Haritha

Made Clean In God’s Sight

On one of our adventures to Ireland, Steve and I traveled over eight miles of rough seas to explore the ancient monastic island of Skellig Michael.

Waves splashed over the side of the boat and drenched us. My wool hat was flattened to my head and salt stung my chapped lips.

When we stepped onto the rocky hills of Skellig Michael, I was cold but anxious to get started hiking and exploring.

We had about two hours to wander and climb on this breathtaking island that is home to monastic ruins dating back as much as fifteen hundred years.

I did the wandering and Steve did the climbing. But wherever either of us went, the ground was muddy.

Our hiking boots kept our feet dry, but the grooved bottoms of the boots were caked with muck.

As soon as we landed back on the mainland, we headed for the nearest pub to try and dry off a little and get some of the junk off our boots. It was a useless endeavor. We were a mess.

We drove back to our bed-and-breakfast, eager for a hot shower and clean clothes. It took a lot of scrubbing to get the salt out of my hair and off my face.

The next day I picked the dried mud out of the crevices of my boots with a knife, but my wool cap was a total loss. It was loaded with salt and grime and no amount of scrubbing would save it.

I think of this passage in Jude when I remember how filthy Steve and I were on this adventure.

We are all full of filth on the inside. Even when we look our cleanest, our hearts harbor the vestiges of sin. God calls us to be perfect (Matt. 5:48), and no amount of scrubbing on our part will accomplish that perfection.

The crevices of our souls, like the crevices on my hiking boots, are full of the mud of life lived in a fallen and dirty world.

Someone has said that the ground at the foot of the cross is level, meaning that we have all sinned and are all filthy. It matters not what sins we have committed.

Even those of us with the least amount of filth are as guilty as those with the most. The “knife” that might have been used to “clean” us was used, instead, on Jesus as he hung on the cross.

None of us are clean as we stand before God, resting on our own efforts. But we don’t rest on our own efforts. As this verse declares, we rest on him who presents us “without fault.”

Father, what a miracle that your Son paid our debt for us, and now we are clean before you.

Wisdom Bigger Than Our Own

Words featured in a song in the children’s video Josh and the Big Wall declare that walking around a wall looks like a pretty dumb idea.

Characters in these videos are personified as vegetables and fruit, and the singers in this scene are peas dressed as Canaanite guards with Roman helmets on their heads.

They are standing on top of the wall of Jericho and singing down to the Israelites who are portrayed as marching peas and pickles.

Josh, played by a cucumber, and his followers have told the guards that God told them to march around the wall, which would cause it to fall.

The pea-guards are not impressed or worried and tell Josh and his people to go ahead and march all they want.

Of course, in the end

of the video, the wall comes tumbling down and the pea-guards find themselves tangled in the rubble. They run off in fear and God’s forces win the battle.

Whimsical as this children’s video seems, it communicates a message: the world often sees the followers of God as unsophisticated and intellectually deficient.

A number of years ago I attended a debate between a creationist and an evolutionist. Both men had a string of academic credentials after their names and sounded very convincing.

The audience seemed to be filled with people who knew or admired one of the two men. They divided their applause equally between the two debaters.

As we filed out of the auditorium I overheard several people commenting on the stupidity of Christians.

It seemed that even the credentials and scholarly presentation of the Christian debater couldn’t convince these skeptics.

With all the world’s information available to us, we may still seem like the little veggie army marching around Jericho.

People who do not know God will probably continue to tell us our “brains are very small,” but God’s power has overcome the world.

Ultimately, though, the walls of disbelief will fall down and he will reveal himself for who he really is.

Father, thank You that your wisdom is greater than any worldly wisdom and that you give us strength to follow you even when criticized.

A Living Sacrifice

Before the time of Jesus, people who wanted to worship God did so by making the offerings and sacrifices God had commanded.

Large portions of the Old Testament Books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy spell out the detailed procedures the Israelites used to bring an offering or sacrifice to the altar found in Israel’s temple.

Jesus both upheld and radically transformed God’s ancient sacrificial system.

He visited the temple during Passover and participated in the Passover meal. But then he himself became a sacrificial lamb, dying for us and our sins on the cross.

In saying these words, Jesus indicated that he had completed the sacrifice God had demanded of him.

But as Paul pointed out in the passage from Romans, the crucifixion of Christ didn’t mean the end of sacrifices.

Instead, God now wants all of us to live in such ways that our lives are moment-to-moment “living sacrifices.”

Paul told us to offer our bodies, but this does not mean that we will be ritually killed and burned on a smoking altar. Rather, it means that we should give our lives to God for his use and service.

A person who does this offers a word of kindness and mercy to someone who needs it. He forgives those who hurt and demeaned him.

He gives to others even when he doesn’t feel like it or when he would rather have someone give to him. He makes himself available for God’s use even though his daily schedule is already full of more tasks than he can accomplish.

Today, many churches have become battlegrounds in what some writers have called the “worship wars.” Some people prefer to sing hymns and recite classic Christian statements like the Apostles’ Creed.

Others prefer singing contemporary praise choruses and keeping church services low-key and informal.

Paul had a different point of view. As he told us, offering ourselves to God as living sacrifices is an “act of worship” that pleases God. It is the most important kind of worship.

God may not require that you and I suffer and die on a cross. But he does require that we offer up our lives to him in worship so he can use them for his glory.

Father, much of the time I think only about what I want and what will make me happy. But help me develop a different attitude. I want my life to be a living sacrifice to you.

Pathway To Heaven Or Highway To Hell

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Matthew 7:13-14

Poets, authors, and musicians have incorporated the image of the road into their work for centuries.

From John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress to the Beatles’ “Long and Winding Road,” highways and byways have played an important supporting role in art and popular culture.

Jesus used the metaphor of the road, too. But he said only a few people choose the right road in life. The rest are headed full-speed down a big, broad superhighway to hell.

Was Jesus having a bad day or feeling unusually pessimistic when he delivered these sobering comments?

Many people would like to believe that everyone is going to heaven. Well, not everyone; can take out people like Hitler and Stalin. And maybe the guy who invented karaoke.

All of the others get a free pass to heaven, in our minds, thanks to their good works, or because we like them, or because we can’t bear the thought of their going to hell.

Jesus doesn’t like the thought of anyone going to hell, either. He came to earth and gave his life on the cross so that wouldn’t have to happen. But as he said in the passage above, there are basically two ways to go in life, and most people choose the wrong one.

How could this be the case if God loves everyone? Theologians have wrestled with this question for centuries. Many conclude that the fact that God loves all of us doesn’t mean all of us will love him back.

Jesus explained some of this in his parable of the sower and the seed (Matthew 13). A farmer went out one day to sow some seed. Some of the seed fell on the path where the birds came and ate it.

Some fell on bad soil where it started growing, then died off. Some fell in the thorns, which choked its growth. And some fell on fertile soil, where it took root and produced a bumper crop.

Jesus told that parable to a large crowd of people, but later, he gave a more detailed explanation to his disciples. The seed, he said, represents the message of the kingdom.

“When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart,” said Jesus.

“This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on the rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.

But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word he quickly falls away.”

Jesus never explained his comments about the two roads, but if he had, it might have gone something like this: Many people get in their cars and go out for a drive.

Some have no clear destination in mind and spend their lives wandering throughout the world.

Others know where they would like to go but get lost or distracted along the way. Only a few people make it to their ultimate destination.

This may not be a very “positive” message. You won’t see Jesus’ comments about the narrow road on a colorful greeting card. But not everything God says makes us happy. It needs only to be true.

God, help me stay on the narrow path to you and not get sidetracked on the wide way.

Dancing Again

(LOIS) grew up about thirty miles south of Philadelphia, the location of the original American Bandstand TV show.

The dances we saw on Bandstand one week showed up on our school dance floor the next week.

Three years out of high school I married one of the best dancers in the class, Jack Mowday, and we clicked our heels together for the next thirteen years.

Then in December of 1979, the dancing stopped. Our daughters Lisa and Lara and I got Jack a ride in a hot-air balloon as a Christmas present.

Two of his close friends and business associates, Glenn Berg and Rick Rhine, as well as a balloon operator, went along with him.

The girls and I, along with Glenn’s wife, Gail, and Rick’s fiancee, Kathy, rode in our station wagon and followed the balloon in flight.

It was a beautiful day and the guys waved happily as they sailed along. We lost sight of the balloon behind some trees and when it reappeared, a blaze was growing out of the side of the basket.

We knew immediately that the men and the pilot were in terrible trouble as the flames licked up over the edge of the basket and into the small pas¬senger space.

All four people were killed that day, and my life changed forever. But God carried us in miraculous ways.

The truth of his promises became a reality for me and my daughters, and we experienced grace far beyond our imagination.

While pain and loneliness were sometimes consuming, so was the peace of God. I learned that peace and pain coexist and breathe hope into the darkest of nights.

But even when I felt God’s arms of love embrace me, I doubted that I would ever be truly happy again, and I was sure that my spirit would never be able to dance with the joy I’d known when Jack was alive.

One of my great comforts during those early days of grief came from copying verses on index cards and carrying them with me.

I’d read them when waiting in the car for the girls to get out of school or at a dentist’s office.

Sometimes the words would seem flat, and God would seem distant. Nights were the most difficult times; the hours dragged until the sun shone again.

But then those dark times grew less frequent. The words of the verses touched me in a healing way and my heart felt full again. My spirit danced.

Many of the verses I wrote on these cards came from the Psalms. The language and poetry of the Psalms lend themselves to creating a place of peace in the reader’s heart.

I also love to read the Psalms in the King James Version of the Bible, but you may find more comfort in another version.

A few of my favorite verses are:

I don’t live down the road from American Bandstand anymore, and I don’t dance anywhere but in my family room on very rare occasions.

But I can dance. The wailing has ended, the sackcloth of grief is gone and he has “clothed me with joy.”

Father, when pain is great we sometimes despair. How faithful you are to heal our wounds and bring our spirits back to places of joy.

The Book Of John

Who wrote the Book of John: John

When was it written: Based on what we know of John’s post-resurrection ministry, it was most likely written around 85 A.D.

The gospel of John is an eyewitness account of the events in the life and ministry of Jesus. John was one of the first four disciples Jesus called into full-time ministry; making him privy just about every moment of Jesus’ three-year evangelistic crusade.

John is also known as the disciple that Jesus loved. Among the twelve disciples Jesus chose as his core group of confidants and assistants, he had an even more select group of three—Peter, James, and John.

And from those three we see numerous times when it was John Jesus relied on. It was John Jesus who entrusted his mom right before he (Jesus) breathed his last breath on the cross.

Yes, in spite of the fact that Jesus had several brothers (the writer of James and the writer of Jude being two of them), he entrusted his mother to John. But why? What made John so special?

The answer is simple: Family. John was family…Jesus’ first cousin, to be exact. The fact that Jesus, James, and John were first cousins is not specifically stated in scripture like that, i.e. “Jesus, James, and John were cousins”. But the fact presents itself in all four of the gospels when you put them together to see what they say.

Fact #1: We learn early on that James and John are the sons of Zebedee.

Fact #2: The Gospel writers tell us that among the women standing with Mary (Jesus’ mother) at the cross was Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the lessor, and the mother of Zebedee’s children (Matthew). The book of Mark tells us the same thing, only he calls the mother of Zebedee’s children by name—Salome.

Fact #3: Salome and Mary (Jesus’ mother) were sisters. John tells us in recording who was with Mary at the cross that the group of women consisted of Mary, Mary Magdalene, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary’s sister, Salome.

Understanding the relationship between Jesus and James sheds a lot of light on some of the incidents in the Bible surrounding James and his brother, John. For example, knowing that they were related makes it easier to understand how James and John’s mother would have had the ‘audacity’ to approach Jesus to ask a special favor of him for her sons.

She was his aunt. She’d been in his life from the very beginning. She’d watched him grow up— possibly even helped care for him at times.

It also explains why Jesus asked John to watch over Mary after he was gone. He knew Mary and Salome would be together—that Mary would continue to lean on her sister for love and support. It wasn’t anything against his siblings. He just knew John would be seeing after Salome’s well-being, so…

John’s gospel was written for the non-Jewish community— especially the Greeks. His purpose for writing is evangelism plain and simple. John doesn’t focus on presenting evidence of the truth, but rather the spiritual necessity of believing.

John begins his writing by establishing the fact that Jesus is part of the Trinity and that he has always been. This would have been especially important for witnessing to the Greeks due to their attention to and extreme interest in philosophy.

They would have wanted answers not only to who Jesus was and why he came but also to where Jesus came from and who sent him. Following John’s introduction of Jesus and his statement of why he is writing, John delves into the ministry of Jesus in the same way the other three gospels do—with the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist.

While there are several of Jesus’ miracles and parables mentioned by one or two of the writers of the four gospels but not the others, Jesus’ baptism is at the forefront of all of them— and for good reason.

It was essential for Jesus to set the example for what he was commanding us to do. It was equally important that he begin his ministry with his baptism because our baptism is the beginning of our salvation…our entry into God’s family.

Following Jesus’ baptism John recorded the calling of Jesus’ first six disciples—Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, and Bartholomew (Nathanael)—in the same way the other gospel writers did.

Chapter two of the Book of John opens with the account of Jesus’ first miracle—changing the water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana.

John is the only one to record this miracle, but we know it is Jesus’ first miracle (in contrast to the miracles the other disciples recorded in conjunction with the calling of the first disciples) because John states that it is Jesus’ first miracle.

John’s credibility in being the only one to record Jesus’ first miracle is valid due to the fact that because he was one of the first called, he was there from the onset.

The last sentence in this passage of scripture says, “He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.” Sometimes this statement leaves people wondering how this is different from them leaving everything behind to follow Jesus.

Why had they started following Jesus if they hadn’t yet put their faith in him?

The best way to explain this is to share something from the blog, “A Bit of Salty Grace” https://abitofsaltygrace.blogspot.com/2016/06/faith-is-like- chocolate.html.

The writer compares faith with eating chocolate by saying that the first time a child eats chocolate they do so on the advisement of someone they trust. In other words, their faith is in the person. But after they taste the chocolate, their faith is transferred to the chocolate—to always taste as sweet and yummy as it did the time before.

The disciples initially went with Jesus because they were willing to take him up on his offer when he told them to come and see for themselves who he was and what he was about.

But when they saw what he had done at the wedding feast, as well as the signs they had seen and heard about prior to that (God speaking after his baptism and the unexpected catch of fish, for example), their desire to follow Jesus was the result of faith, not curiosity.

Now that we’ve established the flow of their spiritual growth, let’s keep moving through the book of John by listing the highlights of Jesus’ ministry as recorded in each chapter.

Chapter 3: Nicodemus, who was a Pharisee and leader of the Jewish council, came to Jesus in the night because he believed, but feared the repercussions he would face from the other Jewish leaders.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

” Nicodemus’ ‘secret faith’ saved Jesus from the Pharisees a couple of times prior to his arrest and crucifixion (God’s timing rather than man’s) and it was Nicodemus that worked with Joseph of Arimathea to properly care for Jesus’ body rather than allow it to be mauled and broken.

While this doesn’t excuse us from hiding our faith or not sharing it, we should learn from Nicodemus that there are times when a quiet but resolute faith is more effective and appropriate.

Chapter 4: Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well solidifies the truth that Jesus’ gift of salvation is for everyone.

Chapters 5-6: John records several of Jesus’ miracles—acts of compassion and mercy, as well as miracles meant to validate his identity in order to help his disciples understand him more fully.

Chapters 7 through 10 contain several of Jesus’ sermons and John’s recollections of how adamant the Jewish leaders were in getting rid of Jesus. We also gain insight into Jesus’ earthly personality.

Yes, he was still the perfect, flawless, sinless Son of God, but he didn’t hesitate to put the Pharisees on the spot by putting their false accusations back on them. Jesus was at times sarcastic and he showed no patience for those who were bent on trying to malign him or his father, God.

Chapter 11 opens with the death and resurrection of Jesus’ friend, Lazarus. Jesus used Lazarus’ death to display God’s power and glory. Jesus allowed Lazarus to die for the purpose of being able to resurrect him so that those present would know there was nothing he and God could not do.

NOTE: It is important to note the difference between Lazarus being raised from the dead and Jesus being raised from the dead.

The difference is this: Lazarus’ resurrection was temporary. He died again. Jesus, however, was resurrected for all eternity. The subject of death ends the eleventh chapter, as well, by telling us that after hearing about the miracle of Lazarus being brought back to life, the Jewish leaders joined forces with their enemies, the Roman government, to take Jesus down.

They would stop at nothing to kill Jesus. Jesus knew what was happening, so at this point, he withdrew from the ministry and the general public. Instead, he spent most of his final days with the disciples; preparing them for the time he would no longer be with them.

Chapters 12 through 16: Jesus was preparing to die, but before he did, he would share one last Passover meal with his disciples in Jerusalem. Entering the city was a joyous occasion for Jesus. He was greeted by songs and shouts of joy and praise by the people.

Sadly, however, many of these same people would be shouting “Crucify him!” a few short days later. Following Jesus’ return to Jerusalem, we read his instructions and encouragements to his disciples.

He tells them he is going to die soon and that one of their group will betray him.

He humbly washes the disciples’ feet, predicts Peter’s denial, comforts them in their sadness over their grief of losing him, promises them the Holy Spirit, gives them a sermon on remaining faithful, and explains to them that their grief will turn to joy when they see and understand all that is about to take place.

The one thing noticeably missing from John’s account of the last evening he spent with Jesus before the cross is the institution of communion. He is the only one of the writers of the four gospels to leave it out. Why? No one knows, but all the other details of the evening are there and in perfect harmony with the other three gospel writers.

Chapters 17 and 18: Jesus’ time of prayer in the garden, his arrest, his so-called trial before the high priest, and Peter’s denial of knowing Jesus three times—just as Jesus said it would happen.

Chapter 19: Jesus was handed over to Pilate, an official of the Roman government. Pilate found no reason to convict Jesus. He’d done nothing wrong in the eyes of the Roman government. But not wanting to appear weak in the eyes of the people, Pilate caved to them and sentenced Jesus to death on the cross.

Pilate only thought he was ultimately responsible. We know that whether it was Pilate or Caesar himself who sentenced Jesus, it was only because God said it was to be so, that Jesus died on the cross.

The events leading up to the cross and the actual time Jesus spent on the cross are recorded by John in a way that only Jesus’ closest friend could tell it. John’s account of those final hours is filled with emotion. John speaks of fulfilled prophecy (vs. 23-24).

He reveals that some of Jesus’ last thoughts are about his mother, whom he asks John to watch out for. Jesus burial by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, who were both religious leaders who had quietly followed and believed in Jesus, now stepped forward to claim Jesus’ body for burial to fulfill yet another prophecy.

Chapter 20: Jesus is alive!

Chapter 21: John is the only one of the gospel writers to record this particular miracle Jesus gave to seven of his disciples following his resurrection. Jesus once again provided fish after no fish had been caught.

They were overjoyed to see Jesus, as it was only the third time they had seen him since his resurrection (vs. 14). But it is the situation immediately following the catch of fish and breakfast on the seashore that is most important.

Bible with subheadings title it “Peter’s reinstatement”. Following Peter’s denial of Jesus three times, he was deeply grieved and ashamed. How could he do that to Jesus? To the Son of the living God?! You know his excitement over seeing Jesus had to be coupled with embarrassment and anxiety over what Jesus would say or do.

But Jesus didn’t say a word about it—not directly, anyway. Instead, in verses 15 through 19, Jesus asks Peter three times if he (Peter) loves him (Jesus), to which Peter always responds by saying, “Yes”.

Jesus then counters by telling Peter to feed his sheep; meaning to take the message of the gospel of salvation to anyone and everyone who will listen. What a beautiful testimony of God’s mercy and forgiving nature!

No, I say this because the words of John 21:25 sum up the magnitude of who Jesus was while he was living here on earth.

Let these words soak into your heart and mind so that you can try to grasp the truth of just how amazing, big, and wonderful our Savior, Jesus, is: “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

Every book of the Bible provides us with words of wisdom, instruction, comfort, encouragement, admonishment, warning, promise, and hope. Let’s look at some of what the Book of John has to offer.

“I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you

Key Verses In John

Chapter 1

Chapter One starts off by introducing/identifying John as the writer (verse 4). Just prior to that John states that what he is about to write was revealed to him by an angel and that he has a solid reputation for being a dedicated leader of the Church and a man known for his honesty.

His reason for saying these things is to ‘prove’ the validity of what he is about to say. John also tells readers that those who hear it and take it to heart will be blessed because the end is coming.

The angel then addresses John as if he was writing a letter. He addresses John and prepares John to get ready to hear directly from God as God addresses seven churches in the province of Asia (minor). The seven churches addressed in the letter were seven actual churches in existence during that time.

While they weren’t the only churches that had been established, the seven that were addressed were all dealing with different spiritual problems or areas of concern. These problems still exist in our churches, making each ‘speech’ relevant and useful to this day.

After the angel gets John’s attention and informs him of what is about to take place, God himself speaks to John, saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (1:8)

God then instructs John to write down what God tells him and to send it to the seven churches he lists. These instructions are literal and not difficult to understand. God told John to write and John wrote. John wrote, but not before he turned to see who was speaking to him.

Verses 12 through 17 of chapter 1 are John’s description of who he saw (1:17-18). It is important to note that he used the word ‘like’ several times in that description. For example, when John said he had eyes like blazing fire, he didn’t mean God’s eyes were actually a blazing fire.

He means they were intense and piercing. And when John said God’s voice was like the sound of rushing water, he didn’t mean it was inaudible and ‘whooshing’. He meant it was powerful and forceful.

John was obviously humbled and even a bit afraid of being in the presence of God, but God told him he had no reason to be afraid. He then told John it was time to get to work…

Chapter 2

Ephesus

Praises the church of Ephesus for standing up to false teachings and not allowing them to permeate the church or distract from the truth of the Gospel. The church in Ephesus has, however, become a bit stagnant and ‘dry’.

It appears they are falling into the habit of just going through the motions of Christianity rather than making it their passion and heart’s desire. God warns them against letting this go any further and encourages them to get back on track.

Smyrna

God comforts the people of Smyrna by telling them that he is aware of their lack of material possessions and of the persecution and suffering they are going through.. and that he hasn’t forgotten them. He tells them that things are going to get worse before they get better, but that when ‘better’ comes, it will be more than they could have imagined or hoped for.

Pergamum

God praises the church for being so steadfast—even though it has cost several of them their lives. He is grateful for their faith and their perseverance. But, God says, some of the Christians in Pergamum have allowed this mindset of compromise to taint their relationship with him.

They have turned a blind eye to sexual immorality and some forms of idol worship. Some are even participating in these sinful practices. God warns them to get back on track and devote themselves wholly to him before it is too late.

Thyatira

God once again begins his message to the church by complimenting them on their faithful perseverance. Or rather he compliments those who actually are remaining faithful and assures them they have nothing to fear as long as they remain faithful.

He then goes on to reprimand them for allowing a prostitute named Jezebel who is calling herself a prophetess in order to perform sexual acts with the men of the church. God says he has given her time to repent, but that his patience is gone.

She, along with her family and anyone who has had sex with her, will suffer severely. God does, state, however, that if those who are guilty of sexual sins with Jezebel repent, and if their repentance is genuine, he will spare them from suffering.

Chapter 3

Sardis

The church in Sardis is dying a spiritual death. They have the attitude that they’ve done their part and are now just going through the motions. This is not the way it is supposed to be. Christianity isn’t something we do. It is who we are from the day we confess Jesus as Savior and are baptized into him until the day we die. God warns the people of Sardis not to forget this.

Philadelphia

The church is commended for its faith and commitment to keeping God’s commands. Because of this, God tells the church in Philadelphia that he will spare them from great suffering and testing. He tells them that if they will continue to hold fast to the truth as they have and were currently doing, they would be abundantly blessed.

Laodicea

The church of Laodicea is not one God is pleased with. They are bland. Idle. Lukewarm. So because of their lukewarm¬ness, God says he is going to spit them out of his mouth; meaning he will not bless them or be in their presence. The people there have prospered and are putting their faith in material wealth and possessions.

They depend on their own wisdom and abilities rather than God’s. God goes on to say, though, that he still loves them and that if they repent and genuinely turn back to him, he will welcome them back with open arms.

NOTE: Do you see the relevancy of God’s messages to the seven churches? Are these still not the very things we need to guard against today? Are we still not called to be completely and wholly obedient to all of God’s commands?

Chapter 4

John is given just a small glimpse of heaven. His description is once again filled with comparisons (like this or that). John’s description also contains, however, direct or literal descriptions of things—things like a radiant rainbow encircling God’s throne and heavenly beings who continually sang praises to God (4:3-8).

While these things seem strange or even alien-like to us, what does it matter? Our faith leads us to believe that heaven is beyond our imagination, so why would we read this and think otherwise?

Chapter 5

In this chapter, John tells us how overcome he was with emotion when he experienced another small piece of heaven. What John sees and reveals to us is a foretelling of what is to come on the day of judgment. Jesus, the sacrificial lamb who died for our sins; is the only one worthy of opening the scroll described earlier in the chapter.

As for what is on the scroll, we don’t know. Most theologians compare it to a deed of trust for property—the ‘deed’ that declares God the creator and master of the universe. This makes sense due to the fact of what John sees next— countless angels and creatures singing praises to God.

What follows in verse 13 of this chapter is what definitively tells us that what. But it will happen.

Chapter 6

The imagery of the six seals opened by Jesus (the Lamb) and described by John is one of the visions God gave him for the purpose of writing this letter. The fact that John had these visions should not confuse or mystify anyone. God gave Daniel visions from which he prophesied.

God gave Joseph the ability to interpret the dreams/visions Pharaoh had. Peter had a vision in which God used creative imagery as a means to tell Peter he needed to share the message of the Gospel with the Gentile nations. So why not use visions to remind us of God’s unmatchable holiness and power and to give us a hint of what heaven will be like?

The seals clearly represent different world events, so to speak. The first most likely represents the fact that God is the supreme and all-powerful master of the universe. Images of war, peace, death, grief, famine, and even an image of those who remain faithful are seen. And finally, the sixth seal is clearly a vision of the second coming of Christ and the destruction of the earth.

Chapter 7

John’s vision of the seals continues without the opening of the seventh seal. Instead, an angel stops the destruction taking place to allow for a preview of the day of judgment for all mankind, dead or alive.

John describes how 144,000 people were to be sealed— 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. This number has been the root of a considerable amount of debate and disagreement over the centuries. Is it a literal number? If so; have those people already been chosen? If so, then what’s the use? If not, then…?

As you can see when looking at it from that perspective, AND to look at the Bible in its entirety (including the verses immediately following this section) the number 144,000 is most likely not a literal number, but rather a number that signifies perfection or completion, i.e. 12,000 from 12 tribes. This means that God’s chosen people will have finally come full circle and return to him.

It is impossible to logically believe that the number is literal—that only 144,000 will spend eternity in heaven because in verse nine, John’s vision reveals that countless people from every tribe of every nation are also standing before the throne of God singing his praises and worshipping him.

This is not something a multitude of people condemned to hell for all eternity would be doing. Add to that the numerous verses in the Bible that speak of God’s patience in waiting for more to be saved and the command given to us by Jesus that says we are to spread the Gospel to all the earth so that as many as possible can be saved.

The vision described in chapter seven ends with an elder or angel in heaven asking John if he knows who the white-robed people are. He then answers his own question by telling John they are the saved—the ones who have remained faithful to a) their dying day or b) Christ’s return. They are the ones who will spend eternity in heaven, where…

“Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (7:16-17)

Chapter 8

This chapter talks about the opening of the seventh seal followed by a period of silence, which was then followed by four trumpet blasts. Each trumpet blast was followed by devastating events on Earth. An earthquake, thunder, hail, water turning to blood, horrendous forest fires, violent waters, violent deaths…

But these things were nothing, John was told, compared to the misery that would come after the blasts from the final three trumpets.

NOTE: The fact that there were seven trumpets is just another indication of the importance of the number seven. Seven is God’s number of completion. For example: God created the world in seven days. He rested on the seventh day.

Chapter 9

The fifth and sixth trumpet blasts were followed by images of devastation that Satan and his minions would be allowed to inflict on the earth before its final destruction and the day of judgment.

This chapter is filled with ‘like’ phrases, i.e. “…they wore something like….” “…hair like…” “… the sound of their wings was like….”

These phrases indicate imagery—not actual acts taking place. God knows that these word pictures are the most effective means he has in depicting just how dreadful things will be. The evil, destruction, death, and devastation described in chapter nine are figurative in regards to how it happened (fiery horses with lion’s heads and scorpions with tails that tormented people).

It is, however, literal from the perspective of how emotionally, physically, and spiritually painful it will be.

The most tragic words spoken in chapter nine are found in verses eleven and twelve. They tell us that in spite of all the pain and suffering, there will still be people who refuse to stop worshipping demons and idols.

They will continue murdering, stealing, committing sexually immoral acts, and all kinds of other evil. They will refuse to repent. They will choose eternal suffering over eternal joy.

Chapter 10

In this chapter, John tells us that there were things he heard that he was instructed to omit from his writing. John gave no indication of what these things were, which is just one more piece of evidence as to the genuineness of his faith and his obedience.

Chapter 11

John’s vision in chapter eleven reminds us that God’s family consists of both Jews and Gentiles who recognize Jesus as the Savior of the world. This chapter is filled with references to Old Testament prophets, references to Sodom and Egypt which allude to the fact that the world is evil and overrun with idol worshippers, and references to Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

All of these things are referred to as the ‘second woe’, with the third and final woe to come… the blast of the seventh trumpet followed by the second coming of Christ.

Included in the coming of Christ is unabashed praise for God, the Almighty.

Chapter 12

The signs that appeared in heaven were not actual events that were taking place, but rather signs or scenes being- played out before John’s eyes. You might even call them dramatic reenactments.

The first six verses seem to be a dramatization of Jesus’ birth and the events that followed, i.e. Herod searching for the Baby Jesus to kill him and God sending Mary, Joseph, and their newborn son, Jesus, to Egypt (the desert) to live until the danger had passed.

NOTE: It is estimated that the family stayed in Egypt for about three years, which is close to the 1,260 days mentioned in verse 6.

Jesus’ birth definitely brought out the absolute worst in Satan. Prior to Jesus’ birth, he had little trouble getting people to fall into temptation. It was somewhat easy to lure them away from the Old Law and to plant seeds of doubt in their minds that the prophets of so long ago were telling the truth about a coming Messiah.

But the arrival of Jesus on earth in human form once again caused Satan to go into ‘overdrive’. He was again called on his arm of demons to go to all-out war against God.

The description John gives us of a dragon trying to devour a child and the rage he displays is gruesome. But this is undoubtedly God’s perspective of what took place. The all-knowing, all-seeing God of the universe sees beyond outward appearances.

He sees straight into the hearts and minds of everyone—including Satan; making what John saw a dramatization of what these events looked like from the inside out.

As for the numbers (12 stars, 7 heads, 10 horns), there are all sorts of speculations as to what they mean or represent. Quite honestly it doesn’t really matter. This is one of those things we can’t really understand. But since our acceptance of salvation doesn’t hinge on our knowing, I am of the opinion that it isn’t worth wondering about or stressing over.

Beginning in verse 7, John begins telling us how Satan came to be. It is important to note that this is not a sign or a vision. He is telling us of an actual event. It is as if he has asked God or the angel talking to him the questions, “Why does Satan exist?” and “Where did Satan come from?”

In short, Satan was an angel created by God before the creation of the earth. Satan, along with some other angels who wanted to be equal to or greater than God (Isaiah 14), waged war against Michael the archangel (highest ranking angel) and those angels who remained faithful to God.

Satan lost. He and his angels were banished to earth where he was given power to lead people away from God.

For most people, this is by far the most perplexing aspect of God’s character. Why didn’t he just do away with Satan?

Why did he allow Satan to remain? Why did God give him the power to “…lead the whole world astray….”?

While this is something obviously only God can answer for sure, the general consensus is that:

Allowing Satan to remain is God’s way of executing free among mankind. While it is his heart’s desire that we submit to him in faithful obedience, he wants it to be our choice rather than an absolute or involuntary act.

God’s love for his angels, even Satan, is such that he wanted to give Satan the opportunity to repent. But because he didn’t, his punishment is hell, because we know that God cannot and will not tolerate disobedience and blasphemy.

Spending eternity in hell is the worst possible punishment God could inflict on Satan. The time Satan is allowed to have power over the world is nothing compared to what eternity will be.

Following John’s explanation of how Satan came to be, his attention is then turned back to the visions of Satan’s pillaging of the earth. Seeing Satan at work from God’s perspective is both sad and frightening and should make us more keenly aware of our need to resist Satan and cling to God.

Chapter 13

There are two beasts described in chapter 13. The first is Satan, who blasphemes God, who wages war against anyone who follows Jesus, and who has been given authority (power) over the inhabitants of the earth. Those whose name is not found in the Lamb’s book of Life (saved through the acceptance of Jesus’ gift of salvation) worship this beast.

NOTE: It is important to note that Satan was given the authority he has; meaning it came from someone higher than him. That someone, of course, is God.

The other beast is the beast of the earth—false teachers. This beast (the false teachers) acts on behalf of the first beast (Satan). The beast that is false teachers is a deceiver. It appears to be good; even doing miraculous works at times. But it is not. It is of Satan.

The final portion of chapter 13 is arguably the most controversial in the entire Bible. Beginning in verse 16, the beast of the earth (false teachers) forces everyone to receive a mark on their hand or forehead. It is a mark that is the name of the beast or the number of his name. And then in verse 18, the last sentence tells us that man’s number is 666.

Much speculation has gone into the meaning of the number 666. Is it going to be a worldwide event? Is it something that will happen on the day of judgment to differentiate between the saved and the unsaved?

Has it already happened, i.e. the Holocaust? Was it something that was taking place in the Roman Empire? Or is it even an actual mark? Is the mark a figure of speech?

The answer is this: God only knows.

That’s enough for me and it should be enough for us all. Instead, we should focus on the first part of verse 18 which says, “This calls for wisdom….” The ‘this’ John is talking about is being aware of the beast, standing firmly against the beast, and refusing to allow the beast to invade your heart, soul, and mind.

Wisdom and knowledge are power and in this case, they are also the difference between joy and suffering for all eternity.

Chapter 14

Chapter fourteen brings quite a change of scenery. John isn’t seeing heaven or imagery depicting God’s perspective of things. John is seeing the future of an actual place—Mt. Zion. In viewing Mt. Zion John also sees things coming down from heaven—another indication that John is being given a supernatural view of an actual place.

John’s vision is also quite different in the fact that it is peaceful. No beast. No war. This would indicate that what he sees is what happens after the way—a war we already know the outcome of. God will be victorious over Satan.

The 144,000 are mentioned again as being redeemed because of their purity and faithfulness. They are singing a new song (a victory song). Who are these 144,000? We truly don’t know. They might be the remnant of Israel restored to Jerusalem. And if they are, so be it. Did God not promise over and over to restore them to greatness? Are they not his chosen people?

Who they are should not concern us because in reading further into the chapter we once again see God’s angels harvesting the earth; separating the faithful from the unfaithful. In other words, it shouldn’t matter to us what our status is in heaven. Only that we are residents should matter.

Chapters 15 And 16

These two chapters provide us with ‘visual aids’ as to what God has planned for the final stages of the end times.

John tells us there will be seven plagues put upon the earth. We are told what the plagues will be and that the people of the earth will never have seen anything like them.

We can read through the plagues as described in chapter 16 and compare them to things happening in our world today. But then they could do that several generations—even a century or more ago.

Yet here we are still waiting.

The point to be made is that while we are to be expectantly waiting for Christ’s return, we shouldn’t be analyzing current events in order to try to determine when that day might be. No, we are to be living with joyful expectations knowing that because of our obedience to Christ, we have nothing to fear. It should be enough for us to know that he is coming back and not worry about the when.

Chapters 17 And 18

In this chapter, an angel explains several things to John about the beast (Satan) and gives sin the embodiment of a woman—a prostitute.

The angel continues by explaining that those whose names are not found in the Lamb’s book of Life are going to be astonished and perplexed when they see what has become of the beast—how he has been brought down and that they, too, are going to share his destiny (hell).

Chapter 18 sees John meeting another angel. John is now in the present again. No visions. No imagery. ‘Just’ angels speaking the truth as instructed by God. This angel describes the fall of Babylon and what it was like for the people who experienced it.

In doing so the angel is also warning Christians that the same thing is going to happen to the Roman Empire because of its godless leadership and way of life.

Remember…John is writing this to warn the Christians scattered throughout the Roman Empire to resist the ideas of compromising between worshipping God only and emperor worship. So in sharing the angel’s message with them, John is telling them to “Come out of her…so that you will not receive any of her plagues….” (18:4)

These two chapters are just as relevant for us today as they were for the Christians back then. Sadly the Church has allowed worldly views, i.e. sin, to become benign, harmless, just the way things are. We have allowed ourselves to water down the truth and the commands of God to make life easier for us. We’ve conformed to the world instead of reforming it —which is exactly what the angle and John are warning us against.

Chapter 19

The coming of Jesus Christ! John is allowed to see into the future—-what it will be like when Jesus comes to finish what he started the night he was born in that dark, dank, stable.

The choir of angels and the songs of praise were overwhelming to John. He fell at the feet of the angel to give praise, but the angel immediately refused to accept John’s praise by reminding him (John) that they were fellow servants of Jesus Christ and that he was not worthy of John’s praise.

John then describes Jesus’ appearance and seeing Satan, his demons, and the beast of the earth being thrown into a lake of burning sulfur, where they will spend eternity.

Chapter 20

This chapter continues with John’s continued vision of the second coming and judgment. He speaks about a period of one thousand years in which Satan is locked up and powerless over the earth. It is almost utopia-like.

During this time John says that those who died because of their faith in Christ were raised from the dead and lived with him for thousands of years.

After the thousand years have passed, Satan is going to be released onto the earth again for a short time before being thrown back into hell for good.

There is much discussion as to when this thousand years is going to take place. Will it be after Jesus’ initial return and prior to the final judgment and destruction of the world? Is it taking place now or in the future before Jesus actually makes his appearance?

After Satan is locked back into the Abyss, everyone who was dead from the time the world began to whatever day it is God chooses for this to take place, will be raised back to life and stand before God to be judged. Those who were faithful will be saved. Those who were not will be thrown into the lake of fire which is the second death. (20:12-15)

These questions have come from preconceived notions and as a result of not taking the Bible in its entirety. But when you read John’s words, and look at the book of Revelation as a whole, you will see that the events in chapters 19 and 20 are all part of the second coming.

Jesus appears and his name is the WORD OF GOD (19:11-13)

The beast is captured and locked in the Abyss for 1,000 years. The name given to the beast is Satan. (19:19-20 and20:l-3)

Christian martyrs are raised from the dead—something that we are told will not happen until Christ’s return. (20:4-6)

Chapter 21

Chapter 21 opens with John seeing heaven and earth pass away and is given instructions to be sure and write down what he is about to see. It is also during this time that those who are still living on earth when all of this takes place will be judged (21:6-8). And then life as we have known it for centuries is over. Eternity has begun.

John is then given what has to have been the most magnificent of all his visions. John sees heaven! His description doesn’t do it justice, we know, but it whets our appetite for wanting to be there. But if you will notice, the description doesn’t answer the question everyone asks: “What will we do in heaven?”

It is my personal opinion that we will do many things in heaven. God is far too creative and has far too good of an imagination for it to be anything but exciting and good. But whatever we do we can be sure that praising God for his amazing grace, goodness, and love will be a part of it.

Chapter 22

This final chapter of the book of Revelation opens with John’s last little look at heaven. Following these few verses Jesus speaks to John telling him that he is coming soon and that those who keep the words of this prophecy (the one just given to John) will be blessed for all eternity.

John ends the book by reiterating that what he has written is true and that what he says he saw he actually saw. What he says he heard he actually heard. And lastly, John implores us to remain faithful unto death so that we can spend eternity in the holy city described in this letter. The city of heaven.

The Book Of Revelation

Who wrote the book of Revelation: John When was it written: About 95 A.D.

The book of Revelation is many things. It is a book of prophecy, a book of analogies, a book containing literal descriptions, a book of warnings and chastisements, and a book of promises.

Yet if you were to ask almost anyone, Christian or non-Christian, the first words that come to mind when they think about the book of Revelation are the words confusion or mysterious.

The Reasons People Feel This Way About The Book Of Revelation Include:

• Fear of the unknown
• Guilt
• A lack of knowledge about the rest of the Bible
• Preconceived notions
• Improper teaching
• A lack of faith that is comfortable with the fact that we don’t need to know everything about the end times and the day of judgment
• The inability to accept that the book is both literal and figurative

John wrote the book of Revelation to record the things God disclosed (revealed) to John by way of an angel or messenger. John wrote the book of Revelation while a prisoner on the Island of Patmos. He was a prisoner of the Roman Government under the leadership of Emperor Domitian.

Domitian was an egotistical man who strongly enforced the practice of emperor worship; meaning anyone who didn’t worship the Roman emperor was sent to prison or killed.

By the time John was banished to Patmos, he was in his nineties, the only remaining disciple/apostle who had been an eye-witness to Jesus’ ministry and had already survived being doused with hot oil for refusing to obey Domitian’s laws for emperor worship.

Age, persecution, and intense physical suffering weren’t enough to squelch John’s love for Jesus and his dedication to fulfilling the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20).

Putting all of these things together made John the logical choice in God’s mind to reveal this one final prophecy. Who better than John was there to receive such an important message?

At the time John received these revelations his thoughts were most likely not about us—the coming generations. His thoughts were with the Christians spread throughout the Roman Empire.

More than a few were proposing that the Church make some concessions with the government by acknowledging the Emperor as someone worthy of praise along with God. Their reasoning for entertaining such a compromise was obviously meant to be a measure of self-preservation and a means by which they could avoid persecution, prison, or even death.

Now while some may feel the people were justified in their actions—possibly even quoting scripture about obeying the laws of the land and such, this type of compromise cannot be. Why? Because:

Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me, there is no god. -Isaiah 44:6

Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax ” And they brought him a denarius.

So you see there is no justification for putting anyone or anything above God or even equal to him. God rules the world and on the day of his choosing, he will present himself to us so that we can stand before him to give an account of our lives and be judged.

We will be judged and pronounced saved or unsaved. And that is the message John wanted to send to the Church. It was a message that said, “Don’t give up! Don’t lose sight of what is going to take place. Don’t forfeit your eternal destiny for temporary relief.”

Now that you have a little more background of the book’s origin, let’s begin looking at the book itself. First of all, I want to say that this is by no means a comprehensive or all-inclusive commentary of Revelation. Secondly, it is not an unveiling of a great mystery being solved, i.e., I don’t have all the answers.

And the reason I don’t have all the answers is simple: no one does. There are simply some things we won’t know until we are there—living the day of judgment and the eternity that follows.

Lastly, we are going to take the Book of Revelation at ‘face value’. By that I mean I am going to point out or clarify those things that are literal and ask that you accept the things that are figurative on faith.

The Book Of Jude – Contending for the Faith

Who wrote the book of Jude: Jude; the brother of Jesus When was it written: 65 A.D.

Book Of Jude Introduction

Jude, one of the lesser-known figures in the New Testament, is significant for his transformation from skepticism to faith in Jesus Christ. Initially, Jude did not accept Jesus as the Messiah, grappling with the reality that his brother could be divine. This skepticism is echoed in the experiences of his brother James, who also struggled with belief during Jesus’ earthly ministry. Jude’s eventual acceptance of Jesus came after the resurrection, marking a pivotal moment in his spiritual journey.

Book Of Jude –  Background and Relationship to Jesus

Technically, Jude, along with Simon, James, Joseph, and some unnamed sisters, were half-siblings of Jesus since they shared the same biological mother, Mary. Joseph was only Jesus’ earthly father. Like their brother James, who wrote the New Testament book of James, Jude did not readily accept his oldest brother as the Messiah. The familiarity of their relationship likely contributed to his doubts; how could someone he had grown up with—played with and squabbled with—be the Savior? Jude’s skepticism reflects a common struggle among those close to Jesus. He questioned why their parents didn’t treat Jesus differently if he was indeed who he claimed to be. All these questions played a significant role in Jude’s journey to faith and salvation.

Book Of Jude – Journey to Faith

We don’t know exactly when Jude accepted the truth about Jesus, but we know he did. Acts 1:14 indicates that he was part of a select group that joined the remaining disciples after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. They gathered to pray for wisdom and guidance on how to move forward without Jesus’ physical presence. Despite his initial doubts, Jude’s faith in Jesus as the Son of God became deep and sincere. His concern for the spiritual well-being of his brothers and sisters in Christ is evident in every sentence he writes.

Book Of Jude – Purpose of Jude’s Letter

Jude wrote this letter to one or more congregations scattered around the Roman Empire. It was not uncommon for letters to be addressed to multiple churches due to logistical reasons. As an elder leader in the early Church, Jude aimed to encourage believers who had already been baptized into Christ. His opening statement reveals his passion for evangelism and preaching the Good News of salvation. However, instead of focusing solely on salvation, Jude’s letter aimed to remind readers to remain steadfast in their faith amid threats from false teachers.

Book Of Jude – Contending for the Faith

False teachers have attempted to undermine the Church since its inception on Pentecost. Their tactics may change over time, but their goal remains constant: to malign the holiness of God and Jesus Christ. The false teachers Jude was combating promoted a dangerous message that God’s grace allowed for a license to sin—suggesting that believers could sin freely, seek forgiveness, and repeat this cycle without consequence. Jude’s letter serves as both a warning against such teachings and an encouragement for believers to contend earnestly for their faith. He emphasizes that maintaining doctrinal integrity is essential for a healthy church community.

Book Of Jude – Key Themes in Jude’s Writing

• Contending for the Faith: Jude calls believers to actively defend their faith against heretical teachings.
• Warning Against False Teachers: He vividly describes characteristics and consequences of false teachers.
• Encouragement for Believers: Jude reassures his audience of their identity as called and preserved by God.

We know from Hebrews 10:26,1st John 3:6, and Romans 6:1 that this way of thinking is not God’s way of thinking. Grace is not a license to sin and Jude wanted to make sure the early Christians didn’t forget this essential truth.

What We Learn From The Book Of Jude

• We are to hold our brothers and sisters in Christ accountable for their actions and we should expect the same from them on our behalf. (1:3)
• Grace is NOT a license for sin and immorality. (1:4)
• False teachers are sneaky and deceptive. (1:4)
• God punishes those who willfully and deliberately disobey him. (1:5-7)

Apostasy and False Teachers

There is a day of judgment coming and those who are not in Christ will be banished to everlasting darkness (hell). (1:6)

We are not to verbally or physically attack false teachers. Our duty is to put them out of the church and to discredit their teachings by living and teaching the truth. (1:9-10)

The prophets and Jesus himself warned us that we would have to deal with false teachers and be on guard against them. (1:14-19)

The only way we will be able to stand against the false teachers is to let the Holy Spirit guide and direct us. (1:19)

We are to be merciful and patient with those new to the faith and those who experience feelings of doubt. We are to patiently, yet firmly lead them to a more secure place in their faith. (1:22)

 Book Of Jude Conclusion

Jude’s transformation from doubt to devotion exemplifies a powerful narrative of faith. His epistle addresses immediate concerns within the early church while providing timeless guidance for Christians today on maintaining doctrinal integrity and spiritual vigilance. His life and writings continue to inspire believers to contend earnestly for their faith amidst adversity.

The Book Of 2nd John

Who wrote the book of 2nd John: John the disciple

See also the introduction to the gospel of John and 1st John for more information about who he was.

When was it written: Most likely around 90 A.D.

John wrote this second letter about the same time he wrote his first letter to Christians around the known world.

In this letter, John continues his emphasis on love by reminding us that Christ’s love for us is the ultimate example of love and that we are called by God to love one another in the same way Jesus loves us.

He stresses that for Christians love is not an option. It is a command.

John’s other main concern addressed in this brief book of the Bible is for Christians to watch out for false teachers.

And because the early church (the first two centuries or so) depended primarily on missionaries and traveling evangelists, it was actually quite easy for these false teachers to deceive their way into groups of Christians learning, worshipping, and growing together.

Because John:

Was an eyewitness to the life and ministry of Jesus

Was an active participant in the life and ministry of Jesus

Was completely ‘sold out’ for Jesus and the truth that is Christianity

he was passionate about making sure he did everything possible to prevent Christians around the world from being lured away from the truth.

Interesting Note: The letter that is the book of 2nd John has fewer chapters and verses than any book in the Bible (one chapter and thirteen verses). The book of 3rd John, however, is actually the shortest book in the Bible because in spite of the fact that it has one chapter and fourteen verses, it has fewer words.

What We Learn From The Book Of 2nd John

The truth of the Gospel will never change. (1:2)

A reminder of what love is and that we are to love. (1:5-6)

Warnings against the false teachers who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Son of God or acknowledge that he came in the flesh and lived a perfect and sinless life that ultimately ended here on earth as a sacrifice for our sins. (1:7)

Warnings not to let the false teachers (antichrists) be responsible for leading us away from God and ultimately robbing us of our salvation. (1:8-11)

The Book Of 3rd John

Who wrote the book of 3rd John: John the disciple

See also the introduction to the gospel of John and 1st John for more information about who he was.

When was it written: Most likely around 90 A.D.

This final letter from John which makes up the New Testament book of 3rd John was written near the same time as his first two letters. Unlike the previous two letters, however, this third letter is specifically addressed to one of the faithful leaders of the Church—Gaius.

John’s purpose in writing Gaius is three-fold. One: He encourages Gaius to continue in his faithfulness to God and to the Christians in the province of Asia.

Two: He thanks Gaius for being such a solid believer and for upholding the message of truth in spite of the fact that a leader in one of the other churches in Asia Minor was doing whatever he could to discredit John and those like him (meaning those who taught the truth of the Gospel). The man’s name we learn, was Diotrephes.

Diotrephes was a rogue preacher/teacher—much like more than a few televangelists in our century. These are men who allowed the notoriety, power, material wealth, sexual sins, and other sins of this world to lure them away from the truth and into false piety and teaching.

Diotrephes had allowed many of these same things to happen to him. His greed for power and control over his congregation had caused him to become extremely dictatorial—so much so that he was excommunicating people (kicking them out) who held to the true message of the Gospel and who welcomed missionaries sent by John and other church leaders.

John’s devotion to the Church and to the spreading of the Gospel made it impossible for him to sit on the sidelines and let this happen. But due to distances, the time it took to travel, and other logistical issues, John couldn’t deal with Diotrephes alone.

Gaius provided the help he needed and his letter to Gaius provides us the help we need to combat similar issues today.

What We Learn From The Book Of 2nd John

We should take joy in knowing that our brothers and sisters in Christ outside our local congregation are doing well. We also need to view these verses as God’s encouragement to us to develop and enjoy relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ beyond the local congregation. (1:3-4)

We are to extend hospitality to others—especially those who devote themselves to preaching and teaching God’s Word (missionaries). (1:8)

The ungodly actions and attitude of Diotrephes are explained and John tells Gaius that he plans to deal with it. (1:9-10)

A distinction is made between the Godly and the ungodly. Those who do good are Godly. Those who aren’t are ungodly. (1:11)

NOTE: To “…do good….” goes far beyond just doing a few good deeds or even doing good deeds on a regular basis. The ‘good deeds’ John speaks of here means to obey God’s commands in all things.

John indicates that Diotrephes is basically a good man —that he simply needs to be held accountable for his actions and brought back to the truth. (1:12)

In reading John’s words of warning and chastisement, we once again see that God will not tolerate disobedience or disrespect but that forgiveness and restoration are lovingly offered to those who are truly repentant.