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First John Ch 2 :1-14 (Lee Sommitz Paraphrase)

1 I am writing this to you as my cherished and dearly beloved children. My desire is that you would never sin again. However, when you do sin, never forget that we have One who acts as a legal counselor before the Judge on our behalf. He IS, that perfect One 2 who took our place, dying not only to pay for our sins, but for those of everyone else who ever has, or ever will live! 3 Our confidence that we know Him will be in keeping with our obedience to Him. 4 Anyone who claims that they know God but refuses to do what He wants is out of touch with the truth. They are lying. 5 The degree to which keeping God’s commands is our priority is proportional to the degree that His love will become perfected in us. This also corresponds to our confidence that we are in Him. 6 People who tell you that they are abiding in God should be in the process of living more and more similarly to the way Jesus lived. 7 Precious ones, the commandment I’m writing to you is one that you’ve heard from the earliest times. 8 Now, however, it has a new dimension. We saw it thoroughly revealed in Jesus Christ and it will become increasingly clear since the light of His truth is dispersing the darkness. 9 People who tell you they are in the light, but choose not to love others are actually still blinded by darkness. 10 Those who choose to love others are the ones actually in the light so they can see (and thus avoid) harmful choices. 11 Quite a stark contrast to those who hate others and remain in spiritual darkness. They are blinded and hence unable to avoid the dangers lurking everywhere. 

12 To the youngest of my beloved I write to let you know that your forgiveness by Him is about who He IS, not because of your potential. 13 To you who are older I write because you personally know the One who transcends time. And I write to the young adults who have tasted victory over the evil one. 14 I wrote to the youngest of you also because you have recently started your personal relationship with the Father. I wrote to you older ones because you are established in your knowledge of the One who transcends time. I wrote to you younger adults because you have become strong and victorious over the evil one via His word remaining in you.

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Pastors Eric, Mark, Susan, Daniel, and other Village leaders open the Scriptures as the witness to God’s kingdom breaking into our lives. Scripture gives us more than abstract ideas. It is the Word of God, given to form us, confront us, comfort us, and teach us how to follow Jesus.

Each episode invites us to listen and respond. We are learning to understand the Bible more faithfully; we are also learning how to live as God’s renewed people.

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