I IOHN all of our sins whether or not they are confessed. Such a view is wrong because this epistle was definitely written to saved people. John uses the word “born" seven times. Each usage brings to light one of the birthmarks of the born-again indi vidual. In 2:29 we read, "If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteous ness is born of Him." This has reference to Cod's righteousness. That which man calls “ righteous ness" is simply a polluted garment in the Lord's eye (Isaiah 64:6). Fur thermore, the unsaved are totally ignorant of God's righteousness. Hence, they seek to establish in folly their own. Cod's righteous ness is an attribute peculiar to Him self. It means essentially the same thing as His faithfulness, His truth fulness and all the qualities of hol iness which find expression in His condemnation of sin, as well as for His love for the sinner. Christ is our righteousness (II Corinthians 5:17,21). It is only in the Saviour that we can become all that the Lord requires us to be. It is "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5). Our purpose should be to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteous ness (Matthew 6:33). Test yourself as to the conclusive evidence of your personal rela tionship to God. Christianity had its roots and origin in the love of God (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). Love is that eternal attribute of Cod wherein He is moved to commun icate Himself to man (II Corinthi ans 13:11). Being born-again is the equivalent of becoming a partaker
of Cod's nature. The mutual love of Christians is evidence that they are the children of Cod. To exhibit God's love is proof of an increas ing experiential knowledge of Him. It should concern us when we meet Christians who are bitter, jealous and unkind toward one another. We should be very ready to mani fest the love of Cod to others. The ground of our love for one another is not focalized on ourselves but rather it is in Him who loves us with His own pure love. We are not expected to fight all over again the battle which Christ has already won for us (John 16:33). The victory we win day-by-day is nothing more than our appropria tion of the victory our Lord gained for us once and for all. The power A of this world system is not to be underestimated. There are mani fold temptations with which to be reckoned. The Christian and the world are in a very real conflict. Thank the Lord we have been born of God and thereby can overcome the world for Christ. He has al ready won the victory. One un mistakable birthmark of a born- again person is a habit of life where he gains victory over the world, the flesh and the devil. To expe rience defeat is the exception, not the rule. Have you been saved? If so, then the birthmark ought to be manifested in your life. If you are not saved, trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and by Him be saved. We have pointed out that one of the prime reasons why the Holy Spirit caused John to write his first epistle was so that the true believ- er in Christ might enjoy real and vital Christian fellowship. When we refer to "fellowship" today, we generally have in mind friendly or
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