The Truth About Love

We are currently in a study called What God Wants You To Know, based on 1 John. In 1 John 2, John helps us to understand that what we know is connected to what we do. In other words, true knowledge is connected to our behavior. John was addressing a particular heresy moving through the church at the time called Gnosticism. Gnosticism comes from the Greek word gnosis, which means knowledge. Gnosticism emphasized that spirituality was a matter of what you know. For the Gnostics, there was a disassociation between the physical world and the spiritual world. They taught that our relationship with God is a spiritual relationship alone that was totally disconnected with what we do with our bodies. They used this to excuse sexual sin, their lack of care for for the poor, the hungry, the widows and orphans, along with other sins. So John wrote to refute the teachings of the Gnostics. And in chapter two John tells us that what we know is connected to, and proven by, what we do. He says in verse 3: We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.

Even though Gnosticism is not prevalent in the 21st century, but some principles are making a comeback. There are those who believe that as long as you know the right things, your behavior doesn't matter.  Jesus never said, "You will judged according to your knowledge of knowlege." He said in Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." 

John reinforces this point in 1 John 2.  The emphasis is that religious knowledge and talk is not enough. John says in verse 4: “The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” Then he goes on to say in verses 5-6: “This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”

What does that mean, to walk as Jesus did? We are going to explore that this week. We will discover that he is not talking about sinless perfection. He's talking about imitating Christ, walking as Jesus walked. And we will see that John correlates it to the way we relate to others. That is the truth about love.  Loving God directly impacts our relationship with others. 

What We Maximize and What We Minimize

When we hear about God's generous gift of forgiveness, many people often ask the question, “If God guarantees my forgiveness, does that mean I can commit any sin I want, and God will forgive me?” The answer is a resounding “yes”. His forgiveness is not limited in any measure. His grace is boundless.

However, anyone who views God's forgiveness in this manner is approaching the Christian life from the wrong direction. It's like having a job. Everyone who works is entitled to get paid, but no customer or no employer wants to deal with a worker who is only there for the money. We can probably all agree that this person isn't on the fast track to advancement? The problem is, with our current work culture, far too many people have the mindset, “I just what to know what is the least amount of work I can do here and still get paid?”

None of us want to be served at a restaurant by someone with that mindset. And we wouldn't want someone working for us with that mindset. And yet, many people carry that mindset into their relationship with God. “What's the minimum I have to do and what's the maximum I can get away with?” This week, as we explore 1 John 1, I want to challenge you to think the opposite way: “How can I maximize my relationship with God, and how can I minimize my sinful behavior?”

So while the promise of forgiveness from 1 John 1:9 is eternally true, a proper response to His forgiveness is not to take our sinfulness lightly, but to all I can do to maximize my relationship with Him and minimize my sinful behavior. Because not only is  “He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins...”; but He is also able to “purify us from all unrighteousness.” That is the complete work of His forgiveness in our lives.

The Truth About Forgiveness

I have in my office two children's toys. One is a train engine. It was the last toy my parents gave me as a child. The other is an Etch-a-Sketch. I bought it myself about ten years ago. I keep it prominently placed in my office as a reminder.

Remember as a kid playing with an Etch-a-Sketch. I was never very good at it. I would try to write my name in block lettering, but it never looked right. I would try to draw things, but they never looked right either (unless of course, you count drawing squares and rectangles...I could do those pretty good). I have seen pictures of drawings by others of people and landscapes that were amazing. If they weren't Photoshopped, they are fabulous. I could never do that.

But the great thing about an Etch-a-Sketch was (and still is), if you mess up, all you have to do is turn in over, shake it, and you get a fresh start!

1 John 1:9 is the Etch-a-Sketch verse of the Bible. John says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” It is one of the easiest Scriptures in all of the Bible to understand because it is so straightforward. God's promise is our sins can be forgiven...the only condition is we have to confess them. It almost sounds too good to be true, doesn't it?

But that is one of the greatest wonders of all the Bible. God offers us His great love, forgiveness, and salvation, and all we have to do is confess our sins and ask for His forgiveness.

This week, we are going to explore the Biblical truth about forgiveness. We are going to examine some fabulous truths and experience some great challenges. I hope you will join me each day this week as we explore the truth about forgiveness.

...And Then Some

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Having the right attitude is to see through the eyes of faith. Attitude, I have learned, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, more important than education, more important than money, more important than circumstances, more important than failures, more important than successes, more important than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, more important than giftedness and more important than skill.

It will make or break a company, a church. a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can change and control is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. Winston Churchill once said, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”

Attitude is more important than reality.  Hebrews 11:1 tells us “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 says: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

The kind of attitude that I have been writing about this week is a synonym to faith. It is not what is seen that determines our future; it is what is unseen. The reality of our circumstances may not be pleasant or conducive to our success. But the unseen attitude of our spirit is what really matters. I ran across this a few years ago, and can't remember where I got it (I say that to let you know it is not original with me), but it is so true.


The secret to success is found in three little words. Those three little words are "And  then  some." They are the difference between average people and top people in most companies. The top people always do what  is expected...and then some. They are thoughtful of others; they are considerate and kind...and then some. They meet their responsibilities fairly and squarely...and then some. They are good friends and helpful neighbors... and then some. They can be counted on in an emergency...and then  some. Their spirit of service is summed up in these three little words...and then some.  


I want to close with a statement that is not intended as a guilt trip, but rather as a challenge. If the above secret to success is true, could it be possible that we could adopt the same mantra for success in our relationship with God...do what the average Christian does...and then some! I don't want to define what and then some may be for you. I just want to explore what can I do to be success in my relationship with God....and then some!

Your Total Attention

Jesus says in Luke 13:24 (NKJV), “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able”  Strive! That’s a very powerful word. It means quite literally “to contend, to struggle, to fight, to labor fervently.” To go the extra step, the second mile, over and above what is expected, to raise the temperature one more degree! I have to admit, I don't remember the last time I struggled, labored fervently, or contended to raise my level of commitment to the Lord or His Body.

“Strive,” says Jesus, “to enter through the narrow gate, for many...will seek to enter”. Jesus indicates that they will begin, they will start, they will have great intentions, they will set out to live the Christian life, to be God’s man, to be a woman of faith, to walk with God in victory, but they “will not be able,” they will not be successful, they’ll not be victorious, they’ll not make it. I will readily admit, I don't understand completely where that all fits into the doctrine of salvation by grace, but I do believe the line between failure and success is incredibly fine.

Here is how Eugene Peterson translates this verse in The Message. “The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires your total attention.” At the risk of sounding judgmental (I don't think I am; first, I am including myself, and secondly, I have no one in particular in mind), I'm not sure I know many people that give their total attention to the way of life! If it does not have my total attention, wouldn't you agree that Jesus is challenging us to turn up the heat?

I am aware that my reformed friends may challenge me to compare Scripture with Scripture, and to weigh this verse in the light of others concerning salvation and acceptance with God by grace alone. I really do believe that doctrine! But I am feeling the challenge to discover how to to give the way to life - to God...my total attention.  And I think the word Peterson used is that it is vigorous. That usually involves some work.

What do you think?

212 Degrees

At 211 degrees, you just have really hot coffee or tea...however, at 212 degrees you can move a train from the steam that is created. Just one more degree makes all the difference.

Tiger Woods won a  major championship by just one stroke...but the difference in that stroke was over $500,000.00 in prize money from first to second place. Just one stroke makes all the difference in the world.

The average margin of victory between a gold medal and the silver medal in the Olympics 100 meter dash is less that 1 second. But that one second determines who will be remembered as an Olympic champion and who will be forgotten as an also-ran. That one second makes all the difference in the world.

The average margin of victory at the Indianapolis 500 is just over 1 second. But that 1 second makes all the difference in the world.

One degree, one stroke, one second...it is very minuscule, but it makes all the difference in the world.

Vince Lombardi, one of the most successful football coaches who ever lived (in fact, the Super Bowl trophy is named the Vince Lombardi Trophy), once said that “inches  make  a  champion.” Inches! Seemingly small things in life can make a tremendous difference.

Jesus talked about going the extra mile, turning the other cheek, blessing those who curse us. He said one time in Matthew 5:40-41 (NCV), “If someone wants to sue you in court and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. If someone forces you to go with him one mile, go with him two miles.”  Or, in other words, go above and beyond what is expected! The second mile! The extra degree! The additional step! Can you imagine if the members of one congregation in America would determine to do just a little more than the average American church member for the kingdom of God and for their local family of believers? Could we see as dramatic a difference as the above example? Could just one more degree of effort make the difference between really hot coffee and powering a steam engine locomotive?

We are going to be talking this week about turning up the heat on our level of commitment, passion, and enthusiasm in our relationship with God. One of America’s greatest  philosophers, a man by the name of Elbert Hubbard, once wrote: “The line between failure and success is so fine that we...are often on the line and do not know it. How many a man has thrown up his hands at a time when a little more effort, a little more patience, would have achieved success. A little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success.” (as quoted in The Search for the North Pole (1896) by Evelyn Briggs Baldwin, p. 520).

While many would say that the concept of grace eliminates the need for effort, we will discover this week that Jesus certainly talked about the role our effort plays in the kingdom of God. So for this first post on the subject, let me just say..."let's turn up the heat!"


The video below was the sermon introduction this past week. I hope it will challenge you to turn up the heat!