1 John 5:18-21

The final post from John's Epistles

Oct 22, 2024

We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God andeternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Without question, this world is under the control of the spirit of antichrist. The upcoming election alone is evidence that human nature is to divide and conquer in a desperate grab for power and authority. However, that power and authority is limited. Presidencies last four to eight years and then they're over. Political parties evolve and change over time until party members no longer recognize them.

Just as secular politicians seek power for themselves, so do many church leaders and members. Church politics divide those who call themselves Christian. There are plenty of preachers and church leaders caught up in the pursuit of fame, fortune, and influence. There are scandals and cover-ups that boggle the mind and make people question everything to the point of a "deconstructing" crisis across generations and denominations.

The false teachers of the first century may have had different methods, but the root of their lies were the same: personal validation, personal power, and personal control of others. It's a story as old as time, literally. Genesis 3 marks the first failure of humans to resist the pull of personal power as they chose to believe the serpent instead of the Creator who called them part of His "very good" creation. From the Garden to Babel, humans sought to craft the divine in their own image, in defiance of God's design. God then chose Abram to become Abraham and be the family of the promise, but then that family also tried to manipulate the will of God (Ishmael/Isaac; Jacob/Esau; Joseph/his brothers) until they, too, corrupted the image of God. God offered Judges and then Kings, but by the end of the Old Testament, the nation of Israel was divided and conquered. False teaching by false prophets whose allegiance was to kings instead of the Lord led the people into exile.

The world’s current state is a consequence of idolatry rather than obedience. In Jesus, God opened a new way to restore the relationship between Creator and creation. The love of God, made human in Jesus Christ, gives light and life to those who believe. Christians know the Truth and are in the Truth. True God and fully human, Jesus is the restorer and protector of faith. Christians who follow Jesus can be confident that they can experience unity the way God intended for His children in multiple ways:

John made clear throughout his letter that Christians can walk in confidence:

Confidence that there is no darkness in the light of Jesus (1 John 1:5)
Confidence that Jesus in the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:1-6; 4:14-15; 5:11-13)
Confidence that loving God and loving each other is the key to living in light (1 John 2:9-14; 3:11-18; 4:7-8, 21; 5:1-2)
Confidence that this world is not our ultimate destiny (1 John 2:15-17)
Confidence that eternal life is real, now and in the forever future (1 John 2:24-25)
Confidence that abiding in Jesus leads to righteousness (1 John 2:28-29; 4:14)
Confidence that God the Father loves his children (1 John 3:1-2; 4:9-10, 16-19)
Confidence that obedience to God's commands demonstrates and validates faith (1 John 3:23-24; 5:3)
Confidence that God hears and answers the prayers of the faithful (1 John 3:22; 5:14-15)
Confidence that God is greater (1 John 5:18-20)
Confidence in having understanding of eternal things and that Jesus is True, true God and eternal life (1 John 5:20)

The confidence believers have in Jesus far surpasses any sort of earthly acclaim. Confidence in Christ is sufficient for living in the world, but not of it, abiding in Jesus in freedom and joy (John 8:31-32; 15; 1 John 2:24-28; 3:17;4:12-16). "And we know," John wrote several times in this epistle. Not "and we think" or "and we believe," but "we know."

With all the confidence given by God, John completed his letter with a reminder: "keep yourselves from idols" (1 John 5:21). The final warning reminds followers of Jesus that anything that competes with devotion to God, no matter how seemingly insignificant, must be cast aside. There is no room for idolatry in the life of the Christian. Idols are human-created copies of god; Christians walk with the Creator of everything, living in God’s eternal Light of love, just as He intended from the beginning.

And that, friends, wraps up a five-month deep dive into the Epistles of John. I plan to repost a couple of older posts and then launch into Advent studies from an angle I hope is new for some of you.

I would love your feedback on this study and your ideas for what to work through in 2025!

Defaulting to Grace

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