Salvation Mending Words

1st John 1:8-10

It just seemed God was speaking to me (again) as I was writing another article called “Light by God’s Design” which I will be posting in incremental pages. As I was putting certain words in print, a parallel message came out. I thought it would be a good thing to share it with you. It has to do with fixing something already owned as opposed to receiving a new thing.

God is always there and He fixes things ..... and people.

This is an outtake from the above named writing:

(Outtake) Now as to words. Remember, when we talk of the Bible, we talk in Biblical terms and definitions which override the ever changing social meanings in many instances. And this is one of those instances.

The Bible says “… God is Light …”, 1st John 1:5. There is no dispute. It says so. Yet, what does that mean? Well, it depends on the context, though it doesn’t change the truth. So let’s look at the whole verse, and the following two also, for context.

The first three gives us a message of direction and reward.

1 John 1:5-7; (5) This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  (6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness , we lie, and do not the truth: (7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Now let’s expand this thought a bit by include the next three verses. They complete the thought and the chapter.

In these added three verses, we don’t find a comment on light directly, but the thought is there. And more, in these we find our hope and solace.

1 John 1:8-10; (8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

What we see are the central promises of God given through John regarding our daily position with God. I hang onto these as without them, I am as lost mentally as the unsaved are spiritually. Some may see these as damning to many, and so it is. But to me they are the refreshing I need in times of woe. We all seem to have favorite verses that are “pick-me-ups.” These are mine, 1st John 1:5-10.

These verses are central as they address the walk of every Christian regarding any study, endeavor or setting. These verses should be in the front of our minds in all our actions. Without them or by ignoring them, we find ourselves walking in darkness once again. And that darkness is or is caused by sin.

These are central regarding our faith and belief in the God of all and His promises to us.
These are our anchor to and reminder of God at all times.

These brings us back to God.

These must be a part of the any and all studies in word and in the directing of our actions.

And, though we may not be able to quote them from memory, for a number of reasons, their message should be a part of our every thought and very nature.

These are “salvation mending” words, repairing that which we have that is eternal, never ending. They sometimes get lost in the shuffles and torments of life. But, as is God, they are always there to come back to and refresh the soul. I hang on to these as they anchor me to God:

Here we are seeing the God of salvation and forgiveness.

In the primary spiritual meaning here, sin is darkness. We may even say darkness in or of the soul. It’s a stain. At salvation, God washes away the stains of the past life, Isaiah 1:18. We become “perfect” in God’s eyes, but not according to man’s definitions.

This word “perfect” in scripture can mean perfect as we understand it when applied to inanimate objects and perceptions. But when applied to a “being,” it may only be applied to God, Matthew 5:48. We, that is mankind, are imperfect in our state as “man,” Romans 3:23. In reality, “perfect” as applied to man in the Bible means complete and in some cases, repaired. << (End of outtake.)

Still a little work to do on the parent study, but it just seemed right to post this portion. A reminder that daily maintenance from the instruction manual minimizes the need for repairs.