Week of August 27

“Welcome-ish. Depends On Who You Are and How Long You Stay,” is an example of a humorous front door sign on a home. I’m certain that you also have a read a few funny ones. Many folks post or place some type of family greeting or warning at the front door to all who approach their homes. It may be as simple as the word “Welcome,” a warning to potential intruders, or even some type of blessing. John provides us with, what I believe to be, a Christian “front-door-of-life” greeting in verse three. Let’s see how we, as members of God’s house, may affix the proper greeting to our Christian lives.

John writes this short letter to counter false Gnostic teaching that all human matter is inherently evil, and a divine being like Jesus Christ would therefore not take on human flesh. There were those who claimed to be Christians who denied that God had ever become flesh. The result was a lack of fellowship with the Father, which led to disgraceful conduct and a complete neglect of Christian ethics.
 
There was a disconnect between their claim to know God and actions that reflected it. John testifies that he and many others were eyewitnesses of Christ’s incarnation, so that believers then and now would know that they may have unbroken fellowship with the Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ (2:28; 5:13). He tells us how to truly experience this type of fellowship.

There is a common saying about people whose appearance indicates something that the inner life does not possess. People say, “The porch light is on, but nobody is at home.” Well, if I may, John claims that some folks in their community claimed to have the porch light of Christ, but He never had been a part of their hearts (homes).
 
Therefore, one may say, “believing is seeing the light” because belief is active and whole and enables one to live confidently in the world (cf. John 21:26-29 “Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed”; see also Hebrews 11:1-3). Our focal verse is the immediate basis for 1 John 1:6-2:2. It also has direct bearing on 1:6-3:10. The ethic is plain: “We should live in fellowship with God who had fullness of life in himself and is moved to forgive us of our sins on the basis of advocacy and atonement of Jesus Christ the righteous one” (NAC). We would say, “your walk has to match your talk.” We should be asking ourselves if we have been enlightened and enlivened by the truth about Jesus Christ.

Make certain of your loving relationship with God. John emphasizes right action on the part of true believers that stems from a genuine relationship with the Heavenly Father. Lest we think that sin is inescapable, he has inserted a section that warns against giving freedom to sin (Handbook).
 
I believe that this passage is especially important to contemporary Christ-followers because of the tendency for many to practice a laissez faire form of Christianity (cf. 2:4). Instead, we know that God is a God of purity, so anyone who claims to follow Him must walk in obedience to His “revealed will” (cf. NAC). We are permanent residents in God’s house, so we must demonstrate the characteristics of one of His family members. Have John’s words caused you to brace yourself for some type of “tongue lashing” or “Christian cajoling”? I hope not!
 
John does not take out a bull whip to prod these believers to do the right thing (2:1, “children” = “spiritual children”). It always bothered me as a young man to feel the sting of a preacher’s angry words that were intended to herd me and others into right action. Such rhetoric sorely underestimated the efficacy of the Father’s love as motivation to right action.
 
Applying daily the Word of God to our lives. We also know that God’s Spirit and the Scriptures properly applied throughout the Body of Christ are quite effective in bringing people to Christian maturity. My Apple Watch reminds me any time that I step too far away from my iPad. It reminds me not to leave the device behind. The Apostle John prompts us to remain in constant touch with God through a growing Christian walk with Him. He writes personally to encourage right belief that translates into right action (2:1: “I am writing”; NAC). He guides them into steps that will help them to avoid sin. OK, he has gained my full attention. How about you?
 
Stay connected to our strong advocate, Jesus Christ. We all know that we inevitably fall into sin, but John uses a strong contrast between the “so that you may not sin” and the “if anyone does sin” (2:1-2a; cf. Galatians 6:1ff.). Jesus, the One who does what is right is there to serve always as our advocate with the Father (present tense verb means He serves continuously). Therefore, Jesus’s prayers for us are not hindered by sin and will certainly be heard by God (John 9:31; James 5:16; Handbook). Praise the Lord, this truth is how things work inside God’s house.

Jesus is there to come alongside of family members who stumble. He may lift us up, admonish us, and even teach us a better way to live. The point is that God’s house is characterized by occupants who seek to live rightly according to God’s rules for the home. So, why is Jesus the one to do all of this? John writes that He is the “propitiation” for our sins. He is the means the Father has chosen to bring about forgiveness of sin (cf. TEV). Friends aren’t you glad that God has done this for us, and that Jesus is in the house (cf. John 1:14)?! His Spirit creates within us a passion for the truth and right (John 14:15-17; 16:13). We do not need a whip to guide us in right living because such action is our sincere wish. We long to place the placard of Christian piety at the door of our Christian lives.

All humor aside, the enemy in World War II would often change road signs to mislead soldiers and guide them into traps. Enemies would also make the exterior of a house or a building look as innocent as possible in order to lure soldiers inside and do them harm!
 
Here is a spiritual reminder. Such also is the way of the archenemy, Satan, and those under his influence. Take time today to make sure that that which you profess outwardly is that which goes on inside your life. Christians act Christianly because Christ is Light in their spiritual houses.

1. Some of my readers may have some deep inner resistance to being “told” how to practice the Christian life. Take time to jot down the circumstance(s) where this sort of instruction occurred. You may well discover that the voice you heard—even if it was well-meaning—was not the voice of the Lord. Ask God’s Spirit to soften your resistance so that your heart may be trained to listen to and follow the Spirit’s lead.
 
2. If you really wonder what those who live outside of God’s house “hear” and “see” from your front-of-life greeting, then ask them to tell you! If changes are needed, then ask the Spirit to help you to make them.
 
3. For Families: As summer begins to wind down in a few weeks, it may be time to think about what kind of sign you wish to place in front of your house. Invite the kids to a “think tank” discussion, complete with paper, magic markers, and other art supplies.

Share with them this passage, and ask them to think out loud and to visualize what kind of message your family wants to present to the world. It might be a porch or yard sign, or banner, or flag. Then, when you have decided on your family welcome, go ahead and make one together, out of whatever medium you have chosen. Then mount it, drape it, fly it, or hang it to speak to all who come to your door!
May the words of welcome we speak point others to Jesus.

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock