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Jude

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Although Jude was a half brother to Jesus, he refers to himself as a bondservant of Jesus Christ. He is writing to those who are called, set apart, and preserved by God...the true believers. Verses 3-4,  “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”   Jude wanted to write about the salvation that they shared in common; however, a more pressing issue took over and turned this letter into a warning. Ungodly men were within the church and persuading people to depart from sound doctrine. These men were changing the very meaning of grace in order to fulfill the desires of their flesh, while sinning openly witho...
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3 John 1

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Verses 2-4,  “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”   Notice here that there is a distinction made between physical health and spiritual health. It is not a bad thing for you to prosper in a physical sense, but it cannot be at the expense of your spiritual health. Many believers become so wrapped up in seeking the things of this world that their fruitfulness gets choked out and they become spiritually unhealthy.  Matthew 13:22, “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.”   The typical cares of this life cannot become our priority. We need to remember that man (or woman) does not live by bread alone, bu...
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2 John 1

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Verses 1-3,  “The Elder, To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.”   The author of this book referring to himself as the "elder" is presumed to be John in his later years of life. He is writing to what seems to be a specific church and its members, as it is unlikely that he would be writing to one woman in the literal sense. These people are unique in that they know and love the truth. Knowing the truth of God is what binds believers together, not social networking or political activism, or any other church sponsored activities. When you know and love the truth, you will love others who know and love the truth. Therefore, if someone calls themselves a believer, but does not love his brother or s...
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1 John 5

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Verse 1,  “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.”   Because Jesus is God, you cannot love the Father without loving the Son and truly be saved. Many seemingly nice people will say they love God, but that is not what unites us. You need to ask them who Jesus is, in order determine if they even serve the same God, but then you have to take it even further and look for fruit. Just because they can speak correctly about who Jesus is, doesn't mean they are trusting in His sacrifice and have truly been born again. There still must be evidence of their faith in order for it to be deemed as genuine. The two obvious distinctions given us in this book are that we love God's people, and that we keep His word. If both of these are not present, they do not know the same God. Verses 2-3,  “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments....
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1 John 4

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Verses 1-2,  “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.”   Every spiritual "experience" is not necessarily of God, which is why they each must be tested. True prophesy will point to the Jesus of the Bible. Any deviation on this would be a new Jesus; a false Jesus. Satan will not care if you worship a false Jesus either, because you are still rendered ineffective for the kingdom and will end up in hell; which is probably why there are so many fake gods being preached today. How about modern Jesus who has changed with the times to accept female pastors, drinking, fornication, homosexuality, etc? Then there's lenient Jesus who lets you live however you please (contrary to the commandments), and covers it all for you with grace. There is no regeneration...you just...
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1 John 3

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Verses 1-3,  “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”   How amazing and undeserved it is that we can actually be called children of God! Being a child of God comes with blessings now, an eternal inheritance, but also responsibilities. One of which is to bear fruit of righteousness.  John 15:16, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”   Those who do this are children of God, but those who do not are children of the devil. There is no other choic...
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1 John 2

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Verses 1-2,  “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”   John makes it clear that we do not  have  to sin...it is our choice. In fact, we are supposed to lay aside all filthiness and wickedness. God does not make us sin either, but actually gives us the strength to resist temptation.  James 1:13-15, “Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”   When we do sin, we have a covering in Jesus, if we are humble enough to repent (not just confess). The one who sins willful...
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