Chosen, Not Forsaken, and No longer Blinded by Darkness

Hello friends! Welcome back to the 1 John Series. Today we are looking at Chapter Two. I will break this chapter into 2 parts so here is part 1. Enjoy x

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (Verses 1 & 2)

The sin of this world was unbearable, but Jesus made it bearable. He took the weight that once bore on our shoulders and put it upon His flesh so that when He died, sin lost it's power and when He arose, death lost it's sting. He is the Almighty. He is the one whom knows His people by name and knows the amount of hairs on their head. He knows you whether He has you as a disciple or not.

We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. (Verses 3 - 6)

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light. Not one person comes to the Father except through Him. So, those who come to the Father take the same steps as Jesus - they walk in the way that He walks (aka they live like Him). They show love, compassion, and faithfulness. They carry the light of life on their faces.

Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one; which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command: its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. (Verses 4 - 8)

Those of us who come to the Father through Jesus, whom walk in the way of Christ; we are in the light. We are the ones who can be a beacon for others so they too can find their way to Jesus and thus to the Father. Though the Father has to be the one to choose them; we can lead the ones who are chosen to the right place. And the chosen counts are like a needle in the haystack. We will try to lead many who aren't the needles, but just the hay, to Christ, but you never know who's lives you may help spare. That is our mission as Christians. To lead our brothers and sisters to Christ and let Him take over from there. There are many in the barn who munch on hay, but the needles will not be munched by the horse, but spared.

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light. and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them. (Verses 9 - 11)

We who are in the light are no longer blinded by darkness, we can see clearly and love more easily. So spread love to everyone, even those who don't show love to you because they are in the darkness therefore they are blind and can't love easily and cannot see what they are doing. They hurt others because they themselves hurt. But that is not how we are meant to live. We we have Jesus so we are free from the chains of darkness and free from the hurt of not knowing the meaning to our existence. We know why we exist and the one who made that existence.

So, smile today my friends. You have meaning. Everyone is searching for the meaning of life, aching for it, but we, us who are in the light; we have it! We have the key to true life and after this life, EVERLASTING LIFE! We have the most reason to find joy. We are chosen not forsaken.