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7). I still believe that this world is a wonderful place, which was created by Jesus to be heaven, and sin entered it and caused non-believers to be receptive to temptations to do evil deeds! Believers are tempted too, and sometimes sin, as all humans have a sinful nature inherited from that original sin.
We live in a complex world where there are many distractions which make it difficult for some people to accept the salvation offered by Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14). Here Jesus was telling His disciples that believing in Him may be difficult for some people as they do not have a childlike attitude and thus be open to believe in Him.
When Jesus was walking on this earth and was living with His disciples, He asked them who they thought He is. “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:15-16). The answer to this question results in where that person’s immortal soul will end up, either in heaven or in hell.
Believe it, there is only one salvation plan offered by God for people living in this cursed world. Jesus told His disciples the details of this plan of salvation that only He offers to mankind! Jesus said, “You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:4-7).
Jesus really summed it up in this message to us His followers! He stated "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.” Leaving no doubt that He is the only Way by which a human’s soul can be saved in this cursed world and be on its Way to heaven. Then Jesus also confirms that He and our heavenly Father are one, when he says, “If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. (1 John 4:15-17). Followers of Jesus work on becoming more Christ-like every day, and it is nice to read what John wrote about Jesus followers, “In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.”
It seems appropriate to say that followers of Jesus Christ are trying to become more like Jesus, with the help of the Holy Spirit that Jesus left behind in this cursed world to teach and guide His followers!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Luke 8:20-21 (NIV)
Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you." He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice."
Are you an active member of the family of Jesus Christ? You can be an active member by participating in a church of your choice. Professing to be a follower of Jesus Christ and being referred to as being a Christian by other people does not by itself guarantee that your immortal soul is going end up in heaven! In today’s selected verse Jesus says you will become a member of His family when you “hear God’s word and put it into practice."
Paul when writing to Timothy to help him in his ministry mentions how he first learned about salvation through Jesus Christ in his childhood home. I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. (2 Timothy 1:5). Many reading this can identify with being taught at home about Jesus and developing their faith at an early age. Of course, not all of us were born into a home that professed Christianity!
Then Paul writes about the great gift that he helped write through inspiration from Jesus Christ and from the Old Testament that Paul thoroughly studied! For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. (Romans 1:16). Most of us reading this today fit the label of Gentile in Paul’s time. Our inclusion has been on my mind this whole week, and I felt a need to write about it.
Jesus came into this cursed world to expand the title of God’s chosen people to include us, Gentiles. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Galatians 3:13-14).
Jesus Christ came into this world to offer salvation to all people not just to the people of Israel. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 3:6). Thus, the Son of man came into this world to expand the salvation plan to all of God’s people, who would come to believe and become followers of Jesus Christ! When we profess to be a follower of Jesus then we are expected to change our life to now “walk the walk” not just talk about trying to be a better person.
Have you been born again? When you truly accept salvation through Jesus Christ you are changed, and your immortal soul is put on that narrow path that will lead it to heaven! But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:7). Do you feel changed, is your attitude being directed away from doing your own thing and being directed toward seeking to do good deeds?
We live in a cursed world, which seems to become more violent every day! However, since you know when you leave this earth there is a better place awaiting your soul you can be more at peace. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7). I still believe that this world is a wonderful place, which was created by Jesus to be heaven, and sin entered it and caused non-believers to be receptive to temptations to do evil deeds! Believers are tempted too, and sometimes sin, as all humans have a sinful nature inherited from that original sin.
We live in a complex world where there are many distractions which make it difficult for some people to accept the salvation offered by Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14). Here Jesus was telling His disciples that believing in Him may be difficult for some people as they do not have a childlike attitude and thus be open to believe in Him.
When Jesus was walking on this earth and was living with His disciples, He asked them who they thought He is. “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:15-16). The answer to this question results in where that person’s immortal soul will end up, either in heaven or in hell.
Believe it, there is only one salvation plan offered by God for people living in this cursed world. Jesus told His disciples the details of this plan of salvation that only He offers to mankind! Jesus said, “You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:4-7).
Jesus really summed it up in this message to us His followers! He stated "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.” Leaving no doubt that He is the only Way by which a human’s soul can be saved in this cursed world and be on its Way to heaven. Then Jesus also confirms that He and our heavenly Father are one, when he says, “If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. (1 John 4:15-17). Followers of Jesus work on becoming more Christ-like every day, and it is nice to read what John wrote about Jesus followers, “In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.”
It seems appropriate to say that followers of Jesus Christ are trying to become more like Jesus, with the help of the Holy Spirit that Jesus left behind in this cursed world to teach and guide His followers!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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