April 18, 2024 • 26 mins
In this episode, Megan and Emily discuss 1 John 3:7-18. They highlight the importance of practicing righteousness and not making a practice of sinning. They emphasize the need to love one another. They also discuss the importance of genuine love and sacrificial actions. The episode ends with practical applications, such as loving others unconditionally and being obedient to God's commands.
Key Takeaways:
- Practicing righteousness and avoiding sin are important aspects of the Christian life.
- Loving one another and not harboring hatred or jealousy is crucial.
- Genuine love involves sacrificial actions and not just empty words.
- Being obedient to God's commands and loving others unconditionally are practical applications of this passage.
00:00 | Introduction and Theme Song
07:11 | Reading and Praying
09:20 | Practicing Righteousness and Avoiding Sin
13:33 | The Importance of Love and Not Being Like Cain
16:02 | Genuine Love and Sacrificial Actions
23:27 | Application: Loving Others and Being Obedient
26:15 | Conclusion and Next Episode Preview
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Emily (00:00):
Hey, everyone. It's Megan and Emily, and you're here with
the Talk Bible to Me podcast. Sotoday, we're gonna be talking
through first John 37 through18. So grab your Bible and a
pen, and let's get started.
Megan (00:12):
And then we play our theme song. 1st John. 1st John.
Emily (00:21):
I have recently listened to a podcast that every single
episode they started off, one ofthe girls is like, and it drove
me crazy for, like, the first,like, I don't know, 5. And then
finally, I'm like, Don't dothat. I'll go and do that for
this. But it was funny for them.
Megan (00:45):
That's our ram's horn. I like the horn.
Emily (00:49):
Listen. I have a shofar. I have one in this room. This is
I could blow the shofar horn.You would.
Homeschool mom. You gotta haveall those things.
Megan (01:03):
I have frankincense and myrrh in the other room.
Emily (01:06):
Nice. Yeah. The central lures?
Megan (01:09):
Yeah. Well, no, no, no. It's, they're like it's like a
bible kit, like,
Emily (01:13):
central and
Megan (01:15):
we're gonna we're gonna put frankincense and myrrh in
our admin kits. Nice. Yeah. Sokids can, like, see that it's a
real thing.
Emily (01:23):
There you go. I thought this was just like a like a
Young Living essential oils. Iwish I
Megan (01:30):
was more natural, but I love processed food. And
Emily (01:33):
I know.
Megan (01:34):
All things bad for you, but I'm getting too old for it.
Like, look. This double chan,it's because I eat in the middle
of the grocery store instead ofthe outside.
Emily (01:44):
I love the middle of the grocery store. I've been trying.
I'm trying really hard. I justposted on my Instagram how much
I hate cooking, but I feel likethe Lord has been teaching me
the word nourish for my family.And so trying to learn to
nourish them with good food andgood things for their minds and
good things for their hearts andbodies.
(02:05):
But it's been really convictingbecause I realized, like, how
often I just want to go to,like, junk Mhmm. Or quick and
easy instead of good for you.But we're getting there. It's
fine.
Megan (02:21):
My husband's been cooking for us, so I had kielbasa for
lunch. Okay. I love kielbasa.
Emily (02:26):
I do too.
Megan (02:27):
Oh, yum.
Emily (02:28):
Do you like sauerkraut?
Megan (02:31):
Are you
Emily (02:31):
a sauerkraut fan?
Megan (02:32):
I like cabbage. So I'm Okay.
Emily (02:34):
You probably would.
Megan (02:35):
Sure. I like it. Right?
Emily (02:36):
Because I love kielbasa with sauerkraut, and I feel like
most people of our generation.Well, unless you're, like, real
crunchy, you like sauerkraut.But if you're not like, we
didn't grow up eating that kindof a thing, but my grandma did.
Did
Megan (02:47):
she mom?
Emily (02:48):
No. It's what I'm saying. I'm I call it I think I've seen
it. It's called scrunchie whereyou're kind of crunchy, but not.
Like, I own essential oils, butI don't use them very often.
Megan (03:00):
Gotcha.
Emily (03:01):
You know? I go
Megan (03:02):
I eat ginger chews before Tums.
Emily (03:05):
They're okay.
Megan (03:05):
I go straight to Tums. So Does that make me crunchy? Yeah.
You're scrunchie. I don't thinkso.
Emily (03:11):
Do you own Tums?
Megan (03:13):
Oh, yeah. So then you're scrunchie. Yeah. But I think
they have to have more thanginger because they're
scrunchie. I would love to be.
I'd love to homestead and, like,make my own bread and stuff,
but, like, I just listen. Wegotta we gotta teach the world
about Jesus. We don't have timefor homemade bread and sourdough
(03:35):
starters.
Emily (03:36):
No. No. Nope. I haven't got on the sourdough train. I
can't.
I don't I make bread, but Idon't make sourdough. I do have
chickens.
Megan (03:45):
I make chocolate chip cookies, which is kind of like
bread. It is. Make it. Sobasically From
Emily (03:52):
scratch, you're good.
Megan (03:53):
Yeah. It is. Well, I mean, I don't
Emily (03:56):
like
Megan (03:57):
from, like, flour and sugar, but I don't go out to,
like, the sugar cane fields and,like, get my own pepper,
Emily (04:02):
you know. You can still consider that from scratch if
it's from your own flour andit's not like a premade package
of chocolate chip cookies.
Megan (04:08):
Yeah. Guys, I will link my recipe because it is the
bomb. And here's the secretingredient. I'm gonna tell the
whole world that's it won't be asecret anymore. Are you ready
for this?
Emily (04:19):
Yes.
Megan (04:21):
Crisco, but it's butter flavored. Butter flavored Crisco
makes everything that you baketaste so much better.
Emily (04:32):
You know, I could see that.
Megan (04:34):
It does.
Emily (04:35):
My grand my grand no. It's not my grandma. My
grandma's sister maybe. My momgave me a bunch of recipes from
one from that generation. It'snot my grandma because she is
crunchy, like, to the extremecrunchy.
Oh, really? But the rest of hersiblings are not. And, most of
the recipes had Crisco in them,but I didn't know there was
butter flavored Crisco. Oh,yeah. Probably probably tastes
(04:56):
real good.
Don't tell my grandma. She wouldoh.
Megan (04:59):
Oh my gosh. I am a Crisco. I am so Appalachian.
Like, I am a hillbilly. No.
I'm a hill William because Ilive in Southern Ohio. So, like,
we are technically the foothillsof Appalachia, but I was raised
in, like, West Virginia. SoYeah. Like, I have Appalachian
(05:19):
roots, and I love everythingAppalachian. I love everything
about it.
I love the music. I loveeverything. And so I just feel
like Crisco's a staple
Emily (05:28):
Yeah.
Megan (05:28):
It's umm. But I really don't know if it is or not. That
could just be my family. So butI also think I think so. I don't
even I don't even
Emily (05:37):
When I picture Crisco, I picture like like, woman with an
apron Yeah. With the windowsopen, barefoot in the kitchen,
cooking something probablydelicious and probably open? Are
you barefoot? Are you barefoot?
Megan (05:57):
I have slippers on so I have these bad boys. I'll show
you, they've been worn. Cute.But those are, like, in
Appalachia. That's our shoes.
Like, I wear these out to thegrocery store sometimes. I don't
think that's Appalachian. I justthink that's, like, my my my
white trash is coming out.That's fair. Yeah.
Emily (06:20):
Oh, boy.
Megan (06:21):
I interviewed an Australian once, Michael Bird.
And he was he's a new testamenttheologian. And, of course, I'm
putting this on air. So I'msorry I'm blasting you, sir.
But, he's like this really justgreat guy.
He has some great books and wewere talking. And I said, oh,
yeah. I'm a hillbilly and I loveit. And he goes, oh, yeah. We
have those here.
And I said, you do? And he goes,yeah. White trash like Tiger
(06:45):
King. And I was like, no. No.
Two bellies are not white trash.Those are 2 very different
things, and I am nothing likeTiger King. Okay? It's a whole
another genre there.
Emily (06:54):
Oh, that's like flashbacks to 2020.
Megan (06:58):
Oh, man. That's it was a train wreck. Can't take your
eyes off of it. But you knowwhat else is, like, not trashy
or crunchy, but, like, justamazing? First John.
So let's
Emily (07:08):
dive it smooth. Smooth. I was wondering how you were gonna
transition that. Here we go.
Megan (07:14):
Uh-huh. Somebody called the cops because I killed it. So
okay. Our the way we do this, wework verse by verse. I'm gonna
have to cut a lot of that outbecause that way Yeah.
Yeah.
Emily (07:23):
Our partners. Seven minutes of intro. Oops.
Megan (07:28):
So the way that we are doing this is a bold acronym, b.
We're gonna start with beginwith prayer and scripture,
because when you studyscripture, the best place to
begin is by reading it. So,Emily, do you wanna pray us in?
Emily (07:41):
Sure. Jesus, thank you for another episode. We thank
you, just for using this as avessel for us to share the
gospel with women, and I justpray that this would glorify
you. I pray that you would, giveus wisdom how to share these
verses and, that you wouldremind us that you have all
(08:03):
things in your hands andeverything's in your control,
including the way we work, theway we love, and we pray that
you would lead us and guide usin all that we do. In Jesus'
name, amen.
Megan (08:11):
Amen. Alright. So when we begin with prayer, we will
always recommend readingscripture out loud and in
multiple translations. And so Irecommend doing it in the 3
types of translations that areavailable, which is word for
word, thought for thought, andparaphrased. So, Emily, I know
you read from the EnglishStandard Version, which is a
great word for word.
(08:32):
Do you want to, break it downfor us? I have the NASB, but,
yeah. Go for it. Yeah. Sure.
Emily (08:39):
Alright. So this is first John 37 through 18. Alright.
Little children, let no onedeceive you. Whoever righteous.
Whoever makes a practice ofsinning is of the devil, for the
devil has been sinning from thebeginning. The reason the son of
god appeared was to destroy theworks of the devil. No one born
(09:01):
of god makes a practice ofsinning, for god's seed abides
in him, and he cannot keep onsinning because he's been born
of God. By this, it is evidentwho are the children of God and
who are the children of thedevil. Whoever does not practice
righteousness is not of God, noris the one who does not love his
brother.
For this is the message that youhave heard from the beginning,
that we should love one another,We should not be like Cain, who
(09:23):
was of the evil one and murderedhis brother. And why did he
murder him? Because his owndeeds were evil and his
brother's righteous. Do not besurprised, brothers, that the
world hates you. We know thatwe've passed out of death into
life because we love thebrothers.
Whoever does not love abides indeath. Everyone who hates his
brother is a murderer, and youknow that no murderer has
(09:44):
eternal life abiding in him. Bythis, we know love, that he laid
down his life for us, and weought to lay down our lives for
the brothers. But if anyone whohas if anyone has the world's
goods and sees his brother inneed, yet closes his heart
against him, how does God's loveabide in him? Little children,
let us not love in word or talk,but in deed and in truth.
Megan (10:06):
I know there's definitely some familiar, past, verses in
there, that you guys have hearda lot. So I can't wait to unpack
that with y'all. Next, let'sread from the thought for
thought. And I'm gonna read fromthe, new international version,
the NIV. Dear children, do notlet anyone lead you astray.
The one who does what is rightis righteous, just as he is
(10:28):
righteous. But the one who doeswhat is sinful is of the devil
because the devil has beensinning from the beginning. The
reason the son of God appearedwas to destroy the devil's work.
No one who was born of God'swill continues to sin because
God's seed remains in them. Theycannot go on sinning because
they have been born of God.
This is how we know who thechildren of God are and who the
(10:50):
children of the double are.Anyone who does not do what is
right is not God's child nor isanyone who does not love their
brother and sister. For this isthe message you heard from the
beginning. We should love oneanother. Do not be like Cain.
He belonged to the evil one andmurdered his brother. And why
did he murder him? Because hisown actions were evil and his
(11:10):
brothers were righteous. Don'tbe surprised, my brothers and
sisters, if the world hates you.We know that we have passed from
death to life because we loveeach other.
Anyone who does not love remainsin death. Anyone who hates a
brother or sister is a murderer,and you know that no murderer
has eternal life residing inhim. This is how we know what
(11:31):
love is. Jesus Christ laid downhis life for us and we ought to
lay down our lives for ourbrothers and sisters. If anyone
has material possessions andsees a brother or sister in
need, but has no pity on them,how can the love of God be in
that person?
Dear children, let us not lovewith words or speech, but with
actions and in truth. It's good.
Emily (11:51):
Yeah.
Megan (11:53):
For the paraphrased, I have the good news translation.
Have you are you familiar withit?
Emily (11:58):
I'm actually not familiar with
Megan (12:01):
it. Yeah. I learned about it, because my friends from
Yolanda, they read that whenthey are teaching, their kiddos.
And so, oops. Hey, guys.
Sorry about that. I was justtrying to
Emily (12:19):
there it goes.
Megan (12:21):
Do you wanna read that for us?
Emily (12:22):
Yeah.
Megan (12:24):
I just
Emily (12:24):
pulled up on my phone. 7 through 18. Okay. Let no one
deceive you, my children.Whoever does what is right is
righteous, just as Christ isrighteous.
Whoever continues to sin belongsto the devil, because the devil
has sinned from the verybeginning. The son of God
appeared for this very reason,to destroy what the devil had
done. Those who are children ofGod do not continue to sin, for
(12:46):
God's very nature is in them.And because God is their father,
they cannot continue to sin.Here is the clear difference
between God's children and thedevil's children.
Those who do not do what isright or do not love others are
not God's children. The messageyou heard from the very
beginning is this. We must loveone another. We must not be like
Cain. He belonged to the evilone and murdered his own
(13:07):
brother, Abel.
Why did Cain murder him? Becausethe things he himself did were
wrong, and the things hisbrother did were right. So do
not be surprised, my friends, ifthe people of the world hate
you. We know that we have leftdeath and come over into life.
We know it because we loveothers.
Those who do not love are stillunder the power of death. Those
who hate others are murderers,and you know that murderers do
(13:28):
not have eternal life in them.This is how we know what love
is. Christ God? My God?
My children, our love should notbe just words and talk. It must
be true love which shows itselfin action.
Megan (13:49):
That did not feel paraphrased to me, but No.
Paraphrase. So, okay. The nextletter is o, which is on your
own, wrestle with the text. So Iam going to ask you, Emily.
Are you ready? Mhmm. Can yousummarize this passage in one
sentence?
Emily (14:08):
Yes. So I summarize it because of Jesus's death for us,
our actions should change fromsin and selfishness to selfless
love.
Megan (14:20):
Oh, you like, you're so thought out. I tried to get it
as simple. I might need to domore like
Emily (14:26):
No. That's good, though. Like, it should be simple. I
feel like sometimes I couldsimplify it even more. But
Megan (14:34):
Yeah. I have because you're Christians, love God, and
love people. See? That's good.That's real good.
Yeah. But I like yours. It justsounded nice.
Emily (14:48):
I like yours, so let's just claim each other. I I'll
take
Megan (14:50):
yours and take mine. What is God revealing about himself
in this passage?
Emily (14:59):
I think he's revealing his nature to redeem and destroy
the effects of the fall. Mhmm.
Megan (15:09):
I think it's just a continuation from last week when
we talked about it, how, hetakes sin seriously and and he
also takes us seriously. And so,he he wants us to avoid it. What
in light of all of scripture,what should we take away from
(15:29):
this passage?
Emily (15:33):
Probably a similar answer to what I just said. Just the
idea of Jesus re he came tofulfill, the effects of the fall
and all the sacrifices andeverything else. And because of
that, we get to love others.
Megan (15:49):
I concur.
Emily (15:51):
Cool.
Megan (15:53):
And now that we know what it is saying, what is this
passage not saying?
Emily (15:59):
Works gain salvation. It's not saying that if you love
other people, you'll be saved.Or if you do enough good or
enough right things, you willcontinue to keep right standing
with God. It's a love that we dobecause of what he's done for
(16:20):
us, not to earn his love for us.
Megan (16:24):
It is not saying that you're gonna have an easy life
when you become a Christian. Theworld is gonna hate you, and
being a Christian is really hardfor people pleasers. But
Christianity is not for cowardsand it's not easy. So. Yeah.
Okay. Let's move on to our nextletter. L, learn something. This
(16:45):
is where we use extra biblicalresources to teach us what the
passages are saying. Do youwanna kick off or do you want me
to?
Emily (16:52):
You can start this one.
Megan (16:53):
Okay. Cool. So, the biggest note that I wanted you
guys to see is, it's actually alittle fun fact for you in
verses 11 and 12, and this isjust from the NIV. For this is
the message you heard from thebeginning, we should love one
another. Do not be like Cain whobelonged to the devil or the
evil one and murdered hisbrother.
(17:15):
And why did he murder him?Because his actions were evil
and his brothers were righteous.Did you know that in Genesis, it
does not give an explanation forwhy Cain killed Abel like it
doesn't it doesn't give like a ablatant, like, because we just
know like one gift was acceptedand one wasn't, but we don't
(17:37):
really know
Emily (17:37):
why his heart behind it.
Megan (17:39):
Yeah. And so we actually learn that later in Hebrews 114.
That's where we learn why Godaccepted one gift and not the
other. And I think it'sconfirmed reconfirmed here in
first John that, it was aboutthe heart. It wasn't necessarily
about what they were offering,but it was the heart behind what
they were offering.
Emily (18:00):
Mhmm.
Megan (18:00):
So it is possible that Cain just gave what he had while
Abel gave the best of what hehad. But regardless, I just
thought that was a little funfact for you guys. Yeah.
Emily (18:10):
Yeah. Which just reinforces the idea that it's
not about the works themselvesas it is. Why are we doing those
works? Why are we loving ourbrothers and sisters We're not
loving them. It's the heartbehind it.
Megan (18:25):
And again, confirmation in verse 15 that if you hate a
brother or sister, it's murder.Where did we first hear this
with Jesus? When he waspreaching, he said, you've heard
it said. Yep. You know, when,thou shall not murder, but I
tell you, even if you hatesomeone you're you're murdering.
(18:46):
And so this is just echoing whatChrist has already told us.
Emily (18:50):
Yep. Scripture interprets scripture.
Megan (18:54):
My favorite thing, man. There's no contradiction, baby.
Emily (18:58):
Yeah. So, what I had is, that this is not talking about
this theoretical considerationof the nature of sinfulness or
the possibility of sinlessnessbecause I think we can look at
this and think, was it possibleto not sin or, you know, what is
(19:18):
the nature of sin? He's notreally talking about that so
much as community. And I gotthis from my commentary, the
expositors bible commentary, andit talks about it's, really more
so the difference of how thechildren of God, the community
of the children of God are to berecognized versus the children
of the devil, the community ofthe devil, and how are they
(19:40):
supposed to be discerned? So thetest of, like, which community
you're in, if that makes sense.
Mhmm. And true love. What doeslove actually look like? Because
part of the context of this is,you know, John's talking about
there were a lot of falseteachers at the time, which
there are today too. And how dowe know if we are part of a
(20:04):
community that is the childrenof God of God?
Or how do we know if we're partof a community that is false
teaching and part of the devil?And it's the test of true love.
Are you loving the way God callsyou to love, which is a
willingness to sacrifice yourlife for your brother or sister
in is it sacrificial love theway Jesus' love was for us, or
(20:26):
is it self gratification tryingto love so that you get
something out of it? So, youknow, you could try to debate
what this is talking about inregards to sin, which is
important to know the differencebetween sin and if you're, you
know, if it's possible to notsin, but that's not what he's
that's not where he's going.He's really more so talking
(20:47):
about community.
Which community are you a partof, and where is your focus in
that? Are you loving the way Godcalls you to love?
Megan (20:56):
Which is unconditionally. Right?
Emily (20:58):
Right. Yes. Yep.
Megan (21:01):
One more thing for me, verse 17, if anyone has material
possessions and sees a brotheror sister in need, but has no
pity on them, How can the loveof God be in that person? One
that is because the love of Godfights against greed and
selfishness because it'severything is in humility
considering others moresignificant than yourself.
(21:21):
Philippians 23. But I also thinkwhat happens when we become
Christians is we don't just viewpeople as numbers or just
beings, but rather as creaturesthat were designed and created
in the image and likeness of Godwith his breath. And so, I think
(21:42):
it's not just about, like, youtrying to figure out how to love
people when that's not somethingthat's natural, but rather you
taking on a biblical perspectiveof what a human is, and also
allowing the holy spirit tochange your heart and to help
meet people where they are.
And I think that's a process. Soif you're one of those who it's
(22:02):
like, I hate people. I don'twanna be around them. I there's
hope. That doesn't mean thatyou're not a Christian.
It just means that you aredefinitely needing to work on
some things. Mhmm. But the HolySpirit is the one who changes
us, and I think that goes withforgives too. It's how do I
forgive someone who's hurt me soharshly? Well, that's that is
something the Holy Spirit doesfor us.
(22:24):
Because as as we pursue God andas we talk to him, which is
through prayer and talks back tous through scripture, As we dive
more into scripture, our heartsstart to align more with his and
these things will become morenatural for us because we're
trying to reflect him more. Andso, loving people and giving
things away is going to comeeasier because you're more
(22:47):
aligned with what God has calledus to do. Yeah. That's good.
Good.
Well, it doesn't make sense forus to keep buffing up in all
this wonderful knowledge ifwe're not gonna put it into
practical application. So let'shead on over to the last letter
which is d. Do something aboutit. What do you think,
(23:08):
application wise, we can takefrom this passage and put into
our everyday lives? I mean,
Emily (23:15):
I think it's it's pretty clear. Love love one another.
Love your brothers and sistersin Christ. For me personally, it
goes back to that idea I wastalking about earlier with
nourish, nourishing my kids.That's a challenge for me to
remind myself to love those thathave been placed in my life that
I'm supposed to, loveunconditionally.
(23:35):
And, it seems silly to compareit with, like, cooking for them.
Obviously, I have to feed mychildren. Right? But there's a
difference in quality and howyou're loving those around you.
And, you know, you can you canlove and serve the people in
your church and your brothersand sisters, and you can you can
love them by bringing the mealsand just kinda like checking
things off a list, or you cantruly be there in the trenches
(23:57):
with them asking, what do youneed?
Where are you at right now? Howcan I love you better? How can I
serve you? If it's truly out ofa heart of that unconditional
agape love that God tells us tohave for each other because we
love him, because he first lovedus, then, you know, for me, it's
reminding myself where is thewhat's the quality of the love
(24:20):
that I'm giving those around me?
Megan (24:22):
Wow. That's really deep. That was good.
Emily (24:26):
All all of this from me learning to cook for my family.
Megan (24:30):
Hey. Listen. God uses
Emily (24:32):
He does.
Megan (24:33):
Everything.
Emily (24:34):
Small things. Yep.
Megan (24:37):
I just wanna throw something out there. In verse I
just lost it. I was looking atit and I lost it. Verse 8. The
one who does what is sinful isof the devil, because the devil
has been sinning from thebeginning.
And so I want us to rememberthat sin existed before Adam and
(24:57):
Eve ate of the fruit. Beforetheir disobedience to God, sin
was in the garden. The snake wasthere. The serpent was there,
and he was trying to convinceEve to go against God. And so we
know sin was there.
And if you really think aboutit, they ate from the knowledge
of good and evil. So, when theyate, their eyes were open to all
(25:17):
of that. And so the applicationI think we can take from this
is, evil and sin lurkeverywhere. But it is very clear
that if you're a Christian,you're going to be obedient to
what God has called you to do,and he has told us very clearly
what his commands are. And, italso says in verse 10, this is
how we know who the children ofGod are.
(25:38):
It's the people who obey. It'sthe children, who do what is
right in the eyes of the Lordand who love their brothers and
sisters. And so I think it'sagain very similar to last week.
Your application is to beobedient to Jesus and to love
people. And not just like, oh, Ilove you from a distance, but
(26:00):
like stepping into their messykind of love, you know.
Emily (26:04):
Yep. Sacrificial.
Megan (26:06):
That's right. Alright, guys. Well, we're so excited you
joined us this week, and we hopethat you team back in next week
where we will be covering 1stJohn chapter 319 through 46, I
believe. Is that correct? I haveit real.
Yeah. Perfect. So until nexttime. Go out
Emily (26:25):
and be bold.
Hey, everyone. It's Megan and Emily, and you're here with
the Talk Bible to Me podcast. Sotoday, we're gonna be talking
through first John 37 through18. So grab your Bible and a
pen, and let's get started.
Megan (00:12):
And then we play our theme song. 1st John. 1st John.
Emily (00:21):
I have recently listened to a podcast that every single
episode they started off, one ofthe girls is like, and it drove
me crazy for, like, the first,like, I don't know, 5. And then
finally, I'm like, Don't dothat. I'll go and do that for
this. But it was funny for them.
Megan (00:45):
That's our ram's horn. I like the horn.
Emily (00:49):
Listen. I have a shofar. I have one in this room. This is
I could blow the shofar horn.You would.
Homeschool mom. You gotta haveall those things.
Megan (01:03):
I have frankincense and myrrh in the other room.
Emily (01:06):
Nice. Yeah. The central lures?
Megan (01:09):
Yeah. Well, no, no, no. It's, they're like it's like a
bible kit, like,
Emily (01:13):
central and
Megan (01:15):
we're gonna we're gonna put frankincense and myrrh in
our admin kits. Nice. Yeah. Sokids can, like, see that it's a
real thing.
Emily (01:23):
There you go. I thought this was just like a like a
Young Living essential oils. Iwish I
Megan (01:30):
was more natural, but I love processed food. And
Emily (01:33):
I know.
Megan (01:34):
All things bad for you, but I'm getting too old for it.
Like, look. This double chan,it's because I eat in the middle
of the grocery store instead ofthe outside.
Emily (01:44):
I love the middle of the grocery store. I've been trying.
I'm trying really hard. I justposted on my Instagram how much
I hate cooking, but I feel likethe Lord has been teaching me
the word nourish for my family.And so trying to learn to
nourish them with good food andgood things for their minds and
good things for their hearts andbodies.
(02:05):
But it's been really convictingbecause I realized, like, how
often I just want to go to,like, junk Mhmm. Or quick and
easy instead of good for you.But we're getting there. It's
fine.
Megan (02:21):
My husband's been cooking for us, so I had kielbasa for
lunch. Okay. I love kielbasa.
Emily (02:26):
I do too.
Megan (02:27):
Oh, yum.
Emily (02:28):
Do you like sauerkraut?
Megan (02:31):
Are you
Emily (02:31):
a sauerkraut fan?
Megan (02:32):
I like cabbage. So I'm Okay.
Emily (02:34):
You probably would.
Megan (02:35):
Sure. I like it. Right?
Emily (02:36):
Because I love kielbasa with sauerkraut, and I feel like
most people of our generation.Well, unless you're, like, real
crunchy, you like sauerkraut.But if you're not like, we
didn't grow up eating that kindof a thing, but my grandma did.
Did
Megan (02:47):
she mom?
Emily (02:48):
No. It's what I'm saying. I'm I call it I think I've seen
it. It's called scrunchie whereyou're kind of crunchy, but not.
Like, I own essential oils, butI don't use them very often.
Megan (03:00):
Gotcha.
Emily (03:01):
You know? I go
Megan (03:02):
I eat ginger chews before Tums.
Emily (03:05):
They're okay.
Megan (03:05):
I go straight to Tums. So Does that make me crunchy? Yeah.
You're scrunchie. I don't thinkso.
Emily (03:11):
Do you own Tums?
Megan (03:13):
Oh, yeah. So then you're scrunchie. Yeah. But I think
they have to have more thanginger because they're
scrunchie. I would love to be.
I'd love to homestead and, like,make my own bread and stuff,
but, like, I just listen. Wegotta we gotta teach the world
about Jesus. We don't have timefor homemade bread and sourdough
(03:35):
starters.
Emily (03:36):
No. No. Nope. I haven't got on the sourdough train. I
can't.
I don't I make bread, but Idon't make sourdough. I do have
chickens.
Megan (03:45):
I make chocolate chip cookies, which is kind of like
bread. It is. Make it. Sobasically From
Emily (03:52):
scratch, you're good.
Megan (03:53):
Yeah. It is. Well, I mean, I don't
Emily (03:56):
like
Megan (03:57):
from, like, flour and sugar, but I don't go out to,
like, the sugar cane fields and,like, get my own pepper,
Emily (04:02):
you know. You can still consider that from scratch if
it's from your own flour andit's not like a premade package
of chocolate chip cookies.
Megan (04:08):
Yeah. Guys, I will link my recipe because it is the
bomb. And here's the secretingredient. I'm gonna tell the
whole world that's it won't be asecret anymore. Are you ready
for this?
Emily (04:19):
Yes.
Megan (04:21):
Crisco, but it's butter flavored. Butter flavored Crisco
makes everything that you baketaste so much better.
Emily (04:32):
You know, I could see that.
Megan (04:34):
It does.
Emily (04:35):
My grand my grand no. It's not my grandma. My
grandma's sister maybe. My momgave me a bunch of recipes from
one from that generation. It'snot my grandma because she is
crunchy, like, to the extremecrunchy.
Oh, really? But the rest of hersiblings are not. And, most of
the recipes had Crisco in them,but I didn't know there was
butter flavored Crisco. Oh,yeah. Probably probably tastes
(04:56):
real good.
Don't tell my grandma. She wouldoh.
Megan (04:59):
Oh my gosh. I am a Crisco. I am so Appalachian.
Like, I am a hillbilly. No.
I'm a hill William because Ilive in Southern Ohio. So, like,
we are technically the foothillsof Appalachia, but I was raised
in, like, West Virginia. SoYeah. Like, I have Appalachian
(05:19):
roots, and I love everythingAppalachian. I love everything
about it.
I love the music. I loveeverything. And so I just feel
like Crisco's a staple
Emily (05:28):
Yeah.
Megan (05:28):
It's umm. But I really don't know if it is or not. That
could just be my family. So butI also think I think so. I don't
even I don't even
Emily (05:37):
When I picture Crisco, I picture like like, woman with an
apron Yeah. With the windowsopen, barefoot in the kitchen,
cooking something probablydelicious and probably open? Are
you barefoot? Are you barefoot?
Megan (05:57):
I have slippers on so I have these bad boys. I'll show
you, they've been worn. Cute.But those are, like, in
Appalachia. That's our shoes.
Like, I wear these out to thegrocery store sometimes. I don't
think that's Appalachian. I justthink that's, like, my my my
white trash is coming out.That's fair. Yeah.
Emily (06:20):
Oh, boy.
Megan (06:21):
I interviewed an Australian once, Michael Bird.
And he was he's a new testamenttheologian. And, of course, I'm
putting this on air. So I'msorry I'm blasting you, sir.
But, he's like this really justgreat guy.
He has some great books and wewere talking. And I said, oh,
yeah. I'm a hillbilly and I loveit. And he goes, oh, yeah. We
have those here.
And I said, you do? And he goes,yeah. White trash like Tiger
(06:45):
King. And I was like, no. No.
Two bellies are not white trash.Those are 2 very different
things, and I am nothing likeTiger King. Okay? It's a whole
another genre there.
Emily (06:54):
Oh, that's like flashbacks to 2020.
Megan (06:58):
Oh, man. That's it was a train wreck. Can't take your
eyes off of it. But you knowwhat else is, like, not trashy
or crunchy, but, like, justamazing? First John.
So let's
Emily (07:08):
dive it smooth. Smooth. I was wondering how you were gonna
transition that. Here we go.
Megan (07:14):
Uh-huh. Somebody called the cops because I killed it. So
okay. Our the way we do this, wework verse by verse. I'm gonna
have to cut a lot of that outbecause that way Yeah.
Yeah.
Emily (07:23):
Our partners. Seven minutes of intro. Oops.
Megan (07:28):
So the way that we are doing this is a bold acronym, b.
We're gonna start with beginwith prayer and scripture,
because when you studyscripture, the best place to
begin is by reading it. So,Emily, do you wanna pray us in?
Emily (07:41):
Sure. Jesus, thank you for another episode. We thank
you, just for using this as avessel for us to share the
gospel with women, and I justpray that this would glorify
you. I pray that you would, giveus wisdom how to share these
verses and, that you wouldremind us that you have all
(08:03):
things in your hands andeverything's in your control,
including the way we work, theway we love, and we pray that
you would lead us and guide usin all that we do. In Jesus'
name, amen.
Megan (08:11):
Amen. Alright. So when we begin with prayer, we will
always recommend readingscripture out loud and in
multiple translations. And so Irecommend doing it in the 3
types of translations that areavailable, which is word for
word, thought for thought, andparaphrased. So, Emily, I know
you read from the EnglishStandard Version, which is a
great word for word.
(08:32):
Do you want to, break it downfor us? I have the NASB, but,
yeah. Go for it. Yeah. Sure.
Emily (08:39):
Alright. So this is first John 37 through 18. Alright.
Little children, let no onedeceive you. Whoever righteous.
Whoever makes a practice ofsinning is of the devil, for the
devil has been sinning from thebeginning. The reason the son of
god appeared was to destroy theworks of the devil. No one born
(09:01):
of god makes a practice ofsinning, for god's seed abides
in him, and he cannot keep onsinning because he's been born
of God. By this, it is evidentwho are the children of God and
who are the children of thedevil. Whoever does not practice
righteousness is not of God, noris the one who does not love his
brother.
For this is the message that youhave heard from the beginning,
that we should love one another,We should not be like Cain, who
(09:23):
was of the evil one and murderedhis brother. And why did he
murder him? Because his owndeeds were evil and his
brother's righteous. Do not besurprised, brothers, that the
world hates you. We know thatwe've passed out of death into
life because we love thebrothers.
Whoever does not love abides indeath. Everyone who hates his
brother is a murderer, and youknow that no murderer has
(09:44):
eternal life abiding in him. Bythis, we know love, that he laid
down his life for us, and weought to lay down our lives for
the brothers. But if anyone whohas if anyone has the world's
goods and sees his brother inneed, yet closes his heart
against him, how does God's loveabide in him? Little children,
let us not love in word or talk,but in deed and in truth.
Megan (10:06):
I know there's definitely some familiar, past, verses in
there, that you guys have hearda lot. So I can't wait to unpack
that with y'all. Next, let'sread from the thought for
thought. And I'm gonna read fromthe, new international version,
the NIV. Dear children, do notlet anyone lead you astray.
The one who does what is rightis righteous, just as he is
(10:28):
righteous. But the one who doeswhat is sinful is of the devil
because the devil has beensinning from the beginning. The
reason the son of God appearedwas to destroy the devil's work.
No one who was born of God'swill continues to sin because
God's seed remains in them. Theycannot go on sinning because
they have been born of God.
This is how we know who thechildren of God are and who the
(10:50):
children of the double are.Anyone who does not do what is
right is not God's child nor isanyone who does not love their
brother and sister. For this isthe message you heard from the
beginning. We should love oneanother. Do not be like Cain.
He belonged to the evil one andmurdered his brother. And why
did he murder him? Because hisown actions were evil and his
(11:10):
brothers were righteous. Don'tbe surprised, my brothers and
sisters, if the world hates you.We know that we have passed from
death to life because we loveeach other.
Anyone who does not love remainsin death. Anyone who hates a
brother or sister is a murderer,and you know that no murderer
has eternal life residing inhim. This is how we know what
(11:31):
love is. Jesus Christ laid downhis life for us and we ought to
lay down our lives for ourbrothers and sisters. If anyone
has material possessions andsees a brother or sister in
need, but has no pity on them,how can the love of God be in
that person?
Dear children, let us not lovewith words or speech, but with
actions and in truth. It's good.
Emily (11:51):
Yeah.
Megan (11:53):
For the paraphrased, I have the good news translation.
Have you are you familiar withit?
Emily (11:58):
I'm actually not familiar with
Megan (12:01):
it. Yeah. I learned about it, because my friends from
Yolanda, they read that whenthey are teaching, their kiddos.
And so, oops. Hey, guys.
Sorry about that. I was justtrying to
Emily (12:19):
there it goes.
Megan (12:21):
Do you wanna read that for us?
Emily (12:22):
Yeah.
Megan (12:24):
I just
Emily (12:24):
pulled up on my phone. 7 through 18. Okay. Let no one
deceive you, my children.Whoever does what is right is
righteous, just as Christ isrighteous.
Whoever continues to sin belongsto the devil, because the devil
has sinned from the verybeginning. The son of God
appeared for this very reason,to destroy what the devil had
done. Those who are children ofGod do not continue to sin, for
(12:46):
God's very nature is in them.And because God is their father,
they cannot continue to sin.Here is the clear difference
between God's children and thedevil's children.
Those who do not do what isright or do not love others are
not God's children. The messageyou heard from the very
beginning is this. We must loveone another. We must not be like
Cain. He belonged to the evilone and murdered his own
(13:07):
brother, Abel.
Why did Cain murder him? Becausethe things he himself did were
wrong, and the things hisbrother did were right. So do
not be surprised, my friends, ifthe people of the world hate
you. We know that we have leftdeath and come over into life.
We know it because we loveothers.
Those who do not love are stillunder the power of death. Those
who hate others are murderers,and you know that murderers do
(13:28):
not have eternal life in them.This is how we know what love
is. Christ God? My God?
My children, our love should notbe just words and talk. It must
be true love which shows itselfin action.
Megan (13:49):
That did not feel paraphrased to me, but No.
Paraphrase. So, okay. The nextletter is o, which is on your
own, wrestle with the text. So Iam going to ask you, Emily.
Are you ready? Mhmm. Can yousummarize this passage in one
sentence?
Emily (14:08):
Yes. So I summarize it because of Jesus's death for us,
our actions should change fromsin and selfishness to selfless
love.
Megan (14:20):
Oh, you like, you're so thought out. I tried to get it
as simple. I might need to domore like
Emily (14:26):
No. That's good, though. Like, it should be simple. I
feel like sometimes I couldsimplify it even more. But
Megan (14:34):
Yeah. I have because you're Christians, love God, and
love people. See? That's good.That's real good.
Yeah. But I like yours. It justsounded nice.
Emily (14:48):
I like yours, so let's just claim each other. I I'll
take
Megan (14:50):
yours and take mine. What is God revealing about himself
in this passage?
Emily (14:59):
I think he's revealing his nature to redeem and destroy
the effects of the fall. Mhmm.
Megan (15:09):
I think it's just a continuation from last week when
we talked about it, how, hetakes sin seriously and and he
also takes us seriously. And so,he he wants us to avoid it. What
in light of all of scripture,what should we take away from
(15:29):
this passage?
Emily (15:33):
Probably a similar answer to what I just said. Just the
idea of Jesus re he came tofulfill, the effects of the fall
and all the sacrifices andeverything else. And because of
that, we get to love others.
Megan (15:49):
I concur.
Emily (15:51):
Cool.
Megan (15:53):
And now that we know what it is saying, what is this
passage not saying?
Emily (15:59):
Works gain salvation. It's not saying that if you love
other people, you'll be saved.Or if you do enough good or
enough right things, you willcontinue to keep right standing
with God. It's a love that we dobecause of what he's done for
(16:20):
us, not to earn his love for us.
Megan (16:24):
It is not saying that you're gonna have an easy life
when you become a Christian. Theworld is gonna hate you, and
being a Christian is really hardfor people pleasers. But
Christianity is not for cowardsand it's not easy. So. Yeah.
Okay. Let's move on to our nextletter. L, learn something. This
(16:45):
is where we use extra biblicalresources to teach us what the
passages are saying. Do youwanna kick off or do you want me
to?
Emily (16:52):
You can start this one.
Megan (16:53):
Okay. Cool. So, the biggest note that I wanted you
guys to see is, it's actually alittle fun fact for you in
verses 11 and 12, and this isjust from the NIV. For this is
the message you heard from thebeginning, we should love one
another. Do not be like Cain whobelonged to the devil or the
evil one and murdered hisbrother.
(17:15):
And why did he murder him?Because his actions were evil
and his brothers were righteous.Did you know that in Genesis, it
does not give an explanation forwhy Cain killed Abel like it
doesn't it doesn't give like a ablatant, like, because we just
know like one gift was acceptedand one wasn't, but we don't
(17:37):
really know
Emily (17:37):
why his heart behind it.
Megan (17:39):
Yeah. And so we actually learn that later in Hebrews 114.
That's where we learn why Godaccepted one gift and not the
other. And I think it'sconfirmed reconfirmed here in
first John that, it was aboutthe heart. It wasn't necessarily
about what they were offering,but it was the heart behind what
they were offering.
Emily (18:00):
Mhmm.
Megan (18:00):
So it is possible that Cain just gave what he had while
Abel gave the best of what hehad. But regardless, I just
thought that was a little funfact for you guys. Yeah.
Emily (18:10):
Yeah. Which just reinforces the idea that it's
not about the works themselvesas it is. Why are we doing those
works? Why are we loving ourbrothers and sisters We're not
loving them. It's the heartbehind it.
Megan (18:25):
And again, confirmation in verse 15 that if you hate a
brother or sister, it's murder.Where did we first hear this
with Jesus? When he waspreaching, he said, you've heard
it said. Yep. You know, when,thou shall not murder, but I
tell you, even if you hatesomeone you're you're murdering.
(18:46):
And so this is just echoing whatChrist has already told us.
Emily (18:50):
Yep. Scripture interprets scripture.
Megan (18:54):
My favorite thing, man. There's no contradiction, baby.
Emily (18:58):
Yeah. So, what I had is, that this is not talking about
this theoretical considerationof the nature of sinfulness or
the possibility of sinlessnessbecause I think we can look at
this and think, was it possibleto not sin or, you know, what is
(19:18):
the nature of sin? He's notreally talking about that so
much as community. And I gotthis from my commentary, the
expositors bible commentary, andit talks about it's, really more
so the difference of how thechildren of God, the community
of the children of God are to berecognized versus the children
of the devil, the community ofthe devil, and how are they
(19:40):
supposed to be discerned? So thetest of, like, which community
you're in, if that makes sense.
Mhmm. And true love. What doeslove actually look like? Because
part of the context of this is,you know, John's talking about
there were a lot of falseteachers at the time, which
there are today too. And how dowe know if we are part of a
(20:04):
community that is the childrenof God of God?
Or how do we know if we're partof a community that is false
teaching and part of the devil?And it's the test of true love.
Are you loving the way God callsyou to love, which is a
willingness to sacrifice yourlife for your brother or sister
in is it sacrificial love theway Jesus' love was for us, or
(20:26):
is it self gratification tryingto love so that you get
something out of it? So, youknow, you could try to debate
what this is talking about inregards to sin, which is
important to know the differencebetween sin and if you're, you
know, if it's possible to notsin, but that's not what he's
that's not where he's going.He's really more so talking
(20:47):
about community.
Which community are you a partof, and where is your focus in
that? Are you loving the way Godcalls you to love?
Megan (20:56):
Which is unconditionally. Right?
Emily (20:58):
Right. Yes. Yep.
Megan (21:01):
One more thing for me, verse 17, if anyone has material
possessions and sees a brotheror sister in need, but has no
pity on them, How can the loveof God be in that person? One
that is because the love of Godfights against greed and
selfishness because it'severything is in humility
considering others moresignificant than yourself.
(21:21):
Philippians 23. But I also thinkwhat happens when we become
Christians is we don't just viewpeople as numbers or just
beings, but rather as creaturesthat were designed and created
in the image and likeness of Godwith his breath. And so, I think
(21:42):
it's not just about, like, youtrying to figure out how to love
people when that's not somethingthat's natural, but rather you
taking on a biblical perspectiveof what a human is, and also
allowing the holy spirit tochange your heart and to help
meet people where they are.
And I think that's a process. Soif you're one of those who it's
(22:02):
like, I hate people. I don'twanna be around them. I there's
hope. That doesn't mean thatyou're not a Christian.
It just means that you aredefinitely needing to work on
some things. Mhmm. But the HolySpirit is the one who changes
us, and I think that goes withforgives too. It's how do I
forgive someone who's hurt me soharshly? Well, that's that is
something the Holy Spirit doesfor us.
(22:24):
Because as as we pursue God andas we talk to him, which is
through prayer and talks back tous through scripture, As we dive
more into scripture, our heartsstart to align more with his and
these things will become morenatural for us because we're
trying to reflect him more. Andso, loving people and giving
things away is going to comeeasier because you're more
(22:47):
aligned with what God has calledus to do. Yeah. That's good.
Good.
Well, it doesn't make sense forus to keep buffing up in all
this wonderful knowledge ifwe're not gonna put it into
practical application. So let'shead on over to the last letter
which is d. Do something aboutit. What do you think,
(23:08):
application wise, we can takefrom this passage and put into
our everyday lives? I mean,
Emily (23:15):
I think it's it's pretty clear. Love love one another.
Love your brothers and sistersin Christ. For me personally, it
goes back to that idea I wastalking about earlier with
nourish, nourishing my kids.That's a challenge for me to
remind myself to love those thathave been placed in my life that
I'm supposed to, loveunconditionally.
(23:35):
And, it seems silly to compareit with, like, cooking for them.
Obviously, I have to feed mychildren. Right? But there's a
difference in quality and howyou're loving those around you.
And, you know, you can you canlove and serve the people in
your church and your brothersand sisters, and you can you can
love them by bringing the mealsand just kinda like checking
things off a list, or you cantruly be there in the trenches
(23:57):
with them asking, what do youneed?
Where are you at right now? Howcan I love you better? How can I
serve you? If it's truly out ofa heart of that unconditional
agape love that God tells us tohave for each other because we
love him, because he first lovedus, then, you know, for me, it's
reminding myself where is thewhat's the quality of the love
(24:20):
that I'm giving those around me?
Megan (24:22):
Wow. That's really deep. That was good.
Emily (24:26):
All all of this from me learning to cook for my family.
Megan (24:30):
Hey. Listen. God uses
Emily (24:32):
He does.
Megan (24:33):
Everything.
Emily (24:34):
Small things. Yep.
Megan (24:37):
I just wanna throw something out there. In verse I
just lost it. I was looking atit and I lost it. Verse 8. The
one who does what is sinful isof the devil, because the devil
has been sinning from thebeginning.
And so I want us to rememberthat sin existed before Adam and
(24:57):
Eve ate of the fruit. Beforetheir disobedience to God, sin
was in the garden. The snake wasthere. The serpent was there,
and he was trying to convinceEve to go against God. And so we
know sin was there.
And if you really think aboutit, they ate from the knowledge
of good and evil. So, when theyate, their eyes were open to all
(25:17):
of that. And so the applicationI think we can take from this
is, evil and sin lurkeverywhere. But it is very clear
that if you're a Christian,you're going to be obedient to
what God has called you to do,and he has told us very clearly
what his commands are. And, italso says in verse 10, this is
how we know who the children ofGod are.
(25:38):
It's the people who obey. It'sthe children, who do what is
right in the eyes of the Lordand who love their brothers and
sisters. And so I think it'sagain very similar to last week.
Your application is to beobedient to Jesus and to love
people. And not just like, oh, Ilove you from a distance, but
(26:00):
like stepping into their messykind of love, you know.
Emily (26:04):
Yep. Sacrificial.
Megan (26:06):
That's right. Alright, guys. Well, we're so excited you
joined us this week, and we hopethat you team back in next week
where we will be covering 1stJohn chapter 319 through 46, I
believe. Is that correct? I haveit real.
Yeah. Perfect. So until nexttime. Go out
Emily (26:25):
and be bold.
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