Why Christians Feel the World is Against Them? 1 John 3:1

Why do Christians feel like outcasts in their own communities? Christian values are mocked and if the faithful try to fit in they feel like they have compromised their faith. If believers try to change the world it only makes enemies.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him." 1 John 3:1, NIV.

LAVISHED LOVE
The love the Father has for us is unimaginable and measureless. It is a love that He "lavishes," that He pours out in great quantity to a measure that far exceeds the merit.

US
Who does He lavish this great love on? It is us, the sinful, rebellious, traitorous people who crucified his son. God does not just lavish his love on us he goes beyond; The Lord gives us a title that means everything, "the children of God."

DIVISION
There is a division in humanity, a division between those who have come to God through his Son and those who have not. He says those that have not yet come to Jesus do not know God and therefore do not know His children. This knowing is not just an intellectual acknowledgment like when you recognize a face, but knowing as if you are in the same family household. This is a knowing that is an ongoing, growing, mutual, intimate, understanding that leads to love and service.

We don't fit into the world is because the world does not know Him like this; it rejects Christ and his claims and must reject his followers. A Christian actively living his faith in Jesus becomes a statement the world must respond to, and there are only two responses that make sense- rejection or conversion.

THE BIGGER PICTURE
That the world rejects us is small compared to the love the Father has lavished on us. This world is decaying and passing away before our eyes, trying to find acceptance in it is to share its fate; but another that is without end is going to be revealed and that is a far better possession than anything this world has to offer.

If you have trusted Jesus as your savior you are a child of God and have already left this world behind. You are His and are joined in His fate here on earth and his glory in heaven. To learn more about finding Jesus see my other blog.

(c)Adron Dozat

Is Victory in My Life Only For Super Christians? 1 John 5:4

We want to have successful victorious lives of living faith, but is it only the Super Saints who experience blessing and victory?

"This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:3, 4. NIV.

FOR EVERYONE
It is not the special few who have overcome the world but the verse says, "for everyone born of God," overcoming the world comes as part of the gift of salvation. We all have problems, such as work, health, relationships, and those many things that seem to be against us, but victory is not just for "Super Saints." It is for all believers.

BORN OF GOD
There is a qualification: we must be, "born of God," not born of our own good deeds or efforts but born of God. (See the Gospel John, chapter 3). To be born of God we need to:

• Admit that we have sinned and are in danger of God's condemnation.
• Agree that we are not able to save ourselves from punishment.
• Recognize the death of Jesus was to pay for our sins.
• Know that God offers no other salvation except through Jesus.
• Trust in God’s offer of salvation based on Jesus' death on the Cross.

OVERCOMES
The Apostle states it like it is a fact, those born of God overcome the world, it is just something that happens. Daily defeat is not part of God's will. We will always have trials and temptations, but God's plan is for us to overcome in and through those issues.

VICTORY
Our victory is to be everywhere, not a selective victory like a little here and none there; it is a victory over the world- all of it. Nothing is bigger than God's overcoming victory.

NOW
This is a past tense victory; it is a done deal for Jesus’ cross conquers all. We are not waiting for some future victory. All the evil in the world is already defeated, we just need to get the word out, and we just need to act like it.

There is saving faith where we become "born again" in Christ, but there is the faith that we need to take with us when we walk out the door; it is the ongoing experience of faith, a "God is by your side" faith. You might work it out like this, say to God. “I'm in a situation. I know You are already victorious. I know You are with me. I will accept Your victory and act like it.”

May you experience God's victory today.

(c)Adron Dozat 4/6/11