A Letter from Dear John
0 comments | Posted by Steven Layson on 15 Sep 2007 in From Steve's Study ::
Our world is a world racked by uncertainty. There is uncertainty over global warming, terrorism, job security, financial investments and the longevity of relationships, while many millions are uncertain even about where their next meal will come from. Ironically, though medical science has been able to solve many health problems, the only “certainty” in life remains to be death, which brings with it the biggest uncertainty of all – what happens after you die?
This uncertainty also finds its way into the life of the church & the individual Christian. Many Christians today still struggle with the questions, “Am I really a Christian?” “How do I know I won’t fall away?” “Is all this talk of eternal life just a myth, or is it something I can hold onto in the middle of the difficulties of life”?
This, of course, is no modern phenomenon. Doubt and uncertainty were as much a part of the first century Christian experience as they are today. Not only was there serious persecution of the early church, but the body of Christ worldwide was still in the process of shaping many of its core beliefs. The doctrines of the Trinity, the Atonement and even the person and work of Christ took many years to come to a position of consensus (indeed they are still in a state of flux to some extent). As a result, even within the church, there was likely to be a great deal of confusion and doubt about various doctrines – not to mention personal standing before God.
In the face of this, the apostle John tells us in 1 John 5:13 why he wrote his first letter:
“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.” If you’ve ever doubted your Christian faith, or felt unsure about your eternity, 1 John is the book for you. Over the next few weeks, we will delve into this powerful letter and come away assured that God loves us and that we can indeed be sure of our eternal life.
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