First John Chapter Two, Part Four

2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. If our boast is in Christ—that we walk with Him—then John informs us that our spiritual walk should be congruent to our Lord’s while He was on earth. Totally congruent? Of course not, because Jesus was a sinless Man and we are sinners saved by the grace He provided on the cross. But a walk that slowly mirrors our Savior’s more and more as time elapses? Without a doubt.

First John Chapter Two, Part Three

2:3-5 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
The law of Christ is this: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ,” Galatians 6:2.

A Candymaker's Witness

I had this little card with the origin of the candy cane written on it, and since Christmas is right around the corner I felt that it would be a good time to share it. It's an interesting origin for a piece a candy I never gave any thought to. God bless, and Merry Christmas!

First John Chapter Two, Part Two

2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
To word this passage exceedingly clearly, propitiation essentially means “satisfactory payment.” To paraphrase, the verse then reads, “he is the satisfactory payment for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Christ is our advocate in the heavenly places, as the first verse tells us; He stands before God as the One who pleads for His saints when we sin.

First John Chapter Two, Part One

2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous
In the case that any of John’s readers might have misunderstood what he meant a verse prior, the apostle re-states one of the purposes for his letter. He desires that none who assume the name Christian sin. John reminds us of the person of Christ and the importance of our walk with Him as it affects our witness in daily life, and he places that importance as an argument to refrain from sin. John gives the concession that saints will, sooner or later, sin; therefore he writes to the saint who has trespassed that we have an advocate in Heaven: Jesus Christ the righteous.

Connecting the Dots

Have you ever played Connect the Dots? The game is simple. A picture is defined by a series of so many dots, numbered 1 through however many are needed to complete the picture in question. What the person playing the game must do is use a pencil or pen to draw a line from 1 to 2, then from 2 to 3, and so on. Upon connecting the final line segment the picture is complete and you can see what the dots portray.

Raising Cain, Part 3

6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

God is not posing a question of concern presently, but an inquiry as to whether or not Cain has the right to be angry. Is his anger justifiable? Anger is not a sin, but permitting anger to tempt you toward gratifying it is, Ephesians 4:26-27. As Paul states, to follow sin on this course is an open door to give the Devil a foothold in your life. To paraphrase a little God might have been asking Cain, “Do you have any genuine right to be wroth about this?”

Raising Cain, Part 2

Without further ado, let us examine the several verses in question and discern what we can learn from Cain.

And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD, Genesis 4:1.

Cain, so far as the Biblical record is concerned, was the very first human being ever born. He was the first to come out of the womb; the first person to be created by sexual union. Adam was formed from the dust, and Eve from Adam’s rib. Both were created mature (so far as we know) so they did not know the travails of infancy and childhood as every generation after them would. They did not know experientially what awaited them.

Raising Cain, Part 1

But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him, Genesis 4:5-8.