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READ   1 John 4:13-15   13 And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. 14 Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.     What evidence do you have you are a child of God? This verse tells you. When you trust Jesus as Savior the Holy Spirit is given to you. John tells us one of

READ   1 John 4:16-17   16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.     God has shown how much He loves us by giving His Son to die for us. As we trust in Jesus as Savior the love of God wil

READ   1 John 4:18-19   18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19 We love each other because he loved us first.     The kind of love John is describing is the kind that dispels all fear. God has demonstrated His love for us by giving us His Son to die for us. This should motivate all believers to serve Him out of love, not duty. Why do w

READ   1 John 4:20-21   20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.     Notice what this verse does not say and what it does say. It does not say you need to confront a person who says he loves God but hates a fellow believer. It does say that you do not need to

READ   1 John 5:1-2   1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. 2 We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments.     Notice that a person does not become a child of God by loving others; one becomes a child of God by believing in Jesus Christ as Savior. The love of God will follow salvation but loving others is not the means of it. If one loves the Father, it

READ   1 John 5:3-5   3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.     John points out that those who love God do what pleases Him. And instructions for what honors Him are found in the Bible. Plus, His commandments are for our good, not to

READ   1 John 5:9-10   9 Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. 10 All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son.     Is it not strange that some people refuse to believe the Bible because it is written by men, they say,

READ   1 John 5:16   16 If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it.     Notice this sin must be something one is able to see. The various views seem to agree that “death” and “life” refer to that which is physical rather than spiritual death and spiritual life. Some give examples of Moses and A

READ   1 John 5:17   17 All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death.     The apostle John emphasized that all wrongdoing or “wicked actions” are sin. Every Christ-follower should want to avoid such behavior. The last part of the verse refers to what John had just written about some sins leading to physical death. In the case of Moses and Aaron in Numbers 20:8-12, they did not treat God as holy before the people. This kept them from leading the people of Israe

READ   1 John 5:18-19   18 We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. 19 We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.     Throughout the book of 1 John the distinction is made between just committing a sin and the practice, or lifestyle, of sinning. This is brought out in the original language of the Greek New Testament. The time

READ   1 John 5:20   20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.     Throughout the Bible one reads of many false gods to whom people bow down. The way believers live in fellowship with the true God is by trusting in Jesus as Savior and living in fellowshi

READ   1 John 5:21   21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.     The apostle John began 1 John by saying in verse 1, We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. He concludes his letter by urging his readers to keep away from anything that would be an idol.  This has to do with that which is seen in c

READ   1 John 2:22-23   22 And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. 23 Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.     Do you know of those today who do not believe that Jesus is the Christ? They are denying that Jesus is the Messiah born into the line of Judah to be the Savior of Israel and of all those who believe in Him.

READ   1 John 5:6-8   6 And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. 7 So we have these three witnesses— 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree.     Many at the time John wrote 1 John thought that the “Christ” came on Jesus at His baptism but left before He went to the cross. That group was kn

READ   1 John 5:11-13   11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. 13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.     Some do not believe what God has testified. What is the record of what His testimony is? It is that He has given us eternal life that is found in His on

READ   1 John 5:14-15   14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.     Believers can be assured that God will grant answers to their prayers if they pray for that which pleases Him. It is common for many Christ-followers to conclude their prayers with the expression, “In Jesus’ name, Amen.” This should not be treated as a

READ   Philippians 1:22-24   22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.     After writing that he wanted to honor Christ by life or by death, Paul comments further. He saw the value of continuing to live. He could do more work for the Lord if he stayed but then wa

READ   Philippians 1:25-26   25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. 26 And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me.     In his case, Paul was convinced he would remain alive at that time to continue to help the Philippian believers. He wanted them to spiritually grow and rejoice in their faith.

READ   Philippians 1:5-6   5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.     Paul was especially thankful for the believers in Philippi who had been faithful partners with him in the ministry since he first came to their city. God had begun a good work in

READ   Philippians 1:7-8   7  So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.   8  God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.     Philippians is called one of “The Prison Epistles” along with Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon. Paul’s tenderness for

READ   Philippians 1:9-10   9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.     Notice what was on his mind as Paul prayed for these believers. He did not pray for their physical problems or that they would be free from persecution; he prayed for their spiritual growth. He wa

READ   Philippians 1:11   11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.     Paul wanted believers to “be filled with the fruit of your salvation.” He even defined what he meant: “the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ.” Notice it is not produced by the believer’s self-effort; it is produced by Jesus Christ. Paul even tells the r

READ   Philippians 1:12-14   12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.     Even though he was imprisoned, Paul saw the sovereignty of God at work. Becaus

READ   Philippians 1:15-17   15 It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. 16 They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. 17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me.     Paul knew about those who were preaching with impure motives. Lik