May 28, 2024 HOW WE KNOW
1 John 3:22-24 “and whatever we ask we receive from Him because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given.”
As I often say, most have a tendency to complicate things. Even in Christian circles, there is a tendency to complicate the gospel. There are endless teachings on contradictory beliefs and interpretations of the scriptures. Some believe this and some believe that. All of this is to our shame. As someone said, ‘The bible contradicts itself, but only in our minds.’ It is good to do extensive study of God’s word and to search out the scriptures, to be a student of the word, and to be challenged by His word. However, we must approach the word with the awareness that God revealed His word in an understandable way; He did not complicate it; He desires for us to know His word. Also, to truly understand His word, we need the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of His word to us. The most important thing for us is to believe what He has said in His word; there are some things in His word that we may not fully understand, but nonetheless we must believe what He says whether we understand or not. Like so many passages of scripture, the above scriptures have a clear and simple message, a message no one could miss. For example, there is a connection between receiving form Him and keeping His commandments and doing the things that are pleasing to Him. Is that difficult to understand? And what does He command? That we believe in the name of Jesus Christ and love one another. Again, that is impossible to misunderstand. And, it’s quite simple; but abiding in Him results in keeping His commandments. We do not have to wonder if we are abiding in Him because we have been given the Holy Spirit to make us aware of the fact that Jesus abides in us. Back to the first line of the above scriptures: it says whatever we ask we receive from Him! That does not make God a heavenly Santa Clause. It is saying that IF we keep His commandments and IF we do the things that are pleasing in His sight, then ask what we may, and we will receive. As we walk with Him, we will become aware of what we are to ask of Him. Even though what we receive from Him may look a little different from what we envisioned, be assured that He always answers our prayers in His time and in his way. But, stay in the simplicity lane and keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight-then make your request known to Him-you will receive.
John 14:21 “He that hath my commandments, and keepth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.’
Blessings, Buddy
[email protected]
1 John 3:22-24 “and whatever we ask we receive from Him because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given.”
As I often say, most have a tendency to complicate things. Even in Christian circles, there is a tendency to complicate the gospel. There are endless teachings on contradictory beliefs and interpretations of the scriptures. Some believe this and some believe that. All of this is to our shame. As someone said, ‘The bible contradicts itself, but only in our minds.’ It is good to do extensive study of God’s word and to search out the scriptures, to be a student of the word, and to be challenged by His word. However, we must approach the word with the awareness that God revealed His word in an understandable way; He did not complicate it; He desires for us to know His word. Also, to truly understand His word, we need the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of His word to us. The most important thing for us is to believe what He has said in His word; there are some things in His word that we may not fully understand, but nonetheless we must believe what He says whether we understand or not. Like so many passages of scripture, the above scriptures have a clear and simple message, a message no one could miss. For example, there is a connection between receiving form Him and keeping His commandments and doing the things that are pleasing to Him. Is that difficult to understand? And what does He command? That we believe in the name of Jesus Christ and love one another. Again, that is impossible to misunderstand. And, it’s quite simple; but abiding in Him results in keeping His commandments. We do not have to wonder if we are abiding in Him because we have been given the Holy Spirit to make us aware of the fact that Jesus abides in us. Back to the first line of the above scriptures: it says whatever we ask we receive from Him! That does not make God a heavenly Santa Clause. It is saying that IF we keep His commandments and IF we do the things that are pleasing in His sight, then ask what we may, and we will receive. As we walk with Him, we will become aware of what we are to ask of Him. Even though what we receive from Him may look a little different from what we envisioned, be assured that He always answers our prayers in His time and in his way. But, stay in the simplicity lane and keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight-then make your request known to Him-you will receive.
John 14:21 “He that hath my commandments, and keepth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.’
Blessings, Buddy
[email protected]
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