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More I John commentaries
I John 1:1-4
Is your fellowship grounded in God’s Word?
I John 1:5-7
What effects your relationships?
I John 1:8-10
Sins’ reality and remedy
I John 2:1-6
Tests of true knowledge
I John 2:7-11
God’s people are to love one another
I John 2:12-14
Three categories of believers
I John 2:15-17
Worldliness is a matter of the heart
I John 2:18-22
The opponent of Christ
I John 2:23-25
Jesus and God are one
I John 2:26-29
Twisting the Scriptures
I John 3:1-3
A clear description of God’s Children
I John 3:4-8
Reasons why Jesus died on the cross
I John 3:9-12
I have two dogs living in me
I John 3:13-15
Don’t be surprised if the world hates you
I John 3:16-18
Love is an action, not a feeling
I John 3:19-24
Doctrine and love are both needed
I John 4:1-3
Don’t believe everything you hear
I John 4:4-6
Sure tests for true teaching
I John 4:7-12
Love is an action
I John 4:13-16
The relationship of belief to love
I John 4:17-21
Pretending is not a mark of maturity
I John 5:1-5
What must I do to be saved?
I John 5:6-12
Proof that Jesus is God
I John 5:13-17
Instrument for getting God’s will done on earth
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Pretending is not a mark of maturity
I John 4:17–21
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
One evening several years ago, while on a missions trip, to Hungary, with over 60 teenagers we came back to the Word of Life Castle. We had just experienced a great evangelistic rally at a large hall in that town where the mayor’s wife and several town officials had trusted Chris … More
Notice that John says it is love “perfected” which gives us confidence in the day of judgment (v. 17). The day of judgment is that time when all people will appear before Christ and be held accountable for their actions in this life. With God living in us through Christ , we have no reason to fear that day (v. 18). Instead we can look forward to the day of judgment, because it will mean the end of sin and the beginning of a face to face relationship with Jesus Christ. If we ever are afraid of the future eternity, or God’s judgment we can remind ourselves of God’s love. God’s love is the source of all human love (v. 19). It is easy to pretend we love God when that love doesn’t cost us anything. However the real test of our love for God is how we treat family members and fellow believers (vv. 20-21). One of the greatest needs today is honesty and not pretending to be something we are not.
Pretending is one of the favorite activities of little children, but it is certainly not a mark of maturity in adults. Spiritual honesty will bring peace and power to the person who practices it. He knows that God loves him and accepts him (with all his faults) and he has no reason to to impress others.
Application
When is the last time I tried to impress someone with my spirituality? I need to realize that when I do this I am actually telling a lie as I do it. Lord help me to be real!!
I John 4:17-21 (English Standard Version)
By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »
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