Read more
Written in the tradition of Robert Laws classic The Tests of Life, Benji Ramsaur takes the reader on a journey through the spiritual riches of 1 John. The testing facts of righteousness, love, and faith combine with the comforting declarations of this epistle to assure all genuine Christians that they possess life. A life the Son possessed in fellowship with the Father before time began and has now been manifested in the incarnation of Christ. This eternal life has its beginning within an individual when the Father God imparts his own nature in regeneration and it reaches ultimate fruition at the second coming of the Son.
Seeking to undermine this Divine life were false teachers who sought to pull the rug out from under the real bodily sacrifice of Jesus Christ. They had once infiltrated the Christian assembly but had now pulled out. Consequently, this had the impact of disquieting those who had remained in fellowship with one another concerning whether or not they shared life in the Spirit. Contextually, this is where the last apostle, John, intervenes to pastorally bring the reassurance that these believers needed. Wrapped up in his assurance is the teaching that the new commandment to love one another has been realized within their spiritual community.
Contrastingly, hatred, along with an unrighteousness and heretical teaching, marked the secessionists. Hence, a chasm existed between the spiritually alive children of God and the spiritually dead children of the Devil. That same difference exists today. Accordingly, for those on the side of light, this profound epistle was written that they may know they have eternal life.
