Gloria Jane

Q5. (1 John 2:3-6) How can we be serious about obeying Christ without becoming legalistic and judgmental, with a self-righteous attitude like the Pharisees had? The study says it very well, giving the example of Jesus speaking with the Pharisees - "you neglect justice and the love of God." LOVE. There's a verse in II Cor. 5 - "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." If we're living for Him, we are compelled by love to obey Him and to bless others. We become legalistic when we're focused on ourselves and how "good" we look - either in God's eyes, others', or our own. God gave us commands in order to communicate with us how to live in a way that brings glory to Him and blessing to those around us. He did not give us rules in order for us to earn merit. He tells us His ways, so we can be like Him, and be fully who He created us to be. . . . again, it comes back to Relationship, Fellowship with Him and each other. Legalism only builds barriers and makes for competition. Jesus reprimanded his disciples for that kind of competition. He turned their thinking around to serving, not being "the best or greatest." How do love and legalism differ? I probably answered this in the above response, but - Love is outwardly focused on God and others, giving oneself, surrendering, serving, joyfully obeying the Lord's commands. Legalism is inwardly focused on self and what we may be "earning" for our obedience. Jesus did the earning for us. We are powerless to do what it takes . . .have to leave it to Him. Something our pastor said recently: All other religions of the world say "Do, Do, Do." Christianity says, "Done." Thank you Jesus! If not based on merit-seeking, legalism is focused on the rules themselves and doesn't look beyond to their purpose. - What's the saying? - You lose sight of the forest in the midst of the trees? How can we be serious about obedience and make love our center? Get with God!!! Come to know Him through His Word, prayer, His working in the world. Desire for obedience grows as your relationship with Him grows. God is love (that comes up in Ch. 4) - so if you're getting to know God, love becomes more and more your motivation for all of life. I love that passage the study cites: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) With Jesus gently leading us and teaching us, obedience becomes a joy! Have a JOY-FILLED week!

What is the result when a Christian walks in darkness, that is, continues willfully to do what he or she knows to be wrong? There are barriers in his/her relationship with God first, but also, sin causes barriers in our relationships with others. The longer we walk in the darkness, willfully sinning, the more "lost" we get. We deny what's really the truth in efforts to cover up our sin. We commit other sins that branch off the original one. We begin to rely on ourselves and our own judgment (which is flawed), rather than on God's wisdom. How does this involve self-deception? We think we've got things under control. We deny that our "one little sin" can make an impact on our relationship w God and/or others. Because we're "in the dark," we don't see correctly. We have only the perspective of what we can personally feel. We lose God's perspective on our lives and the events in it and how our sin affects those around us. What is the result, according to verse 7, when we walk in the light? We have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin. Relationships are healed. Jesus cleanses us, gives us a new start. How do we get back into the light if we sin? Acknowledge we have sinned, confess it to God, but also, when a relationship has been damaged, we need to confess our sins to anyone affected by our sin, admitting our wrongdoing and asking for forgiveness from the person(s). We need to let Jesus do his work in us; let His Spirit be our Guide. He is our Light by which we can see what is good and right and true. We need to turn away from the sin that put us in the dark (repent), and pray for God to keep us from falling, relying on His strength and promises in order to have victory.

Hello fellow disciples, I am from Santee, California, USA (San Diego area). I have enjoyed a couple of Pastor Ralph's studies, and I'm looking forward to this one, which happens to be on one of my favorite books of the Bible. I told my friends on Facebook I was doing this and invited anyone who wanted to to join me. And guess who responded? - my two sisters! They both live long distance from me, so I am thanking God that he placed it on both of their hearts to do a study with me. This will be the first time I've been in a study with both of them; thanking God for this opportunity through the internet. I am in transition in life right now - my husband of 26 years and I home schooled our two children for their K-12 education. They are both in Christian colleges now. I feel led to be involved in starting a school patterned much like home education. Waiting on the Lord (or He's waiting on me!) for that and doing elder care in the meantime. I have led for many years what our church calls Family Worship - worship time for the whole family that involves active worship for children. I also lead a ministry group that visits nursing homes on a regular basis, sharing music and a fun magic show with them. . . .also lead a home group of home school families who prefer to keep parents and youth together as we study God's Word and fellowship together. We attend a Lutheran church that just became a part of the new Lutheran Churches in Mission for Christ. Praising God for His continued grace and goodness in my life! God bless us all as we delve into John's letters!

It seems that it would be more of a "natural" conversation if Jesus would have replied to Martha with an acknowledgment that she was right. He could have said something like, "You've got that right, Martha, but what I meant was that Lazaruz will be raised this day." However, Jesus took this opportunity to proclaim truth about himself and those who believe in Him - not just to Martha, but to those present with them. He again (as he does earlier in John's Gospel) uses the situation to identify Himself as "I AM," the only true God. Saying He IS the Resurrection and the Life speaks of the truth that only through Him can mankind have the gift of Life. He graciously reveals truth about life after physical death - that even though we die physically, believers in Him will be given a Life that never ends. How Amazing I AM is! As he states in the Scripture - Jesus' role in the Resurrection is that as he calls people to Him and when they truly "hear" Him by surrendering to His Lordship, they become dead to sin and are "raised" to Life - an everlasting relationship with their Savior. At the last day, Jesus' role will be to call with his voice, causing all the dead - believers and unbelievers to come "out of their graves." He will then take the role of Judge, gifting those covered in His blood with LIFE with Him forever. Those who rejected His covering, will have their sinfulness exposed and will be found guilty and have to be condemned. Just like so many things in the Old Testament were a foreshadowing of what was to come in Christ, I believe Jesus gave a "foreshadowing" of that Resurrection Day by calling to Lazarus with His voice and raising him from physical death, causing him to come out of his grave. - A picture of what is in store for all of us! We know that a foreshadowing is not the full picture - it is "shadowy." What Christ will do on the Last Day will be so much more magnificent and glorious! When Jesus was first given word of Lazarus' sickness, He said that it would not end in death and that it would be for God's Glory, and His Son would be glorified through it. - - The ultimate purpose of all! His role was and is to Glorify His Father! Praise Him!