2 Tim 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
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THE GOSPEL ALWAYS REMAINS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 21
1 John 2:24-27
James 1:25
“… but a doer of the work,
this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
THE GOSPEL ALWAYS REMAINS
The Apostle used the phrase “which ye have heard from the beginning” in 1 John 2:7 and he repeated the same phrase in 1 John 2:24. His simple exhortation is that we are to let what has been “heard from the beginning” abide in us. In the Gospel of John, the Apostle wrote of the works and sayings of Christ in a way that was easily understood. He simplified the sayings and works of Christ, selecting those that showed the core message of the gospel. At the end of the Gospel of John (in John 21:25), John said that there were many other things that Christ did which were not written in that book. What he wrote was sufficient for his audience to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing they might have life through His Name (John 20:30-31).
When John wrote this epistle, his audience were familiar with the truths of the gospel. His teachings in this epistle are also the teachings of the other gospel writers and other Apostles. Part of his audience may have been converted under the other Apostles. John is the only gospel writer who recorded the conversation of Jesus and Nicodemus. The main message of that conversation constitutes part of that which the disciples had heard from the beginning. James called it the perfect law of liberty and the believers should continue in it: hearing and doing. Such shall be blessed in their deed (James 1:25).
The greatest blessing that comes with abiding in the truth is eternal life. The Apostle constantly raised a red flag because the deception of the wicked one was always there. However, he pointed at the blessedness that comes in continuing in the gospel. He used the word “anointing” (1 John 2:27) to refer to the work of the Holy Spirit who abides in the believers. He is the true Teacher as promised by Christ and He teaches all things. The believers ought to abide in Him; thus the need to abide in the gospel.
THOUGHT: The gospel of Christ is the anchor that keeps the soul.
PRAYER: Lord, may I always hold on to the gospel truth.