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There would be absolutely nothing in "the world" which would keep us from loving the Father IF that world was Eden. Subsequent to the fall of Adam the world has become sin laden. Every living thing has been subject to Satan's defilement. If not, there would be no need for a new heaven and a new earth. Clinging to the things of this world is clinging to sin. We are new persons in Christ Jesus called to be in this world, but not of this world. Our hearts, minds, souls and strength are to now be focused on being holy. Our work is to shed sin from our lives. Heaven forbid that we would continue to live in sin so that the grace of God would be all the more evident. Heaven forbid that we not understand our full responsibility for the reason Christ died on the Cross! He died a horrible death because of me. I am the reason for His crucifixion. How could I not expect that continued rebellion (active sin in my life)would keep me from loving the Father?

It seems a simple question to ask what is ones "world view." But, in reality God challenges us with the first verse of Holy Scripture to take a stand and be at odds with "the world." Do we have a biblical world view of creation, or do we accept the teaching of "scientific" evolution? Do we believe that man is basically good, and when given the chance to choose between good and evil will choose good? Or, do we believe the story God tells through Moses about the fall of humanity? Our belief systems dictate our behaviors. What we highly "esteem," take "satisfaction" from, or "take pleasure in" form the foundation of our beliefs. John warns us to not love the world or the things in the world. Why? Because the beliefs of the world have their genesis in man's sin nature. Man in his fallen state is a slave to sin and incapable of a single righteous (Godly) thought. As new persons in Christ, John is telling his readers to discern the teaching they are receiving to determine from where it springs. If it is not from the Father, it purpose is to separate us from Him!

Each believer is in a unique point in their faith walk. Recognizing that we all begin anew in this new birth and comparing our growth and maturity to our human development is a way clarifying the differing needs and depth of understanding that comes with our spiritual growth and maturity. John the the time to lovingly acknowledge that he recognizes that there are indeed and in fact differing levels of spiritual maturity among the believers to whom he writes. To have their spiritual mentor boldly state that growth and maturity is a process and not automatically achieved gives each one permission to access the dangers they face from those who are teaching another gospel, and how to test these teachings against the apostolic gospel. His message to each identifies what they are able to discern about their own maturity and reassures them of its efficacy. He tells them they have the ability to discern for themselves to test what they hear.

Hate and unforgiveness are hallmark characteristics of our old nature. The "new light" in which we may now walk is charactarized by our submission to the Holy Spirit who now teaches us what love really is. When we let our old nature rule our behaviors and attitudes it is a clear indication of our rebellion to submission. If we continue to rebel and do not learn to listen to and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, we broaden the gulf between holy living and continuing to allow our sin nature to have free reign of our lives. Now that we have a choice to no longer be slaves to sin, our failure to access a new way of living is rebellion. As we learn to submit, and shed ourselves of the pride that authors hate and unforgiveness in our lives, we learn to understand what it means for us to be forgiven for the filthy rags we are in our own sin. We learn that we are loved, and how to love others in return.

When we recognize that Christ came to save us even as we were fully enveloped in sin, we realize that only by grace were we justified. We brought absolutely nothing but our sin nature with us into our new relationship called santification. Even though we have the ability to no longer sin, we have absolutely no idea how to not do so. Only by the guiding of the Holy Spirit can we learn to change from our old nature. Accepting this limitation is the first step in submitting to Christ. Only a loving God would give His only Son to die for us. Only a loving Son would humiliate Himself to His Father's will on our behalf. True love is to take these actions while we were enemies inslaved by sin. Knowing the depth of this love, how can we not respond? This love that is beyond human comprehension inspires us to let go of our rebelliousness in order that we might learn to love as we are loved. Our old nature urges us to measure how well we are doing. It is easy to create rules by which we can judge our progress. When we do, our old nature urges us to compare ourselves with others to determine how we are doing in comparison. Our old nature drives Pharisitcal thinking. Meanwhile, Christ only asks that we learn to be loved, submit to the counsel of the Holy Spirit, and to yearn to live holy lives.

We are new persons in Christ. We died with him on the Cross and we rose with Him. He went to the Cross to atone for my sin. That day 2000 years ago I died too. He knew perfectly what was required for me to be restored to relationship with God. And, when He rose again, I was raised also... In this sense I am now literally in Christ. God sees only His beloved Son when He sees me now. It is truly a comfort to know that Jesus' sacraficial death is effective, complete and perfect. When John proclaims my advocacy before God rests with Jesus Christ I am awed and convicted of the miracle that is my transformation from sinner to saint.

Confession pre-supposes salvation. Prior to being justified by grace, I was a slave to sin. I was incapable of not sinning. And, conversly, incapable of perfoming a righteous or holy act. My responsibility now is to live as the new person I became the moment I was saved and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. That responsibility is to become holy. This is a "this" life process we call sanctification. Even though I am a new person now capable of not sinning by following the leading of the Holy Spirit (God in me). My natural person (Old Adam) continues to be sinful, but now that I am capable of not sinning that is my responsibility. I need now to choose to not sin. When I fail to be holy, I sin. Confession is the act I perform to acknowledge to God that I understand my sin. In my early faith walk, I am just learning to not sin and am not very good at it. As I mature, I learn to become better at knowing the sin in my life. As I confess my sin, my relationship with the Holy Trinity improves. When I fail to confess, I intentionally fail in my responsibility to grow in my relationship with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit. As we learn from St. John in the Tenth Chapter of his Gospel, Christ the good shepard will seek out the lost sheep and return it to its fellowship with both Him and the other sheep. The good news for me is that there is no sin so big that it cannot be covered by God's Grace. When I confess and repent, I am forgiven. As I act to remove sin from my life, I am cleansing it. And, though I fail to act in perfect accordance with God's demand that I be holy, Christ's work on the cross is perfect and complete. When Christ comes again and takes me to be with Him, I will be Glorified and live a completely prefect, cleansed life for eternity.

Hi Friends, It is good to be able to study the Word with fellow Christians. Thanks for your participation. May your faith grow in the sharing of the Word!