The letter is coming to a climax. How do we answer a letter from someone whose love is so strong that he would shed his blood? But as John points out that it is not by water or blood alone but the sweat of His work and the Spirit of His work is what testifies His love for us.
Answering the love letter
There is only one answer and one response. That is the testimony in our lives, our belief, our love enough to follow this Christ who saves us. God’s Spirit is the divine testimony of His love, John tells us (1 John 4:6-12), our testimony is fine, but the divine testimony of God is stronger. The three prong testimony of a man who gives living water, shed blood and left His Spirit is God’s testimony that brings us life.
Homily
In Denver our response has been tepid. What I hope that from this series of “Answering Love Letters,” that each element of water, blood and spirit will make us stronger. God himself has made this declaration by sending His Son Jesus Christ. “He who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his own heart, but he who disbelieves God, makes him out to be a liar,” John writes. How? When we refuse to accept God’s witness to his Son we forfeit a loving relationship with God. When we make God out to be a liar and refuse his advances to us, we are bankrupt of love. This is the crystal clear point that the letter demands both an answer and a response.
The Witness of the Love Letter
God has sent a love letter to every one of us in a bestseller- “The Bible.” In that Bestseller and in the love letters of the New Testament you will find testimony, first hand accounts, historic evidence, Gospels, letters and prophetic predictions that will give you one thing to hang your heart on. The old addage "God as my witness" is quite real.
Message, Music, Mission
John writes: “God has given us eternal life.” Go to a funeral home today and listen to the testimony, the eulogies and you can catch a glimpse of where the deceased is today. “This life is found in His Son.” Do you know him? Do you believe what he did for you? “He who possesses the Son has life.” His is a possessive love and he asks us to be possessive too. Do you possess the Son? This is the good and bad news of the Gospel, “He who does not possess the Son of God has not that life.”
Mince meat churches- no altar call
There is no mince meat in this message. In Denver we have seen the church lose the meat and potatoes of the gospel message. It has been called “discriminatory, ” “not relevant,” and “exclusive.” That is an unfair assessment and a bad excuse to water down God’s life giving message. Don’t miss responding to this love letter. You may have denied it, you may be mad at God, but answer His letter. In the Denver Evangelical Examiner we have reported on the good and the bad with message, music and mission. We have reported on the testimony of water, blood and Spirit. God sends us water in Genesis, He sends us His Son who shed His blood for our sins. This is not exclusive territory. The message is for all. The song is a song of praise written for God, for the Christ, and for the Spirit to which we all have access to, and then there is something that Spirit does for us it compels us to live the mission. In two letters Go. How do we answer the love letter? Believe in God, follow his Son, and Go with the Spirit.
If you have an answer for this letter or questions please e-mail us at Friendshipfellowship@juno.com or comment on this blog or column.
Two Rivers
Two Rivers converge in the city
Sunset reflects from the sky
Riding on dreams in the beautiful city
Lord how you catch my eye
Love sings
Light sings
on the banks of these rivers
You bring
everything
the elements of life
on the river...
Homeless beneath the bridge
Hopeless in love
Emptiness is filled up
by the power of your love
Love sings
Light sings
on the banks of these rivers
You bring everything
the elements of living
here on this river-
these two rivers.
Bridge:
water and blood
sweat and the city spirit
calling out to us
Spirit and truth
have come to my house
water, blood and spirit- of Christ Jesus
(so listen to his voice)
Love sings
Light sings
on the banks of Platte River
You bring
Everything
together in our love
Here on this River
On these two Rivers
BT Springs 2.8.12
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