That You May Believe | The Gospel of John || During the Feast of Dedication, Jesus was walking in the Colonnade of Solomon and was approached again by the Jews asking if He was the Christ. Jesus responded that He had already told them with His words and showed them by His works yet they still did not believe. Contrast this with the end of John 10 where other Jews come to Jesus and believe because what has been said of Him has proven to be true.

That You May Believe | The Gospel of John || In John 10, Jesus displays his knowledge of and loving care for those of us that he calls by name like a good shepherd and his sheep; bringing a sharp contrast between his and the Pharisees’ interaction with the man born blind in the previous chapter.

That You May Believe | The Gospel of John || In John 9, Jesus gives physical sight to a man born blind in order to prove his ability to give spiritual sight to those born in darkness.

Walking in Truth || The book of 3 John || As we study John’s 3rd and final epistle and conclude our Walking in Truth series, we are reminded that in Christ we have everything we need to walk in truth.

Walking in Truth || The book of 2 John || John’s 2nd epistle brings 3 things into view: truth, obedience, and love. In this letter we are reminded of the importance for us to hold fast to God’s truth, and that through our obedience to His truth we demonstrate our love for God and others. When we go beyond the truth of scripture we bankrupt God’s message and disqualify ourselves as trustworthy ambassadors of His message.

Walking in Truth || The book of 1 John || John concludes his first epistle with a warning to be on guard against idols. In this sermon, we are reminded our hearts are prone to take even the good gifts from God and turn them into idols. But, as the prophet Jonah warns us, these worthless idols will turn us away from the steadfast love of Jesus. So then, little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Walking in Truth || The book of 1 John || Our orthodoxy (beliefs) shape our orthopraxy (conduct). In 1 John 5 John reminds us of the incredible truth that we have victory in Jesus. How does and should this knowledge shape our conduct?

Walking in Truth || The book of 1 John || In these closing verses of chapter 4, we are reminded that when we receive God’s love we become part of the fellowship with God. And when we abide in God, we participate in His love by loving others.

Walking in Truth || The book of 1 John || After telling us of the importance to test the spirits, John reiterates the command to love one another, and then paints for us a picture of what that love looks like by pointing to God’s love. He then reminds us why this command is so important: our loving one another reveals God to the world.

Walking in Truth || The book of 1 John || Sandwiched between 2 sections that speak about loving one another and God’s love is a warning against false teachings. John warns the reader to be on guard against these false teachers whose teachings are deceptive because oftentimes they have trace amounts of truth woven in. But we are not to fear because we belong to God, who has overcome the world.