Follow the King

In reflecting on the faithfulness of Jesus, disciples of Jesus realize that our greatest calling is not to a position or a place, but to a Person: Jesus Christ.

The events of Matthew 17:24-27 are not meant to move our hearts to be better national citizens—but to move our hearts to be in greater awe of Jesus. By joining my payment with His, Jesus changed my identity from a subject of God to a son of God—and from a creation of God to a child of God.

Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One, and He has anointed His followers with His Spirit—making us little "anointed ones" to live out the same calling of Jesus: to love God and to love our neighbors as we were loved by Jesus.

See! Behold! Look! Think about it! 1 John 3:1 instructs believers to look at the love the Father has lavished upon us through Jesus in order to become a child of God. Be amazed! Be astounded!

Jesus declared Himself to be the Resurrection and the Life. We celebrate the birth of Christ—aware that He was born to die. Yet, we can celebrate the death of Christ—aware that, through His death, we have life. And, we celebrate the resurrection of Christ—aware that He lives today, and we will one day go to Him!

Why did Jesus declare Himself to be the Light of the World in John 8? How does this proclamation work together with 1 John to bring assurance to believers?

Faith is not the evidence of being a child of God—faith is the avenue to becoming a child of God. And faith continues to be the avenue for spiritual growth and deepening one's relationship with God. It is obedience to Jesus (good works) that provides the evidence one has truly believed and their faith in Jesus is genuine faith.

God is love. God is light. His light reveals our sin, but we do not need to fear God—because God is love. As we confess the sins that are revealed, we are forgiven because of the blood of Jesus!

As the Apostle John seeks to provide assurance of eternal life to believers in the first century, he turns their attention to the fact that God is love and His display of love is Jesus. Whether one loves God or loves the world is part of the assurance of a relationship that provides eternal life.

In his first letter, the Apostle John defines God as life, light, and love in presenting the assurance of salvation to believers. Interestingly, John point to present obedience to the commands of God as assurance of salvation—not a past experience.