December 19 Daily Devotional

1 John 1–2

John was one of the sons of Zebedee and Salome. He had a brother called James. They were Galilean fisherman, whom Jesus called to be his disciples. They together with Peter formed the inner circle of Jesus’ followers. John is called “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” He is the author of the fourth gospel, the three epistles that bear his name, and Revelation. His gospel was written as he said, “That ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” He died at a very great age.

In his first epistle John writes, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him. and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth; but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world … Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.

Little children, it is the last time; and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists … They went out from us, but they were not of us … But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and know all things … But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you … And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.”