Pastor's Weekly Word

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. (I John 1:2)

On Sunday we began a sermon series called “Life Assurance” that will walk us through the 1^st letter of John. 1 John is heralded by many as a capstone to the New Testament. Martin Luther once called it the kind of letter that “can buoy up even the most afflicted heart.” In other words, people think highly of it. In the coming weeks, we will find out why that is, but one thing I can tell you right now is that 1 John sets out to assure us of our new life in Christ. John believes deep down that every day is Easter.

We live in a world that appears divided at every turn. We can’t agree on policy. We can’t agree on who should be in office. We can’t agree on social issues. We can’t agree. But, one thing we can agree on, one thing that no one can deny is that none of us will get out of this world alive. Every single one of us holds death in common. This we can be sure of. What we have a harder time being assured of is life.

In a divided world that often feels like it sucks the life right out of your, we can’t help but wonder if we can have life at all. Do we have life? Will we have life? John’s answer to that question comes with a loud resounding “Yes! We have seen it with our eyes and touched it with our hands.” And with that grand statement John begins a letter that is sure to sink its teeth into your heart. Read it this week when you get a moment. I’ve heard that it can buoy up even the most afflicted heart.