Monday April 13, 2015

Monday, April 13, 2015

1 John 1: 1 – 10

I love the letters of John and particularly this first one.  They seem to me to be awash in love.  They are believed to have been written by “the beloved disciple”, John the Evangelist, and I feel that experience of being beloved comes through loud and clear.

John states very clearly that he is telling what he knows for a fact from personal experience.  From the first day, we were there… (The Message 1)  The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes … The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us. ( 2 )

The rest of this passage sounds very familiar to us in the Anglican communion because the verses are used in parts of the liturgy we say every week.

God is light, pure light; there is not a trace of darkness in him (5)

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (8-9 ESV)

The purpose of John’s writing is to encourage our shared life with God and Jesus and also with each other.  We can trust God to be “true to himself” (he is faithful) and to forgive us when we stumble and acknowledge the failure and are sorry.

This is comforting – strengthening, and encouraging – and supremely loving.

All I can say is Thank you.

Blessings

Ann Kelland