The elder, To the lady chosen...

The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth—

2because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:

3Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

- P60

7I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. - P61

John writes to a household of faith whose identity he establishes as chosen by God and beloved of His people. He exhorts them to obey the familiar command to love one another. But what may have been new to them is how John unpacks the definition of love: Love is to live according to all that God has commanded. We live in a society where the statement "God is love" is sometimes construed to mean that God simply accepts any type of lifestyle people choose. But Scripture is clear on what true love is for the household of God. - P62

It is not only to live lives which accord with God’s commands, but to call those we love to the same obedience. - P62

John goes on to warn this household to be aware of those who maintaindisbelief regarding the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This type ofteaching always denies the divinity and lordship of Jesus. This is nothingless than teaching from the antichrist and the saints are not to associate withsuch characters.  - P62

John‘s warning reminds us that Jesus likened false teachingto leaven, a substance of which even a small quantity can permeate a wholeunleavened lump. Many false teachers in multiple forms still remain in theworld, so this warning remains true for the saints of today. We are to remainvigilant against anything which does not acknowledge the lordship of JesusChrist and all that He has commanded. - P62

Father, it is so easy to allow the influences of my society to dictate how my life should be lived. But open my eyes once again to see the beauty of Your truth and use me to help others see it as well. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P62

13I write these things to you...

13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
- P56

19We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

20We know also 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 by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

- P57

John wants his readers to be fully assured that, because of their faith in the name of Jesus, they have eternal life. In addition, believers have the confidence that when we come to God with any request that accords with His will, He will hear and answer. - P58

When we bring our requests to God, let us not approach Him as if we were beggars or slaves fearful of their master. We know that God is our good Father, and He desires to bless His children. We can check our hearts and consider whether our requests align with God’s goodness and love, then we can approach Him with confidence, trusting that He cares about our requests and will grant us all that is best for us. - P58

Scripture differentiates between those who struggle with sin and those whoare unrepentant. Believers are commanded to pray for those who are caughtin sin and are promised that God will rescue the one who has sinned fromdeath. Christ protects those who are born of God from the devil‘s deceit intemptations to sin. When we see other believers sinning, God‘s commandto us is to pray for them.  - P58

Those who are true children of God will notcontinue to sin, not because they are never tempted but because they loveGod and are focused on Him. When we do sin, let us quickly repent andremind ourselves that Jesus has ensured that the devil cannot take away oursalvation. - P58

Heavenly Father, thank You that I can confidently approach You with my requests, knowing that You love me and desire to bless me. Forgive me for the times I have still given in to the sins You freed me from. I recommit to keeping my heart focused on You. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P59

1Everyone who believes that J...

1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. - P52

5Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

6This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. - P52

9We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son.

10Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.

11And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

- P53

Those who believe that Jesus is the Christ are God’s children and they show that they love Him by carrying out His commands. God’s commands are not a burden to believers because God has made our faith victorious against the world. Just like children do not hesitate to obey a good parent whom they love and trust, we can obey without feeling burdened because we know that God’s commands are good for us and our faith enables us to overcome in our battles against the world’s influence. The moment we chose to believe in something that the world does not, we became victorious over the temptations that the enemy uses to lead us astray. - P54

Eyewitnesses testified about Jesus; God also testifies about Him, and Histestimony is greater. God has given testimony through three things that areall in agreement: water, blood, and the Holy Spirit-which symbolize Jesus‘
baptism, His crucifixion, and His Spirit who dwells in those who believein Him. Those who accept this testimony are assured of eternal life. Thosewho do not believe are essentially calling God a liar. In a court of justice,
testimonies from witnesses help a judge and jury discern what might betrue about a legal case.  - P54

Jesus‘ baptism. His sacrifice, and the presence andwork of His Spirit testify that He is truly the Son of God. And because weaccept this testimony, we are confident that God will give us eternal life asHe promised. - P54

Dear God, thank You for giving me victory over the world’s temptations through my faith. Guide me by Your Spirit to share Your testimony with those who still need to hear it so that they, too, can know the truth and live as Your victorious children. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P55

13This is how we know that we...

13This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.

14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

15If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.

16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. - P48

19We love because he first loved us. - P49

21
And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. - P49

Believers know they live in God because He has given them His Spirit. Thosewho have seen Jesus testify that the Father indeed sent His Son to be theSavior of the world. If anyone acknowledges Jesus, God lives in them. God islove. Those who claim to love God yet hate a brother or sister are liars. - P49

John and the earliest Christians have seen Jesus with their own eyes and can testify that God truly sent His Son as the Savior of the world. Those who acknowledge Him are those who abide in God, and God’s love abides in them. - P50

Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God understand the immense love that God has for them. When people embrace, embody, and respond in love, they abide in God and God abides in them because God Himself is love. God sending His Son was an incredible act of love, and when we express love as God loved us, we connect deeply with God and with His people. - P50

Love is made complete among believers when they are like Jesus. Love isalso what gives us confidence on the day of judgment. God‘s love drives outour fear, and because we are loved by Him, we love others. When Christiansembrace the perfect love of God, any fear of divine punishment is cast outbecause we are more focused on loving God than on dreading any sort ofpunishment from Him.  - P50

The love we receive from God is the love we giveto others. We are capable of love because we first received the love God hasfor Because of this love, we can confront, discipline, and correct as wellas embrace, bless, and extend grace to our brothers and sisters. - P50

Dear Lord, I do not always find it easy to love my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. When I struggle to love them, remind me to spend more time in Your love so that I might see others as You see them and love them as You love them. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P51

1Dear friends, do not believe...

1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
- P44

7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. - P45

9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

- P45

John instructs believers to test the spirits to see whether they are from God. This is necessary because many false prophets have gone out into the world. God’s Spirit and the spirit of the world are distinct: Those who know Jesus Christ acknowledge God’s truth, but false teachings come from worldly or demonic sources. - P46

Like the believers in John’s time, Christians today are faced with messages that claim to be spiritual or godly but contradict Scripture. We encounter these messages on social media, in books, sermons, or even in well-meaning advice. We must rely on the Spirit’s guidance and the testimony of Scripture to discern truth from deception. - P46

Let us prayerfully evaluate teachings, remain rooted in God’s Word, and ensure our faith aligns with Christ’s teachings, not worldly influences. - P46

Dear heavenly Father, help me recognize truth from deception in the messages I come across each day. Fill me with Your love so I may love others selflessly, reflecting Your presence. - P47

May my heart mirror Your grace, bringing unity, hope, and Your light to the world. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P47

The writer warns believers to test the spirits because of the many false pro-phets in the world. Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has comein the flesh is from God. God‘s children overcome the world because of theone who is in them. God showed His love by sending His Son into the world,
and believers ought to love one another deeply, as God loved them. - P45

John teaches that love originates from God. God exemplified what lovelooks like by sending His Son into the world to become the sacrifice hethrough which our sins are forgiven. And because God first loved us, weare now called to love one another. Authentic Christian faith is expressedthrough selfless, sacrificial love, reflecting God‘s presence in our lives.  - P46

Wehave many opportunities to live out this truth in a world often markedby division, selfishness, and indifference, where loving others—especiallythose who are difficult to love-feels countercultural. Applying this passagemeans intentionally practicing love in daily life: forgiving, serving, andcaring without expectation of return. By doing so, we not only obey God‘scommand but also reveal His character to others. - P46