Sometimes we like to push against boundaries. We do this in small ways but also larger ways with God’s commandments. We can say something is true but live our lives as if it’s not true. To abide in God’s light and love is to have a close enough relationship with Him to understand His heart and to not see His list of commands as burdensome. Out of His love for us, God gives us boundaries to follow so our lives can flourish and be a blessing to others. The commandments are not a burden, but a blessing put in place for our good.

At the root of all fears is mistaken or forgotten identity. Where are we abiding? Where we abide influences who we think we are. When we know who we are in Christ, all fear vanishes. We are beloved children of God and His perfect love casts out fear.

How do we discern what's from the Holy Spirit and what's from the world? Objective truth seems hard to come by, and it gets tricky when spiritual truths are mixed in with cultural concepts. We need a test; a way to discern what is from God. Discernment is more than choosing right from wrong; it's choosing right from almost right. The gospel continually moves from our head, to our heart, and to our hands in a cycle. How you think about God is going to impact how you love Him, and how you love Him is going to impact how you follow Him. The worldly tests we use are leading us astray as we falsely rely on our emotions or cultural approval to discern truth. The best way to discern what is from God is by discerning what points to Jesus and His Supremacy.

The full joy that we long for is found by abiding in God’s love. It’s found by loving others the way Jesus did. Jesus died willingly on the cross for us and our benefit. Jesus’ love is an unconditional, covenant love. According to Jesus’ version of love, “if” is never part of the equation. It’s always a matter of “how.” John is calling us to obedience and to love like Jesus. The question we need to ask is, “How do I love someone, not if?”

Our identity is crucial as Christians. When we lack confidence and have doubts about our faith, our relationship with Jesus doesn’t grow. We become more shameful of ourselves. When we misplace our confidence, we become more critical with others. In Christ we are forgiven and there is no room for shame. We aren’t called for perfection but for repentance. Jesus calls us to obedience because a life lived for Him is what we were created for.

Inconsistency of morality without a standard will always lead to chaos. Our own truths won't set us free. The eternal truth will set us free. The disciple John reminds us that the end could be near any day and to anchor ourselves in the truth. Having a last hour mentality causes us to see our relationships differently, handle our resources differently, and understand our time differently. We abide when we stay in the Word and stay connected to His Spirit.

Obedience matters. If we believe in God, our behaviors should match our belief. We must lean into new patterns enabling new power from God. Loving others must be central in our life. Specifically, loving others not just as we love ourselves, but as Jesus loves us. Love hard, even when it is hard or painful. 

Are you struggling with shame in your life? Do you want to be free?  The more we renew our minds on truth, the freer we become and the further we get from shame. Knowing who God is contains the secrets to living the most joyful and satisfied life. God’s love isn’t based on us; it’s placed on us. One of the biggest components of the process of sanctification is learning to receive grace. When we fully commit ourselves to knowing, experiencing, and following, Jesus, we encounter true freedom and joy.

God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. Because God is light, He contains the goodness we all long for. John urges us to take our sin seriously because it has the power to divide us, destroy us, and remove freedoms. By ignoring or tolerating our sin, self-deception, and chasing idols, we are walking towards darkness instead of the light. In Christ, we are fully excepted, significant, and eternally secure.

John, Jesus’ disciple, heard all that Jesus taught and saw how he lived. He witnessed firsthand God’s glory. As we study 1 John, we will explore John’s words and discover what it means to live in the light. Throughout John’s words we will see three main concepts. Theology matters: knowing Jesus begins with believing what God says. Devotion matters: experiencing Jesus allows us to enjoy eternal life now and forever. Obedience matters: following Jesus is our response to God’s love. When we anchor ourselves in what matters- knowing, experiencing, following Jesus, we will experience God’s love more fully. The fuller our experience of God’s love, the deeper our love for one another. Our identity is rooted and secured in the love of Christ.