Given by Rev. Madison Shockley April 18, 2021
We are God’s children. John’s letter offers the most compelling reason to be a Christian. God is love. Because God has claimed us, we should love one another. John’s message is a reflection of Christian life. Love is the beginning and end of Jesus’ teachings. According to John, there is only one virtue, love, and one vice, hate. Love is a feeling that compels doing, in truth and action. John’s community was under attack and they were fighting to preserve their way of faith. His words were to help guide them to act with love to those Christians not in their community. It is here where we find the most divisive language too. Early Christians argued a lot, just like we do today. We are most at odds with other Christians. We are all God’s children though. Love is our only hope.
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