DECEMBER 1

" Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God."      1 John 3:21.

In verses 19-24 John is not trying to make the children of God doubt their salvation because of their sins but to motivate them to return immediately to the way of righteousness and truth whenever they find themselves beginning to take even small steps in Cain's direction ( vs.12). He spells out the benefits of a life lived in such a way that such doubts aren't able to creep into the believer's heart. When we have a clean conscience before God we have ' confidence ' ( ch.2:28) before Him that our prayers will be answered. Because of this confidence ( vs.22),brought on by a life of obedience, we don't shy away from prayer...as often unconfessed sin and a resulting guilty conscience does. Shame is a barrier to fellowship with God. ( C.Swindoll )

DECEMBER 2

" This is His commandment, that we should believe on the Name of His son Jesus Christ. "       1 John 3:23.

The Gospel is not an option, to believe it is a command ( Acts 16:31 ), a duty which sin disables us from fulfilling. To believe on Christ therefore requires the Spirit's enabling ( vs.24), that we may fulfil God's command, just as the command to repent does ( Mark 1:15.: Acts 2:38 ). This is why faith and repentance are called ' saving graces ' or ' marks of grace ' and not natural human works ( Ephes.2:8,10). To believe in Him is more than to accept the fact that He is who He is, " but it is to go forth in special and spiritual acts upon Him, such as looking at Him, coming to Him, trusting in Him for life and salvation, committing all into His hands, and expecting all from Him...Faith in Christ is a fruit of electing grace and a blessing of the covenant of grace. " ( John Gill ) Our inability to believe does not cancel our responsibility to obey this command. Faith in itself is an act of obedience ; we read several times of ' the obedience of faith ' in the New Testament. It is a gross perversion of doctrine to say that ' if God commands it, we must have the ability to do it.' We lost all our spiritual ability when Adam fell, and only Christ can give us it now.

DECEMBER 3

" Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God." 1 John 4:1.

The devil is a great counterfeiter ! The two classic books which studied this subject were by Jonathan Edwards, " The Distinguishing marks of a work by the Spirit of God " and " The Religious Affections." The papacy was his masterpiece, but he is still counterfeiting throughout the visible church. The wheat and the tares must grow together in the visible church until the end of the world. ( Matt.13:30).The Word of God alone is our textbook to discern what is true and false ( Isaiah 8:20). If a religious experience is not found in Scripture and if a so-called spiritual person contradicts the Words of the Holy Spirit in Scripture we should not accept it - it is a counterfeit. It is good for people to examine themselves, to check whether they have the faith which God gives, approves and accepts. Paul writes that we should examine ourselves by Scripture, and by nothing else ( 2 Corinth.13:5). We cannot afford to make a mistake in things that concern our eternal welfare, and the church must be guarded, as much as possible, from intruders with their unscriptural teachings and innovations. No-one goes to heaven by contradicting God and His Word.

DECEMBER 4

" Try the spirits." 1 John 4:1.

We cannot take anyone for granted. Because one speaks as a minister or teacher, this should not be accepted as sufficient evidence that what he says is true. We must examine him (just as the Bereans did Paul, Acts 17:11), to see if what he says agrees with God's Word. Because of the subtlety of the false teachers it is imperative that believers be diligent students of God's Word. However, the study of the Scriptures is one thing, the application to one's life is another ! One does not mature in the faith simply because of what he knows of the Bible. It is the application of it that gives us growth. The Bible must reach the heart as well as the head.When there is a lack of spiritual depth, people are prone to stumble and fall into error, as many have. If something does not agree with God's revelation of truth, it should be shunned as false ; it can only mislead you. The Christian life has no room for compromise. The false teachers are ' of the world ', their ideas originate from their own minds, and not from the Spirit of God. ( J.A.Blair )

DECEMBER 5

" Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." 1 John 4:4.

There is continuous and unchanging opposition between the world and God. Christ has overcome the world, but it will fight on until the end of itself. Like sin in the believer, it has lost its dominion but not its power to rebel. The rebels believe this world is all there is, and this thought is the foundation for, and shapes, all their other thoughts. The Word of God has been given, and the Holy Spirit will plant it irresistibly in the heart of God's elect in every generation of the world. Salvation is preached as not simply possible but definite, ' He shall save His people from their sins.' ( Matt. 1:21) The devil, the world and sin shall resist this purpose of Christ, but when the Spirit opens the heart and Christ enters in to reign there, greater is He that is in you than every other power. No matter who is against us, God is for us ( Rom.8: 31), and He shall bring us through this world to Himself ; by His power, not ours. This is the only safe ground for hope ( 1 Tim.1:1).

DECEMBER 6

"God sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him."   1 John 4:9.

We all exist but only Christ can bring eternal life into a soul. We are born ' dead in sin ' since the fall of Adam ( Ephes.2:1) and cannot move towards God ; just as a dead man cannot rise up and walk. Christ comes to sinners to give them life ( Ezek. 16:6 ) and to show them the aim of that new life, a life that was not there before. A meeting with Christ is indeed a ' life changing event.' Things are bever the same after that, as Paul found ( Galat.2:20). The sending of the Son was an act of God's mercy ( Ephes.2:1). He commanded to save, He commanded the blessing and it is life that shall never end ( Ps.133:3). The relationship with Christ cannot be broken and the life now led by the believer is something he thinks about all the time, with gladness, and with prayer for the strength to continue faithfully in it.

DECEMBER 7

" Not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:10.



All of salvation, in all its details and steps, is initiated by God. His love preceded and caused ours ( vs.19). Love for God is not in us by nature, the carnal mind has other thoughts - it must be put into our hearts by the Spirit ( Rom. 8:7. Galat.5:22). God's love did not remove the necessity for a sacrifice of propitiation, to satisfy His offended justice, but His love did provide it ( Rom.5:8). He sent His Son, who agreed to sacrifice Himself. Christ was not only the Priest, but the sacrifice also. What sin deserved He suffered, what the Law required He gave. Love initiated reconciliation between chosen sinners and God, Christ procured it and the Holy Spirit applied it. There is no merit in our love ( Deut.7:7,8), nor are we saved by our love but by faith. If we do not have faith, we shall not have love and hope to go with it. ( 1 Corinth 13 ) It was not man's love that sent the Son !

" God's love alone is the love that saves, and the means by which it saves is faith. "( J.G.Machen)

DECEMBER 8

" Hereby we know that we dwell in Him and He in us...and do testify. 1 John 4:13,14.

The Apostle stresses the importance of commitment to Christ if he is to know the certainty of his salvation. Some people never seem quite sure of their salvation because of a faulty beginning in their profession of faith. The modern ' easy believism " overlooks two important requirements - repentance and commitment. Are you sure you are a Christian ? Can you give a clear, affirmative answer ? Or is it ' I think I am ' or ' I hope so.' ? Did you undergo a change in your lifestyle when you professed faith in Christ, and is that change still there ? Was your experience that of Paul ( and every other Christian ), " Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature [ new creation ] ; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new." ? ( 2 Corinth.5:17) Has the ' new man ' been put on ? ( Ephes.4:24 ). If the change is not obvious, you must question if it happened at all. ( J.A.Blair )

DECEMBER 9

" As He is, so are we in this world." 1 John 4:17.

There is a similarity with us in the conditions which Christ met as He passed through this world. " As He was a man of sorrows, attended with afflictions, loade with reproaches and followed with the persecutions of men, so are we. Likewise, we should not wonder that we are the objects of the world's hatred and contempt, since He was also. As He was tempted by Satan, forsaken by friends, and forsaken by God, so sometimes are we in this world. And as He went through a variety of sufferings and death itself into glory, so we enter heaven after going through many tribulations. "

( John Gill ) 

He had perfect love to His Father and to His brethren, we do not, and therefore a little fear remains with our imperfection ( vs.18). We could wish for the perfect exercise of all our graces in this world, but it is not to be. However, this fear is not the fear of despair, it is the fear of the fragile child, which makes her cling all the more to her Father.

DECEMBER 10

" And this commandment we have from Him, that he who loves God love his brother also. "  1 John 4:21.

Love for God begets brotherly love among us.He commands the former and the latter. " The world loves in a different way. The crowd judges friendships by their usefulness. No-one wants to associate with those who are deaf, weak, unlearned and ungrateful.Christ loved all His brethren without distinction. Therefore we too should love as brothers even those who are not worthy of love. John is teaching about faith and love because he sees that these two articles are impeded most by satan. It is in accord with John's manner of writing to repeat twice or three times what is salutary, namely that we should believe and love sincerely. " ( Luther )

These two commandments, love for God and for our neighbour summed up the moral law ( Matt.22:37-40). We are not to separate what Christ has joined together.

DECEMBER 11

" We love God and keep His commandments." 1 John 5:2.

This is the evidence of a Christian. Love without obedience is sentimental lawlessness, and obedience without love is mere misguided morality. Christ has set us free to love God and to keep His commandments, not the grievous burden of the Pharisees' regulations. " It is freedom to obey God." ( Rutherford ). This obedience is not yet perfect but the desire and delight in God's Word is there ( Ps.119:35,47 ). Loving God enables us to keep His commandments, obeying out of love and not terror ( Galat.5:6). Our new birth gives us freedom for a new obedience, quite different from the obedience of an old heart. ' All things have become new ' and we see the beauty of the law ; and, like David, have a delight in it, as God does. We obey the Law as something good in itself, there is no merit -seeking in our obedience. " Love is the fulfilling of the Law." Christ puts His yoke upon us 

( Matt.11:30), it is given for our highest welfare. This delight in the Law is a reflection of Christ's ( Ps.40:7,8) and shows that we indeed love God.

DECEMBER 12

" And His commandments are not grievous ( burdensome ). " 1 John 5:3)

The commandments given by the Pharisees were not God's Law and were a great burden upon the people (Matt.23:4. Luke 11:46). They gave laws but no power to keep them, and their motive to obey was terror, not love. ( Acts 15:10) But " it is impossible for the Law to give us righteousness." ( John Calvin) We obey the Law knowing that we have righteousness, the righteousness of God by faith ( Rom.3:22. 8:1-4 ). " The conflict with the Law arises because of our flesh, but those whom God begets by His Spirit have a delight ( in the Law ), for which the flesh has no delight. There is no delight save in following God. We must also observe that John is not speaking about the bare Law, which contains only commands, but joins with it the Fatherly kindness of God, by which the rigour of the Law is softened.When we know that we are graciously forgiven by the Lord when our works do not satisfy the Law, and this makes us more swift to obey ( Ps.130:4). Believers, sustained by forgiveness, do not despond when they fall short. Meanwhile, the Apostle reminds us that we must fight if we are to serve the Lord." ( John Calvin )

DECEMBER 13

" This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4.

Christians live in the real world and are beset with formidable obstacles. It is not easy to obey God. It is much easier to drift with the world, disobey Him, and ' do your own thing.' But the Christian is 'born of God ' and this new nature within ' overcomes the world.' If the old nature were in control of us we would continually disobey God. The world appeals to the old nature ( ch.2:15-17 )The more you love God the easier it is to trust Him. The more our love is perfected, the more our faith in Christ is perfected too, because faith and love mature together. This faith is faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God ( vs.5). It is not faith in ourselves but faith in Christ that gives the victory. ( W.Wiersbe )

We shall overcome because He has ( Ephes.1:20-22). John uses the word ' overcome ' a lot in Revelation. This is something we need to remember, we fight under the triumphant Commander. The Christian who does not ' fight the good fight ' must either change his behaviour or change his name ! ( as Alexander the Great said to a cowardly soldier whose name he found was ' Alexander.' ) Christians want to be as their Master.

DECEMBER 14

" This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4.

" All glory of victory must be ascribed to God Himself, not by any means to us. We are far too insignificant for this. Here, however, the Word of God is required - the word which promises and extends grace to believers, so that when they have been hurled into so many great trials and are overwhelmed by such great and cunning spirits, they nevertheless fight their way out and triumph. He who believes in Christ is a warrior. " He overcomes, " says John, not " he has overcome." For we are still engaged in the battle itself, complete victory is in the future. " ( Martin Luther ) " Verse 5 points out what is that faith that overcomes the world. It is not that trust and confidence which has self or any mere creature for its confidence, but the Son of God.This is not a mere assent to a proposition but a seeing the Son in the glory, fullness and suitableness of His Person, office and grace." ( John Gill )

DECEMBER 15

" And it is the Spirit that bears witness, because the Spirit is truth." 1 John 5:6.

The Spirit expects our obedience to the written Word of God. But it is part of the human problem that we would like to be full of the Spirit and yet go on and do what we please ! If we do not give that obedience we will 'quench' His witness to our souls. Everyone has as much of God as he desires to have, we do not want to meet the conditions for fulness. They do not want to pay the price for it ; but they will pay the price to obtain other things in this world. When it comes to spiritual matters, they will settle for less ; the great desire is not there. ( A W.Tozer ) The assurance of the Spirit is connected to sanctification. Sanctification is a battle in life, but it is a battle we dare not retire from. We must not give up the truth, it is not ours to give away. If we surrender the truth to the enemy, we surrender ourselves.

DECEMBER 16

" The Spirit, the water and the blood, and these three agree in one. " 1 John 5:8.

Just as there is a Trinity in harmony in heaven ( vs.7), so on earth there is a united testimony to the work of Christ. At the cross His water and blood poured out and the Spirit applied them with power to the hearts of sinners ; ' I am persuaded', says Paul. The blood was to cleanse in justification, the water is the symbol of sanctification. " Be of sin the double cure, cleanse me from its guilt and power." ( A.Toplady ) " The power of the two Sacraments were seen at the cross." ( Augustine ) " They are shed, first of all physically and then spiritually ( 1 Peter 1:2). Christ did not come through water alone, but by water joined with blood. What God has joined together we must not separate.Many have only water, but we have blood and water." ( Luther ) Relying on Baptism alone does not save, nor does mere attendance at the Lord's Table. Both sacraments have no effect without faith. Mere ceremonies give nothing for salvation, there must be application by faith. Guilt must be taken away by the blood of Christ ; there is no other way. And where there is justification by faith, there is always sanctification by the Spirit.

DECEMBER 17

" He that believes not God has made Him a liar, because he believes not therecord [ testimony ] that God gave of His Son." 1 John 5:10.

True faith must always rest upon what God is ( Exodus 3:14). This is of the utmost importance. " They that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee ", said David ( Ps.9:10). The name of God is the verbal expression of His character, and confidence always rises or falls with known character. We are so made that we trust good character and distrust its opposite, and this is why unbelief is so intensely wicked ! The character of God,then, is the Christian's final ground of assurance, the God revealed in the Bible.There need be no uncertainty about how He will act in any situation - it will be according to His character. Whether it be His promises or His warnings, they are both predictive. True faith rests upon true knowledge of God. And let us look not merely at our faith, but at Christ its Author and Finisher. ( A.W.Tozer ) Those who have the witness of the Spirit in themselves shall bear witness to that witness which God has made within them. The record is the ' whole counsel of God '; the believer does not ' pick and choose ' what to believe from God.

DECEMBER 18

" God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." 1 John 5:11.

Union to Christ therefore is of the first importance. There is an eternal union in the Covenant ( John 1:4. Ephes.1:4 ) and then a Spiritual union in time, ' joined to the Lord by one Spirit ,' and then a conscious union by faith in Christ. You cannot have the third without the first two. " This life He gives to all His chosen ones ( Acts 13:48), as many as the Father has given to His Son. It is given to all that are redeemed by His blood and are brought to believe in Him ; to these He gave it in His Son before the world began. To the same, in time, He gave the right and the fitness for it, and the Holy Spirit as the pledge and earnest of it... and the full experience of it in eternity." ( John Gill )

" Let me reemphasize the past tense nature of this gift,' has given '. Eternal life isn't something we're growing into. It's not a prize we win or a reward for hard work. It isn't the earned result of an achievement.It's something that was given by grace alone ( Ephes. 2:8,9). ( C.Swindoll )

DECEMBER 19

" He that has not the Son of God has not life." 1 John 5:12.

It should have been sufficient that God placed life in Christ alone, from whom it should be sought. He excludes from the hope of life all who do not seek it in Christ. We know what it is to have Christ, for He is possessed by faith. So He deprives of life all who are outside the Body of Christ...Where apart from the Spirit of Christ, does purity of heart come from or a true concern for godliness ? ( Luke 16:15). the righteousness of men is placed in the forgiveness of their sins. If you take this away the certain curse of God and eternal death awaits us all. It is Christ alone who reconciles the Father to us, having once appeased Him by the sacrifice of His death [ in propitiation]. ( John Calvin )

DECEMBER 20

" And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His Will, He hears us. 1 John 5:14.

There is no other way to live than by faith and love.Now John anticipates a question,' What if I have a cold heart and feel that I lack this faith ? ' This is the remedy, says John, Pray, ask, and He will hear you ( James 1:5). The main thing is that you devote yourself to praying ( Philipp.4:6). Likewise, Augustine says,' Lord, give what Thou art commanding.'This exhortation to prayer is to encourage us. He arouses us to confidence, which is the soul of prayer ( in contrast to James 1:6,7).We are to accept His promises and to pray according to His Will. When we are sure that we are praying according to His Will ( for something He approves ), then we may have the confidence and be certain that He hears us. This reminds us of our need to know the Scriptures, for human wisdom does not know His Will. Be sure that either what you have asked for will be granted or what has been asked for has not been regarded by God as beneficial for you. ( Luther )

DECEMBER 21

" If we ask anything according to His will He hears us." 1 John 5:14

The right rule of praying is when men subject their wishes to God. For although God has promised to do whatever His people ask, He does not permit them the unbridled liberty of asking for whatever comes into their heads, but has laid down for them a law for proper prayer. And nothing is more useful for us than this bridle. For if each of us were allowed to ask what he liked, and if God indulged our wishes, it would be in our worst interests. For we do not know what is for the best. No, we seethe with depraved and harmful desires. But God supplies a twofold remedy lest we should pray outside the command of His will. Firstly, He teaches us in His word what He wants us to ask. Secondly, He has set over us His Spirit as our Leader and ruler to restrain our desires, so that we may not let them stray beyond due bounds ( John 8:26)   ( John Calvin ).

DECEMBER 22

" There is a sin unto death ; I do say that he shall pray for it." 1 John 5:16.

What is this sin ? It is difficult to be dogmatic, but it is evidently a sin which will have no forgiveness, an ' unpardonable sin.' No prayer for the forgiveness of this sin can be effective. Jeremiah was told at one point, " Pray not for this people ! " This sin is an apostasy, an abandonment of the fear of God, a reprobate mind ( Rom.1:28) which rejects the words of God, and justifies it to themselves. John is talking about a sin which occurs within the church, as the whole context proves. Those in a state of grace do sin daily, but do not fall from grace. But those who sin and defend it, justify it and become angry when reproached for it, give no evidence that they are on the road to heaven.God forgives no-one without repentance, and no-one repents unless they first acknowledge their sin. Pride does indeed come before a fall, the final fall.

" The kind of death that John meant was eternal damnation - the death of the unsaved."   ( C.Swindoll )

DECEMBER 23

" He that is begotten of God keeps himself. 1 John 5:18.

He that is born of God must pray to keep himself in exercising love for God ( Jude 21 ) with strong faith, looking at the things which are not seen but are real and eternal. We shall not be tested above our strength to endure ( 1 Corinth.10:13), but while we continue in the right way we do not go on sinlessly. A sense of sinfulness is constantly with us, but He has promised perseverance to us ( Luke.22:31,32). The new birth by the Holy Spirit topples sin from its throne in the heart ( Rom.6:14) - this is the work and evidence of grace ( John 8:36). This does not mean that the Christian no longer sins ; some battles may be lost, but the war against sin ( Rom.7) will go on until its final extirpation. The normal condition of a Christian is resistance to sin. There is a delight in the Law of God. " The Christian has an active enemy, but he also has a watchful Guardian." ( B.F.Westcott) The Christian will always get up when he falls ( Micah 7:8,9 ) because " The Lord is my Helper." ( Heb.13:6. Ps.27:1)

DECEMBER 24

" And we know that we are of God." 1 John 5:19.

John, like any other believer, has this belief. " There were no ifs, buts or maybes in the early church. "( Spurgeon) Moreover, assurance ( ' the joy of Thy salvation ' Ps.25) is not of the essence of faith, but assurance of Christ's ability to save is essential to faith ; otherwise you cannot trust Him to. 

" The Bible speaks of strong faith, weak faith,little faith,faith as a grain of mustard seed. It is true saving faith in Christ, only differing in degrees. Faith produces the same uniform effects in all. It purifies the heart from the love and practice of sin ; it works by love to the Lord Jesus Christ, His ordinances, ways and people.It enables the possessor to overcome the world, stand fast against its frowns and to resist the more pleasing, but no less dangerous, influence of its smiles." ( John Newton ). The Holy Spirit assures us of the cause of faith ( the eternal gift of God ) by its effects in our lives. The Holy Spirit always uses the Word to bear us witness ( Rom.8: 9,16). It is of the nature of faith to grow, and to use the means of grace to grow ( 2 Peter 3:18). Christ is the Author and the Finisher of our faith, we must look to Him if we are to know Him or ourselves.

DECEMBER 25

" And the whole world lies in wickedness." 1 John 5:19.

The wicked world is subtle enough to pervert Christianity and emphasize the birth of a harmless baby in a manger and divert attention from the cross of Christ, that Christ came into the world to save sinners, because it is sinners that made themselves and the world wicked. and behind the wicked world is the ' wicked one,' the devil, a being who specializes in counterfeits. " Now this admonition is very necessary for all the godly, for wherever they look, Satan has his enticements ready, by which he tries to draw them away from God.It would therefore be difficult for them to keep on in their true course were not their calling more to them than all the hindrances in the world. Therefore, if we are to be well-armed for the contest, these two facts must be held - that the world is wicked and that our calling is from God." ( John Calvin )

DECEMBER 26

" The Son of God has come and has given us an understanding ". 1 John 5:20.

God has shined into our hearts by the brightness of the knowledge of His glory in the Face of Christ ( 2 Corinth.4:6). and we must note that this gift is peculiar to the elect. Christ certainly kindles for all indiscriminately the torch of His Gospel, but not all have eyes in their minds to see it. On the contrary, Satan spreads a veil of blindness over many ( 2 Corinth.4:3,4). Therefore the Apostle means the light which Christ kindles inwardly, in the hearts of His people, and which once kindled is never extinguished, although it may for a time be smothered. 

We are in Him that is true. By these words he tells us how effective is this knowledge which he mentions ; for by it we are engrafted into Christ and made one with God...we are in God through Christ. He is the true God, our Leader and Guide. ( John Calvin )

DECEMBER 27

" Little children, keep yourselves from idols." 1 John 5:21.

An ' idol ' is literally ' something that is seen '. It may be a golden calf, a statue or a picture - something made by man to represent God. A sinful mind does not like the invisible, but faith lives in that reality. An idol is seen to command more attention than Christ ; it may be a person or a thing to which you give more time and energy to than Christ. What dominates your life, Christ and His word and worship, or something else ? " Idols can be anything in our hearts, minds or lives, that we elevate above the living God. It may be an object of devotion, a sin that separates us from Him, an activity or work, a person we adore more highly than Christ, a ' truth ' we prefer to Christ's Word. Christ and Christ alone should be the object of our priorities...all other things must take second place [ and be seen to do so ]. "( C.Swindoll )

Is the Second Commandment still accepted in the church today ? A commandment which forbids the worship of God by images or any other way not appointed in His Word ?

DECEMBER 28

" Whosoever trangresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God."   2 John verse 9.

John emphasizes that ' many deceivers ' are in the world (vs.7), out to lead the church away from its Apostolic foundations in doctrine, worship and practice. Many have lost their footing and their progress by listening to these people, and John exhorts them to ' take heed ' to themselves ( vs.8). He that abides in the doctrine of Christ shall walk in safety, the Trinity shall preserve them in the truth.

" Nothing shall move them from it, neither the arguments of false teachers nor the reproaches and persecutions of men, nor the snares and allurements of the world. The Father and Son have an interest in them, have knowledge of each of them and have fellowship with them." ( John Gill )

DECEMBER 29

The second Epistle of John has three principles which we can spend the rest of our lives putting into practice. Firstly, loving the brethren. The elect Lady and her children were excellent examples of this. The church is a family and should be there for one another, help one another.

Secondly, to love the truth and not dilute it, or compromise it by our words and actions, or give it away as if it did not matter.This means that we have to know the truth and sincerely apply it ; taking time to study it is essential. We need to know where we stand, and if we are standing.

Thirdly, we must be ready to defend the truth against error ( 1 Peter 3:15 ). if the Bible is right on a certain matter, then the opposition is wrong, no matter how nicely they oppose the truth. John emphasizes that the truth of God is more important than anything else, because if we do not know it we do not know God or anyone else truly ; including ourselves.

DECEMBER 30

" Demetrius has good report from all men, and from the truth itself." 3 John vs.12.

To whom can we look for an example of what is good ( vs.11) ? Where are the Demetrius' of today ? They are those who balance truth with love, and are commended for their consistency in doing so. " They are quiet, not loud, servant minded, not self seeking.They are walking epitomes of the fruit of the Spirit ( Galat. 5:22ff.). They are a kind of inoculation for ' Diotrephes disease.' " ( Swindoll) The truth of God commends them when others criticize them. In this they follow their Master, this is how He was treated by the world, and indeed by the visible church. But God's truth was fulfilled in His life. " Whoever speaks the truth, it must give him a good character." ( John Gill )

DECEMBER 31

" Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them." 3 John vs. 9.

The Diotrephes disease needs to be treated. " I'm convinced that almost every church has its own Diotrephes, who strive for dominance over everyone. " (C.Swindoll ) They may be sound but they are bullies, with a liking for ' unilateral decisions.' They also like to exclude those who disagree with them, even an inspired apostle like John. They are out to secure some advantage for themselves. The spirit of Diotrephes is alive and well. Such also use gossip to attain their ends.

" In my life of ministry, I can attest to the fact that an acute case of ' Diotrephes disease ' can bring an otherwise healthy church to its deathbed. As strong-minded but spiritually immature people weasel their way into positions of influence, they begin intimidating others to get their way. The problem is pride ; not so much false teaching, but faulty leading. If left untreated, ' Diotrephes disease ' can infect a whole congregation, leading to conflict and the death of a local church. " ( C.Swindoll )