Matthew 12:1-14

1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”

3 He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? 6 I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

9 Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10 and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

11 He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

So often, when Jesus is challenged and questioned about his authority, he doesn’t just defend himself or talk himself down like I would do. Instead, he suddenly raises the stakes and makes outrageous claims about himself.

So in today’s passage, he’s accused of letting his disciples break the Sabbath command. He could have said, “Don’t be silly – they’re not breaking the Sabbath”. Instead, he points out that both King David and the priests in the Old Testament broke the strict rules of the Old Testament law, about the temple and the Sabbath.

What is Jesus saying – that he’s as great as King David and the priests? Well, yes – except that what he actually says next goes much further than that: “I tell you that something greater than the temple is here” (v. 6). Greater than the temple itself – the holy building where God himself dwelled with his people??

And then in verse 8, we get: “For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” He just doesn’t know when to stop! Jesus is greater than the Sabbath command itself, so none of the old rules apply to him!?

I found this a great reminder and confirmation that all the symbols and rituals and laws of the Old Testament – including two of the holiest of all, the temple and the Sabbath – were designed to point to Jesus and find their end and their fulfilment in him. He is the One who brings God’s true presence into our lives, and he will bring true rest and restoration to all who trust in him. I’m sure that’s why he restored the man’s hand on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was a weekly promise of life, rest, hope and restoration from God.

Now that promise has a name. Will you come to Him – and enjoy the blessing of God’s presence through Him – today?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our senior minister.

1 John 5:21

21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

Every time I read this I think: What a strange way to finish a letter! You know … “Dear Claire, it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other – I’m still sad that you had to move so far away. How’s the new job turning out? By the way, stay away from idols.”

But as I thought about it more, I realised that this isn’t a strange way to finish at all. John wants us to understand this as a summary of the big message he has been repeating through the whole letter. That is: the only way to know the truth and have life is to believe in God the Father and in his Son, Jesus Christ, and to walk in Christ’s truth and light.

For the people John was writing to, it seems there was a lot of pressure to keep saying you believe in God, but to deny Jesus. Some of that pressure came from false teachers who had been in the church. There was also no doubt huge pressure from their pagan neighbours – worshipping idols was a non-negotiable part of life in the Roman Empire.

But John has said that the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ is the liar (2:22). It’s only those who believe and remain in Christ who know the Father and have eternal life (2:23-25). In the second-last verse of the book, he says: “And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”

That is, denying Jesus is idolatry. Idolatry isn’t just about bowing down to a carved image. Idolatry is allowing anything other than the true God to replace him or rival him in our devotion and our life direction.

Living in the truth of God starts with acknowledging – in private and in public – that Jesus is God’s Son and submitting to him as our Lord. That will show itself in the way we live “in the light” – with genuine love for one another, seeking holiness and obeying God’s word out of love for him.

I can think of a number of things in my life that threaten to take over my heart and my desires and my decision, but I find it hard to say “no” to them. I’m sure you can too. Spend time identifying what those things are for you, and ask Jesus to help you keep away from them by his Spirit.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our senior minister.

1 John 5:18-20

18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Tania Darmo

It is so comforting to me that the Bible understands how easy it is for us to fall in sin and that sin is part of our lives even though, as children of God, we no longer desire it nor do we enjoy the experience. For me as I reflect on these verses, it seems clear that the Spirit of God in me will not allow me to stay in sin. And through Christ, who also uses the prayers of my brothers and sisters (v16-17), victory and eternal life are sure (v20d). 

It is so comforting to know that through Christ who is the One born of God (v18) I am kept safe. It is through Him and in Him that I am safe. 

And this comforts me even more to know that I am no longer in the world and under the dominion of the devil, because I belong to the family of God through the One who is His Son, Jesus Christ my Lord and God. 

And I know this because the Son of God has come and has given me this understanding. 

Pray with me that we grow in understanding of our place in Christ and in the family of God. Pray that through His Holy Spirit we may put to death all sin in our lives and continue to grow in Christ’s likeness daily. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tania is a member of our Fairfield Morning Service.

1 John 5:16-17

16 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Sam Darmo

In the Middle-East we had a proverb that said “Those who are silent when they see evil are mute demons.”, which was their way of saying that ‘no good person should stand silent in the face of evil’. 

This passage wants to remind us of our loving responsibility towards each other and that is to pray for those among us because we pray according to God’s will (v14). We know that He hears us (v15) and therefore our prayers are effectual, in that it will save their life (v16). This should be both an encouragement to us to pray, and to not neglect our responsibility for praying for our struggling or immature brothers and sisters. 

We know that the visible Church is made up of true and false members (Matt 13:24-30). This loving command is to pray when we see a brother or sister sinning, but not to the point of actually denying who Christ is and what Christ has accomplished. We are called to humble ourselves before God for their salvation and to lift them up as they journey towards Christ and to see them mature in Christ. 

But at the same time, we are asked to NOT to pray for those who might be among us but who have denied all of the truths about Christ and have become the Anti-Christs John spoke of earlier (1 John 2:19, 2:22, 4:6). 

Pray with me that we as a community of believers will love each other by praying for each other in this way, and not to stay silent before God, when our brothers and sisters need us. In Jesus’ name we ask and receive all things. Amen. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sam is an assistant minister with our Assyrian and Arabic Services and our Fairfield English Morning Service.

1 John 5:13-15

13 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. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Monica Ly

Are there times when you feel uncertain in approaching God? Perhaps you're not sure how to talk to Him? Or perhaps, as you wait on Him for a response, you're wondering if He really hears you?

In this passage, John assures us that we should have every confidence in approaching God, whenever we pray, not in line with our will, but His will. Not our desires, but His desires. And when I reflect on what pleases God in 1 John, I can't help but be reminded of the importance of keeping His commands, believing in the name of His Son, and loving one another. 

As I reflect on my own prayer life it is both convicting and comforting at the same time. On the one hand I'm reminded of all the times when prayer has become a device for imposing my will upon God.  While I know that God is our heavenly father who cares for our every need, I wonder if at times if my prayers treats Him more like a genie; simply there to grant my every request. Yet, in His kindness, I'm also reminded of the times when I've felt a measure of peace and assurance in asking for help with a particular sin, or to increase my ability to love a difficult person, or for the strength to hold on to Christ daily. 

Consider how you can be shaping your mindset and your prayers in line with His will and His desires? 1 John regards this as the antidote for uncertainty in our prayer life. But while we may have to wait upon Him to respond in His own way and timing, we can rejoice and be comforted with knowing that he hears us!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Monica is a member of our Fairfield Morning Church.

1 John 5:6-12

6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 theSpirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Gus Cameron

I’ve got to admit, this passage is a little hard to understand! What does John means when he writes that Jesus “did not come by water only, but by water and blood” (v6)?

There are many people who say things about Jesus that just aren’t true. John wants us to be clear about who Jesus is and what Jesus has done for us. When John wrote this it seems that some people were saying that Jesus had come by water only and not by blood. These people were probably saying that Jesus came just to baptize people with water but that he did not come to die as the blood sacrifice for sin.

Today many people are still happy to accept Jesus as a wise teacher and as an example to follow, but they’re not so keen to accept him as the savior who has died for them.

How do we know that Jesus is the savior who has died to give us life? We know because the God’s Spirit says so. We know who Jesus is and what he’s done for us when we look at his life and Jesus baptized people, when we look to his death on the cross and when we listen to God’s spirit (v8). His warning is that if we do not believe what God’s Spirit says then we are calling God a liar (v10). But God is not a liar. He has told us what he’s done – he has given us eternal life and we find that life in his Son, Jesus.

Here’s the challenge for us: who are we going to listen to?

Are you going to listen to people who deny that Jesus has died for your sin? Or are you going to listen to what God has said, that Jesus did indeed die to give you eternal life?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gus is an assistance minister at of our Fairfield services.

1 John 5:1-5 (Updated)

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Jenny Griffin

I resonate with that first verse. My daughter is doted on by many and it makes me feel fuzzy inside because I see it as an extension of love towards me. She’s still a bit young to be able to follow my commands but I aim to love her so well that she would want to listen and obey what I say. Not out of fear or obligation… But because she loves me and knows that I love her. Do you feel this way toward God? How much easier should it be to keep His commands because He loves us and is in fact love personified (1 John 4:7-12).

He reminds us again that if we know and love God we would follow his commands (1 John 2:3-6). What does God command? “To believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us” (1 John 3:23; 4:20-21). How has he commanded us to love one another? “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16-18). You really can’t miss it when reading 1 John. The whole letter is sandwiched between the exhortation to love God and to love one another in obedience and truth.

But what of this ‘overcoming the world’ language? Earlier in the letter, John starts using “the world” synonymously with ungodliness (1 John 2:15-16). He first mentions ‘overcoming the world’ in 1 John 4:4-6 and refers to it again in 4:19-20. Jesus and his truth is greater than Satan and his lies. We have assurance that if we are in Jesus then he is in us and has already overcome the world. We are to keep listening to him and not to falsehood. If we love God the Father we will love the Son and therefore love the truth and obey his commands – his wonderfully light and unburdensome command to love him and love our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

How are you showing your love for God through your love for others this week?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jenny is a member of our Fairfield Evening Church.

1 John 4:19-21

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Tara Sing

How do we know what love is? It's easy to list cliche examples of love: romance, flowers, chocolates, weddings. Perhaps there are more real examples of love you can think of, like a text or a letter from a friend who is thinking of you, a comforting hug, a shared moment with someone important to you.

But how can we truly know what love is? And how does knowing what true love is help us to love others?

We only know what love is, and what it looks like to show that love to others, because God has first demonstrated it to us. When Jesus died on the cross he showed us what love is. We were unworthy of God and we were sinners. He still chose to sacrificially love us and offer salvation.

When we first understand God's love, we can't hate our brothers and sisters. It's a contradiction. If we say we love God, but hate others, we are hypocrites.

Will we still find each other annoying? Yes. Will we still struggle to not be frustrated with each other? Yes. Will we still be hurt by others, and hurt others? Yes.

But when we understand how God loves us it changes our hearts. God's love helps us to be compassionate and to look for ways to sacrificially serve others. If we love God, how can we hate another person, who God also loves?

This is a hard word for me to hear. I am often caught up in anger towards others, I am quick to be frustrated at people, it doesn't take much for me to rant about some minor offence. Maybe it's a hard word for you too?

Pray that God will keep helping you to understand just how loved you are by him.

Pray that knowing how loved you are will change your heart towards others.

Pray that God will help us to love our brothers and sisters

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tara is a member of our Bossley Park Morning Church.

1 John 4:16b-18

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Sarah Armstrong

In this world - we are to be like Jesus (v17). We are children of God, and Jesus is our example. That is a challenge! It is such a relief that he wrote this in the same breath as saying “whoever lives in love lives in God and God in them” (v16). We do not have to do it on our own. In fact, we can not do it on our own. God works through us to show love to others.

If Jesus is our example, we need to remember Jesus didn’t only love those it was easy to love - in fact he went out of his way to love those who were unlovely. Who was the last outsider you showed love to?

If you are like me - I find this a huge challenge. It would be so easy to stick with those it is easy to love. In fact it is scary to show love to those who are unlovely. But Jesus is also our reason for doing so. We are reminded we don’t need to be fearful or uncertain of our faith or of our death (v17) - as he has given us this confidence - through the perfect love of Jesus. It was not our work that has given us this confidence. It was Jesus, who laid down his life for us and it is all we need - he has taken our punishment on himself. As we no longer need to fear punishment - so we should not fear death (v18). He has justified us - made it “just as if I haven’t sinned”.

This should bring us to our knees praising and thanking God for the perfect love of Jesus that drives out fear (v18). We need to keep reminding each other of this fact.

Question: What is one thing you can do differently today to be more “like Jesus” in this world?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah is the parish administrator for us and a member of St Paul’s Anglican Carlingford church.

1 John 4:13-16a

13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Michael Legaspi

Just before this passage John talks about how God has loved us, sending his own son into the world and giving himself up for us. 

He continues with “This is how we know that we live in him and he is us”. What does this mean or look like? John simply says that if anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, god lives in them and has given them his spirit - it sounds way too simple! But thinking about it more I have come to realise how deep a meaning this has for all Christians.

The main point I think God is trying to tell us is to “acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God” in all parts of our lives, in our decisions, our efforts, our successes and even in our failures and disappointments. It sounds simple but I asked myself do I really trust God when life turns sour, when I’m afraid and anxious, overwhelmed and confused? Will I still acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God and that he rules over me? Or as John put it in verse 16a “Do I know and rely on the love God has for us?” 

Reflecting back on verse 14, John and God express the love we have been given. God gives up his one and only true son Jesus Christ, based on a decision he made to love us. Not because we were the cleanest or most wise, but because he choose to willing invite broken people into his family. And after he gave up his Son he didn’t stop there, God decided “Hey, I’ll give my spirit to them as well.” Since our loving father did not spare his son, but gave him up so that we could be saved from judgement; since he continues to stay with us in spirit; since his love for us has never changed though he knows all our faults, we can be sure that he will continue to finish the work he has started.

I had forgotten, but now I’m reminded that I can rely on God’s love and trust him in all my brokenness, though this life is full of trouble.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael is a member of our Bossley Park Morning Service.

1 John 4:7-12

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Eric Zhou

Love can be such an ugly and messy thing, and often as hard as we try, we still fail to love one another properly, so why do we bother at all, why love?

In our passage John exhorts us to love, giving us 3 reasons: love comes from God, love shows that we have been born of God & love shows that we know God. All of which begins with God's initiative. And if we are children of God, then it only makes sense for us to be growing in love as we ourselves experience a loving relationship with God as our Father, whose very nature 'is love' (v8)

Having looked at why we should love, John then gives us a clear example of how God has shown us his love in the most personal, selfless and sacrificial way, by sending his one and only Son that we might live through him (v9). This is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us so much so as to send his Son to take our place and atone for our sins. As ugly and messy as love can be, it can also be such a beautiful and precious thing too! Can you imagine if this example of love seen in v9 was dependent on us having loved God first? Take a moment now to give thanks that God out of love and in His grace, despite our failure to love him fully, sends his Son to bring us back to himself. 

But even more than ‘why love’, another question to ask is  ‘Why not love?’, If God has indeed sent his one and only son into the world (that despised and rejected him) so that we might live forever in a loving relationship with him, then why wouldn't we want to live out this same love to one another. And as we do so, the world will see glimpses of God's perfect love as he lives in us. 

So then dear friends, let us love one another! 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eric is a member of our Bossley Park Morning Service.

1 John 4:4-6

4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Keith Hengpoonthana

The previous passage spoke of false prophets and the spirit of the antichrist being in the world attempting to lead us astray. This is a very real challenge to our faith, and at times it will feel like the rest of the world has a completely different viewpoint to us. The popular world views, for example: legalising same sex marriage, abortion and voluntary euthanasia, are very enticing and many will indeed listen to them and be misled.  

We are reminded however from this passage that the Spirit of God within us allows us to discern the truth (v6), and because we are from God (v4), listening to his word will help us overcome the misleading spirit of the antichrist by which the world has been influenced .

Do not be disheartened when people around you question your faith and your beliefs, pray for God’s Spirit of truth to continue to work in you and keep reading and listening to God’s word to reinforce this. Jesus said in John 8:31-32 “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”. 

Why not take the time this moment to thank Jesus for showing you the truth?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Keith is a member of our Bossley Park Morning Service.

1 John 4:1-3

1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Tim Mitry

As Christians we are to be discerning. Just as God loves truth and hates lies, we should also love truth and hate lies. But unlike God we are not all-knowing, and we must test things to be true or not. In this passage Paul cautions us to test ‘the spirits’ – prophets, gurus, religious teachers, strange children who claim to have received a new revelation from God… 

Some of their claims might sound very convincing, or even hard to dispute because they say God himself was the one who enlightened them.

How are we to discern the truth? Paul says we can test the spirits, and he provides a short summary of doctrine that we can use as the litmus: They must acknowledge that Jesus, the eternal Son of God, entered the creation in human flesh, and fulfilled his work on Earth in dying on the cross (and then rising from the dead).

If a teacher or teachings cannot agree and be consistent with this, then don’t let their teachings have any bearing on your life, throw their teachings out the window. 

Pray to God that we will remind ourselves of the truth about Jesus regularly. 
Pray that we will feel secure in the truth God has given us. 
Pray that God will rescue those who have been lost to false prophets.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tim is a member of our Fairfield Evening Service.

1 John 3:19-24

19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Rodney Clarke

“If I only had a heart." The lament of the Tin Man in the Wizard of OZ. In our culture the heart is all encompassing; emotionally, spirituality & mentally. We think with our hearts, emote with our hearts and contemplate with them. Our hearts are full or empty. But do our hearts condemn us?

If we follow God’s commands certainly not! 

If our hearts are tempered with love and acts of service towards our brothers and sisters then we are right with God. So if our hearts are wilful and stubborn then God cannot reside there. God asks us to examine our hearts and to look to his son Jesus to heal our brokenness and therefore reside in our hearts. He makes us right with himself by his Spirit. The Tin Man wanted to rekindle a lost love, but the God of the Universe wants to reconcile us to him through his Son Jesus. I can't think of anything more heart-warming then that.

Question: What do you fill your heart with?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rodney is a member of our Fairfield Morning Service.

1 John 3:16-18

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Mandy Ponuswammy

What is love? ‘Jesus Christ laid down his life for us’. This is no ‘Oxford dictionary definition’. This is much deeper and it’s massive! Notice it doesn’t say Jesus laid down his life for us because we earned or deserved it, in fact in Romans 5:8 we read that we definitely didn’t! 

John goes further to say we ought to do the same for our brothers and sisters. This is a huge command. We may not literally face the decision of whether to die for another person but we are called to sacrifice ourselves. The next verses continue, giving us an example of what this kind of sacrifice might look like. Part of laying down your life is helping those in need; even though it will cost you - whether it’s your time, your money, your comfort, your luxuries or your energy, to love and care for others. 

Maybe you’re like me and you find these verses challenging and scary. I find going back to verse 16 helpful.

Firstly for the reminder that Jesus laid down his life for us - because we are sinners and we do, and will, fail. But Jesus has paid for our sins already by dying for us - what great comfort! Have you grasped this kind of love that Jesus showers on us?

And secondly, verse 16 is helpful for the ultimate example of love that Jesus has shown us. Which reminds us to keep looking to him. To follow his example and pray - asking God for help to love others in the same way that he has loved us. 

How can we follow Jesus’ example and love our brothers and sisters in need?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mandy is a member of our Bossley Park Morning Service.

1 John 3:11-15

11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.

REFLECTIONS

Written by David Koo and James Davidson

Jesus commanded us not just to feel love for one another but also to love one another as an action. The world thinks love is just a feeling but the Bible makes it clear that love is also an action, as described in 1 Cor 13:4-8. Clearly, that's the kind of love Jesus showed us when he died for us on the cross and that's the kind of love we are to show one another.

Notice there are 2 lessons we should learn from the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4.

1. Don’t be like Cain in his hatred for his brother which caused him to murder him. God’s law against murder does not just prohibit murder, it prohibits what lies behind murder – hatred. We disobey God when we hate a fellow believer in our heart, even if we don’t say a word or do anything. Jesus taught the same thing in Matthew 5:21,22.

2. Don’t be surprised when people in the unbelieving world hate us because we do what is right in God’s eyes. What were Cain’s evil actions, mentioned in v12? He ‘brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.’ (Genesis 4:3) So how is that evil? Because he didn’t bring it ‘by faith’ as Abel did - see Hebrews 11:4. Just as Cain hated Abel because his own actions were evil and Abel’s were righteous, so the unbelieving world will hate us because we do what’s right in God’s eyes. When you stand up for God on moral issues like abortion or sexual morality or euthanasia or on issues of justice, don’t be surprised if you get a backlash from some people. Your right living and words shows up their ungodly ones and pricks their conscience which is not comfortable.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David and James are members of our Bossley Park Morning Service.

1 John 3:7-10

7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

REFLECTIONS

Written by James Davidson

This passage is a warning we must all take to heart. If we don’t we place ourselves in great spiritual danger. Don’t be led astray from the true Gospel by anyone who says that you can believe in Jesus but go on living the same way you did before you knew Jesus (v7). And don’t listen to anyone ‘who does what is sinful’, that is, whose life has not been transformed by following Jesus. (v8) It’s not preachers who say they do right that we should listen to, it’s preachers who actually do what is right, who have a proven track record of living godly lives. Jesus did not just talk about doing right, he did it! He was actually righteous in practice, not just in theory (v7b).

Not that they need to be perfect. John has already told us that every believer still sins in 1:8-10. In fact, we should only listen to preachers who openly acknowledge that they are not perfect and are works in progress, but nevertheless, whose lives have been and are being transformed, particularly in their love for their Christian brothers and sisters (v10). Be very careful about following teachers whose lives you can’t see, because they’re on TV or the internet. It’s very hard to tell if they practice what they preach.

What do you think is meant by God’s seed in v9? It could be God’s word because it lives in every Christian (2:14c). More likely it is God’s Spirit because John mentions him quite a bit (2:20,27; 3:24; 4:13).  In any case, both answers are true. We are born of God as God’s Spirit applies God’s word to our hearts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James is a minister with our Bossley Park Morning Service.

1 John 2:28-3:6

28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.

29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.

1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Vincent Chan

I find in these few paragraphs something very helpful. In many ways, it’s nothing new. And yet, it’s something that I need to be reminded all the time. What is it? It’s that knowing who we are in Christ helps shape how we live for Christ.

Verse 28 reminds us that because God is righteous we are called to practise acts of righteousness. 3:6 reminds us that we are called to put off sin. However, here is the important part. Both of these ‘instructions’ are preceded by the reminder to ‘abide’ (2:28, 3:6).

The idea of abiding is not that we need to get into Jesus or to some how reach him. Instead, it’s the reminder that we’re already in Jesus. It’s a call to remember who we are, the status we’ve been given and the identity that we have as children of God. When we keep remembering this, it helps us to abide and practise righteousness and put off sin.

Let’s make that real. Today I’m going to be tempted to live for myself. There’s going to be moments when I not only sin, but I want to sin. Maybe it’ll be slacking off when I should be working. Maybe it’ll be to harbour bitterness against someone when I should pray for them. How will I put off that sin and practise my righteousness? By reminding myself who I am, in other words, by abiding in Christ.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vinno is a minister with our Fairfield Services.

1 John 2:24-27

24 As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he promised us—eternal life.

26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Sarah Cameron

Our world is constantly on a quest for the next new exciting thing. It might be the new phone or smart watch, café to visit, TV show to watch or scientific breakthrough. We almost always think new = better. It can even infiltrate into our Christian life when we look for a new or exciting way to interpret the Bible, or the new preacher to follow. But in this passage, John has a strong warning against that type of thinking.

Verse 24 reminds us to hold fast to what we have heard from the beginning. Why? So that we will not be led astray by those who teach false things. What is at stake? Our eternal life! That is not something to muck around with. We don’t need a new gospel, or a new way to salvation, or someone to tell us what to believe. We have everything we need already in Jesus. It’s a great encouragement that we are united with believers all the way back to the Apostles in having the same access to eternal life.

Verse 27 uses the word “anointing” to speak about God’s Spirit that he has given us to help lead us into the truth. We don’t need another go-between telling us what is right or wrong. The Holy Spirit himself helps us. It’s not that we don’t benefit from having people study and teach the Bible to help us understand it better, that is a wonderful blessing from God and we should think about ways we can encourage and spur on our preachers as they work hard to teach us faithfully. But we need to always bring what our preachers say back to the word of God and test its truthfulness for ourselves. If we trust in him, God has given us his Spirit. He helps us know what to accept as truth and what to refute as false teaching, so that we are not led astray.

John uses the word “remain”, 5 times in this passage. How can you be making sure you remain in God and his word?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah is a member of our Fairfield Morning Service.

1 John 2:18-23

18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Thom Bransdon

Today’s passage talks about the antichrist. We learn that there are actually many antichrists, that they have already been coming and that their existence is a sign of the last hour. Verse 19 tells us that these antichrists come from among the believers and have left the church, that they were never really part of it, as evidenced by then having left the church. Contrasted against these antichrists are the believers, who all ‘know the truth’. That truth is seen in Verse 22, that Jesus is the Christ. He is the one way to the Father. An antichrist, we’re told is someone who rejects that truth and denies Christ.

Christ spoke of these antichrists in Mark 13:22, warning the apostles that false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive at the end times. There are many in our world who have parted from the truth that Jesus is Lord in favour of false teaching, who make themselves important and tell lies in order to deny Christ and the gospel message.

I find this passage very heartening in a time when false teaching and denial of the Gospel is so visible in our world. We have been gifted the truth through God’s mercy, and have been given discernment through the Spirit. We have nothing to fear from any antichrists and their lies. The fact that so many antichrists have come is actually evidence that Christ has finished his work, that the last hour has come and that He is returning soon to reign in Glory!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thom is a member of our Fairfield Morning Service.