Augustine, in “City of God,” writes about a rightly ordered love. He means that we have to get our love for things in the right order. We should love the things that are to be loved. We should not love the things that are not to be loved. John speaks more directly and clearly about what and who should be loved and not loved. It is an either/or love. You cannot love the world or anything in the world. It all passes away and will destroy you. We are called to love our Father in heaven. (1 John 2:15-17)
Radical Love #3 - Four Tests
How do you know?
That is one of the questions that John wants to help answer for us and in our hearts in this letter. Ten times in this letter, he states: “This is how you know...” He wants us to be sure and to know that we are remaining in God and walking in the light.
Today, as Pastor Chris officially begins his ministry here, we apply some of John’s tests to our own hearts as we study 1 John 2:3-14.
Radical Love #2 - Walking in the Light
We have been drawn into fellowship with God. At the same time, our fellowship with one another continues to deepen. But that can only happen when we walk in the light and not in the dark, i.e., when we live authentic and confessional lives. 1 John 1:5-2:2
Radical Love - #1 - Fellowship Enjoyed
John opens his first letter with two crucial things. First, he identifies himself as a first-hand witness of Jesus and all that he did. He saw him. He touched him. He heard him. All with his own eyes, ears and hands.
From then on, Jesus had made it John’s mission to declare the One who is Life and Light to the world. John did this so that we may have fellowship with each other and fellowship with our God. Here is John’s goal for this letter:
“I write this so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:4