1 John is one of the greatest books of the bible in regards to assurance of salvation, regeneration and the love of God.  It is also a book that carries a double edged sword at the same time; John while pointing out assurance, clearly points out the unsaved as well.  John is well known for his love, this being of course God’s love in Him through Christ Jesus as he discusses in 1 John.  Below are just a few verses from 1 John about the idea of what we ought to be doing.

“Whoever says that he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” 1 John 2:6

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” 1 John 3:16

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:11

Read what John Piper had to say about the word ought in these verses. “Don’t abstract certain sentences out of 1 John and turn glorious realization into mere imitation.  Don’t do that. He’s not saying, watch God love and copy Him.  He’s saying, watch God love you, and believe, and know it, and be changed by it, and then be swept through by it, and then be it. That is what he is saying. And of course it is a duty, but if you focus on the oughtabstracted from the transformation of the new birth and the indwelling of the Spirit and the empowering of God Almighty abiding in you, doing His own love through you… you won’ t have Christianity, you’ll have moralism.  Read the whole book and keep the sentences together.”  John Piper – “You Must Be Born Again” Series #12 The New Birth Produces Love. 

Join us as we begin to study the book of 1 John.  Test yourself to see if you indeed pass the test – is Christ in you? 2 Corinthians 13:5  If you would like to listen to the series by John Piper for free then click here. 

Help us to Call the ‘church’ in America and Europe back to the True Gospel.  Click here.

This is an article that you must read. Chicago Tribune – click here.  To got to Pastor Chris Braun’s website and read more about his new book, Unpacking Forgiveness – click here.  This is a great story and prayerfully can have an eternally secure end.  We pray that the Spirit of Almighty God will do a mighty work of salvation into the life of George Ryan.  Chris Brauns is the Pastor of the Red Brick Church in Stillman Valley, IL.

   Just a quick note here.  There are two books that every Christian should read and the plus is both of these are free.  The first is from Voice of the Martyrs called, “Tortured for Christ” by Richard Wurmbrand.  The second is called, “Revolution in World Missions” by K.P. Yohannan.  Both of these books will open your eyes to true missions and the underground church.  They will encourage you in the faith and challenge you to examine the risk that you are taking in following Christ.  Remember, Christ has not called us to our best life now but rather to “deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow” Him. 

   Be sure to watch for our new Ladies Website Coming Soon! 

    As I come ito my final phases in my initial training as a Voice of the Martyrs area representative, I find that that the Lord has been encouraging me in my faith.  It is amazing, when you take the time to study the words persecution and witness in the bible what is being said.  To be a witness literally means, “Martyr.”  A witness for Jesus Christ will suffer persecution and is called to “deny themselves and give up their life” and then follow Christ.   Today there is an estimated 200 million Christians in the world who are receiving some sort of persecution for their faith.  Since the time of Jesus Christ ascending into Heaven, it is estimated that 75 million people have died as Christian Martyrs.  They died only because of their faith in Jesus Christ. 

    I urge you, if you have not signed up for Voice of the Martyrs free magazine, do so today.  It is free.  You can also get a free copy of Richard Wurmbrand’s, Tortured for Christ.  Read below more about Pastor Wurmbrand’s book.

    “Months of solitary confinement, years of periodic physical torture, constant suffering from hunger and cold, the anguish of brain washing and mental cruelty – these are the experiences of a Romanian pastor during his fourteen years in a Communist prisons.  His crime, like that of thousands of others, was his fervent belief in Jesus Christ and his public witness concerning that faith.  Meeting in homes, in basements, and in woods – sometimes daring to preach in public street corners – these faithful souls persisted in their Christian witness knowing full well the ultimate cost of their actions.  This is the story – a classic account of courage, tenacious faith, and unbelievable endurance.  This history of the Underground Church reflects the continuing struggle in many parts of the world today.”

back cover of Tortured for Christ

Time to join us for our online bible study.  Go to the Bible Study – James page.  Read James chapter 3, read some of the comments and leave a comment.  Remember, the goal is not to teach, but to tell us what the Lord is doing in your life and how the Scriptures are speaking to you personally.  Hope to hear from you!