1 John 2:1 The Word, which gives life!
He existed from the beginning.
We have heard him,
we have seen him with our eyes,
we have contemplated him,
we have touched him with our hands!
2 The life appeared,
and we have seen it.
We are testifying to it
and announcing it to you —
eternal life!
He was with the Father,
and he appeared to us.
3 What we have seen and heard,
we are proclaiming to you;
so that you too
may have fellowship with us.
Our fellowship is with the Father
and with his Son, Yeshua the Messiah.
4 We are writing these things
so that our joy may be complete.
5 And this is the message which we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him — none!
6 If we claim to have fellowship with him while we are walking in the darkness, we are lying and not living out the truth. 7 But if we are walking in the light, as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of his Son Yeshua purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim not to have sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we acknowledge our sins, then, since he is trustworthy and just, he will forgive them and purify us from all wrongdoing.
10 If we claim we have not been sinning, we are making him out to be a liar, and his Word is not in us.
2 My children, I am writing you these things so that you won’t sin. But if anyone does sin, we have Yeshua the Messiah, the Tzaddik, who pleads our cause with the Father. 2 Also, he is the kapparahfor our sins — and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world. (Complete Jewish Bible)
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Transforming Darkness to Light.
Some time back, a friend lost a good paying, long-tenured job. A new job didn't come soon, which was OK since severance and unemployment carried him, but only for a while. More time passed, and then panic came--a flurry of applications and job fairs--"maybe this, maybe that." My friend finally came to the realization, "I need to focus on a clear objective, and center my search on that."
Our world is full of self-improvement books, recipes for getting your life together. Some can be pretty helpful. Many focus on "being yourself," which easily leads to self-preoccupation and narcissism. Today's reading from 1 John starts at the center: "God is light and in him there is no darkness at all." Other advice about the road to good living can be very helpful, depending on our situation. But when we recognize that we are, at our center, children of the God who created us and the Christ who walks with us, all of life comes clearer.
Christ, be our light. Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness. Amen.
Peter Rogness, '72
Retired Pastor, Living in St. Paul, Minn.
1 John 1:1 We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life--
2 this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us--
3 we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true;
7 but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
2 and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (New Revised Standard Version)
Transforming Darkness to Light.
Some time back, a friend lost a good paying, long-tenured job. A new job didn't come soon, which was OK since severance and unemployment carried him, but only for a while. More time passed, and then panic came--a flurry of applications and job fairs--"maybe this, maybe that." My friend finally came to the realization, "I need to focus on a clear objective, and center my search on that."
Our world is full of self-improvement books, recipes for getting your life together. Some can be pretty helpful. Many focus on "being yourself," which easily leads to self-preoccupation and narcissism. Today's reading from 1 John starts at the center: "God is light and in him there is no darkness at all." Other advice about the road to good living can be very helpful, depending on our situation. But when we recognize that we are, at our center, children of the God who created us and the Christ who walks with us, all of life comes clearer.
Christ, be our light. Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness. Amen.
Peter Rogness, '72
Retired Pastor, Living in St. Paul, Minn.
1 John 1:1 We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life--
2 this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us--
3 we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true;
7 but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
2 and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (New Revised Standard Version)
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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