The message of John's letters : living in the love of God

"Immorality inundating the Christian community and gradually eroding the foundations of Christian living. The truth of God incarnate, the atonement, and the bodily resurrection of Christ under attack--even from within the church. These were the problems that faced the Christians of John's day. In a society that scorned the gospel and sneered at godly living, John encouraged Christians with a message forged from two words: truth and love. The concerns of John's original readers are still the concerns of the church now. In this accessible retelling of John's message, David Jackman provides historical background, identifies key themes, and offers applications for today. He describes John's first letter as an upwardly spiraling staircase that circles and broadens out around twin themes of truth and love, mind and heart, Word and Spirit. It is a message both timeless and timely. This revised edition of a classic Bible Speaks Today volume includes updated language and Scripture quotations and a new interior design. A study guide for individuals or groups is included to help readers engage more deeply with the text."--Back cover In a climate of disunity and doctrinal deviation, the apostle John called his first readers to live in the love and truth of God. David Jackman has no doubt that John's letters are a vital, powerful word from the Lord to the church today around the world. So often we take extreme positions, leading to a fragmentation of both churches and individuals. This book will help us to respond afresh to the apostle's call to love one another and live in the light. David Jackman demonstrates that the force of John's searching analysis can be felt in our lives today. John's Letters call us to live in love and truth - a message explored here by David Jackman.