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THE "IF WE" STATEMENTS:
Have you ever looked at certain recurring statements used in certain Books of the Bible? In the Book of 1 John the recurring "catch-words" are "If We". When reading them look at the contrast John makes on those who just SAY something versus those who DO something. Some so-called Christians have just a confession, but the marks of a true Christian is an action that follows a confession. Enjoy the "IF WE" statements of 1 John: 1Jn_1:6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 1Jn_1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1Jn_1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1Jn_1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1Jn_1:10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1Jn_2:3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 1Jn_4:12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 1Jn_5:9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. 1Jn_5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 1Jn_5:15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
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SO, YOU WANT TO DO "ALL THINGS"?
That we might have joy (1 John 1:4): This 1 John 1:4 verse is the only use of the word “joy” in John’s Epistles. However the blessing of joy is seen throughout his letter. Joy is a result of walking in a close place of fellowship or communion with our Lord. We as believers quote Philippians 4:13 often. Philippians 4:13 ESV I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Sometimes we get the caboose before the train engine. We know that according to John in his Epistle that walking in communion or fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ brings about JOY. We know that according to Nehemiah 8:10 that the JOY of the Lord is my STRENGTH. Nehemiah 8:10 ESV Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." We know that fellowship brings about joy, and joy brings about strength, and according to Philippians 4:13 that I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Then I can reason that the “all things” must start with fellowship or communion with our Lord. Fellowship produces joy, joy produces strength, and strength produces all things. This is a small teaching from a book I'm writing about discipleship and brokenness. They both go hand-in-hand. Christians are to quick to call themselves disciples, and most "discipleship" classes are nothing more than getting believers to do what they should have been doing the first day they were saved.
Just because we read our Bibles, witness, pray, tithe and regularly attend a church does not qualify us as being disciples. Just because we do the basic commands and expectations of being a Christian does not make us a disciple. This first study from the book should show us that one of the first traits of being a disciple is learning how to be a pupil, a student, a learner of the Word. Being a good denominational student and knowing and walking out its creed and code of faith also does not qualify one for being a disciple. What we will see in this book on brokenness and discipleship is that being a disciple is not the things done outwardly, but what we allow God to do to our heart inwardly. There are four Greek words for disciple.
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AuthorCharles Morris. Founder and Senior Pastor of RSI Ministry, RSI School of Ministry, and RSI Publishing L.L.C.. Archives
March 2021
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