1 John – Grace Evangelical Society

Did John’s Readers Lack Assurance? Re-Examining 1 John 5:13

January 21, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - 1 John, Assurance, belief, essence of saving faith

Someone recently challenged the idea that assurance is of the essence of saving faith by quoting 1 John 5:13. That question has been answered before (see here and here). But I’d like to put an answer in my own words. The verse in question reads: These things I have written to you who believe in

Two Abidings (1 John 2:24)

March 5, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - 1 John, abide, Fellowship

Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father (1 John 2:24). Do you remember everything you hear in church or in school? Does it automatically “stick”? Not with me. I usually have

No Excuse, Sir! (1 John 4:20–5:5)

July 15, 2019 by Kenneth Yates in Blog - 1 John, child of God, commandment, love

I attended a military college after high school. The freshman year introduced us to military life and placed upon us many rules that a civilian would consider strange. For example, if an upperclassman asked you “why” you were doing something, the answer was always, “no excuse, sir!” It didn’t matter if you had a valid

Fellowship with God and One Another

April 23, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - 1 John, Biblical separation, Fellowship, Lord’s Supper

Fellowship with God depends, in part, on fellowship with other believers. Let me offer two short proofs for the claim, one positive and one negative. First, the positive proof is that John says that fellowship with the apostolic circle implies fellowship with God: “that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that

How to Apply “Lay Down Your Life” (1 John 3:16-17)

March 6, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - 1 John, love, poor

Christians are called to love each other. But what is love? You might know it when you see it. Specifically, John says that our model is Jesus: We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us (1 John 3:16a). Love is sacrificial. Love acts. It acts for the good of the

Confession and Consequences

August 9, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - 1 John, Confession, fellowship forgiveness

Sin has more than one consequence. On the one hand, it can break or hinder your fellowship with God. On the other hand, it can have consequences for you in this life. The man who gets drunk at work, not only loses his intimacy with God—he can also get fired. And the woman who covets