Day 585: Things we know - 1 John 5 vs 18 - 21

18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children,  keep yourselves from idols. 1 John 5:18-21 (English Standard Version)

Before I share my thoughts, look again at the things which John says Christians ‘know’. I saw at least four very definite statements of that.

Firstly, vs18 says we know that those born of God don't keep on living in the sinful ways they'd previously lived in. When Jesus challenged some people who wanted to stone to death a woman caught in adultery about their own sins, they backed off. Then He said to her: “Woman, has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.” But then, importantly, He added: “Go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8:10-11) This doesn't mean Christians never do any wrong. But it does mean that sin no longer dominates their life? Why is that? (Still vs 18.)

The Lord Jesus Himself watches over His people and doesn't allow Satan to destroy them. He does this by the Holy Spirit in our lives, as well as by making us wise through His word to Satan's deceptions. Which leads to the second thing Christians know. What is the true reality of this current world? (vs 19)

Through the victory over sinful ways that believers have in Christ, not only do they know that they belong to Him, they also know that the world's wickedness is due to the power Satan was given. In Chapter 2 of this letter John said: “Don't love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions -is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides for ever.” (1 John 2:15-17)

Finally, what are two things that believers know which enables them to turn away from the deceived condition that the nations of the world are in? (vs 20)

They know that Jesus Christ, through His life, His love, His teachings and miracles, and especially through His sacrifice and resurrection, has given them understanding of the only true God. And so they know, without a shadow of doubt, that eternal life can only be found in this one true God. So when the apostle Paul came to Athens, and saw how the city was filled with shrines and idols, he told them: “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth,  doesn't live in temples made by man. And, being God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He  commands all people everywhere to repent,  because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed. And of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:24-31)

Paul was preaching what he, as a man who had been born of God, knew. In his case, God had granted him to see the risen Lord Jesus Christ. So we can understand then the final words John says in vs 21 of today's reading. Christians who have come to know the truth, must never turn back to the idols they were saved from. Not just statue idols of gold, but also the things described in the words above from 1 John 2:15-17.