{"id":990,"date":"2012-09-11T19:43:14","date_gmt":"2012-09-12T00:43:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hushbeck.com\/blog\/?p=990"},"modified":"2012-09-11T19:43:14","modified_gmt":"2012-09-12T00:43:14","slug":"the-epistles-of-john-living-in-truth-and-love-1-john-316-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hushbeck.com\/blog\/2012\/09\/the-epistles-of-john-living-in-truth-and-love-1-john-316-18\/","title":{"rendered":"The Epistles of John: Living in Truth and Love. 1 John 3:16-18"},"content":{"rendered":"

Week 31: \u00a0May 20, 2012 \/ Sept 9 2012<\/strong><\/p>\n

Having contrasted sin with abiding in Christ, John now gives two positive examples to show what abiding in Christ and love really mean.<\/p>\n

Study<\/p>\n

16 \u2013 This is how we have come to know love: the Messiah[1] gave his life for us. We, too, ought to give our lives for our brothers. <\/strong><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 John started this section by saying we are to love one another. Now he gives us some examples of what he means by Love.\u00a0 The greatest example is that Christ died for us, he gave (laid down) his life for us. \u00a0Notice that John says, For us\u2026 \u00a0This is key for he did not just die to show love in some general abstract sense, he died for us.<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We, too, ought to give our lives<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

As the Gospel of John taught, Jesus is our example in all things, even this. \u00a0\u00a0Does this mean that we should go find someone to die for? No. \u00a0This should not be seen as our sole duty; this is the limit of our duty. \u00a0We should be willing to give of ourselves up to and including our very lives.\u00a0 This is not just what we can \u201cafford\u201d \u00a0nor is it to give of our excess.\u00a0 After all could Jesus \u201cafford\u201d to give his life?<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

17 \u2013 Whoever has earthly possessions and notices a brother in need and yet withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God be present in him?<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Since most of us will not be called upon to give our lives, John further expands on this with a more day to day example.<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Whoever has earthly possessions<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

When understood within the historical context in which Jesus spoke, that is the economic conditions of the time, when translated to today, this would include virtually every American.<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 withholds his compassion from him\u00a0 <\/strong><\/em>(\u03ba\u03bb\u03b5\u03af\u03c9 \u1f41 \u03c3\u03c0\u03bb\u03ac\u03b3\u03c7\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03cc\u03c2 \u1f00\u03c0\u03cc \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03cc\u03c2)<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The picture here is of locking up (\u03ba\u03bb\u03b5\u03af\u03c9) our natural feelings, in short of hardening our heart.\u00a0 It is important to note here that John does not say withhold our goods. Tithing or giving to the benevolent fund is not what John is talking about here. The focus here is more on how we feel, rather than what we do.\u00a0 What we may do in any given situation is complicated.\u00a0 \u00a0How we should feel about it is not.<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This is because if we have the right attitude, it is far more likely that the correct actions will follow and he will be dealing with actions shortly.<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 how can the love of God be present in him?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

If God has compassion for those in need, and we are filled by the love of God, how can we not also have compassion for those in need?<\/p>\n

a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Expansion: True Love Acts (3:18-20)<\/h4>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 i.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 True Love Acts\u00a0 (3:18)<\/h5>\n

*18 \u2013 Little children, we must not express[2] love merely by our words and manner of speech; we must love[3] also in action[4] and in truth.<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Little children<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Again we have a common marker of a transition. Here John will add actions to the feelings discussed in the previous verse.<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 we must love in action and in truth <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

While our feelings are important, without action they are of little value. Why does John add Truth?\u00a0 Truly loving someone in need often takes a great deal of discernment. \u00a0\u00a0It involves a good understanding of the circumstances, and the actions we take must do more that alleviate our conscience,\u00a0 they must actually improve the situation.\u00a0 Giving money to a starving alcoholic on skid row, is likely to do nothing other than pay for more alcohol, and further their problem.\u00a0 We might walk away thinking that we have done a nice thing, but in truth all we have done is worsen the problem.<\/p>\n

Questions and Discussion<\/strong><\/p>\n

The discussion this week centered on what constitutes a \u201cgood\u201d action.\u00a0 As mentioned above, this is not always easy to determine.\u00a0\u00a0 In addition truly helping can often take a lot more commitment than just giving some money.\u00a0 On the other hand there are far more worthy causes then we have the ability to support.\u00a0 We can\u2019t do it all, and God does not expect us to. It will take a lot of prayer and consideration to determine which ones God may be calling you to support.\u00a0 Finally, we are to be good stewards of our money.\u00a0 We should check out those groups that we support, but this should be in proportion to the how much you are giving.\u00a0 The recommendation of a friend may be enough for small one-time gift, but a more serious ongoing financial support, should not be done haphazardly.<\/p>\n

If you have question or comments about the class, feel free to send me an email at\u00a0elgin@hushbeck.com<\/a>\u00a0and be sure to put \u201cEpistles of John\u201d in the header.<\/em><\/p>\n

See here for references and more background on the class<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible: International Standard Version\u00ae<\/sup>. Copyright \u00a9 1996-2008 by The ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission.\u00a0www.isv.org<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Note: Some places I have modify the text from the ISV version. Passages that I have modified have been noted with and * by the verse number and the ISV text is included in a footnote.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/div>\n

Footnotes:<\/em><\/p>\n

[1]\u00a0 3:16 Lit. he
\n[2]\u00a0 3:18 ISV: we must stop expressing
\n[3] 3:18 The Gk. lacks love
\n[4] 3:18 Or work<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Week 31: \u00a0May 20, 2012 \/ Sept 9 2012 Having contrasted sin with abiding in Christ, John now gives two positive examples to show what abiding in Christ and love really mean. Study 16 \u2013 This is how we have come to know love: the Messiah[1] gave his life for us. We, too, ought to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,8],"tags":[45,312,369,512,579,638,713,799,805,808,854,1317],"class_list":["post-990","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible","category-christianity","tag-1-john","tag-compassion","tag-darkness","tag-fellowship","tag-gnostics","tag-holy-spirit","tag-jesus","tag-light","tag-living-in-truth-and-love","tag-love","tag-messiah","tag-truth"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Epistles of John: Living in Truth and Love. 1 John 3:16-18 - Politics and Religion<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/hushbeck.com\/blog\/2012\/09\/the-epistles-of-john-living-in-truth-and-love-1-john-316-18\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Epistles of John: Living in Truth and Love. 1 John 3:16-18 - Politics and Religion\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Week 31: \u00a0May 20, 2012 \/ Sept 9 2012 Having contrasted sin with abiding in Christ, John now gives two positive examples to show what abiding in Christ and love really mean. 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