Knowing And Accepting Christ

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus In Every Chapter
Date: Monday, December 21, 2015
Chapters: 1 John 1-3
Message Title: Knowing And Accepting Christ

Hello My Friend,

The Book of 1 John is the twenty-third book of the New Testament, sixty-second book of the Bible, and contains five chapters. The author of this epistle is John (the same John who wrote the Gospel of John as well as Revelation) and it was written to Christians who were falling into satanic deception which was breaking their fellowship with God and other believers. The purpose of this letter was to remind believers how they have eternal life, and our works of Christ are evidence that His life is in us. “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” - 1 John 5:12.

I was watching this video of some miraculous events in which lives were spared which should have been the death of them. The purpose of the video was to show that God will never take the life of a person before their time if they are bound to be saved. That got me thinking, how many people walk away from death, but never once acknowledge God, let alone Christ. Now, God does produce miraculous things every day in an attempt to bring the lost to His Son, but very few acknowledge Him. And the ones who do know of God have no idea who Christ is. John reminds us that God is light and if we do not know His Son we are lying to ourselves.

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:” - 1 John 1:1-6.

“If we say that we have fellowship with him,” Darkness, that quality or state which renders anything difficult to be understood. From the moment we are born we are born with the knowledge of God, it is the things taught and the lifestyles lived that darken people from that knowledge. God knows who believe in and accept His Son, but if we do not know the Son, we cannot know the Father. “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” - Romans 1:10,21.

The majority of people who know of Christ, but do not receive Him are the ones who want to live an immoral life without feeling guilty about it. I had a man tell me once, I know Jesus, but have a lot of partying to do before I give it all up for Him. See, the mentality is this, If I have Christ in my life I will not enjoy my life. The truth, there is no joy in worldly living. Oh, one might think they are having fun for a little while, but get rid of the booze, drugs, lovers, money, and superficial friends, then what is left? A sad, wasted life, with nothing to show for it. The time to receive Christ is now because all we are sure of is today, we have no reassurance of tomorrow. And for those who do know Christ as their Saviour, but live a worldly life, your Father has a warning for you.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.” - 1 John 2:15-17,20,21,24,25.

“But ye have an unction from the Holy One,” Unction, an act of anointing, the shedding of a divine or spiritual influence upon a person. Those who know and receive Christ are anointed from God, that means the Holy Spirit in us enables us to eliminate the corruptible things from our lives and replace them with godly things. As we walk with Christ, we become more like Him, and learn to live a life that is not only respectable to God, but our own bodies. Living a life with Christ does not mean that we cannot enjoy life, it means we enjoy the best life without all the corruption of the world dragging us down. “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” - James 1:23-25.

While we are all sinners saved by the grace of God through Jesus Christ, we are a work in progress until the day God takes us home or Christ returns. When we walk with Him daily, He literally transforms us into His likeness, which is why many who say they are saved and live more worldly than some in the world are questioned on their salvation. We should be examples of Christ, not of the devil.

“Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” - 1 John 3:7-14.

“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested,” God created the heavens and earth in six days, it did not take long for the devil to bring sin upon man, creating the sin death curse and separation between God and man. It took three days for Jesus to reverse that curse, creating eternal life and reconciliation between God and all who believe in His Son. While the devil can never produce life, he can produce deception and he's good at it too. If we say we are saved and are not different from the world than perhaps it's time to reevaluate our lives, make sure we know for sure that we have Christ in us, and if He is, repent. “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” - Revelation 3:2,3.

Today's Prayer: Jesus, The sacrifice You made for us is still something true believers cannot comprehend, to give Your life for us and even want to fellowship with us after all we have done is amazing. Lord, I want to walk in Your light, give me power and the strength that only You can give me to be able to life the joyful life that You would have me live as I let Your light shine through me. In Your name, Jesus'. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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