Beloved, we know love in a way that the world cannot even fathom. For this reason, let us love one another.

John turns our attention to the simple beauty of the apostolic gospel. Do you believe the apostolic gospel? Do you listen to Christ’s apostles, the men whom he chose to lay down the foundation for the church? If you do, you may be confident, you have received the gift of the Holy Spirit who is the confirmation of our real, life giving fellowship with God.

How can we confirm that we know God and abide in him? Even more pointedly, how can we approach God when our heart is accusing us? John wants us to feel confident before the face of God, knowing that he is our ultimate judge.

Love is one evidence that we abide in God. We don't all have to demonstrate extraordinary acts to prove our profession. Keep plodding day by day undertaking the simple, everyday, painful acts of laying down your life in love, knowing the joy of doing just a little bit of what Jesus did for you.

As a believer, when you encounter the hatred of the world. When you are exasperated by those who have rejected Christ and so divorced themselves from him and the people of God, including you. Don’t be surprised by this. They are only showing their true colors. When your faith in humanity is shaken, even as it is shaken within the church, do not let your faith in Christ be shaken.

Making clear delineations John pastorally drives away the wolves and gathers the sheep. He inscribes a circle around the people of God as a boundary between the saints and the world. Little children, let no one deceive you.

John exhorts the saints to abide in Christ while deceivers work to move them away from Christ. He provides us with fundamental realities, true of us as believers, that support his exhortation.

Apostacy and schism are painful and confusing. In the midst of these difficult departures, John offers three grounding reminders.

John continues to confirm the faith of his readers while urging them to live out the love they posses for the Father and abstain from the love of the the world.

Sangre deCristo Seminary student and friend of TRC, Joshua Currey delivers a sermon on the story of Balaam, urging the saints to always speak the truth.