_THE TEST OF LOVE_ ‘For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.’ 1 John 5:3 There are presented to us in these few words two salient features of our Christian life. I. ITS LOFTIEST LEVEL.—‘As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.’ As we love, we are. The height of our affection... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE EASY YOKE_ ‘His commandments are not grievous.’ 1 John 5:3 Here we see the restfulness of the Christian life. There is no real burden in Christ’s commandments, for, as He said, His yoke is easy; His burden light. There is both a negative and a positive aspect to this question. I. THE NEGAT... [ Continue Reading ]
_SONSHIP AND VICTORY_ ‘For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.’ 1 John 5:4 Our first inquiry will naturally be, What is meant by overcoming the world? And in no better way can we find an answer to the question than by... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE WITNESS WITHIN AND THE WITNESS WITHOUT_ ‘He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.’ 1 John 5:10 The foundation-stone laid by God is Jesus Christ. It is on Him that our faith rests, and the text warns us how we are to build on this foundation. Jesus Christ is not a dead... [ Continue Reading ]
_ETERNAL LIFE_ ‘And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His son. He that hath the Son hath life.’ 1 John 5:11 When the words ‘eternal life’ are uttered in our hearing, we turn instinctively to the opening of the great High Priestly prayer recorded in th... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE SOURCE OF CHRISTIAN LIFE_ ‘He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.’ 1 John 5:12 To live for God on earth, and with Him in heaven; to work for His glory here and reign in it hereafter, is the chief end of man. The source of this life is Jesus Christ... [ Continue Reading ]