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While reading John’s epistles it will
be very helpful to remember ‘Life in the age to come’ is the literal
translation of the phrase ‘eternal life’ in the New Testament. One of the core
foundations of the church is a belief that God is going to establish His
Kingdom on earth in the ‘age to come’ where everything would be made right and
truth and justice would flourish. God’s Kingdom will be new life on earth, as
the paradise God intended. This Life in the Age to Come began on Easter Sunday
when God’s promise was fulfilled in the resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah. God
has opened the doors of this age, His Kingdom, to everyone. John’s purpose in
this letter is to edify the believers and to encourage them to seek to live the
life in Christ now, as they prepare for the full revelation of God’s Kingdom.
John has an interesting style in
his writing that reminds me of many contemporary praise songs. In a manner
similar to the Taizé
movement in France, these contemporary songs use repetitive phrases as a means
of meditation. The point is to take the time to let the truth of the phrase go
deep within our spirit. John is repetitive throughout this letter for the same
reason.
John is the only writer in the
New Testament to use the word ‘antichrist.’ He uses it twice in chapter two,
once in chapter four and once in his second letter. John uses the word in a
generic way to refer to people who deny the humanity of Christ and for those
who break fellowship with the church. In either case, John is asserting that
the antichrist is denying the sacrificial work of Jesus to establish His church.
From John’s perspective, as well as that of the other writers of the New
Testament, if we will focus ourselves of fulfilling Jesus’ commandment to love
others as He has loved us, we will have a full plate. Literally, we’ll have all
we can say grace over.
What word or phrase
in these verses
Attracts your
attention?
Reflect on that word
or phrase.
What insights come to
you?
How does this passage
touch your life today?
Reading for 22-Apr-12 1 John 3 & 4
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