AN ENLIGHTENED PATH - 1 John 1:5-2:2

I just finished Leviticus on Monday of this week as I’ve been following the Read through the Bible in One Year plan. I have read through Leviticus several times before and my response has always been the same; “Oh Lord, you gave the Israelites so many rules and regulations; how could you expect them to keep all your commands?”

But this last time of reading through was different, I couldn’t get past the word "value". Weird? It seemed like a strange word to describe my reading through Leviticus, yet it was stuck in my head. I think this is what I was really asking, “Do these rules and regulations communicate the high value God places on relationship with His Sons and Daughters?” God didn’t need relationship with Israel. He was not bound to create a pathway for them to fellowship with Him – a pathway toward holiness. He wanted it, and yet by the end of reading Leviticus you believe there is no way to fulfill it. God still thought it was worth a try.

Value. It is the only explanation. God placed a high value on relationship with Israel. In the sacrificial system, I see God creating a pathway for humans to have relationship with Him. He is pursuing us through this whole experience. As more of the pathway is revealed, the problem becomes more obvious: “we are not holy.” The Old Testament plays out this tension. Relationship found and relationship lost, because of an inability to keep the rules and regulations.

Still after a few thousand years of this tension, God places a high value on relationship with humans. This week I find myself studying 1 John and verse 5 says, “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” This is a commentary on the problem between humans and God. We are told in the following verses that our lives are full of sin, which is a parallel statement to darkness. The God of light values relationship with a people of darkness. God is trying to solve this in Leviticus: having relationship with a people caught in darkness, not created in darkness, nor destined to darkness, but simply, powerfully drawn to it. The challenge is before Father God. The value He placed on this relationship keeps Him in the game while still losing the fight for allegiance (obedience). The value increases as history plays on, until out of God’s own heart comes the perfect remedy. John writes with relief, “he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2) God provides His Son, Jesus, so that holiness is achieved apart from human effort. The constant failure (which was Israel’s and is ours) in fellowship with God our Father is eliminated. The pathway of holiness is still lived but now in light of “not that we loved him, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice.” (1 John 4:10)

It is a thrilling Gospel (good news). I am this loved by God? He places this kind of value on relationship with me; on relationship with the world? Yes, and you find it by confessing your sin and trusting in Jesus for forgiveness and cleansing. If you do, it will make your joy complete.

WHY I BELIEVE IN JESUS - 1 John 1:1-4

Angela and I just finished 4 birthday parties last weekend. We had Andrew’s birthday party at the end of January, about 1 month after his actual birthday, because it is so close to Christmas. Nathan and Seth’s parties were this past Saturday, and then a family party on Sunday afternoon for all three boys.

You may be thinking – no big deal – a few birthday parties. But you are missing a key element to understanding the pressure of birthday parties around the Daniel house. Everything must be thematic. The drinks, snacks, games, and the cake. For example, because Andrew liked to play with rocks and dirt as a baby, the party’s theme was Turning One Rocks. All accompanying party details followed the theme: rock candies, chocolate coated rock shaped candies, breaking geodes, etc. Last year, there was the Star Wars party for Nathan and Andrew with Yoda Soda (yes, it was green and foamy). And this year, I watched or managed (not sure which) 14 boys (8 yrs. old) dashing in and out of the house on a treasure hunt to find lost dog owner, Penny from the new, hit movie Bolt; or was it pennies (each boy received about $2 worth at the end of the race). So my wife is amazing, and I just help.

On Monday, Nathan's actual birthday, the craziness of parties was over so mom and dad could relax at family dinner. We started to remember back to the arrival of our first baby boy at 9AM, 8 years ago. Angela recalled being awaken that first night and shouting with a low voice because of the hospital, “we have a baby.” Of course, as any good father and husband, I don’t remember her saying this, probably slept right through. Labor and Delivery takes a lot out of us guys.

Although I slept through my wife’s reminder of our new baby, it didn't change my excitement because “life had appeared.” We had waited over 2 years and endured a miscarriage before this moment. Life had come. Everything would be different; mainly a new fellowship had begun. Nathan and I would bond; have secrets and dreams, and adventures together. Because life appeared, fellowship began.

As number 2 (Andrew) appeared, and then 3 (Seth), I remember sitting in a couch chair at the hospital with three boys in my lap and thinking about the new level of fellowship. A fellowship I could embrace or reject. It occured to me: the appearance of life does not guarantee fellowship, only the potential for it.

The Apostle John opens his letter to the Churches around the City of Ephesus with similar words of greeting. Life has appeared. Fellowship has begun with Father God. You can enjoy it. We can enjoy it together. Not a guarantee of fellowship, only the potential for fellowship with God the Father as they choose to walk with the Father through the Life He has provided in his Son, Jesus Christ.

This Sunday marks the beginning of a walk we will take through the first letter of John. A letter written with clear purpose: "we proclaim to you...so that you also may have fellowship with us...the Father...and His Son, Jesus Christ." (1 John 1:3) Also at the close of the letter, "I 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." (1 John 5:13)

This lead off message is of great importance: Why I believe in Jesus. Because both fellowship with God and eternal life depend on it's answer. See you Sunday.

Study Week

This coming Sunday (2/8) we have the extreme privilege of hearing from Pastor Bill, who has given his life to preach the gospel to those on the Islands of Fiji. Global Passion Ministries have sent several teams to work with Pastor Bill in Fiji over the years. Every trip is marked by God's miraclous power and provision. Steve, president of GPM, approached me in early December about Pastor Bill coming to the States in February and would I desire to have Pastor Bill share a message from the Lord with Hillside - "absolutely!" We need to hear messages from people who are meeting with God and serving God-sized missions. I trust you will come expectent this Sunday; ready to recieve a powerful word from the Lord.

Study Week - I called this post study week because I have been deep in study; preparing for a new teaching series on 1 John. I am excited to start sharing with you next week (2/15) "The Tests of Life." John wrote this letter to the churches around Ephesus because they struggled with the all-important question: "How do I know that I am saved?"

John sets forth three tests to verify one's salvation - come learn and listen to the test of righteousness, love, and belief.