What will happen to the truth?

See 2nd John 1-2

The first thing John says about the truth, is "whom I love in truth" and then secondly, "but also all those who have known the truth"

No one is completely sure if John was writing to a church, or to an individual. But it is clear what he was saying.
He was once again talking about Christian love and Jesus Christ. The truth is of course more then a reference to what is written that is true, but it includes Him who is the true, who is the truth.

John has said earlier in his first epistle, in chapter 5:20, "that we may know Him who is true" So, love and truth, the subjects as John opens this short little letter. It reminds me of what Paul said in Eph 4, about speaking the truth in love. Not just telling the truth of God's Word, or any other truth, but speaking it along with living and showing the love of God. These two are to be married in our lives at all times.

But, back to 2nd John, He says, "whom I love in truth........also all those who have known the truth"
Being in Christ, we are not only in Him who is true, but the Spirit who is truth ( see 1st John 5:6 ) produces in our lives the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The love of God is one of the main ways that we know that we are actually in the truth, in Christ, and born again

In fact, in 1st John 4:15, John says, "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him" In fact, in Rev 22:15, murderers are among the list of those who will not be in heaven. To hate means, to hate, pursue with hatred, detest, detested.

Paul lists hatred as being part of his old life, not his new life in Christ.

See Tit 3:3* For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

You also see the word malice listed there in Titus 3:3 That word means, ill-will, desire to injure, wickedness, depravity, and wickedness that is not ashamed to break laws, evil and trouble. 

The point is, that to "love in truth", and for those "who have known the truth", they characterize what it is to be a born again Christian. This theme of love, and of loving one another is a constantly repeated point of truth through John's epistles, and his gospel, i.e the Gospel of God. 

John goes on to say in 1:2, "because of the truth, which abides in us and will be with us forever" 

Here he is listing truth as the reason for his love, and that the truth, ( Jesus Christ ) was abiding in them, and would be with them forever. 

So, what will happen to the truth is that the truth will be with us forever. 

Tomorrow, we can move into the next few verses of this wonderful little letter by John, about the greatest subject in the world and universe. 


Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

Knowing you have eternal life, and one other important thing.

1st John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.


There were a number of reasons why John wrote this letter, they are sprinkled through these 5 chapters. Here we have another one. Actually, there are two listed in this one verse. 


He tells us ( It's a blessing to know that while it's John writing and speaking, it's the Lord who had him write this, as He did with all the authors in the entire Bible, Old and New Testaments. ) why he had written these things to his readers.


He identifies them as those who believe in the name of the Son of God, it's so that, they may know that they have eternal life, and that they might continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.  So, these are two reasons for writing this letter.


Personal knowledge of, or assurance of their having eternal life, having Jesus the Son of God as their savior, and that they might continue, or abide in the Lord. 


The word, "Know", that you may know, means, to behold, to perceive, to see, to perceive with the senses, to discern, to discover, to have knowledge and understanding....


So, when a person reads through this short little 5 chapter letter, one of the blessings that the Lord will bring into their lives, is this assurance of having eternal life. 


And, they will be encouraged to continue believing, or continue to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. If you are having trouble in your walk right now, just trying to stay on track with the Lord, that is, following Jesus, then this letter will help you. John's second reason listed above, has to do with continuing to believe. To remain, to abide, to keep on, keeping on looking to Jesus Christ. 


You may want to try reading this letter over a few times, it will only take you about 15 minutes, but well worth the time. Pray and ask the Lord to speak to you through it. 




May You be blessed in your walk with the Lord. 


Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia 

What God has given to us through His Son Jesus Christ.

See 1st John 5:11-12

1st John 5:11  And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

1st John 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

1st John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

First off, John tells us "this is the testimony" Or this is the expression about what God has done. This is the record of what we have been given by God in Christ. 

God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. So, the two things said here. First of all, It's not saying that we somehow earned or deserved this eternal life. Nor is stating that it's been given to us through any other person or means then God. Secondly, it's been given to us. It's come to us from God. 

The word given means, grant, deliver, to give something of one's own accord. Let have, to supply, furnish, present, hand out .

So, our God has given to us ( those who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God ) eternal life. Which means, we have been united with God through Christ, and we now have communion with Him, we know Him, we can communicate with Him, and He with us. We are together in fellowship with God. 

We were not in this position before we believed. We were separated from Him. We did not know Him, we were without Him, but now in Christ, that has all changed. God has given us eternal life. 

And, this life is in His Son. John expounds on this a little bit. The person who has the Son ( that is, have come to faith in Christ, have received Christ, are saved etc, ) He who has the son has life. Since the life is in His Son, then it stands to reason that if you have the Son, then you have life. 

On the contrary, the person who does not have the Son of God does not have life. This is also plain and simple. It's not confusing, it's clear, and simply stating that for those who have never received Christ, they have not believed, they have not turned to Christ to save them, these do not have life. They are still dead in their sins and trespasses. 

One can easily see why it's so important to have Christ. Because with Him, you have eternal life, and without Him, you do not. He is indeed the way to God, and it's God who gives us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

The witness in heaven, on earth, and in ourselves.

See 1st John 5:6-10
John uses the word "witness" at least 7 times in these few verses. The word witness, means, to testify, to bear record, give testimony, to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, or that he knows it because taught by divine revelation or inspiration. So those definitions are helpful to have in mind as you read through and consider what is taught in this passage.


It begins by giving us some facts about Jesus Christ. First of all, He is a He. That is, He was a real human being, ( as well as being fully God ) He was God come in the flesh. He came by water and by blood. Possibly referring to his water baptism by John, or birth through Mary and then His death on the cross. It could mean, by use of water and blood, just a reference to His physical birth.  Either way we know that all three are true, His birth, baptism, and His death. The main point being brought our here is the fact, that it is "The Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth" By saying the Spirit is truth of course, he is showing that the Holy Spirit's witness cannot be false, as were some of the false prophets, but is to be taken for what it is, and it is truthful.


( As an aside here we see the main ministry of the person of the Holy Spirit, who happens to be in us, and that is, He is bearing witness, he is giving testimony to what and who Jesus Christ is, and what He has done, and what ought to do in relationship to Jesus )


But, going on, There are also three that bear witness in heaven. ( By the way, here John is mentioning this real place called heaven, and is telling us a little about what goes on there )
There are three that are bearing witness in heaven, presumably at all times. The Father, The Word, ( which is Jesus Christ Himself ) and the Holy Spirit, and, John adds these three are one. These three distinct, individual persons are also one. They are each God, and yet they are all God, and they are said to be one, or united in what has been called the God head.


Still more about "witness" There are three that bear witness on earth. The Spirit again, the Water, ( presumably a ref to water baptism of Christ, or the birth of Christ, and then the blood, again presumably referring to His death on the cross. Not completely sure, but either way, both interpretations would be true. One, that Spirit is witnessing about Christ's birth into this world, water and blood, flesh and blood, or He is witnessing about His birth and His death. John adds, that these three are one. Again, there is witness, it's centered in Christ, it involves all the members of the Godhead, and they are united together in what they are witnessing about, what they are declaring, telling us about.


Now John makes some application. Here's the scenario. If we receive the witness or the teaching of mere men, the witness of God is greater. So, man is not as great as God, and God is greater then man. And if both are telling something, we know that God is the greater of the two.
And the witness of God is that He has testified of His Son. That's what God has been testifying of. His Son, Jesus Christ. The man who was God. The God who also became a flesh and blood man. He is the focus of God's testimony.


Lastly, we are told this about "Witness"
He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself. He who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.


Since God is greater then man, and if God's testimony differs from man, and man does not accept the testimony from God about Jesus, then the man is in effect, placing himself above God and at the same time declaring that God is not telling the truth. He is saying that God is a Liar, which of course could not be true. Already we were told the Spirit is truth.....and He is one with the Father and the Son. We have been told that there is no darkness in God, in Christ. So, all of them are the same in terms of their purity of character, they are one, or united in who they are as God. Individuals, to be sure, but united together as one God. The 3 fold God head, Father, Son, and Spirit.
They all testify about Jesus Christ.








Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

Another look at 1st John 5:4-5.......Overcoming the world.

We are told here, in 1st John 5:4-5, that those who have faith in Jesus Christ, have overcome the world. The world is something that John described in very specific detail in the 2nd chapter of this letter. See 1st John 2:15-17

We are told "not to love world, or the things in the world" And, then we are given a reason to not love the world. It's because "If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him"

So, loving the world means that person will not have the love of the Father in them. What does it mean to "not love the world?"
The word love as used here, means, to be fond of, to love dearly, to be contented with it.........Or to have the world as that which you live for, i.e the passion of your life.

Now John explains what's in the world, what it's made up of. There are three things. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. These are not of the Father, but are of the world.

Let's look at each of them one by one.

The lust of the flesh. This is speaking of those desire, those cravings that come from our fallen, or sinful human nature. These cravings can include many things. It's not just limited to sexual sins as it were. Some have called this, living for passion, and passions, or pleasure and pleasures.  The point is, that these cravings make up a major part of what life is like for those who do not have the love of the Father in them.

Secondly, the lust of the eyes. Or as it's been said, the lust for things. Or living for materialism. The desire to have things, to get more and more things. This also is part of how people can live, strictly for things. The lust for possessions.

Thirdly and finally, he talks about the pride of life. Or the desire to do your own thing, and be your own God, rather then letting God be God in your life, and living to accomplish His will and desires for your life.

John tells us that these things are not of the Father, but of the world. In other words, living for pleasure, living for possessions, and living in pride are not of God. These are not the things God has created us for.

The last thing God tells us here, is that the world is passing away, and the lust of it. It's all going to be gone. It's in the process of passing away. It will come to an end. Eventually, it will be gone entirely. See Rev 20-22.

The good news is, that those who do the will of God abide forever. What great, great news.
By trusting in Christ now, we move from being in the world, to being in the kingdom of God, and we have the promise of eternal life.
Additionally, there is a satisfaction that comes into our lives when we walk with the Lord.
But the most important is, that we have the promise of being with the Lord forever, and ever.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

Overcoming the world

Having talked about what happens to the person who believes in Jesus Christ, and the fact that God's commandments are not burdensome, ( see 1st John 5:1-3 ) He now talks about believers in Jesus Christ overcoming the world. 


See 1st John 5:4-5


First of all, we are told that whatever is born of God overcomes the world. The world was described as something we are not to love, and is explained in detail in chapter 2, and mentioned again in the fourth chapter in relationship to the spirit of anti-christ. The world is what we were in, but have been taken into the light and life of Jesus Christ, through faith in Jesus Christ. 


And, we are said to not only have overcome the world, but, it's explained to us, that "this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Thus faith, or trust in God's Son Jesus Christ as Savior of the World, brings us into this overcoming of the world. 


So, faith in Christ is what brings us into victory over the world. Our faith, our trust in, reliance upon, etc, that's the key to the victory. 


John, then in typical John fashion, repeats his thought, only with a slight difference. Who is the person who overcomes the world? But, he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 


It's helpful to remember that John was standing against the many false teachers of his day, who were constantly undermining the truth that the man Jesus  of Nazareth was indeed also the Messiah who had existed eternally, and had now come to the earth and taken on a human body. 


The man Jesus Christ, is in fact, the Son of God. He is God. He is the Savior of the World. And by coming to Him for salvation, we are changed, born again, redeemed, set apart, justified, adopted into His family made joint heirs with Christ, called saints, pilgrims etc, etc.


Mostly, John's point is that we move from being in the world, to being born of Him. We are no longer citizens of the world, but are now children of God in the family and kingdom of God. 

 Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia 

What happens to the person who believes in Jesus Christ?

See 1st John 5:1-3

The person who believes ( puts their faith in ) that Jesus is the Christ ( the promised Messiah of the Bible ) is born of God.

When a person believes in Jesus Christ, they become as Jesus said, "born again"
Here John calls it, "born of God"

It's called the new birth, regeneration, being a new creature, a child of God, etc, etc.
But, through faith in Christ.....that is, believing that He is the savior, that He died for your sins, that He rose from the dead, that you are a sinner, and receiving Him, you become born of God.
The short version is, "believes" and in that believes, are the understanding of the gospel, ( in it's simplest form, and the understanding that you are a sinner, and then placing your faith in Christ ) then you are saved. It's been made simple by God, so that even a small child can understand it.

At any rate, here's what's said about the person who is born of God. He adds, that everyone who loves Him, ( God ) who begot, or saved them, also loves him who is begotten of Him, or other believers.

Put another way, Christians love other Christians. There is a love between them, and for them.

Furthermore, John says, here's how we know that we love the children of God, it's when we "keep His commandments"  So, our obedience to the Lord's commandments, is also evidence of our love for other believers. All through this short 5 chapter letter, John talks about "commandments ", and it's a ref to the command to love one another, it's at least that and more.

But, you can see why our loving others is so important to our own personal assurance. If you stop and think about it, it's not uncommon to see those who do not believe express their lack of love towards believers. Ranging from out and out mockery, to ridicule, to hatred, to harassment, to persecution etc, etc. But, Jesus said that all men would know that we are His disciples, by the love that we have one for another.

Lastly, here, John says, "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome" God's love is explained to us, in our keeping His commandments. We are to guard them, and do them. And he adds, that His commandments are not burdensome. It's not a terrible burden to keep them.
That's not to say that it's always easy to love someone, but it is to say that it's not a great burden to love people in general. In fact, it's a blessing to them, and to our souls and to our Father in heaven.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia