DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
1 John 3:21-4:6
(9/24)
First Vesperal Reading at the Repose of John the Theologian
Keeping God’s Commandments: 1 John 3:21-4:6,
especially vs. 23: “And
this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus
Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.” Saint
John exhorts us to keep God’s commandments (vss.
22,24).
The trouble is we do not.
The results are that our heart condemns us (vs. 21), we lose confidence
in God (vs. 21), we do not receive what we ask from Him (vs. 22), we do things
that are not “...pleasing in His sight” (vs. 22), we fail to love
one another (vs. 23), and we experience within ourselves a loss of God’s
presence (vs. 24). Ah, but we have
in our hands - before our eyes - a message from Christ’s Apostle to help
us reverse this disturbing spiritual state and to guide us unfailingly toward
release from this morass.
John, wise Theologian and Apostle, reveals the
effective way to know with certainty that “You are of God...,” that
we “...have overcome...”(vs. 4) the
Antichrist and his minions (vss. 3,4), “...He who is in you is greater
than he who is in the world” (vs. 4), and we can discern “...who is
not of God...” (vs. 6). Embrace Saint John’s life-giving method and be
restored to “...the joy of [God’s] salvation” (Ps.
50:12). There is hope in adopting
the three directives he issues for us.
First, “...believe on the name of His
Son Jesus Christ...” (vs. 23). Saint
John’s wording is important in this
commandment. He is not entering
into a debate whether or not “...that Jesus Christ has come in the
flesh...” (see vss. 2,3). He fully recognizes that this debate
exists as the verses just cited show.
He makes his point much earlier in the reading by using the two-word verb “...believe on...” (vs.
23). One can hold an opinion
one way or the other about the divinity of Christ and His divine origin. We can perfectly well believe or not
believe that Jesus Christ is God.
That is not Saint John’s
point. He believes that as a fact;
but, more important, He believes in Christ Jesus; he believes in
taking his personal stance on the name of God’s Son, Jesus
Christ. The difference between
“that” and “on” (or “in”) is immense. Opinion and commitment are two entirely
different things. We can have
doubts and take a stance, but be committed - risk “as if.”
Second, as soon as we commit to Jesus Christ,
we are under obligation to the Lord Himself to “...love one another, as
He gave us commandment” (vs. 23).
What Jesus’ Apostle says here traces back to Christ Himself Who
said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn. 14:15); and He
gives this commandment content when He says, “A new commandment I give to
you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one
another” (Jn. 13:34, and see Jn. 15:12,17). The selfless giving of life for the
salvation of others is our Lord’s model: “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved
you” (Jn. 15:12). This is
where the difference between opinion and commitment makes demands on us!
Third, since everything takes place
simultaneously in the tangible world and the spiritual realm, it is crucial to
“...test the spirits, whether they are of God...” (1 Jn. 4:1). Commitment to Christ comes first. And this commitment is manifested as we
choose to love one another as Christ loved us - the very tough, high standard
the Lord Jesus sets. “But
how?” is a fair question; and Saint
John gives the answer, “...by the Spirit Whom He
has given us” (vs. 24). We
have to risk the promptings to love in the way in which He demonstrably loved
us. Be cautious when appeals to be loving come from those who lie and play with the
truth. Test the spirits. Even God’s enemies can challenge
us to live up to the Faith for their purposes; but test the spirits. Be sure to love on Jesus’ terms,
not on the basis of “...he who is in the world” (vs. 4). The devils enjoy getting us to offer
love that is not according to the Spirit of God Who is One
with Christ.
O God Who loveth
mankind, send down Thy divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
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