Heralds Digest

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith." (1 John 5:4 NKJV) Those who are privileged to be born into affluence and wealth know the importance of their affluent family identity. The battle for the keys that open political and economical doors of favour in life is always tense, especially without a favourable family identity. Likewise, victory over self and sin is a work-over with influential identity into the family of God. However, for spiritual victory, enlistment for family identity requires only faith in God's provision of His Son (Jesus Christ) and the concluded victory at the Cross. Therefore, the family identity that requires operation by faith, rather than force, overcomes always before every fight.

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18 NKJV) Perfect love thrives generously, espoecially in a vulnerable atmosphere. The heart of man may boast of its perfect knowledge of the motives behind people's actions. It is often reluctant to query the consequence of its responses. Unfortunately, most head knowledge often imprisoned the heart from the experience of a perfect love. Rather than being limited by the perceived negative motives of others, perfect love casts away all fears of exposure. Consistent generosity in love is not possible at the instance of human gifts; it is powered by God's grace.

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." (1 John 4:7 NKJV) The cost of love can be intimidating, if evaluated ahead of commitment. Therefore, reluctance towards engagement in love affairs is normal, except sustainability concern is fully resolved. Unlike self-centered consideration in love affairs, expression of love among brethren is viewed as a mere exchange of the free gifts of God. Therefore, the essence of love is focussed more on the evidence of the believer's access to God's gift; rather than on the exchange of gifts among one another. Actually, expression of God's love will not run down on its continuous supply, if man does not look down on the demand for God's grace.

"And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment." (1 John 3:23 NKJV) One of the dangers of conditional love is that it is generally a response to the giver's comfort; and not necessarily based on the beneficiary's discomfort. However, real love tends to provide an answer to a genuine expression of need. For example, a redeemed soul is a demonstration of the love of God; which was given, not on the basis of heaven's convenience, but on the basis of man's depravity. Consistent love may not be possible on the merit of any beneficiary's actions; but it is realisable on every giver's continuous sense of indebtness to the power of grace.

"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death." (1 John 3:14 NKJV) Pleasant actions are naturally believed to promote love among parties in any healthy relationship. Unfortunately, love based on the interpretation of the actions of parties is deceptive and superficial. Genuine love reflects the state of the heart of man; and it has little to do with the gift in the hands. Actually, the basis of love is the appreciation from the heart of the recipient or beneficiary of the greater love, expressed by the power of the cross of Calvary. Invariably, the absence of genuine love is the evident essence of regeneration of the heart.

"Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him." (1 John 3:6 NKJV) Intimate relationship among soul-mates enables the convergence of acceptable characters. Without exception, intimate relationship with Christ destroys every seed of unrighteousness in man. While association with Church and religious obligations can promote encouraging compliance in character, especially in terms of lifestyles and general social dispositions, the only evidence of an intimate relationship with Christ is righteousness. A sincere knowledge of the saving grace of God in man enables the power to struggle not with sin.

"And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." (1 John 3:3 NKJV) Being the first work of grace, salvation delivers a sinful heart from the power of sin in order to commence a love relationship with Christ. However, salvation does not reduce or remove the attractiveness of sin. It is the appreciation of the love of Christ that constraints the heart in the path of righteousness. Love attracts soul-mates. And it is natural for a bride that hope to be with her soul-mate in an holy land to strive for nothing but holiness. While the pursuit of power and position depicts the existence of a love relationship between man and the world, the pursuit of purity represents the existence of a love relationship between man and Christ.