Opposing Contrasts in 1 John

When you are reading the Bible, it is more engaging if you know something the book offers that you can look for.  Often there are various areas of focus, as in John’s first letter.  Consider with me the strong contrasts found in 1 John.  I call them strong contrasts because the two things contrasted are mutually exclusive.  You cannot hold both.  You must choose one or the other.  The text tells us that you cannot compromise the two and you cannot avoid choosing.  Before God, you must choose to walk one way or the other.

 No wonder God delivered this specific message to us.  We do not like to choose.  We want to taste both cookies.  We want to vacillate in our opinions, depending on circumstances.  We want to find ourselves somewhere on the scale (from 1-10) rather than be all the way, one way or the other.  We judge good and bad in varying tones of gray instead of black or white.

I will list some of the absolute contrasts found in 1 John.  You can watch for more!

John is writing in a tone of certainty and absolutes.  An effect of this kind of message is confidence.  Another key word in 1 John is know.  (You might count how many times the word is found in this short book, just for fun.)  In 1 John 2:5 we read:  “By this we know that we are in Him.”  In a world of uncertainty, where conflicting opinions and ideologies flourish, John is giving God’s people truths to stand on.   John says, “And these things we write to you that your joy may be full”  (1 John 1:4).  Confidence in a relationship with God offers joy!

John is a beautiful book of assurance, giving confidence to God’s people, but be willing to choose right!  Find a time to read the book, slowly, in one sitting.  You can probably read the entire letter in fifteen minutes.