Chapter 1

Verses twelve and thirteen: Note the dichotomy between the two kingdoms–light and darkness. God’s saints walk in His light (Jesus: “I am the light of the world”) which qualifies them to receive the inheritance He has provided for us–salvation in God’s kingdom. Salvation is possible only because He has “delivered us from the power of darkness”–Satan’s power to entice us to sin–and because we remain in His light (in obedience to His Word). The church, however, refutes this, claiming that we have no power over the power of darkness, that, due to Adam’s sin in us, sin is inevitable for both the churched and the unchurched. Therefore, the “light” the church claims to walk in is her version of grace. To the church, the definition of grace is the right to sin and get away with it. In other words, the church claims to have a license to sin (Jude 4). The only difference between the churched and the unchurched is that one group can sin with impunity while the other group receives the wrath of God for sinning. Convenient, but false. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). All New Testament writers wrote to the church about the church–THE WAGES OF CHURCH SIN IS DEATH as Peter wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit: “For … judgment begins in the house of God (His church), … and if the RIGHTEOUS SCARCELY (BARELY) CAN BE SAVED, what will happen to the ungodly–those who do not obey the gospel of God?”

Verses fourteen through twenty-three: In verse 14 we find the definition of redemption and how it is provided. Redemption is the forgiveness of (past-Rom. 3:25) sins which Christ’s blood makes possible. In verse 15 we are told that God is invisible to men (because He chooses to be) but not to Jesus. We know what God looks like because we know what Jesus looks like. Genesis 1 tells us that we are created in Their image. God looks like us. Jesus is the first born (again) man (see Born Again) Whom God used to create all of creation (vs. 16,17). Verse 18 clarifies this by calling Him the “FIRSTborn from the dead.” All saints will be born again from the dead upon His return. Those who are alive at His return will die and be born again (from the dead) in “the twinkling of an eye” (1 Cor. 15:52) as they rise to meet Him in the air. Jesus is the head of the body–His church. As is the Head, so is the body–they are spiritually the same. In the physical realm the head and the body must be of the same physical quality. In the spiritual realm the Head and the body must be of the same spiritual quality. Only those who “walk as He walked” (1 Jn. 2:6), “purify themselves as He is pure” (1 Jn. 3:3) and “… overcome (sin) even as I (Jesus) overcame” (Rev. 3:21) are part of His body. Verses 19 and 2:9 tell us that all of God’s fullness abides in Jesus. Those who make up His body partake of that fullness. Those who make up His body will, with Him, inherit the Kingdom of God. Verse 23 reminds us that IF we continue in (believe and obey) THE faith (Word) of God, grounded and steadfast (in our obedience) and are not moved away from the HOPE (of salvation) that the gospel provides we will continue to be His body and will inherit eternal life. L.J.