church2go

3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Notice the terms, lavished, children of God. This is something special. God’s love is amazing. Too much for us to fathom, but rejoice in it. Revel in it, take it.

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     In the first three sections of his letter, the author has been directly presenting his followers with “tests” by which they could know they were truly in union with God. At the same time, he was dealing with his opponents by showing that they failed each of these tests of discipleship. In this section he reverses his method. He is no longer using indirect accusations against his opponents, but now confronts them and their teaching by openly labeling them for what they are: antichrists (vv. 18-19). He exposes their method: they lie and deny Jesus as Christ (vv. 20, 23). He teaches his followers how to cope with this: they are to remain in what they were taught (vv. 24-26).

 Finally, he assures his followers of their power to overcome: “His anointing teaches you” (vv. 27-28).

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