Day 307: 1 John; 2 John; 3 John

John capsulizes the heart of the gospel in 2 verses:

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)

Nobody likes to admit they are wrong...but everybody is wrong. Nobody can be a Christian unless they make that admission. I am wrong. I have sinned. I'm helpless. I'm a loser. Unless we are able to honestly admit that to ourselves, to God and to others we can't really follow Jesus. Christians have often been looked at with disdain over the years because they are perceived as self-righteous, holier-than-thou types who look down their noses at the "unenlightened". And, certainly, there are those that fit that description. The thing is that, the exact opposite is the truth. You cannot even be a Christian unless you recognize and admit that you are not holy or righteous at all!

And yet...

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1)

In spite of the fact that we absolutely do not deserve it...He loves us...and calls us His children. Not because we deserve it...we don't. No one does. But this door is open to everyone.

And since God loves and is willing to forgive anyone...even me...then what choice do I have but to do the same?

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:16-18)

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:10-11)

One more thought about this guilt thing. It's true, we are all guilty. But God has taken care of the guilt so we don't have to carry it around anymore. We can stop wallowing in regrets about how awful we've been and what a low-life scum bag we were. God has taken care of it.

If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. (1 John 3:20)