From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Thu, Jan 9, 2025 at 5:38 AM

Subject: 1-9-25 THOUGHTS

1-9-25   THOUGHTS  

Sometimes I get frustrated with John.  Verse 3 below is so simple it hurts!  Verse 5 says “if we keep His word, our love is perfected and we know we are in Him by this.”  The premise is that God “doesn’t want us to sin!”   God’s solution to this problem is to give us an ADVOCATE WITH HIMSELF... IT’S JESUS THE RIGHTEOUS!”  Did you get it?  Our attorney is the Judge’s SON!  We back up to 1John 1:7-9   “but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.  8  If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.  9  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”    Surely I’m not frustrated when I read this!  
Rom 4:17b  “...God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.”

1John 2:1-6     My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;  2  and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. 3  By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4  The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5  but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6  the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

My Prayer:
Father God, please keep on cleansing us from all sin.  We are indeed weak and sinful creatures. Help us practice righteousness,  and thank You for providing for our weakness.  May Your word be perfected in us.  Impute holiness to us, for  without Your part, we are lost.  Please call things that are not, as though they are.  We love and praise you.  May we give You our ALL.  
In Jesus’ name,   Amen.