Greetings members and friends and welcome to another commentary and preview to this Sunday’s study of the Word. This Sunday’s study text is entitled “A Conquering Faith” and it is based on 1 John 4: 2-3, 13-17; 5:4-5.
John, the brother of James and son of Zebedee, an apostle and eye witness of Jesus Christ, is believed the be author of this epistle along with two other epistles and a gospel that bears his name. This same John is also believed to be the writer in the of book of Revelation.
To better understand the study text, it is particularly important to keep in mind the context and situation and audience to whom John is writing. The church is in its infancy. Many, if not most, of the converts and believers were new to monotheism and didn’t have a background in faith or theology.
There were several teachings and doctrines concerning Jesus that were circulating at the time of John’s letter. People didn’t have a complete canon of scripture. In fact, people didn’t have any definitive, authoritative, official church teaching they could read and rely on. Communication was fragmented at best and people were acting upon bits and pieces of what they had seen or heard and forming all kinds of conclusions about Jesus and this new religion and faith.
John’s letter is written in part to help settle and clarify some misconceptions and understandings about Jesus and the faith. Regardless of what others were saying about Jesus and the faith, John wanted to establish the following things.
John wanted to establish that Jesus was fully human and that those who confessed so correct and those who deny He is anything or anyone otherwise are false. He verifies the presence of the Holy Spirit and it is by Him God dwells in believers.
John establishes his credentials as an eye witness of who Jesus was and is and the purpose of His coming which was and is to save the world. He states that Jesus is the Son of God and he didn’t mean it metaphorically. This is a prime test of those who are of God when they attest to these things.
Another attribute of true believers and witnesses is godly love. John said that he was a witness and recipient of God’s love. Those that abide in this love abide also in God. The way Jesus loved is the way believers love which make them like God. To overcome the world is to be born of God and to be born of God is to believe that Jesus is God’s Son.
This all may seem simple and just a matter of semantics or saying the right words. The truth is that it is simple. But we must understand that John was combating a wave of false teaching and misunderstanding about who Jesus is and what faith and salvation in Him mean.
Therefore, he was attempting to make the gospel as plain and as simple as possible in a day of poor communication, of illiteracy and ignorance concerning the things of the true and living God.
The most direct, essential and easiest way to establish the fundamental tenants and truth of the gospel is what we are reading in this portion of John’s letter addressed to people who are new to the faith and are being bombarded by all types of false, misleading and misinformation concerning the truth about Jesus Christ.
John knew the truth of who Jesus Christ is was needed then and is still needed now to overcome the world.
Well, again be sure to look over the study again and come prepared to offer your comments, questions and perspective on the meaning of the study. If you can’t attend your own Sunday School class this Sunday, you can join us live and online at 9:00 am at www.fbmbc.org and clicking the online services link.
You can also join us live by dialing 508 924-2890. If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section or you can share them on Sunday. So, let’s all have a great lesson and discussion this Sunday and remember to fear God and keep His commandments.
Pastor Jordan
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