Love and Law

Toward a New Creation
Life on God's Terms
Love Fulfills the Law

1 John 3:4-11  The Message

^4-6 All who indulge in a sinful life are dangerously lawless, for sin is a major disruption of God’s order. Surely you know that Christ showed up in order to get rid of sin. There is no sin in him, and sin is not part of his program. No one who lives deeply in Christ makes a practice of sin. None of those who do practice sin have taken a good look at Christ. They’ve got him all backward.
^7-8 So, my dear children, don’t let anyone divert you from the truth. It’s the person who acts right who is right, just as we see it lived out in our righteous Messiah. Those who make a practice of sin are straight from the Devil, the pioneer in the practice of sin. The Son of God entered the scene to abolish the Devil’s ways.
^9-10 People conceived and brought into life by God don’t make a practice of sin. How could they? God’s seed is deep within them, making them who they are. It’s not in the nature of the God-begotten to practice and parade sin. Here’s how you tell the difference between God’s children and the Devil’s children: The one who won’t practice righteous ways isn’t from God, nor is the one who won’t love brother or sister. A simple test.

¹¹ For this is the original message we heard: We should love each other.

For Reflection

Many will talk the talk.  Few will walk the walk.  Reborn as Children of God, the righteous who live out the way of Christ, are known by their love.  Those who divert  others from this truth are every where.  They  hide under the cloak of conventional wisdom.   They speak with a ring of truth but the truth they speak is empty.  Justice, compassion, and forgiveness are the marks of a God fearing person. 

Pray

that you will be a beacon of righteousness in the darkness of cultural convention.  Pray that you will listen to the God whispers you hear from deep inside you.  Pray to work compassionately for others.