Letters Of Intent . . .

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From First John we read,

“These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you” (I John 2:26 – NKJV)

The little epistles of John, are letters from the apostle John, the one known traditionally as, “The Son of Thunder.” They are small letters but powerful ones, written for a reason, the Holy Spirit moving John along to write what He would have believers in Christ know regarding established truths of the Christian faith.

Great deception was occurring during John’s time and God’s truth was being challenged at every turn. The Gnostics (their heresy still very prevalent today under a new title: The New Age Movement) were especially active during this period in spreading their false teaching and the Spirit knew what was needed to be passed onto believers so that they could combat their lies. So John penned his little letters to professing disciples of Christ, letters meant to accomplish specific things.

Such letters are just as important to us today as they were to the church then, for false teachers and false teaching abound, being evident at every turn, the chief Liar, Satan, working aggressively to undermine God’s truth.

So, we have letters of intent . . . . letters intending to,

ESTABLISH TRUTH – “And these things we write to you that your joy may be full” (I John 1:4 – NKJV) – There is no “joy” if one is in a confused state, if a person is perplexed as to what they believe. Joy comes in knowing the truth and knowing that one is walking in the truth, ordering their behavior just as Christ has commanded.

John wrote in his second epistle – “I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth” (II John 4 – NKJV) . . . “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (III John 4 – NKJV). Joy for the apostle John was knowing that God’s “children” were “walking in truth,” that they were not wavering in their faith. Don’t you experience a great “joy” when you know that a brother or sister in Christ is grounded in the “truth?” I know I do! (READ: John 15:1-11)

Letters of intent . . . intending to,

WARN BELIEVERS of those “who try to deceive you.” The truths in John’s letters were intended by the Holy Spirit to equip the believer to oppose false teaching with the “truth.”

John wrote in his second epistle – “For many deceivers have gone out into the world . . .” (II John 7 – NKJV). The concern for the body of Christ that the Holy Spirit has is that they be aware that there are “many deceivers . . . in the world,” and that it is imperative that the church recognize them, using the “truth(s)” of the written Word to thwart their teachings.

Letters of intent . . . . intending to,

ESTABLISH DOGMATICS AND ABSOLUTES, not opinions.

Note – “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth . . . If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us . . . if we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us . . .” (I John 1:6, 8, 10 – NKJV)
In contrast – Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments . . . He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked . . .” (I John 2:4, 6 – NKJV). Certain practices and beliefs are evidence of those who “walk in darkness” while other practices and beliefs are evidence of those who “know” Christ and “abide in Him.”

The letters of John are letters of intent. They are intended to be tests of truth that we might “know” the “truth” and “know Him” who is the “truth” and be able to combat the “many deceivers” who are in “the world.”

Have a good day brethren . . . and as you walk get into the letters of John. Read them, study them, for they will equip you to stand firm in the truth in this present time in which you and I live.

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