Truth through 1 John

Today's study on truth will conclude our March word study.  I hope you were encouraged to study what truth really is and why we should place high value on truth in our lives.

[1Jo 1:6, 8 ESV] 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ... 

To have fellowship with Christ means that we see the truth the same way He does.  If we don't, we walk in darkness because Christ is the Light.

[1Jo 1:8 ESV]  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

We all sin and miss the mark of God's high standards each day.  That is why we need His grace, His truth and His mercy.

[1Jo 2:4, 21 ESV] 4 Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, ... 

This one is so simple to understand.  We are on His side or we aren't.

[1Jo 2:21 ESV]  I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

Christians who abandon Christ and His Kingdom, were never part of the family of God.  Otherwise they wouldn't have left.

[1Jo 3:18-19 ESV] 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;

Actions follow belief.  Our lives illustrate what our hearts believe.

[1Jo 4:6 ESV] 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

If we do not know God, we aren't going to pay heed to His people.  We tend to only listen to those who are likeminded.  We are more comfortable when others reinforce our opinions.  If we are on God's side, then we are on the side of truth.  Those who aren't on God's side are on the side of error.

[1Jo 5:6 ESV] 6 This is he who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

The Holy Spirit will always lead us to the truth and support of Christ.