There is a Christian maxim, origin unknown, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” Take sin seriously! Sin ruins. However, do not carry your sin (or others) as a burden; we have an advocate. “[Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins,” meaning He has turned God’s wrath into favor through His love (1 John 2:1-2). Jesus’ love language is obedience. That word might make us flinch, but if we have accepted His grace and seek Him, we will find great confidence and assurance in following His wisdom (1 John 2:3-6). It begins with the Great Commandment (John 13:34-35), Love God and Love people (1 John 2:7-11)(1 John 2:12-17). Keep in mind that loving God means not loving the things of the world, for we cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). Obedience to the world is incompatible with obedience to Christ. Just as Jesus prayed, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth.”(John 17:14-19).
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Rooted - 1 John - Week 1