Introduction: Today is Anzac Day in Australia – a day which celebrates Australian Forces, combining with New Zealand Forces, landing in Gallipoli in WWI. We also commemorate all those who have died and served to hopefully keep the world free from tyranny, ever since. It is a good thing to do, and personally I am grateful for all those who have served our countries. Veterans tend to get a bad deal! But sadly in our country it is seen by many to be more important, as a celebration, than worshipping, and belief in, the One whose death has made heaven possible for all who turn to Him!
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning.
Comment: 1. Are you offend as an adult if you are treated as a little child? Although my oldest son is much more intelligent than me and, almost at retirement age, he is still my child! The term doesn’t belittle him but expresses a true relationship! The old Apostle John had been and was the source of bringing the message of life and understanding to believers. Secondly elders (parents) were commanded in the scripture to share their faith in God with their children, walking and sitting and talking about what God had done for them! (Deut 6: 4-9). Thirdly, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’ (Matt 18: 3-4). 2. Advocate is a word that we see possibly as a legal term. It has a wider warmer meaning – a person who puts a case on someone else’s behalf. Thank God that Jesus is on our side and speaks for us right in the presence of God! not that God is vindictive but He is Holy and we certainly are not, when we stop comparing ourselves to others and compare our goodness to God’s goodness (holiness). 3. Propitiation is a word not in common usage these days but it is a word loaded with Biblical meaning! It means satisfying/appeasing God’s justifiable and righteous anger for sin. God is satisfied and appeased by the sacrificing of Jesus’ perfect life on the Cross. Hence Jesus is our Propitiating Agent, as well as our Advocate! 4. Commandments is a word unliked by most modern people! Certainly people en masse revolt against God having the right to order our lives! But the basis of the 10 commandments is to love God whole heartedly and our neighbours as much as we love ourselves! Psalm 119 is wholly given, all of the 176 verses, to keeping God’s commands/ principles/laws/precepts/ words etc! So there is nothing new about this command, but an underling of what God has always required of us, and now Jesus makes possible! 5. Is perfected, obviously means there was in the past imperfection. Perfection has become in the present possible! 6. Calling someone a liar is almost certain to cause ire! There are a number of words and thoughts related to ‘liar’ – self deception, prevarication, just human, coloured lies, truth is relative! We cannot ‘fool’ God! Nor should we try to do so!
Proverbs 12: 22- The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.
Prayer: Please help me to put into practice what You instruct me through Your Word, my Father!
As I read it! 