Scripture reading: 1 John 2:28 - 1 John 3:10
Sermon text: 1 John 3:1-3

Summer vacation has begun, and I just realized that I neglected to mention that I wouldn't be posting anything on the blog for a week or two, because we're away on summer vacation.

So ironically, I update my blog to say that I won't be updating my blog for a while!

Identify this woman, and you win a prize (at least a metaphorical prize).



Bonus points to anyone who can tell me what she has to do with 1 John 2:20!

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world."

Scripture reading: 1 John 2:15-17; Luke 4:1-13

Since I'm in the commentary-quoting mode, here's a nice quote from Calvin's commentary on 1 John 2:17.

In the ESV, here's the verse:

And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

And here's Calvin:

By saying that they who do the will of God shall abide forever, or perpetually, he means that they who seek God shall be perpetually blessed. Were anyone to object and say that no one doeth what God commands, the obvious answer is that what is spoken of here is not the perfect keeping of the law, but the obedience of faith, which, however imperfect it may be, is yet approved by God. The will of God is first made known to us in the law; but as no one satisfies the law, no happiness can be hoped from it. But Christ comes to meet the despairing with new aid, who not only regenerates us by his Spirit that we may obey God, but makes also that our endeavour, such as it is, should obtain the praise of perfect righteousness."

I always find it interesting that Calvin's detractors paint him as a stern, cold-hearted theologian. But when you actually read Calvin, you see the pastor's heart shine through in everything he writes!

While preaching through 1 John, one of the commentaries I've been reading is Robert Candlish's 19th century commentary, one of the Geneva series of commentaries. Robert Candlish was a minister in the Free Church of Scotland.

While reading through his comments on 1 John 2:16, I found this gem on "the pride of life." The ESV translates this phrase as "pride of possessions," and the NIV translates as "boasting of what he has and does"... here's one instance where I prefer the King James and the New American Standard translations. Here's the verse in the KJV:

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.

Candlish writes the following (and the excessive use of semicolons is in the original):

"What pains are taken in the world to save appearances and keep up a seemly and goodly state! It is a business all but reduced to system. Its means and appliances are ceremony and feigned civility. Life is to be ostensibly, nay even ostentatiously, all right. All is to be in good taste and in good style; correct, creditable, commendable. It is the world's pride to have it so. What is otherwise must be somehow toned down or shaded off; concealed or coloured. Falsehood may be necessary; a false code of honour; false notions of duty, as between man and man, or between man and woman; false liberality and spurious delicacy. Still the world does contrive, by means of all that, to get up and keep up a proud life of its own; a life grand and graceful; having its decencies and respectabilities; yes, and its charities, courtesies, and chivalries too; all very imposing in themselves, and altogether contributing to make the world's life very imposing as a whole...

It sets in motion a game of diplomacy and a race of emulation most destructive of all the truer and finer instincts even of unrenewed humanity. It debauches conscience, and is fatal to high aims. It puts the men and women of the world on a poor struggle to out-manoeuvre and outshine one another, to outdo one another, for the most part, in mere externals; while, with all manner of politeness, they affect to give one another credit for what they all know to be little better than shams. Nevertheless, the general effect, I repeat, is imposing. The world's 'pride of life' is something to be proud of after all...

Need I suggest how many sad instances of religious inconsistency and worldly conformity spring from this source? I may acquit you of sensuality or sensuousness, and of selfish jealousy; you are free, as to both of these instruments of the world's power. But what of its opinion? Have you learned to defy it, or to be independent of it? Can you dispense with the world's approval and brave its frown? Do you not sometimes find yourselves more afraid or ashamed of a breach of worldly etiquette - some apparent descent from the customary platform of worldly respectability - than of such a concession to the world's forms and fashions as may compromise your integrity in the sight of God, and your right to acquit yourselves of guile?

The opinion of the world! What the world will think or say! Ah! That pitiful consideration may often sway or embarrass you when you have no selfish longing or envious grudge to gratify..."

As a very wise man once said to me, "Take it to heart, son!"

Sermon Text: 1 John 2:12-14
Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28

An old commandment made new in Christ Jesus: Love one another!

Sermon text: 1 John 2:7-11

I'm going to be away for a few days, attending Classis in Langley and visiting my parents, but before I go, here's Sunday's sermon.

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 10
Sermon Text: 1 John 2:1-6

Sermon text: 1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Scripture reading: Psalm 32; 1 John 1

We're back in the New Testament, beginning a series of sermons on the first letter of John. Yesterday I preached the first sermon in this series: