True & Beautiful Things About the Bible--New TestamentSample

John’s First Postcard: Keep On

Remember John in the Gospels? During Jesus’ ministry on earth, he was one of Jesus’ core guys. He gave himself the nickname, “the disciple whom Jesus loved . . . ” (John 21:7). John was among the few who stood by Jesus as He died on the cross. To John, Jesus entrusted His own mom’s care. And John ran to the tomb the second he heard there was a chance Jesus was alive again . . . That’s John.

In the 60 years since those pivotal events, John has seen it all and outlived them all. He’s been a pastor most of his life—first in Jerusalem and then in Ephesus, where he writes three important parts of the New Testament:

First, he wrote the gospel of John (around 90 a.d.), the book of Revelation (while in prison on Patmos), and then, back in Ephesus, the three letters to the Christian community (1, 2, 3 John).

Ephesus was the known world’s cultural hub at the time, with a huge impact on the young churches there. Many Jesus-followers in Ephesus were the children of the first Christians. They had heard the stories of what it had been like for their parents when Acts 19 happened in their city. But sadly, the newness of their faith in Jesus had worn off. Believers are called saints—“set apart to God,” but this generation didn’t want to be different. They’d rather fit in.

In this season, Christianity wasn’t in danger of persecution; it was in danger of being compromised. People wanted to “improve the gospel,” give it intellectual respectability. It’s better (“easier”), they said, to point out the good in everyone’s heart than it is to deal with sin. Such is the temptation of every generation since.

So John puts on his pastor’s hat and writes this letter to the family of God. He focuses on how to restore their relationships with God and others when it’s broken by sin. He focuses on what it means to “walk in the light” when you face cultural pressures. The goal is to keep on believing in the name of Jesus Christ.

Keep on walking in the light . . .

Keep on loving each other . . .

Keep on telling others what Jesus Christ has done for you . . .

This lifelong pastor helps us keep on believing the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s a true and beautiful message relevant for every generation.

Next: Be wise about who you praise